Fear is a perfectly normal response to potentially dangerous stimuli. Once it begins to control certain aspects of your life, such as where you go and how you interact with others, that fear can turn excessive and become a phobia. Hypnosis is a therapeutic process that can help you overcome these problems and live life more freely. The guide below explains how hypnotherapy works and what it can be used to treat.

How Does Hypnosis Address Fears & Phobias?

Phobias are often a subconscious response that develops out of fear, so hypnosis is used to unlearn the fear response and ease anxiety surrounding the phobia. The main benefit is that hypnosis places you in a relaxed, highly focused state where you are more open to suggestions than you normally would be. 

By examining your subconscious state—where the phobias lie—hypnotherapists can dig into the root cause of your fears and determine the best methods of overcoming them. This often involves confronting those phobias, which is much easier to do while you are calm and hypnotized. The patient will become desensitized to the threat response over time and gradually diminish or even eliminate the fear.

What Fears & Phobias Can Hypnosis Treat?

1. Flying

Statistically speaking, planes are the safest mode of transportation. However, approximately 16% of Americans say they are afraid of flying. With the newfound anxieties surrounding the spread of COVID-19 in enclosed spaces, these fears have likely only intensified. Hypnosis can change your anticipatory fears and behaviors when it comes to flying, making your experiences more manageable.

2. Driving

Having a fear of driving can be highly incapacitating in today’s fast-paced world. If these anxieties result in erratic driving behavior, they become dangerous to the individual and everyone else on the road. Hypnotherapy sessions will aim to make driving a less frightening concept in your mind and allow you to be more comfortable behind the wheel.  

3. Heights

Phobias of heights are mostly connected to a fear of falling. It might manifest as minor avoidance behaviors, like staying away from the edges of tall buildings, or as extreme as an inability to climb stairs or ladders. During treatment, you will learn to approach heights more calmly and trust your body to keep you safe.

4. Elevators

The fear of elevators can come from many factors, including the tightness of the space, the speed and sudden jerky movements, and the thought of getting stuck. Whether you have had a bad experience in the past or the phobia manifested out of nowhere, hypnosis can help eliminate fearful imagery surrounding elevators. Your hypnotherapist will help you build coping mechanisms that you can employ every time you enter an elevator.

5. The Future

Abstract fears, like anxieties about the future, can be harder for individuals to face on their own. In uncertain times like these, that fear can be amplified. A hypnotherapist will encourage your subconscious mind to picture yourself happy in the future and encourage a more positive mindset.

6. Losing Your Job

With the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a widespread fear among working people that they may lose their job. Similar to a fear of the future, this stems from uncertainty and a sense of powerlessness. Under hypnosis, you may be encouraged to examine the possibility of losing your job with a practical lens. This will allow you to feel more secure and confident in your situation.

 

If you deal with a phobia that limits everyday tasks and prevents you from fully enjoying life, get in touch with Hypnotic Solutions. Serving the Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, and Northern Kentucky areas, this medical hypnotherapy practice offers personalized solutions to fears, phobias, frustrations, and many other problems. These respectful and targeted sessions will help you gain back control and live a happier, healthier life. Visit their website to learn more about hypnosis. To schedule your first appointment, call (513) 205-5669.