Terrified of spiders? Reconditioning the brain can help beat phobias
Do spiders make you scream? Does flying make you freak out? Are snakes making you squeamish? Here, leading Harley Street phobia expert Christopher Paul Jones tells Lauren Robertson the honest truth about phobias and how to overcome them with a combination of techniques. What does your work involve?
I help people overcome phobias by identifying their root causes and precisely what they fear, when it started, and the specific triggers. I have developed what I call the Integrated Change System, which offers a series of easy-to-follow, guided exercises that will allow you to uncover the source of your fears and work towards overcoming them. My process involves guiding clients through a structured series of steps to rewire the conditioned responses that associate fear with particular situations. I use a variety of methods, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), psychotherapy, clinical hypnotherapy, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP), mindfulness and numerous other intervention tools. My goal is to diminish or completely remove these unwarranted fear responses using multiple therapeutic techniques, tailored to each individual’s needs.
What phobias have you yourself struggled with?
My journey into this field actually started with my own struggles with phobias. I had a severe fear of flying, which was triggered by a traumatic nearcrash in a helicopter. Additionally, I had social phobias, such as a fear of public speaking, not to mention a persistent fear of insects, spiders and snakes! Through my quest to conquer these fears, I developed an understanding and mastery of various therapeutic tools. Eventually, I turned my attention to helping others, guiding them to overcome their phobias, just as I did with my own.
How common are phobias and which are the most common ones you see?
Phobias are quite common, with almost everyone experiencing some irrational fear. Just in the UK, around 10 million people suffer from some sort of phobia – that’s around one in every seven people. The impact varies depending on the phobia’s nature and its severity. Interestingly, those without a particular phobia may underestimate its seriousness, often advising sufferers to just push through it. However, phobias are irrational and deeply ingrained responses that don’t simply dissipate with willpower. I frequently encounter phobias like fear of flying, heights, spiders and public speaking. These phobias are learned patterns that irrationally link fear to specific triggers, regardless of logical reasoning.
What causes a phobia?
Phobias are conditioned responses, initially studied by Ivan Pavlov. An intense situation, stress or emotional state can create these responses. For instance, associating a traumatic flight with flying results in a heightened fear response upon thinking about air travel. Humans, akin to Pavlov’s dogs, condition reactions based on experiences. Such responses become protective mechanisms, triggering the fight, flight or freeze reaction whenever the feared object is encountered. This irrational association leads to an automatic and often overwhelming reaction to the perceived danger. Phobias can also be caused by vicarious learning – witnessing someone else’s fear; primal fears that come from evolution, such as fearing dogs as one might have wolves; and cultural attitudes, for example the perception that snakes are dangerous.
How can a phobia impact someone’s life?
Phobias really can drastically disrupt an individual’s life.
It can hinder them from engaging in activities they love or even performing daily tasks. Depending on the type and severity, phobias can restrict travel, social interactions and even career opportunities. For example, someone with a phobia of spiders might see one in their house and, in a panic, run into a busy street, putting themselves at real risk of harm. Phobias can also create an additional fear of having a phobic reaction in front of others, further compounding anxiety. And unaddressed phobias can transfer to children if witnessed regularly.
What different options are there for overcoming a phobia?
Effective methods for overcoming phobias include
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which challenges irrational beliefs and automatic thoughts. Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing helps alter the fear associations, calming the amygdala (the almond-shaped structure in the temporal lobe, that is a processing centre for emotions). Techniques that modify visual imagery, akin to the Riddikulus spell in Harry Potter, can make feared objects appear less threatening. Mindfulness and somatic practices also help by grounding emotional responses. Reconditioning helps link positive associations to previously feared stimuli. A combination of these tools often yields the best results, as individual responses to therapy can vary.
Have attitudes to phobias changed through the years?
Over the years, attitudes toward phobias have significantly improved. Increased awareness about mental health has led to greater empathy and understanding toward individuals with phobias. The outdated notion of a stiff upper lip mentality, where people were expected to simply tough out their fears, is becoming less prevalent. Today’s approaches emphasise compassion and recognition of phobias as legitimate psychological conditions. However, despite broader acceptance, there remains a gap in effective treatment due to a lack of understanding of the underlying causes. This underscores the importance of staying informed about the latest therapeutic techniques, as traditional counsellors may not always be updated with these advancements.
Face Your Fears by Christopher Paul Jones (Michael O’mara) is out now, £10.99.