Colloquially speaking, a phobia is something you are deeply afraid of. People often invoke phobias when they see spiders, are forced into small space, or have to speak in public. But phobias are much more than that. They are life-stopping and frequently life-altering for those that suffer from them.

According to the DSM V, the diagnostic manual for psychiatrists and psychologists, a phobia is a persistent fear of an object or situation in which the sufferer commits to great lengths in avoiding, typically disproportional to the actual danger posed, often being recognized as irrational. In the event the phobia cannot be avoided entirely, the sufferer will endure the situation or object with marked distress and significant interference in social or occupational activities.  Phobias are typically broken down by category:

  • Social Phobias (like social anxiety or public speaking or performance anxiety)
  • Specific Phobias (these phobias have a specific trigger like spiders, bees, or dogs)
  • Agoraphobia (the specific fear of leaving one’s home or safe area which can arise from OCD, social anxiety, or PTSD)

The causes of phobias are often unknown and usually fairly complicated. Sometimes they can be tracked down to a specific incident, but more often than not they are simply the result of the way an individual works in the world. The good news is that phobias are highly treatable and have excellent recovery rates—especially through the use of therapeutic options like, neuro-linguistic programming, hypnotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.

For more information on how learning NLP can dramatically improve your life, professional pursuits, and relationships, read our groundbreaking FREE ebook, “Resourceful Living: How NLP Can Improve Your Seven Life Streams” at EvolutionTraining.co.uk/ResourcefulLife.

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Roger Terry

Director of Training and Coaching at Evolution Training Ltd
Roger Terry is one of the world’s leading experts on applying NLP to drive excellence both professionally and personally. Roger leads seminars and consults with companies all over the world, including in the UK, USA, Europe and Middle East. He is the author of several books, including The Hidden Art of Interviewing, NLP and Qualitative Research, NLP for Teachers and The NLP Toolkit.