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PANIC
ATTACKS
AND
PHOBIAS
I am often dismayed to see
what people put up with in their life, when there is a simple,
but effective cure available. For example, I read an item
on the National Phobic Society's website about a woman in
her 50s who suffers from Emetophobia…the fear of being sick.
Her phobia has been so intense that she couldn't bear the
thought of having morning sickness and as a result, has never
had children. How sad is that.
Phobias invariably start for one of
three reasons:
- A traumatic experience,
usually in childhood;
- Inherited from a parent
or sibling;
- As a result of a panic
attack occurring in a specific situation.
Most people are aware of examples
of the first two situations; but it is the third that is unusual
and I will explain how this can occur with a real example (the
client has given his approval for me to use his case).
The client, lets call him Tom,
complained that he had a phobia of restaurants. Virtually every
time he went into one, he had a panic attack and even the thought
provoked anxiety.
Treatment for simple phobias
is usually quick and effective. After helping Tom into a light
trance (all hypnosis is self-hypnosis), I asked the question
'what is the first event connected to your phobia….?' He immediately
identified that the event occurred when he was in a restaurant
at the age of 24 with his first wife; shortly after the birth
of his son. At first he could not recall, what had provoked
the panic attack. There was no traumatic event, no row with
his wife etc. following persistent questioning, Tom eventually
stated that he was re-experiencing a feeling of guilt. Again,
further questioning identified that he had felt guilty about
not being able to support his wife and son to the level that
he thought that he should; resulting from the fact that he had
had a mis-spent youth and not obtained good qualifications,
nor subsequently a well-paid job.
The restaurant was incidental
in the issue and not the cause. He could have experienced a
panic attack in a pub and developed a pub phobia (Heaven forbid
!). It is possible though, that the expenditure on the meal
was a contributing factor.
Having identified the root
cause, it was a simple procedure to change his perception of
the problem and a recent note from him stated, amongst other
things, the following: 'I have been out a lot in the short time
since I saw you and have felt so much more relaxed and because
of that enjoying myself without anxiety.'
The whole process had lasted
just under one hour. If you suffer from panic attacks, or have
a phobia and would like to discuss the matter on an informal,
no-commitment basis, please contact me on 01252 711522,
or via my website on www.chrisjones.uk.com
Chris
Jones
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