Fears and phobias and hypnotherapy
My name is Bob Crow. I’m a behavioral therapist practicing in Atlanta Georgia, board certified in medical and clinical hypnosis. What is the difference between a phobia and a fear? A phobia is an unreasonable fear such as riding in an elevator, claustrophobia or agoraphobia which is being afraid of leaving one’s home. In general all phobias should be eliminated. Some fears are healthy – I’m afraid of sticking my hand in the cage of a lion at the zoo. That fear keeps me safe.
With the exception of being afraid of loud noises and falling backwards, we are born fearless. We aren’t born afraid of heights, snakes, making sales calls or public speaking. We are taught those fears, often by well meaning parents, relatives and others that influence us negatively. A young child spends the first five years of his or her life mainly in their subconscious mind. Anything and everything negative or positive that is told to the child about themselves goes straight into the child’s cognitive maps. The cognitive maps are a combination of auto pilot and guide. Kind of a “this is what I know and believe”. At this point, everything they’re told about themselves – good or bad… they will believe because the minds filter, the conscious or “critical” mind which allows them to select what they want to believe isn’t developed yet. So… limiting beliefs are accepted as gospel.
No amount of rational thought or positive thinking can counter fears or phobias, because rational thought is a function of the conscious mind… but the limiting beliefs and or self opinions are located in the subconscious mind in those cognitive maps.
So where does one go to negate fears of public speaking or a phobia of riding an elevator? The only place is the subconscious mind. And… hypnosis is the only way that we can access the subconscious deliberately. Hypnosis is the bridge to the subconscious mind.
If you have a fear of public speaking or any other fear that you want to move past, or if you have a debilitating phobia, contact Bob Crow at the Atlanta Center for behavioral change – 404.277.1827.