What is a phobia?
A phobia is something a person fears to the point that they feel they have to change how they behave. One type of phobia, called specific phobia, can involve fear of an object (like a lift) or a situation (like public speaking) that poses little or no danger. Phobias can also involve fear of being embarrassed, looked at, or made fun of in social or work situations. These are called social phobias. With both of these phobias, the fear is extreme and hard to control. Without treatment, phobias can last many years and affect a person's career, relationships, and daily life activities. Both specific and social phobias are types of anxiety disorders.

It's important to know that when a person has a specific or social phobia, it's not his or her fault. And, it's not something a person can just "snap out of." No one knows for sure what causes phobias.

What are specific phobias and what are the symptoms?
Specific phobias are common - they strike 10% of people. Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from this illness. Starting in the teenage and adult years, they may run in families. They begin suddenly and tend to last longer than childhood phobias (like being afraid of the dark).

When a person has a specific phobia, they have an intense fear of something that poses little or no real danger. Because there is no or little danger, a person's fear is not based on reality (called irrational fear). Some of the more common specific phobias involve fear of closed-in places, heights, escalators, lifts, tunnels, motorway driving, bridges, water, flying, dogs, and injuries involving blood. And, a specific phobia often makes no sense. For instance, you may be able to parachute out of planes with ease but not be able to go above the 4th floor of an office building. Most people with these phobias know that they don't make sense. But, facing their fear, or even thinking about it, can bring on a panic attack or severe anxiety.

Specific phobias can be treated, helping a person have a full and healthy life. But, when the object of the fear is easy to avoid, a person may decide to do so rather than get treatment. Not getting treatment, though, can cause a person to make decisions that will affect their personal life and limit their career.

How can hypnotherapy help overcome phobias? 
Specific phobias are often childhood fears that were never outgrown. In other instances they may develop after a traumatic event, such as an accident, natural disaster, illness, or visit to the dentist-in other words, as a result of conditioning. A final cause is childhood modelling. Repeated observation of a parent with a specific phobia can lead a child to develop it as well.

Hypnotherapy is helpful in treating phobias.  A course of hypnosis therapy will help to assist in removing fearful thoughts that tend to perpetuate the specific phobia. This process will replace the fearful thoughts with positive controlled actions.  This can easily be achieved through the use of Relaxation, Desensitization and Visualization and Positive Affirmations.