Phobia Cures


by Ian Bracwegirdle - Date: 2007-01-18 - Word Count: 1038 Share This!

Most people with phobias want them cured. Phobias can cause embarrassment, a sense of shame, fear of it happening again and at times a sense of disbelief. People are often mystified and puzzled by their reactions because in all other situations they are rational beings. There is at times a fear of mental illness. There is no shame about phobias and there is no mental illness Phobias are simply a part of your mind developing a habit that can be limiting in some situations. This habit is triggered and the mind runs the habit. Our minds are set up to run habits for without habitual behaviour or lives would be impossible. Imagine having to relearn how to do everything that you know to take you through each day, from putting on your socks to driving to work.

The remedy for all phobias is to create a new habit or break the old one

Desensitisation

Desensitisation is a process where a phobic trigger is confronted in a controlled way in an attempt to lessen the reaction. The individual is put through the actual fear as they are supported by a psychiatrist or trained person. It can be a very uncomfortable experience for the person involved. I am not aware of a success rate for this practice but I have seen it demonstrated on television and it does work. I have reservations however as it seems to cause undue discomfort when compared to other methods. Several sessions need to be attended for good progress

For each of the following I would recommend a minimum of two sessions. Whist some of the techniques work quickly there needs to be back up and reinforcement.

Hypnosis

Trance is a very relaxed state induced by the practice of hypnotism. The subject is able to make connections with the subconscious mind in a way that can help to create permanent changes. It is a very safe practice and can be a very pleasant experience. The subject is lead through a series of visualisations to create a better way of responding to the trigger for the phobia. In my experience this method works well for some people.

Collapsing Anchors or Clare's Phobia Cure

This method is brilliant to see in action and can take as little as 15 minutes to carry out. It works for what I term simple phobias that have little or no attachment to traumatic life events. The client is asked to recall the reaction to the trigger and to discover the subtleties of the chain reaction. Once this is understood by both the practitioner and the client then three very positive states of mind are recalled. Each one of the positives is anchored by touch or verbally by the practitioner. Then as the memory of the phobic reaction is again recalled the anchor is fired and the three positive experience rewire the brain to bring in those positive experiences in the old fear filled situation.

It is magical when it works as the change happens before your very eyes.

The NLP Rapid Phobia or Trauma Cure

Difficult to explain in a brief paragraph this is another rapid phobia cure. The client is asked to bring to mind two very positive experiences. Then from a detached view point to recall the memory of a phobic reaction as an observer. It is best done in a light trance or very relaxed state. Once that is done the client puts one positive experience before the recall of the phobic event and one after it. The whole sequence is then run through several times and the power of the phobic trigger is gauged until it no longer has any power.

This is again a powerful method that works best with people who are good at visualising. Sometimes it is best done in trance.

Drop Through

I learned this method though the writings of Bob Bodenhammer and L. Michael Hall.

In a relaxed state the client is taken back through the emotional attachments to experiences of the phobia. Each emotion is recorded by the practitioner until the primary emotion is recalled. At this stage the client experiences a switch in feelings. This signals to the practitioner that the primary cause has been located and the rebuilding process can begin.

This process can cause some discomfort but it is very minor when compared to desensitisation. It is again a powerful process and tends to work for most phobias and is particularly good when used with the more difficult phobias which have other layers of trauma. It has also many other uses and can be used to track back many conditions set up in early childhood.

Most phobias need between 2 and 4 one hour sessions to make headway. Then finally the treatment needs to be tested out in the real world. Exciting times.

The types of practitioners to see are Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) Practitioners, Clinical Hypnotist, counsellors and psychiatrists.

*Note Some people don't want to give up their phobias! You may find that a difficult idea to accept but it is something that can be read about in the literature and I have experienced it.

I was once asked to visit a woman with agoraphobia. I asked her about her concern and she told me about her life being limited to the home and how she had her life organised. She had people to go shopping for her. She did not go to work. Her family were very supportive and tend many of her needs. The only thing missing in her life was going out. In her immaculate front room I explained my techniques and forecast that I would have her going out in very little time. The poor lady panicked and told me that she did not want any of that.

I concluded that her life was too cosy and comfortable for her to give it up. I could be wrong but every other person I have worked with has wanted to make the change. I have recently had a similar response from a man with depression. He became very anxious when I explained what I could help him achieve. In fact he seemed to be afraid of the remedies that I offered him. Again I think that he had a vested interest in staying as he was and being attended by his loving wife and children.


Related Tags: phobia, phobias, nlp, hypnosis, phobia cures, phobia remedies, phobia relief, desetisisation

Ian Bracegirdle is a teacher, course leader and therapist. He uses methods drawn from Neuro Linguistic Programming, Hypnosis and other areas to help people lead more fulfilled lives. He live in East Morton in West Yorkshire in the UK. He currently works from home and looks forward to helping you with any personal concerns. The web site to visit is http://www.designingchange.co.uk

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