A phobia can be defined as a compelling fear or dread of a particular object or situation.

How is a phobia created?

Typically the person with the phobia experiences a traumatic or Significant Emotional Event (S.E.E) during a situation or in close proximity to an object which becomes symbolic of the event. From a behavioural psychology perspective the S.E.E and the phobia trigger are 'anchored' so that every time the phobia trigger is fired it produces the emotion associated with the original event.

This is why despite wanting to be phobia free many people's phobia will grow in intensity over the years and defy logic or reason. Otherwise we could rationalise away the phobia. Because the association between the emotional event and the object or situation are created unconsciously they need to be disconnected at an unconscious level. Would you like to know more? Then use this link to read the many articles collected by the virtual therapist on how a phobia is created and cured.

The symptoms of phobia

When the phobia is triggered it's easy to intensify possible dangers whilst reducing the ability to cope. Typical physical reactions are excessive sweating, shaking, nausea, rapid or shallow breathing and nausia. Psychologically there is a intense sence of panic, fear or dread. Our reference section has more information on the symptoms of phobia.

Phobia Types

There are a number of dirrerent types of phobia which medically are classified as anxiety disorders. Because the key to successful treatment of a phobia is often dependent on the type, it's important to be able to identify the specific type that is causing the problem. For a full listing of the different anxiety disorders visit our phobia types information pages.

Break the phobia association

There are a number of proven methods to break the association at the unconscious level. The Phobia Free Therapy featured alongside has been tested many times in the British Press and been found to be highly effective in all cases. Whatever phobia cure you use, the key thing to understand is that your unconscious mind created this connection or 'phobia' for your protection, to remove the phobia your unconscious mind needs to know you are safe.

Use this questioning process to ensure safety:
1. "Is it ok to continue to be totally safe and remove the negative emotions associated with the phobia?"
A. If you get a strong, positive "YES" continue onto one of the techniques below.
B. If you are not sure, you'll get a strong sense of "NO" or a phrase like "I think so" or "Probably" or "Maybe". Then remember that holding on to the negative emotion is harmful and potentially damaging to the body.

2. Then ask yourself the first question again "It is ok to continue to be totally safe and remove the negative emotions associated with the phobia?"
A. If "YES" continue to one of the techniques.
B. If the answer is still "NO", ask your yourself "Would it be ok to experience the emotion surrounding the phobia reducing, whilst remaining totally safe?" If you get a "YES" then proceed.

If you feel the answer is still "NO", you need to understand the purpose of holding on to the negative emotion, which may require one-on-one help from a qualified professional. See the resource list for details. You can still use the techniques to break the association, however you may need repeated usage to achieve the desired effect.

Calibrate the changes

Start by thinking of the object or situation that caused the phobia in the past and score it on a scale of one (low, no emotion) to ten (high emotion, physical symptoms of stress) for how much fear it created. This will provide you a benchmark so that you know how much it has changed having used one or more of the techniques below.

For objects: Change the phobia pattern

These techniques are specifically designed to break the association at a symbolic or unconscious level for objects. So if you have a spider phobia, insect phobia, dog phobia, cat phobia etc it's the right process to use. This process requires your active participation to be most effective. The more you play the faster it goes away! Choose the technique from the three below that will be most effective for you, trust your instincts and either:

Remove your phobia with music
Listen to your favourite piece of music on the stereo (loud) and whilst singing along think of that old phobia that used to make you feel the way that it did and notice how it seems less important now.

Remove your old phobia by watching TV
Put your favourite movie on the T.V. and whilst pretending to be one of the characters attempt to remember that old phobia and let it become an increasingly dim and distant feeling and see how you have changed.

Remover your ex phobia by having a bath
Have a bath, with lots of bubble bath, run the suds through you fingers and try to recall those past emotions and notice how easily the way old emotions just wash away.

For situations: Visualise a different behaviour

This technique is specifically designed to remove the emotional attachment of the phobia and replace it with a new one. This process is a very fast process and can be repeated until the old emotion is gone or reduced to an insignificant level. Use it for phobias that involve situations like claustrophobia or agoraphobia..

Find a quiet place to relax. Visualise a small black and white T.V. screen that is above your eye level. Play the movie of the old phobia on the screen, half way through imagine it dissolving and being replaced by a new colourful movie of what you want instead.

After using the techniques, notice what you feel differently when you think about the object or situation and rescore how you feel on a scale of one to ten. If necessary repeat or interchange these techniques to further reduce your score to a point where the phobia is no longer an issue.