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Phobias
Phobias

Specific phobias are characterized by strong, irrational, involuntary fear reactions to a particular object, place, or situation. These fear reactions lead people to dread confronting common, everyday situations, or avoid them altogether, even though they know logically there’s no threat of danger. The fear doesn’t make sense, but nothing seems to be able to stop it.

Phobias can disrupt daily routines, limit work efficiency, reduce self-esteem, and place a strain on relationships because individuals will do whatever they can to avoid the uncomfortable and often terrifying feelings of phobic anxiety. While some phobias develop in childhood, most seem to come out of the blue, usually during adolescence or early adulthood. They often occur in situations that previously did not cause any discomfort or anxiety. Common phobias include insects (most commonly spiders, or arachnophobia), heights, thunder, driving, public transportation, flying, dental or medical procedures, elevators, vomiting, snakes and even birds.

Phobias affect almost 10% of people in the United States.  The good news, however, is that phobias can be treated, and almost anyone can overcome a phobia. 

One of the most common treatments for phobias is exposure therapy – where the person is exposed to the exact thing he or she is phobic about!  For example, if one is phobic about heights, the therapist would expose the person to greater and greater heights over time, until the person can tolerate a tall building.  However, there are easier ways, such as hypnosis and EMDR.  Again, please don’t hesitate to contact me – I am willing to answer your questions as to how hypnosis and EMDR work to help with these issues.