A phobia is basically an abnormal fear which is brought on by a particular object (spider) or situation (flying)...

 

The fear leads to an avoidance of the object or event.  Sometimes a persons movements can become so restricted in an effort to minimise any contact with the fear that it becomes difficult to maintain a normal life.

 

A phobia can develop as a result of some severe past trauma or through a series of negative experiences that reinforce one another.  Often a phobia is a learnt behaviour from childhood which has been inadvertently transmitted and absorbed by watching a personal role model like mum or dad being afraid of spiders.

 

Some common phobias:

• Animal phobias - spiders, dogs, snakes, mice.
• Flying phobia - getting on a plane, heights.
• Social phobia - social gatherings, being watched.
• Claustrophobia - fear of closed spaces.
• Agoraphobia - fear of open spaces.
• Dental phobia - fear of going to the dentist.

 

Hypnotherapy can produce total remission of the disabling symptoms of a phobia, often in one session only.