Overcoming Your Phobias
Written by Mystic on Sunday, January 20, 2008Overcoming your fears! It may seem natural to hide from what frightens us, but that kind of head-in-the-sand approach only serves to prolong anxiety, say experts. The best way to combat phobias is to face them down one step at a time. Exposing yourself to fear inducing stimulus is the best way to treat a phobia. And the more you let yourself be exposed the better. Sounds daunting? Well, these strategies can make the process less scary. Read on: Pinpoint the source of your panic: Your first step should be to figure out what exactly is triggering the fear. Just imagine the changes you can make to make you feel more in control of the object or the situation that are sparking the scary thoughts. Give yourself a confidence booster: Like Sonia did. She dreaded social situations so much that she feared that she would literally be sick to her stomach and embarrass herself in front of her friends and colleagues. So she began tucking a sick bag in her carry bag before going to parties. Sounds dubious? But it worked. It gave her the confidence she needed. Take a step-by-step approach to fighting your fear: Facing a fear doesn't necessarily mean running out and doing what frightens us the most. To get over the fear of spiders, for instance, it would be a good idea to skim through a picture book of insects. How about visiting the local zoo? Finally how about holding a live spider in your hand? Have a fear-fighting plan: It's important to have a plan for calming yourself down when you do become afraid. Imagining yourself in a more peaceful, comfortable place can help, so can a dose of positive self-talk. Tell yourself: "I can get through this. Even though my body is acting like I'm in danger, I'm not. I'm perfectly safe." This approach really works.
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