PHOBIAS AND FEARS

A phobia is really a fear that is so strong that you avoid a particular activity, or try to ensure you never find yourself confronted with the thing you most fear. Feeling compelled to do this can seriously interfere with your day to day life as well as take up an enormous amount of energy you would probably rather put to better use.

Phobias take different forms. There are those that relate to a specific thing or situation. Examples of these include flying, visiting the dentist, spiders, wasps and other insects, birds, giving a presentation, visiting hospitals.

Others are more pervasive. An example is the fear of being in social situations. For some people, this means that whilst they do not avoid being with others, socialising in unfulfilling because of the anxiety it generates. For others, the thought of interacting with others is so distressing that they avoid contact with people as much as possible. For many, this can mean confining much of their activity to the home.

It is possible to overcome these fears and phobias. I work with you sensitively, and you are never forced to go beyond what you are capable of at any particular time. Remember, you are in control at all times. By the way, some people worry that I will make them confront the object of their fear in reality. This is completely contrary to the way I work, and I never do this.

Sometimes people are ashamed that they have fears or phobias. There is no need to be. Very few people are not uncomfortable about something. In fact, research has shown that the fear of public speaking is number 1 on most people's lists!

The work we do together is completely confidential. The only people who will know that you have a fear or that you have received treatment for it will be those you choose to tell. As a matter of interest, some of my clients have told me that when they started to tell selected people about their phobias or fears they felt greatly relieved, and that far from being ridiculed, they received a lot of support.

In my experience, people feel an enormous sense of achievement and relief when they have overcome a phobia or fear and have found that they also feel more confident in other areas of their lives as a result.

"Well, six flights in seven weeks and not a tremor. So I reckon if you can cure that, smoking should be easy!" M.W. London

Further Reading:

Here is an article on phobias: