Freedom from phobias
If you have a phobia it may seem very confusing as to the reason why on the one hand you feel that you shouldn’t be anxious whilst on the other hand you feel scared or even terrified. The things that people can have an irrational fear about can literally be anything from buttons and clowns to heights and enclosed spaces. The problem can be made worse when the person with the phobia tries to exercise rationality to help overcome it only to find their anxiety increasing.
But why have the anxious or scared feeling in the first place? The feeling is there because your normal survival system (flight or fight response) has detected a threat. The reason for the threat may be obvious to you. For example when you were a child you were bitten by a dog and have been frightened ever since and as a result your fear has increased to the point of not leaving the house in order to ensure that you don’t come across a dog. Clearly this situation does not lead to a happy and fulfilled life. Other phobias can be a bit more complicated however by understanding the sequence of events connected to complex type phobias and the way you behave as a result can lead the way to the cause. The problem is your survival systems are trying to help you stay safe however it is getting it wrong.
But what can you do about it? Number one is to understand the reason behind the feeling. Looking back over your life and importantly identifying the early events connected to the fear is an excellent starting point. From there it is useful to work out what the meaning was that you attached to these events. Clearly if these are childhood events then the meaning connected to the problem is different to the meanings you would attach to them now if the same thing had happened again. Just realising this can be a welcome relief.
If you would like help in finding out more phobias then visit www.christineblack.net and click on the cognitive hypnotherapy tab and watch a short video. Alternatively come along to the freedom from phobia workshop on Saturday 4th April at The Changing Room in Bushey www.the-changing-room.com. Learn how you feel the way you do, link your beliefs and behaviour to your feelings and experience how different you can feel after doing some simple techniques.
The cost is £95 for the workshop and includes a follow up one to one session with Christine Black worth £70. Book with Christine 07788545312 or info@christineblack.net.