It is normal for everyone to have some fears, but suffering from a phobia is a more significant problem. A phobia is an illogical fear that a sufferer can't control. Phobias are defined as a variety of anxiety disorder, and often trigger nervousness and panic attacks in an individual. When a person has a phobia, they get so desperate to stay away from their fear that it interferes with their daily lives and their ability to live life.
Some of the most common phobias are acrophobia, the fear of heights, claustrophobia, a fear of enclosed spaces, and arachnophobia, the fear of spiders. Arachnophobia is the most common phobia. While many people are afraid of spiders, people with arachnophobia have an abnormally high amount of fear. Even a picture or drawing of an arachnid can make some arachnophobes uneasy. Some arachnophobes have anxiety attacks or panic at the sight of an arachnid. They are often willing to do anything in order to get away from a spider; for instance, people with serious arachnophobia might try to climb out of a moving car if they see a spider near them.
Sufferers often feel ashamed of their uncontrollable responses. Other people and even the sufferers themselves often find their behavior irrational. Their fear of spiders and their reaction to the creatures may escalate into other problems as well. Arachnophobia and other phobias may lead to a condition called agoraphobia.
Agoraphobia can arise when a person is afraid of being in any potentially stressful place or situation. For a person with arachnophobia, this could mean avoiding any area a spider may be living, new places, and even avoiding leaving the house or going outdoors altogether. This can negatively interfere with a person's quality of life. A person may be worried about having panic attacks or humiliating him or herself by losing control. People often find themselves constantly stressed over their feelings.
People with phobias may struggle with the inability to control their fears. This is because the root of the problem exists at the unconscious level of the mind; so conscious effort or willpower does not work to control an intense fear. A phobia is best treated at the unconscious level, which is why Ericksonian hypnotherapy and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) techniques are the most effective phobia treatments.
There are many different
hypnotic programs available for treating phobias. Most utilize traditional hypnosis techniques that rely on the use of post-hypnotic suggestions with highly specific wording to work against phobias. These days, post-hypnotic suggestions often don't work because our generation has a tendency to question and analyze everything. And since today's population tends to do the opposite of what they are told, they resist post-hypnotic suggestions and experience a polar response.
Ericksonian hypnotherapy is different from traditional hypnosis because it uses indirect suggestions that are embedded in conversation. This makes them hard for the conscious mind to resist, so they will usually make it through to the unconscious level and be accepted.
The process typically starts by using hypnotherapy to make you feel very calm and receptive. Then, instead of merely "telling" your unconscious mind what to do, Ericksonian techniques use stories and metaphors to lead your mind into a desirable way of thinking.
NLP treatments work by focusing on the particular thought process that causes an irrational phobia and using it to eliminate the fear. Because of this, NLP can be used on all phobias.
People respond much better to the combination of NLP and Ericksonian techniques than to traditional hypnosis because instead of receiving direct orders, the unconscious mind is persuaded to follow a different, more logical line of thinking. These hypnosis programs work great for people who are logical, critical thinkers and people who think independently.
You don't need a different
hypnosis program for each different phobia. A single program that includes several sessions with the perfect combination of Ericksonian hypnotherapy and NLP techniques can treat any phobia. Additionally, a well-designed program will work for every user. The mix of different techniques in several different sessions guarantees success for each and every individual who uses them. By going through each step of the program, people often amaze themselves at how quickly they triumph over their phobias.
Ericksonian hypnotherapy and NLP focus on transforming irrational fears and behaviors into calm, collected responses. For many individuals struggling with debilitating fears such as
a phobia, this is a life-changing therapy. Hypnosis therapy is an effective tool for beating fears and anxieties to live a better life.
Alan B. Densky, CH has pioneered many
hypnotic methods for healing a phobia. His site offers a complete
self-hypnosis article library dedicated to every aspect of self-hypnosis and NLP. Visit for
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