Phobias continued

Phobias are an 'external symbol of an internal anxiety'

Phobias and panic attacks are a direct symptom of internal anxiety. We know that these anxiety's often have there roots in our childhood years, where they may be caused by traumatic experiences or events that lead us to simply bottle them up, away from our conscious minds. When these emotions have been trapped in the subconscious mind for many years the sufferer is often completely unaware of their cause.

When are fears considered phobias? Fear is a human response to danger. It serves a protective purpose, activating the “fight-or-flight” mechanism. When faced with danger, our nervous system produces adrenaline. This excess adrenaline prepares us to fight or to run away from the physical threat. The fight-or-flight response includes an increase in heart rate and blood flow to our large muscles, enabling us to react to the emergency. Blood sugar also increases, providing us with higher energy levels. With our bodies and minds alert and primed for action, we are able to respond quickly and protect ourselves.

Although it is normal and even helpful to experience fear in dangerous situations, with phobias the danger is often greatly exaggerated or imagined. For example, it is only natural to be afraid of snakes, but it is irrational to be so scared you cant play a board game of " Snakes and Ladders" with your children. Fears become a reason for concern when they are so persistent they interfere with your daily life.. When a fear reaches this level of intensity, it is often identified as a phobic reaction or phobia.

Shortness of breath accompanied by sweating and shaking at the thought of a particular object or activity.

A feeling of complete terror or fear.

Having a panic attack when exposed to certain triggers.

Hyperventilating, shaking, feeling faint, or even in extreme cases that one might die.

Treatment

There are two ways to help with panic attacks and phobias

1: Clinical hypnosis is used to reduce the strength of these negative feelings along with a number of unique techniques that we teach you so you may manage and help regain control.

2: Pure’ Hypnoanalysis, a special type of hypnotherapy,developed to permanently resolve the original cause of the "bottled up" experience and the emotion.

Phobias

When fear becomes a phobia

Common symptoms may include