If you suffer from a fear of enclosed spaces, you will know that claustrophobia can really affect daily life. You might avoid doing certain activities or visiting places, if there is a fear you might have to navigate a small space. Thankfully hypnosis therapy for claustrophobia can help. In this article we will look more at claustrophobia and how hypnosis can help. If you would like to book hypnosis therapy for claustrophobia sessions in London or online, get in touch today.
Hypnosis therapy for claustrophobia
Let’s think more about what claustrophobia is. Claustrophobia is the fear of confined or enclosed spaces. It’s one of the most well-known phobias. It is thought to affect around 10% of the population. People with claustrophobia can experience a range of symptoms, from mild anxiety to panic attacks. Hypnosis therapy for claustrophobia can help reduce those panicky feelings.
For some people claustrophobia will show up in certain situations, like when being in a lift, tube tunnel or public toilet. Often people book sessions for help traveling by plane or train and it turn out to be claustrophobia that is the core issue.
Claustrophobia is a phobia
The fear of confined spaces is diagnosed as a phobia when it affects a person’s daily life, in line with the DSM-5 criteria for specific phobias. The fear may limit a person’s social life as they might feel unable to see family or friends or also go to work. Perhaps most crucially, claustrophobia can also have a real impact on a person’s physical health as it might stop someone from getting the hospital treatment they need, due to the fear of having to have an MRI scan or being in a crowded place.
Hypnosis therapy for claustrophobia and MRI scans
For many claustrophobia sufferers, the thought of having to have an MRI scan can send them into a terrible state of panic. This might stop someone from visiting the hospital, even if they are concerned for their health. It is therefore important that you seek support for claustrophobia to ensure you can receive medical treatment, should you ever need it.
If you are living with claustrophobia and are worried about having an MRI scan, there are some things you can do to help ease your anxiety:
- Tell the person doing the MRI that you have claustrophobia – they’ll be able to support you throughout the process.
- Enquire about medications or alternative MRI scans – in some cases, health care professionals can offer medication to help you relax and feel more comfortable in the MRI scanner. Some places even have open or upright machines, which can be used instead.
- Shut your eyes – shutting or covering your eyes with an eye mask before you go into the machine will stop you from seeing the confined space and prevent your thoughts from taking over.
- Practice calming techniques – slowing down your breathing and shifting your focus to something else in the room can help you ease your anxiety.
During hypnosis therapy for claustrophobia we often discuss helpful tools you can use when feeling anxious.
Symptoms of claustrophobia
There are several signs and symptoms to look out for if you suspect you may have claustrophobia. Alternatively, learning some of the following signs will allow you to recognise when you’re entering a panicked state and implement early intervention techniques to work through it.
Claustrophobia can cause some physical symptoms including:
- sweating
- shakiness
- shortness of breath
- feeling sick
- dry mouth
- feeling faint or dizzy
- numbness or pins and needles
It can also display psychological symptoms, with the most commonly-noted claustrophobic response being feeling out of control. Others include:
- fear of fainting
- fear of dying
- feelings of dread or impending doom
What causes claustrophobia?
Typically, the fear of confined spaces is caused following a traumatic experience, this may be recent or during childhood. For example, a person may have got trapped or stuck in a small, enclosed space. This may have been away from their parent or caregiver, which then caused them to panic. Other reasons why someone might develop claustrophobia are having learned the behaviour from their parent or someone close to them, or due to a genetic mutation in the amygdala (the part of the brain that stimulates our fear response).
How can claustrophobia be treated?
If you suspect you or someone you know is experiencing claustrophobia, there are various treatment options available, so you can find the best approach for you and your needs. Hypnosis therapy for claustrophobia is certainly not the only option but is a very powerful and effective one.
Exposure therapy
Because claustrophobia usually has its roots in the subconscious mind, hypnosis is particularly helpful in treating this phobia as it allows the therapist to safely work with the client on accepting emotional reactions and rehearsing/creating resilience strategies to manage these reactions. The focus created during the relaxing hypnotic state allows the client to understand and safely work through the effects of the phobia.
This is the most common treatment used to overcome claustrophobia. Also known as desensitisation therapy, exposure therapy involves slowly increasing your exposure to the situation that causes your fear to set in. Though you can do this yourself, it is recommended that you undergo this with the support of a professional, so you can learn ways to control your behaviour and manage your fear safely.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
This is a type of talking therapy that aims to challenge how you think feel and act around your phobia. In CBT sessions, you’ll often describe how you feel when you find yourself in a confined space and how you’d typically respond. Your therapist will then work with you to try and change the way you perceive your fear. They’ll usually encourage you to problem-solve and help you learn techniques that you can practice to allow you to face your fear, rather than flee from it. CBT can be run in conjunction with hypnosis therapy for claustrophobia.
Hypnosis therapy for claustrophobia
Hypnosis works with the unconscious mind to uncover the root cause of your claustrophobia. Once the cause is identified, your hypnotherapist can work with you to teach you self-hypnosis techniques that will allow you to tackle your fear. Hypnosis is a combination of talking therapy and hypnosis. By placing you in a controlled, relaxed state, as a hypnotherapist, I will communicate with your conscious and subconscious minds. This allows you to change your perspective of your fear, and help you recognise that you are in control.
For many people, this feeling can be extremely empowering. No matter how many sessions it may take, you’ll be on your way to facing your fear whilst remaining calm and relaxed.
Hypnosis therapy for claustrophobia in London
Find out more about how hypnosis can help with phobias. If you’re ready to take the first step in facing your fear of small spaces and take back control of your claustrophobia, you can reach out. I offer hypnosis therapy for claustrophobia sessions in London and online.
