Most people have a phobia or fear of some kind. Phobias and fears can be very powerful and lead to severe emotional reactions that cause symptoms, such as headache, soreness in limbs, blurred vision, dizziness, racing heart, sweating, and even full blown panic attacks.   

Phobias and fears can lead to embarrassment and have a controlling effect on a person's life. Something as common as a fear of flying, could not only restrict a person's ability to fly overseas on holiday, but could even prevent them from retiring or working overseas.

Fears vs. Phobias

There is a general distinction between a fear and a phobia; a fear is rational, whilst a phobia is an irrational fear.

For instance, a fear of heights is rational. After all, it's probably a good thing that humans have a healthy alertness when exposed to heights. However, if that fear is so severe that it negatively impacts on your life by preventing you from doing a charity walk in the Andes or going up a five foot step-ladder to do some DIY, then you have an issue. 

Phobias, being irrational fears, often lead people to say "I know it's silly, but...". This is because the person often knows there is no rational reason why they should hold that fear.  For instance, some people are terrified of clowns or people in costumes. This may not be a problem day-to-day, but becomes one if they are unable to take your children to Alton Towers or Disney World because they're terrified of the costume-clad entertainment staff.

 Hypnosis - a powerful way of overcoming phobias and fears!

Here's a list of 10 of the most common phobias / fears a hypnotherapist will encounter:

1.         Arachnophobia - Adnormal fear of spiders

2.         Claustrophobia - Fear of enclosed or confined spaces

3.         Aviophobia - Fear of flying

4.         Entomophobia - Fear of insects or other 'bugs'

5.         Agoraphobia - Fear of open or public spaces

6.         Sociaphobia - Social anxiety

7.         Acrophobia - Fear of heights

8.         Brontophobia - Fear of thunder and lightening

9.         Necrophobia - Fear of death or dead things

10.       Emetophobia - Fear of vomiting or other people vomiting

These are just some of the most commons phobias/fears. Others can be more unusual, for example a fear of buttons (Koumpounophobia) or of the colour yellow (Xanthophobia).  These less common and unusual fears and phobias can still cause powerful emotional responses that reduce a persons quality of life.  All can be treated effectively with hypnosis.