FEAR OF SWINGS – NOT JOKING!

II am absolutely know how silly this may sound, but that gives me that backpetrified ofswings – or anything windy night and I and-forth motion. If it’s a particularly I feel so sick from the can hear gates opening and closing, swings – if I’m in a bar vertigo. I’m terrified ofanything that might start to move I and there are light fittings which ‘ I’ve always begin to feel ill. I know, it seems ridiculous. to deal with it now is been this way – but the reason I want to be able to enjoy because I’ve got small children I want gripped by fear the going to the park with, without being entire time. How do I approach this?!

Lesley, North London

MANDY SAYS: doesn’t sound like the whole This doesn’t sound silly at all, but it also started. Phobias can often picture. I find myself wondering when this with feeling like you come from moments of extreme fear, coupled brain is scrambling around have no control. When this happens, your by taking control, it will cope to find a way to cope, and if it can’t cope through displacement. in that moment to In other words, the brain will choose something control it, or manage it. As focus all the fear on as a way of trying to your brain tells you, which is a result, you can end up believing what source of your fear, when that whatever you were focusing on is the actually it was a displaced target. actually talking to you. It’s difficulttoanswer this question without probably explore the various If we were in a therapy room we would reaction, so that we can motion experiences that cause you a phobic find the original, firstsubject of fear. there is another fear I believe that, in that memory, you will discover tackle and so you created this hidden, one that you did not feel able to every reason to overcome red herring, your fear of swings. You have to take your children to the this fear, because as a mother you want so much fun! park and push them on the swing, as it’s all possible, or perhaps So, the work to do – with a therapist if at your steps to that earliest a supportive friend – is to try to retrace you are actually afraid of, memory, so that you can reality-check what and release yourself from this phobia completely. you go to your GP and If it continues in its hold over you, I suggest who can work directly with ask for a referral to an EMDR practitioner, holding this memory, the part of your brain that is likely to be and help you release. No matter the waiting time, it’s definitely worth the effort! Mandyx