Phobias and Fears

•  What is a Phobia?

A phobia is when someone has a strong fear, usually of something completely irrational, but is nevertheless, extremely difficult for the individual. When someone has a phobia, the brain sends signals making you feel like you may be in a dangerous or life-threatening situation. Types of phobias range far and wide with some of the most common being:

- Arachnophobia (fear of spiders and arachnids)

- Ophidiophobia (fear of snakes)

- Acrophobia (fear of heights)

- Aerophobia (fear of flying)

- Cynophobia (fear of dogs)

- Trypanophobia (fear of injections or needles)

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• ​Some physical symptoms of a phobia include:

- avoiding the phobia

- anxiety

- panic attacks

- overwhelming sense of fear

- sweating

- increased rapid heart rate

- feeling faint

- ringing in ears

- confusion and disorientation

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• How can we help?

At Bell Hypnotherapy, we offer an initial consultation, followed by three full one hour long sessions to help you conquer your phobia. The first session is a deep relaxation to get you used to the lovely relaxed sensation of trance. The second session is what we call a rewind, where we help alter how the brain sees the phobia, and instead of the phobia being life-threatening and dangerous, it becomes an ordinary thought. The third and final session is what we call a reframe, this helps the brain see the phobia in a new and positive light, while also helping to prepare you for the next time you come across the phobia. So for example, if a client has a phobia of flying, we will do this session the night before or the morning of a flight, so they feel confident, reassured and calm on the flight.

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