Fear & Phobias - How Hypnotherapy Can Help?

Jumping at the sight of a cockroach is normal but some people won't even step into the room if they see one. Such people are said to suffer from a phobia of cockroaches. A phobia can be defined as the irrational fear of an object or situation though it may not pose any real danger. A phobia often develops during childhood and gets aggravated as the person gets older. 

Hypnotherapy has proven to be an effective form of treatment for phobias and fear. Hypnosis identifies the root cause or event that is the underlying cause of the phobia. A hypnotherapist then attempts to change the person's reaction to the phobia trigger. 

Some common phobias hypnotherapists deal with are:

-   Fear of heights
-   Claustrophobia 
-   Fear of insects and small animals
-   Fear of flying
-   Fear of technology

To do this a hypnotherapist must first bring the person into a state of calmness and relaxation. This is because the root cause of a phobia is often a repressed memory. Thus, it can be accessed only when a person is in a state of heightened relaxation or trance. In this state, the mind is very receptive to suggestions. Once the memory has been addressed, it can be brought back to the conscious awareness. Addressing this conscious memory then allows the therapist to make the patient feel less threatened by this trigger. The patient can then begin to form new thoughts and responses to the object or situation. This process is also known as hypnotic regression. 

A person normally needs 3-4 sessions of hypnotherapy to be rid of a phobia. However, the number of sessions required varies from person to person and it may take additional sessions to cure a chronic phobia. 

This depends on a number of factors such as:

-   How long the person has had the said phobia
-   His personality
-   How severely his life is affected by the phobia
-   How determined he is to free himself of the phobia

When you decide to work with a hypnotherapist to get rid of your phobias, it is essential that you make the right choice in terms of the hypnotherapist. You should ensure that you are being treated by a licensed professional hypnotherapist. Also, make sure that you can trust the person and are comfortable in his or her presence. Take your time finding someone who you can open yourself up to and get started on conquering your fears.