Health Care

by Peter James

Claustrophobia is the fear of enclosed spaces. It is one of the commonest phobias we see here in the UK

Indeed, it is believed that as much as 5% of the general population suffer from this disruptive and troublesome disorder. Sadly, only a very small percentage of claustrophobics receive treatment for their condition.

Most often, this is because they are simply unaware that a truly effective treatment actually exists.

The good news is that regardless of what you may imagine, have read or have been told, there really is a permanent solution to the nightmare of claustrophobia.

Apart from the inconvenience, fear and anxiety commonly experienced, claustrophobia can have real implications for the individual's health. Having to undertake a medical examination involving a CAT or MRI scan, for instance, can be a tremendously frightening and even traumatic experience.

In some cases, simply being in a room with the door closed can produce overwhelming feelings of anxiety.

Claustrophobia symptoms are only too well known by those suffering from them. The fear commonly produces physical responses such as rapid heart beat, sweating, shaking, light-headedness, fainting and hyperventilation.

Clinically speaking, claustrophobia is classified as an anxiety disorder and is what is termed a 'situational phobia' because it is triggered by certain situations.

The claustrophobic individual may very well acknowledge that it is irrational, but this does nothing to lessen the intense and powerful feelings of fear, anxiety and panic.

Yes, claustrophobia, like all phobias, is by nature irrational - yet the feeling mind - the subconscious mind - has precious little respect or regard for the rational.

Its job is to generate feelings that it believes are in the very best interest of the individual.

And with claustrophobia, the subconscious mind is working from the belief that being in a small space means being in imminent danger and so it is attempting to prevent the person from placing him or herself in such danger by producing feelings of fear, anxiety and panic.

The origin of claustrophobia usually lies in a previous uncomfortable experience that the person has undergone, either in childhood or as an adult, and this has created what is known as a 'conditioned response'.

Such experiences commonly involve the feeling of being trapped or stuck in a confined space such as an elevator, car, plane, cupboard, tunnel, fairground ride, or in any other small and restrictive space.

Though I have read articles which categorically state that there is no cure for claustrophobia, in my professional experience this is completely untrue and incorrect.

Those who steadfastly believe that no cure exists are simply ignorant of how to cure it. They are unaware of the efficacy of transformational hypnotherapy in treating and permanently eliminating this phobia.

Usually, 3 or 4 hypnotherapy sessions are all that is required in order to completely remove this truly debilitating condition forever.

If you or someone you care about is wrestling with the terrible, restricting condition known as claustrophobia, real help is available.

With advanced transformational hypnotherapy, even the most claustrophobic person can rapidly re-gain their freedom - and get on with their life.

About the Author

A leading British hypno-psychotherapist, with practices in London and Birmingham, UK, Peter Field is a Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Health. For more of his helpful articles and other useful information, please visit his website: http://www.peterfieldhypnotherapy.co.uk