Originally published October 18 2009
Treat Phobias with Hypnosis and the Rewind Technique
by Steve G. Jones, Ed.S.
(NaturalNews) Phobias are fairly common. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that approximately 8-18% of the American population suffers from a phobia. They are the most common form of an anxiety disorder. Among women of all ages, phobias are the most common form of mental disorder and among men older than 25, phobias are the second most common form of mental disorder. Hypnosis is an effective form of treatment of phobias (Kessler et al., 2005). Recently, a new technique, called the Rewind Technique, has been found to be highly effective in helping people get rid of their fears.
A phobia is an irrational fear that poses little or no danger to the person suffering from the fear. Types of fear include fear of heights, small spaces, driving, flying, and different kinds of animals. To calm their fears, most people try to avoid what they are afraid of. If they face their fear, common symptoms of the phobia include: panic, anxiety, rapid heart rate, and shortness of breath (Medline Plus).
Being afraid is a survival mechanism that was a very important part of survival in ancient times. It is instilled in all humans and now phobias are directed in an irrational way. The goal of hypnotherapy is to remove the subconscious pattern of the phobia. A common technique used with hypnotherapy is called the Rewind Technique. This technique is similar to a Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) technique.
This technique has proven highly effective no matter how long the person has suffered from the phobia. Also, whether the phobia or the symptoms of the phobia are severe or not, the Rewind Technique works quickly and efficiently, often within one session.
The Rewind Technique is used after a hypnotherapist induces the state of hypnosis on the phobia sufferer. Then, the hypnotherapist guides the patient through images and steps that act to "rewind" the phobia. The hypnotherapist does not need to know how the phobia first started and does not need to know any of the symptoms the patient is suffering from. All the hypnotherapist must know is how to guide patients through the Rewind Technique to help them overcome their fear (Sherred).
There are many benefits of using hypnosis and the Rewind Technique on people who suffer from phobias. It is a fast and effective method for helping a person overcome his/her phobia. It improves quality of life and can reduce use of prescription medication that is often used to treat the symptoms of the phobia. This technique can also be used with people who suffer from post traumatic stress disorder.
Sources
Kessler et al., Prevalence, Severity, and Comorbidity of 12-Month DSM-IV Disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication, June 2005, Archive of General Psychiatry, Volume 20.
"Phobias." Medline Plus. Retrieved on October 12, 2009: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/phobias.h...
Sherred, I. Phobias: How they arise, and how they can be cured with hypnotherapy. Retrieved on October 12, 2009: http://www.hypnotherapyarticles.com/ArtG/art...
About the author
Steve G. Jones, Ed.S. has been practicing hypnotherapy since the 1980s. He is the author of 22 books on Hypnotherapy. Steve is a member of the National Guild of Hypnotists, American Board of Hypnotherapy, president of the American Alliance of Hypnotists, on the board of directors of the Los Angeles chapter of the American Lung Association, and director of the Steve G. Jones School of Clinical Hypnotherapy.
Steve G. Jones, Ed.S. is a board certified Clinical Hypnotherapist. He has a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Florida (1994), a master's degree in education from Armstrong Atlantic State University (2007), and is currently working on a doctorate in education, Ed.D., at Georgia Southern University. Learn more at:
http://www.betterlivingwithhypnosis.com/
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