Phobias are intense, irrational fears about a specific thing or situation, which can trigger severe anxiety symptoms. Nearly 12.5% of US adults are said to have experienced a phobia at some point in their lives.

Here are five of the most common phobias.

Arachnophobia

Remember Ron’s discomfort when he came in contact with spiders in the Harry Potter saga? There’s a term for this fear of spiders and other arachnids called arachnophobia, and it’s a lot more common than you’d think!

According to statistics, it affects up to 1 in 3 women while 1 in 4 men suffer from it as well. While the sight of a spider typically sets off a fear response, for individuals with a more severe case, the mere image or thought of the creature can trigger panic and fear.

Acrophobia

Acrophobia is the fear of heights. People who suffer from this phobia find it overwhelming to be in high places such as towers, tall buildings, and bridges, and try their best to avoid them. Being at a great altitude can result in severe anxiety and panic attacks, contributing to the avoidance behavior adopted by the individuals.

While some people face acrophobia due to a past traumatic experience, for others it’s more of an evolutionary adaptation.

Aerophobia

Reported to affect almost 8 million individuals in the US, aerophobia refers to the fear of flying. Individuals with this condition tend to avoid flying altogether, and may experience disorientation, trembling, and a rapid heartbeat if put into such a position.

Trypanophobia

This refers to the fear of injections to the extent that the person goes to great lengths to avoid getting medical help. When they receive or come close to receiving an injection, they experience an increased heart rate and feelings of dread. Being in such a situation can be so distressing for them that they may even pass out during the process.

Individuals with trypanophobia tend to avoid going to a doctor even if they’re in dire need of it just to prevent getting injections.

Social Phobia

Also referred to as social anxiety disorder, social phobia is the fear of various being in social situations. For individuals who suffer from this, it can be extremely debilitating and they may actively avoid meeting people, speaking in public, or attending events to avoid getting an anxiety attack.

One of the biggest fears people tend to have is being watched by an audience or being humiliated if they mess up. To prevent this outcome, they tend to avoid people and places altogether.  Unless treated, social phobias can last for an entire lifetime.

Using Hypnosis to Treat Phobias

One of the most effective ways of treating phobias is through hypnosis. Using hypnotherapy, hypnotists can access the underlying cause of their particular fear, and evaluate their clients’ conditioned responses to them. The mind is first put in a relaxed state, and then the unconscious thoughts and memories are brought within the conscious awareness.

Rekha Shrivastava at Blossom Hypnosis uses effective self-esteem enhancement strategies to help clients get more in touch with their deep seated concerns, and overcome the phobia of expressing their feelings about them.

Book a free consultation today or schedule an appointment with us via Skype.

Sources:

https://www.verywellmind.com/most-common-phobias-4136563

https://www.nightmareon13th.com/10-most-common-fears

https://www.verywellmind.com/hypnotherapy-2671993

http://www.abouthypnosis.com/phobias.html

http://www.edgemagazine.net/2010/05/curing-phobias-fears-and-anxiety-with-hypnosis/