Phobia-What Is A Phobia?

Phobia-What Is A Phobia?

Phobia is a derivative of the Greek word “phobos”, meaning fear. It does seem however,

to have two different definitions. Here are a couple of examples: a) an extremely intense and overwhelming sense of fear with regard to a specific stimulus or b) an intense dislike or hatred of something.

Here are a couple of examples: Arachnophobia is an intense fear of spiders. I know a few people that have this particular phobia and I find it quite disturbing to watch just how they react upon sighting one.

This reaction can even present itself when they view a picture of one or see one on TV. It’s obvious that spiders cause them a great deal of discomfort.

Homophobia is a fear of homosexuals. Here we see a different interpretation of the word phobia. In this case it means an intense dislike or hatred toward homosexuals rather than an intense and overwhelming fear that would invoke terror in the heart of the homophobic.

So, what is the difference between a phobia and a fear? Most people have fears of one kind or another. Fears of: examinations, speaking in public, etc. etc.

In fact, I have a fear of public speaking. A couple of times in my life, I’ve been asked to stand up in front of a crowded room and give a talk on a specific subject.

As I recall, just prior to walking out onto the stage, my hands started to sweat, I felt anxious and my legs turned almost to jelly.

These feelings are normal and, once I got out there and into my stride, I started to feel good and, as I did, the anxiety along with my sweaty hands and jelly legs disappeared.

Now, if I had a phobia about speaking in public, then, wild horses wouldn’t have got me onto that stage in front of all those people.

How do I know this? Well, I was agoraphobic for twenty odd years and I have first-hand experience of what it feels like to have a phobia.

To give a very brief definition, agoraphobia is a fear of panic attacks. Having experienced several panic episodes whilst travelling, I eventually gave up going outside altogether and became housebound.

Until quite recently, phobias were incurable. The only relief that could be offered was in the form of medication but, under normal circumstances, this would only be administered if the phobia were such that it restricted the sufferer’s life.

However, nowadays there is a system that will allow a person to overcome their phobias and take back control of their life once more. I used this system to say goodbye to my panic attacks and agoraphobia for good.

Overcoming Social Phobia

Everybody experiences an irrational and strong aversion or fear of a particular thing, individual, or situation. This condition is generally referred to as phobia.

There are numerous types of phobia, and one of the most common is the social phobia. This type of phobic condition hinders some individuals from totally socializing or mingling with others.

It is quite innate for a person to feel shy or nervous when dealing with other people. While some are not self-conscious when speaking in front of a huge crowd, there are those who are literally afraid of doing so.

Even having a simple conversion with peers is oftentimes a struggle for individuals who have social phobia.

Generally, people with social phobia have no problems interacting with close friends, relatives, and family members.

However, intense self-consciousness and fear of rejection or embarrassment enter when these individuals meet new people who are outside their comfort zones.

Moreover, the case of social phobia focuses on an individual’s concerns and anxieties on their performance and image in their social circle.

A normal person never has to spend so much time worrying about criticisms or how other people might see or judge them. But for those dealing with social phobia, they are always troubled and conscious on what others notice and feel about them.

Overcoming and dealing with social phobia

Just like other people with different types of phobia, individuals who are suffering from social stigma can definitely control and manage their fear and anxiety of being around or mingling with other people. Below are some ways on how one can overcome and deal with this type of phobia:

1. Get support from family and friends

It is extremely essential for those with social phobia to have support from the people who are very close to them – family and friends.

These people can help strengthen one’s morale, thus, further encouraging that person to go out of his shell, socialize with others, and develop relationships outside his comfort zone.

2. Seek help from a therapist

Aside from family and friends, therapists are also the best ones to seek help from by those who have social phobia.

These experts can help establish one’s self-esteem and confidence. They are also good at counseling and creating programs that can aid one in facing social concerns and fears.

Although there are some therapists who prescribe medications to patients, majority of treatments only include social development programs or plans.

3. Maintain one’s willingness and commitment to become better

The success of overcoming and dealing with social phobia basically relies on the individual’s willingness and commitment to improve his phobic condition.

Being patient is important since the process requires one to deal with his greatest fears on facing other people and becoming open to things that are not within his comfort zone.

As a social phobic continuous to seek improvement on his condition, he will eventually overcome his fears and become more and more comfortable dealing with new people, accepting criticisms, and welcoming things that are new to him.

Cure Phobias With Hypnosis

A phobia is an irrational, persistent fear of a certain object or situation. There are several different forms of a phobia.

A phobia can be a fear of something specific such as flying or a social phobia which causes an individual to feel anxiety about a social situation.

Examples of a specific phobia may involve a fear of small animals, closed in spaces and snakes. Social phobias would be a fear of giving a speech, talking to the boss or meeting new people.

It is estimated that over five percent of the population has one or more clinically diagnosed phobias. A phobia usually begins in childhood and continues into adulthood. Some phobias, if left untreated, can debilitate a person.

For example someone with agoraphobia, a fear of the outside world, is unable to leave their house. It is important to deal with a phobia head on in order to rid yourself of your fear. Hypnosis is a proven method to cure phobias.

Hypnosis is a process that introduces positive suggestions into the subconscious mind of an individual. A deep state of relation is induced in which the subconscious mind is the most receptive to new perspectives and ideas.

As the positive perspectives and ideas are introduced the client, undergoing hypnosis, will receive motivational encouragement, confidence building statements and a direct plan for curing a phobia.

The new ideas that are introduced into the subconscious mind cause a person to form healthier beliefs, values and habitual thinking patterns.

An individual no longer has to live with their phobia. A phobia takes control of a person’s life. Regain the control back by using hypnosis to cure phobias.

An individual who has undergone hypnosis will experience other additional health benefits. Clients have found that hypnosis calms the nerves, the mind and the entire body.

Hypnosis releases stress and alleviates anxiety. The positive ideas and perspectives that an individual receives build self esteem and boost confidence.

Hypnosis has a positive effect on every aspect of a person’s life. This is a safe, gentle and positive process that can be used by both teenagers and adults.

Stop living in fear. Hypnosis has the power to cure your phobia. If you want to rid yourself of your phobia then I recommend, as a practicing hypnotherapist, that you visit with a qualified hypnotherapist located in your area. Hypnosis can lead to a happier and healthier existence that is phobia free.

Driving You Crazy: Driving Phobia And Its Treatment

It’s a surprise to most people – including those that suffer from it – that driving phobia is one of the most common phobias.

This is because it’s a hidden phobia: sufferers are embarrassed by it so they go to great lengths to accommodate and conceal their fear.

And they think they are alone. But they are not. Their condition is well understood by phobia specialists and their symptoms, avoidance patterns and responses are very similar to those of other silent sufferers.

WHAT IS DRIVING PHOBIA?

Driving phobia is an irrational fear of driving, of being or feeling out of control whilst driving, causing dread, panic and avoidance.

It is rarely skills related – most people with a driving phobia are good, competent drivers. They are usually normal, well-balanced people who once drove happily but are now anxious and panicky when driving or else don’t drive at all.

WHO IT AFFECTS

A driving phobia is like getting a puncture: it happens to lots of people, it can happen to anyone and it makes driving very difficult or impossible.

And it’s very frustrating for sufferers because a part of them – the conscious, rational, thinking part – knows that they are good drivers and these situations are non-threatening.

But they nevertheless find that when they are on certain roads or in particular driving situations, another part of them (the irrational unconscious part) drives out rational thought and fear floods in.

Experience shows that it is the more imaginative, creative or artistic people who are more prone to developing driving phobias.

This is because phobias have a lot to do with the misuse of the imagination. So it can affect all kinds of people, irrespective of their driving skill.

THE CAUSE

Driving phobia can be caused by a traumatic or unsettling event (such as an accident) but is usually caused by something much milder (like overtaking on a freeway, being stuck in a jam or going over a high bridge)

which normally would be okay but at the time the individual was perhaps a lot more stressed that normal (background stress levels raised by other things like tiredness or financial, work or relationship problems) and this tipped them into a mild panic attack.

The irrational mind (which is also responsible for survival and instincts) creates a pattern of this event and matches this to future times and places, triggering the same kind of panic response again and again. This builds into a phobia.

So driving phobia is linked to different things for different people – to driving on wide open roads like freeways (most common), to expressways, small roads, hills, high roads, bridges,

flyovers, particular routes, junctions, to maneuvers (especially overtaking), to being boxed in by heavy traffic, to being close to particular vehicles (usually large or high-sided ones) or to being limited to a particular speed.

It often starts on freeways and spreads to smaller highways or expressways, then to smaller roads, restricting the routes, speed and distances that can be traveled.

SAFETY BEHAVIOURS & AVOIDANCE

Sufferers use numerous safety and avoidance strategies to accommodate and control their embarrassment and panic.

As more and more routes or situations are avoided, the sufferer’s world starts to close in. Energy and time are used in planning and driving alternative routes. They may have to drive at times when the roads are clear.

Partners and friends may have to drive instead or have to take over en route. Excuses are made to avoid giving people lifts or traveling with friends and colleagues.

Jobs and invitations may be turned down. People and situations are manipulated. Freedom and independence are diminished.

Over time such “solutions” interfere so much in life that they actually become part of the problem. At this point – and it can take years for someone with a driving phobia to get to this point – the sufferer acknowledges that they can’t change this themselves, and seeks professional help.

TREATMENT FOR DRIVING PHOBIA

There are now effective, pain-free, scare-free and drug-free treatments available for driving phobia, indeed, for any phobia.

The most remarkable of these is the Fast Phobia Cure which rapidly, reliably and comfortably de-conditions the patterns that drive the phobia.

Using the Fast Phobia Cure most phobias – even extreme and long-standing phobias – can be eliminated in a matter of minutes.

Other common phobia treatments include the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) which can provide effective and fast relief, and Cognitive Therapy – designed to change the way you think about driving – is also useful but often involves exposure therapy and is more long-term.

Finding the Source of Your Fears and Overcoming Them

Finding the Source of Your Fear

Any problem cannot be resolved unless you get to the source of the problem. The same is the case with your fears.

If you are serious about getting rid of those fears and lead a more rewarding life free of fears, then you have to take care of this step before you proceed any further.

Why is finding the source of your fear important? Identifying the triggers of your fears will help you either manage, eliminate, or combat them. Regardless of the type of fear you have, there is always a source that triggers it.

Hence, you can take the time to list down your fears and their level of intensity. Then, take note about environmental, emotional, or other factors that could trigger that fear. This will help you trace the source of your fear.

Aside from external triggers, make sure that you also consider the internal triggers. Was there something in your past that created this emotional responses? It is basically as simple as asking yourself, “Why am I afraid?”!

Another important reason why finding the source of your fear is of essential is that it enables you to assess whether it is something that you can manage and control on your own, or whether you need professional help.

Getting Started

If you want more success in overcoming your fears, then you need to take the initiative so you can get proper help for whatever fears or anxieties that consume you. Here are tips to get you started on the right track:

• Remain positive. Fears that produce negative impact are also triggered by negative thoughts and outlook in life. Therefore, you must try to brush aside those negative ideas from your mind and prevent yourself from feeling depressed.

• Communicate with your internal self. There is no better person who knows about your fears than you do. So, you need to create awareness about your fears by identifying them and breaking them down into more manageable parts.

• Assess your fears. Some fears are irrational and often takes place in the mind of the person instead of actual reality.

Overcoming Your Fears

The importance of learning how to overcome your fears is rather obvious. No one wants to live their life in constant worry or fear, no matter how intense it may be. An anxiety-free life is one that provides more opportunity for growth and liberates you.

Here are basic techniques that you can try if you want to find relief from your fears or totally eliminate them:

*Visualization
*Gather facts
*Get professional help

Visualization

Take time each day to find a place where you can be isolated and be able to concentrate. Your objective is to transport yourself in a low stress situation wherein you have control over your fear, instead of the other way around. Imagine your fear as a concrete object that you destroy. You will never realize how it is able to calm you down.

Gather Facts

Most fears are caused by the unknown or people’s inability to have control over a given situation. When you are suffering from certain types of fear, you need to look into the reality of the situation and gather information that you can.

The more facts you have in hand, the less you become stressed about your situation because you always know you can manage it.

Professional Help

If you are one of those people who are too afraid to perform self-talk or confront their fears head-on, then it is best to seek professional help.

They will start by assessing your fears and then suggest techniques that you can employ to combat those fears. Overcoming fears is often a long process, so don’t expect to get rid of all your fears (if you have many) at once.

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