Understanding Fears and Phobias – And How Hypnotherapy Can Help

Ripples Hypnotherapy Brighouse Phobia Blog

Did you know that as babies, we are born with just two natural fears—the fear of loud noises and the fear of falling from heights? Every other fear we develop throughout life is learned. That means fears and phobias are not fixed parts of who we are—they are patterns of thought and behaviour that can be changed.

Fear vs. Phobia – What’s the Difference?

Fear is a natural, protective response to danger. It activates our fight, flight or freeze response and helps to keep us safe. A phobia, however, is different. It is an irrational or overwhelming fear of a situation, object, animal, or event that poses little or no real threat.

The key difference lies in how much it disrupts your life. While fear passes once the danger has gone, a phobia can linger, leading to avoidance behaviours. For example, you might spend weeks dreading an event, make complicated plans to avoid certain places, or miss out on opportunities altogether.

How Phobias Form

Phobias often grow from our own thoughts—fear, uncertainty and doubt (sometimes called “FUD”). These can be fuelled by external influences such as social media, fake news, or even stories we’ve overheard. Over time, the brain learns to link certain situations with feelings of danger, even when no real threat exists.

When faced with a phobia trigger, the response can be powerful: anxiety, panic attacks, sweating, rapid heartbeat, and an overwhelming urge to escape. Understandably, this can feel exhausting and isolating.

Common Phobias

At Ripples Hypnotherapy Brighouse, we see clients with a wide range of fears and phobias. Some of the most common include:

• Fear of flying

• Fear of enclosed spaces (claustrophobia)

• Fear of heights

• Fear of driving on motorways

• Fear of spiders or mice

• Fear of crowds

• Fear of being sick or seeing someone sick

• Fear of driving at night

• Fear of public speaking

But phobias can be about almost anything—from balloons to buttons! What matters is not the object itself, but how much it limits your life.

How Life Can Change

Imagine being able to attend events, travel freely, or spend time with loved ones without the weight of fear holding you back. Many people—especially women who often juggle family, work, and social commitments—tell us they long to feel calm, confident, and in control again. Therapy offers a way forward, helping you take back control so you can live life on your own terms.

How Hypnotherapy Can Help

The good news is that phobias don’t have to be permanent. Using psychotherapy and solution focused hypnotherapy, we can help to “reprogram” outdated beliefs and replace them with healthier, more realistic responses.

In as little as four sessions, clients often notice a remarkable difference. Hypnotherapy helps the brain create new thought patterns, breaking the cycle of fear and avoidance.

At Ripples Hypnotherapy Brighouse, we are committed to helping you move past fears and phobias so you can enjoy new experiences, open up opportunities, and reconnect with the life you want to live.

You deserve to live life to the fullest—without fear dictating your choices.

Could This Be You?

• Do you find yourself avoiding places, events, or people?

• Do you spend weeks worrying about “what might happen”?

• Do you take longer routes to avoid motorways, or miss out on family time because of driving anxiety?

If the answer is yes, then therapy could help you regain your freedom.

👉 Get in touch with Ripples Hypnotherapy Brighouse today and start your journey towards confidence and calm.