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TIP
OF THE MONTH
PHOBIA'S
Following our work on ITV This Morning 'Phobia Week', we have been
inundated with emails from literally thousands of people asking for help, or
sharing their phobia story with us. Many thanks to all those who emailed. To
assist you we thought we'd share some information, our philosophy and some tips
with regards to phobia's and how you can assist in alleviating the
effects.
Probably the most common phobia's we treat in our private practice
are 'Emetophobia' (a fear of vomiting), 'Claustrophobia' (a fear of enclosed
spaces), 'Mysophobia' (a fear of germs), 'Agoraphobia' (a fear of open spaces)
'Glossophobia' (a fear of public speaking) and 'Arachnophobia (a fear of
spiders). Although these are the most common, we have also treated thousands of
phobias for everything and anything you could possibly imagine like, body hair,
driving, eyes, buttons, animals, food, rubber, water, death and the list goes
on.
The great news is that we are
only born with two fears, being a fear of falling and a fear of loud noises.
Every other fear is learned either from copied behaviour (for example a parent),
or as a result of a bad experience. In essence you have created an inaccurate
'Schema' or in other words behavioural reference.
As you weren't born with
your phobia the good news is that you don't have to live with it forever
(particularly as your belief is untrue, as it's merely based on your
interpretation of an event, and if it were true then EVERYONE would have the
same phobia as you).
So although it is unlikely, BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE to cure
your own phobia without a therapy session, we can help you alleviate the
symptoms by trying the following:-
1.
To alter your fearful Schema or
reference, imagine the event that started the phobia or if you do not know this,
imagine your first or worst phobic response, and see it as a movie. Watch it
from start to finish and notice how it feels. Then run the movie backwards,
finish to start as fast as possible. Do this repeatedly each time faster than
the last. After you have done this several times, when you look back at the
memory you will notice your feelings about it have changed. This should
alleviate your fear, however if you are still a little uncomfortable then repeat
the process.
2. Question your belief. Ask yourself, why did it start,
what is your belief and is that belief true? Look for evidence, as to why your
belief is not true, then ask yourself why believe a lie?
3. If you feel
a phobic response to something, stop, trace the feeling of fear (it could be in
your stomach, chest or head). With your eyes closed trace where the feeling
moves and in which direction with your hand and then reverse it backwards.
4. Think of someone who really makes you laugh, think about a time you
laughed uncontrollably then while laughing & feeling happy recall what you
are phobic to. Immediately switch to the funny event again making the thought
clear, large and colourful. Repeat until you notice that the laughter dilutes
your anxiety.
5. And finally, although our private practice is booked a
year in advance, we will be doing some events in late August and September where
we will be demonstrating a phobia treatment with all who attend, and we will
also be using volunteers from the audience to cure them live on stage of their
phobia, so if you're there it could be you.
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On
Thursday we
worked with Lisa and her fear of all dogs, and the week concluded with Wendy who
had a fear of Frogs and Toads.
During the week, we managed to catch up with our lovely friend Kym Marsh,
and it was also great to meet the lovely Olivia Newton John.
As always, it's such a pleasure to work
on This Morning. The team are phenomenal and Philip, Holly, Eamonn and Ruth are
lovely!
It was also
Eva's birthday in April, and so as things have been so hectic, we decided to
have a family day out which included, dinner and a trip to the cinema to see the
Avengers Assemble movie. Also, Olivia & Hunter made and decorated a
beautiful birthday cake for Eva.
Again, enormous thanks to the thousands of people who have emailed &
tweeted, and for all the messages of encouragement, thanks and support! We
really appreciate your kindness, and look forward to doing the University tour
later in the year, so that we will have the opportunity to meet and work with
more of you.
Sending you our very best wishes for true happiness always
Nik & Eva
xxx
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