Fear is an emotion that is based on an impending event that holds a reasonable degree of danger to your well-being or that of your family, friends or possessions… And that is good! A fear that is founded on a genuine threat, prepares you to respond in an appropriate way and enhances the likelihood of avoiding a danger or loss. However, when fear is based on an imagined threat, it is called a phobia... and that is bad.

A phobia is a fear that is centered on an irrational response to something that holds little or no danger to your safety or security. Imagined fear inhibits one from engaging in activities that could otherwise bring convenience and pleasure. For example, the fear of elevators (claustrophobia) creates an obvious inconvenience, the fear of heights (Acrophobia) keeps a person from enjoying a view of the Grand Canyon and a fear of flying (Aviophobia) keeps a person from going places quickly and safely.

Irrational fears and phobias are simply the consequence of false perception — perceiving a threat to be real when it isn’t real.

It is rational for a soldier going into battle to experience fear, but it is not rational to be afraid of a mouse. A soldier’s fear of going to war is based on a real threat; going into hysterics over seeing a mouse is a phobia — a conditioned response to the sight of a mouse… More accurately put: Going into hysterics at the sight of a mouse is based on a false perception — the false perception that mice harm people. Sure mice get into your stuff and leave "mouse tracks" around but the perception that one will hurt you is a false one.

It is wise to exercise caution and have some apprehension when approaching the top edge of a 1,000 foot cliff; but it is irrational to stay in the car when you consciously know you would be perfectly safe to stand next to a safety railing and enjoy a majestic view of the Grand Canyon. Having a false perception there something to fear keeps you from enjoying a magnificent experience.

It is understandable that a person who has experienced a terrifying event they would avoid being in the same circumstance in which the event may reoccur... that is good. We had ought to learn from our experiences and avoid making the same mistake more than once. On the other hand it is irrational to feel fear about an activity that we consciously and rationally know holds little if any danger--like flying. Statistically there is no safer mode of transportation that is safer then flying, you may already know this, yet the false perception that there is something to fear conjures up fearful emotions and has nothing to do with reasonable, rational thinking.

My approach to hypnosis purges your brain of your limiting false-perceptions through hypnotic suggestions and replaces them with perceptions that are based on being free from your fears and phobias and consequently you feel and act as if the fear or phobia was never there.

If you have any questions, or want to make an appointment, contact me by phone (480-695-5404) . I will be happy to answer all of your questions.