How to conquer your phobia using hypnosis

Phobias can be one of the most traumatising experiences a person can ever go through. You have an unreasonable fear of something, and you’ll do anything to avoid that thing. You’ll go to great lengths to avoid it, possibly even putting yourself in danger to do so. And when you can’t avoid it, you’ll start to panic, sweat, scream or even faint. Sound familiar? You probably have a phobia. But fear not, as hypnosis can be used to treat these symptoms.

Hypnotherapy is often used to treat phobias and other anxiety issues. While it is considered as an alternative form of treatment, many people can attest to how successful it has been for them. Having said that, there are still people afraid to try hypnotherapy for their phobia. There are a lot of misconceptions regarding hypnosis and it can often sound intimidating.

Let’s understand the truth behind hypnosis for phobias

What is a phobia?

A phobia is classified as an anxiety disorder. The symptom is a rapid onset of fear of an object or a situation. The person may experience significant distress or panic attacks when they encounter their fear. The most common phobias are fear of spiders, fear of snakes and fear of heights. Social phobia is also very common, where the person is worried about others judging them. A lot of these phobias are caused by negative experiences in the past. For example, a person may develop a fear of spiders after being bitten by a spider in the past.

There are few treatments available for phobias. One of the most common treatments is exposure therapy, where the person is slowly introduced to their fear until the person rationalises and the fear is resolved. There are almost no medications available for phobias, except for social phobias where the person can take antidepressants.

How does hypnosis for phobias work?

Despite the common belief that hypnosis is performed by magicians and used for entertainment, hypnotherapy is very different. Similar to meditation, your hypnotherapist will help you understand yourself and visualise yourself in a state of peacefulness and relaxation. They will allow you to explore your phobia on a deeper level.

During hypnotherapy, you will remain conscious and in control. While you will be in a hypnotic state, you will be able to remember everything and will be able to break the trance at any time. You’ll be in control of your own actions, behaviours and statements. You can confront your phobia with the guidance of a hypnotherapist, while remaining fully in control of your body.

What does a hypnotherapy treatment look like?

During a hypnotherapy treatment, your hypnotherapist will possibly give you suggestions at the subconscious level and help you focus on your life and the issue. Your conscious mind will be quieted, allowing your unconscious mind to focus on your phobia and understand yourself. Your hypnotherapist will guide you in this process with reassuring messages that calm you down. They will talk to you, prompting you to confront your fears and realise that your fears are irrational. Hypnotherapists have a variety of techniques such as guided imagery, meditation, and coping strategies that will help you overcome your phobia.