What's the difference between extreme fear and a phobia?
It’s a question I get asked a lot! Especially when people are trying to understand their own reactions to certain situations.
Fear is something we all experience - it’s a natural response to something we perceive as a threat. It might make us uncomfortable, worried, or extremely anxious, but it doesn’t stop us from functioning. We can still go about our day, even if we’re on edge.
Phobias, on the other hand, are different. We magnify the fear to a point where it disrupts our lives. A phobia doesn’t just make you uncomfortable, it creates a sense of overwhelming dread and leads to avoidance. The key difference lies in how much that fear impacts your daily choices and actions. Imagine you have a fear of flying. You might feel nervous boarding a plane, clutch the armrests during turbulence, then breathe a sigh of relief when you land. It’s uncomfortable, but you still book that holiday or attend that important work meeting abroad. That’s fear.
Now imagine a phobia of flying. It’s not just about feeling nervous, it’s about avoiding planes altogether. You might decline job opportunities that involve travel, miss family events because they require a flight, or even avoid planning holidays to avoid the prospect of flying. Reassurance from a loved one is unlikely to help because we are unable to think rationally.
It's important to understand that the one thing that fuels a phobia is avoidance. BUT that doesn't mean that exposure is the best way to overcome it, in the first instance. I also want to point out that the person isn't irrational... the phobia is. Hypnotherapy is a safe and very effective way to overcome phobias. There are a couple of different techniques depending on the phobia and can be overcome in as little as three sessions. Please get in touch by sending an email to kirstie@kirstiesalter.co.uk to book a telephone consultation. #kirstiesaltercoaching
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