Fears and Phobias
There are well over 500 recognised phobias, from spiders and heights to the most common one, public speaking. There are the more unusual ones such as mycophobia, (a phobia of mushrooms).
A phobia is an irrational fear, giving the sufferer an intense desire to avoid something, whether an object, event or situation and can vary in severity from person to person. Here are just a few you may not be familiar with:
- Kinemortophobia – The fear of zombies
- Lepidopterophobia – the fear of butterflies
- Chiclephobia – fear of chewing gum
- Eisoptrophobia – fear of your own reflection
Irrational Fear
The fear of butterflies is irrational, as is every phobia. It makes no sense, to you or other people. To someone who suffers there is nothing they can do to stop the feelings of panic, fear and thoughts of wanting to get away.
How can someone fear their own reflection? But this can affect someone in the same way your phobia affects you. Imagine how someone with Chionophobia (the fear of snow) feels in the winter?
You probably feel powerless to override the feelings of panic, anxiety and absolute fear and no one seems to understand how you feel. People tell you to get a grip and assure you everything is okay and that there is nothing to fear – but it makes no difference. You still panic and want to run. But things can be different when you learn how to reprogram your mind.
What are you really afraid of?
A phobia is a learned response. You were not born with it – it has been programmed or conditioned into you and is there because your subconscious believes it is the way things should be. It makes you feel the way you do.
The problem is very simple, if your mind is scared of spiders, you will feel scared of spiders. What your mind believes, you believe. It does not have to make sense, or even be true - but it is real to your mind and even though logic, reason and friends tell you it is okay, it isn't and you know it. This can be changed and I can help you do it.
