Have you ever been told that your fear is silly, irrational, or that you should just “get over it”?
I bet you’ve even said those things to yourself at times.
As someone who specialises in online hypnotherapy for phobias, I hear that all the time – and I always say the same thing: your phobia is not ridiculous. It isn’t a personal failing. It’s simply your mind doing its best to protect you — sometimes a little too well.
Whether it’s spiders, flying, heights, or public speaking, phobias are deeply personal experiences. They’re not a reflection of weakness, but of how your subconscious learned to keep you safe. Phobias are, in essence, learned safety strategies. At some point, your nervous system paired a trigger with danger — and it’s been on high alert ever since.
What Is a Phobia — and How Is It Different from a Fear?
A fear is a natural emotional response to a real danger — like feeling uneasy walking alone at night, being cautious near a cliff edge, or feeling nervous before an exam.
A phobia, however, goes a step further. It’s an intense, automatic reaction to something that poses little or no real threat — yet feels completely overwhelming in the moment.
You might notice a racing heart, tight chest, dizziness, or the urge to escape.
Common phobias include:
- Fear of flying (aviophobia)
- Fear of heights (acrophobia)
- Fear of spiders (arachnophobia)
- Fear of confined spaces (claustrophobia)
- Fear of social situations (social phobia)
This isn’t a complete list. I’ve worked with a wide range of phobias, and although the triggers differ, the underlying pattern is the same.
When faced with a trigger, your brain’s internal alarm system — the amygdala — fires as though real danger were present. That signal can trigger racing thoughts, a pounding heart, sweating, or even panic attacks. According to Mind, phobias are more common than many realise – and support is available. That’s where online hypnotherapy comes in.
Why Phobias Develop — and How Online Hypnotherapy Works with the Subconscious Mind
Some phobias can be traced back to a clear past experience.
Perhaps you saw someone panic around a spider, or you had a frightening experience in a lift as a child. The subconscious mind stored that event as a warning, and now it works overtime to protect you whenever something similar happens.
However, not every phobia has an obvious cause. Sometimes the original experience is forgotten, but the emotional learning remains — buried deep in the subconscious mind.
That’s why logical reassurance (“It’s just a spider”) rarely helps. The fear doesn’t live in the conscious, logical part of your brain — it lives deeper, in the part that’s simply trying to keep you safe.
How Online Hypnotherapy Can Help
This is where online hypnotherapy can make a real difference.
Hypnotherapy works by gently accessing the subconscious mind and helping it relearn what’s truly safe.
Through relaxation, suggestion, and guided imagery, online hypnotherapy can:
- Reframe the old memory or belief causing the reaction
- Reduce the intensity of the fear response
- Build calm, confident associations instead of anxious ones
- Empower you to feel in control again
Many people find hypnotherapy online just as effective as in-person hypnotherapy — and many clients find it even more comfortable.
Being in your own familiar environment helps you relax and engage deeply in the process.
You’re Not Alone — and You’re Not Ridiculous
One of the biggest myths about phobias is that people should just “snap out of it.”
But if you could, you already would have.
Your mind isn’t broken — it’s trying to protect you in the best way it knows how. It just needs a little help updating its strategy.
And that’s exactly what modern, evidence-based hypnotherapy can do.
Ready to Make a Change with Online Hypnotherapy?
If you’re curious about how online hypnotherapy could help you overcome your phobia, I offer gentle, supportive sessions designed to help you reconnect with calm and confidence.
🌿 Visit Thistle Green Hypnotherapy to learn more, or get in touch for a free discovery call to see how I could help you.
