Arachnophobia – A Spider Phobia You Can Quickly Beat
It is normal for all people to experience some fears, but having a phobia is a more significant problem. A phobia is an irrational fear that a sufferer cannot control. Phobias are defined as a variety of anxiety disorder, and often create nervousness and panic attacks in an individual. When a person has an intense phobia, they become so desperate to stay away from their fear that it affects their daily activities and their ability to live life.
Some of the most common phobias are arachnophobia, the fear of spiders, acrophobia, the fear of heights, and claustrophobia, a fear of enclosed spaces. The number one most common phobia is arachnophobia. Although lots of people are afraid of spiders, people with arachnophobia experience an abnormally high amount of fear. Even a photo or realistic rendering of a spider can make some people nervous. Some people have panic attacks or get hysterical at the sight of a spider. They might do anything in order to avoid a spider; for example, people with extreme arachnophobia might attempt to climb out of a moving car if they see a spider next to them.
Sufferers often feel ashamed of their uncontrollable reactions. Other people and even the sufferers themselves often see their behavior as irrational. Their anxiety over spiders and their reaction to the creatures may escalate into other problems as well. Arachnophobia and other phobias often lead to a condition known as agoraphobia.
Agoraphobia can arise when a person fears being in any potentially stressful location or situation. For a person with arachnophobia, this may mean avoiding any place a spider could be hiding, unfamiliar places, and even avoiding leaving the house or going outside altogether. This can negatively disturb a person's regular. A person may be worried about having panic attacks or humiliating him or herself by losing control. Many people find themselves chronically stressed out over these feelings.
People with phobias often struggle with the inability to control their fears. This is because the root of the phobia exists in the unconscious mind; so conscious willpower or effort cannot work to control an intense fear. A phobia is best dealt with at the unconscious level, which is why Ericksonian hypnotherapy and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) techniques are the most effective phobia treatments.
There are many different hypnotic programs available for curing phobias. Most use conventional forms of hypnosis that rely on post-hypnotic suggestions with highly specific wording to work against phobias. These days, post-hypnotic suggestions rarely work because most people have a tendency to question everything. And since today's population tends to do the exact opposite of what they are told, they resist post-hypnotic suggestions and experience an entirely conflicting response.
Ericksonian hypnotherapy is different from traditional hypnotherapy because it uses indirect suggestions that are hidden in conversation. That makes them hard for the mind to detect, so they will make it through to the unconscious mind and be accepted.
The procedure typically starts by using hypnosis to make you feel very calm and relaxed. Then, instead of merely "telling" your unconscious what to do, Ericksonian techniques use metaphors and stories to lead your mind into a desirable thought process.
NLP treatments work by focusing on the particular thought process that causes an extreme phobia and using it to extinguish the fear. Because of this, NLP can be used on any phobia.
People respond much better to the combination of NLP and Ericksonian techniques than to traditional hypnosis because instead of getting direct orders, the unconscious mind is persuaded to follow a different, more logical line of thought. These hypnotherapy programs are quite effective for people who are logical, critical thinkers and people who are independent thinkers.
You do not need a unique hypnosis program for each different phobia. A single program that includes numerous sessions with the right combination of Ericksonian hypnotherapy and NLP techniques can treat any phobia. Furthermore, a well-designed program will be effective for any user. The mix of a multitude of techniques in several different sessions ensures success for anyone who uses them. By completing each step of the process, people are often amazed at how easily they overcome their phobias.
Ericksonian hypnotherapy and NLP focus on changing irrational behaviors and fears into calm, relaxed responses. For many individuals suffering from debilitating fears such as a phobia, this is a life-changing treatment. Hypnosis therapy is a powerful tool for overcoming fears and anxieties to live a fuller, better life.
Alan B. Densky, CH has invented several hypnotherapeutic methods for healing a phobia. His site offers a complete self hypnosis & NLP article library devoted to every aspect of self-hypnosis and NLP. Visit for Free self help videos, downloads, and newsletters.