However, some people have fears of phobias that limit their opportunities in life: the person with a fear of flying may find being in a plane uncomfortable, however someone with a more serious fear, or phobia, of flying may completely avoid going on, or perhaps even seeing, an airplane; equally, someone with a fear of open spaces may avoid large parks, fields and sports grounds, however someone with a more serious fear, or perhaps agoraphobia, may never leave their house.
Below is a list of the more common fears and phobias that we get consulted about:
● Spiders - Arachnophobia
● Flying - aviatopophobia
● Water - Hydrophobia
● Heights - Acrophobia
● Enclosed spaces - Claustrophobia
● Open spaces - Agorophobia
● Crowds - Demophobia
● Darkness - Nyctophobia
● Dentists - Odontophobia
● Speaking in public - Glossophobia
● Needles - Aichmophobia
● Death or dying - Thanatophobia
● Being sick – Emetophobia or Emetephobia (may also be known as phagophobia, vomitophobia, vomit phobia, sickness phobia) For more info on fear of being sick, click here.
● Being judged or put on the spot - Social Phobia, or Scopophobia. For more info on social phobia, click here.
● Urinating in front of others, shy bladder, paruresis, toilet anxiety or toilet phobia
● Defecating (either alone, or in earshot of others), stools and losing bowel control – Coprophobia, or Corporophobia
There are probably very few of us that do not have any fears or phobias, even if it’s as simple as being a little fearful of spiders, or perhaps liking to sleep with a little light shining somewhere nearby as the dark is not comfortable. Many such fears are manageable and the majority of us experience them at some point in our lives with little impact.
Perhaps there is an upcoming event that you would like specific help with. For example, perhaps you want to go on holiday, but have a fear of flying and want help to get you onto the flight; perhaps you have a fear of spiders and are about to go camping.; or perhaps you have a fear of dogs and are soon to go and stay with a friend who has a dog. For these types of issue,
hypnosis, combined with suggestion therapy will enable you to reduce your fear or anxiety and to feel more in control.It will provide you with a greater sense of self; it will boost self-confidence and self-esteem; it will help you build on your self-belief and you will have a strong visual image of yourself being calm and self-assured in your upcoming event.
An added bonus is that hypnosis is wonderfully relaxing and reduces stress levels.
Here at Epping Hypnotherapy I have substantial experience of helping people to reduce fears and phobias over specific events and you would need just one session a week or two before the event in question.
Ongoing and Pervasive Issues with Fears and Phobias
Perhaps your issues are more long term or pervasive and you have found that your fear or phobia is having a limiting effect upon your life? Or perhaps you would like to remove and resolve all future issues in relation to your fear or phobia? In these circumstances it is likely that you would benefit most from a course of Beliefs work – 7 sessions and you will be done!
Understanding Social Anxiety and Social Phobia
Social anxiety and social phobia affect an enormous number of us to some extent or another. It is very likely that some, if not many, of the following list will be familiar to you:
● Don’t like being put ‘on the spot’
● Find it very difficult to talk publicly or to give presentations
● Find large groups of people intimidating
● Find it difficult to make friends
● Lack confidence in social settings, being shy
● Find parties and small talk difficult
● Suffer with pre-exam or pre-test nerves
● Try and stick to the rules
● Sense of being watched
● Find talking on the phone difficult
● Frequently blushing, stuttering or stammering
● Find maintaining eye contact with people difficult
● Hiding, or keep yourself below people’s level of perception
● Fear of being judged, criticized, mocked or rejected
● Shy bladder (not wanting/able to urinate in public urinals)
● Sexual performance issues (e.g. impotence, premature ejaculation)
● Feel as though people may find out that you’re a fraud
For many people social anxiety and social phobia creates significant problems in their lives, often without them knowing the root cause. The issues created via social anxiety and social phobia can seep out into every aspect of your life: perhaps you choose to live alone, or begin to avoid social interactions; you lack confidence in your abilities and your lack of confidence creates difficulties on your work; you fail to get appointed to jobs you are more than capable of doing due to your lack of faith in yourself and this leads to others questioning your abilities too; you may dress in dull or dark colours to try and hide yourself, or perhaps you over-eat as a way of avoiding unwanted attention and/or flattery; you don’t challenge others in order to avoid conflict; or you may be chronically insecure about your relationships.
Social Anxiety is very common especially in young people where everyone is on social media looking like they are living their best life. With filters and people being photo shopped there is this constant message that you need to look perfect and therefore it is understandably very hard to not feel judged.
Getting rid of Social Anxiety is one of the main skills you will learn if you decide to complete the Beliefs Programme.
Understanding Social Anxiety and Social Phobia
Understanding Emetophobia or Fear of Being Sick
Emetophobia is known by many names (emetephobia, phagophobia, vomitophobia, vomit phobia, sickness phobia, fear of vomiting, fear of gagging, fear of swallowing, fear of choking, globus hystericus), but whatever you call it this condition can affect sufferers deeply. There are also a number of other fears that can be associated with a fear of being sick:
Fears and Phobias
There are probably very few of us that do not have any fears or phobias, even if it’s as simple as being a little fearful of spiders, or perhaps liking to sleep with a little light shining somewhere nearby as the dark is not comfortable. Many such fears are manageable and the majority of us experience them at some point in our lives with little impact.
● Gagging
● Seeing others being sick
● Choking on food
● Pregnancy (due to the possibility of morning sickness)
● Drowning
● Social phobia (for more info on social phobia, click here)
This is a condition that appears to affect more women than men and if you are someone who suffers with emetophobia, you will know only too well that the symptoms can seriously affect and limit your ability to enjoy life to the full as this condition can have a very disabling effect on the sufferer.
Many sufferers will avoid all places where there is a possibility of themselves, or others, being sick: for example pubs, restaurants, clubbing, eating in front of others. Due to the link between eating and potentially being sick, many sufferers are a little obsessive about what, where and with who they will eat. Many view being sick as 'horrible’, ‘dirty’, ‘yucky' etc, and so it is quite common for emetophobics to also have fears of other situations where they might feel the same way: going to the toilet, urinating in front of others (e.g. at a public urinal - shy bladder), or even just being a little bit sweaty.
How I Can Help?
The Beliefs Programme would help you to resolve all issues relating to your fear of being sick, leaving you free to lead a life without symptoms in future. It would also provide you with a greater sense of self; it will boost self-confidence and self-esteem; it will help you build on your self-belief. and you will find yourself being calm, self-assured and confident in situations where previously you may have experienced your most severe symptoms.
I have worked with many people who have suffered from Emetophobia for many years. They have had it from about the age of 5 or 6 and it literally has ruined their lives and they feel so embarrassed that they may never have talked about it outside their immediate family.
I will help you to feel at ease so that you feel comfortable and free to talk about your symptoms in a safe and friendly environment. I understand how difficult it can be to talk about emetophobia and to seek help, but if you would like to rid yourself of emetophobia and resolve any related emotional issues forever, I am confident that I can help you.