Home
Can't see the exclusive web-only film? Click here to watch.
Vacuum cleaner phobia? Watch the the exclusive One Show website video: Fliss Hall (12) from Ashby St. Mary, Norwich, wrote in to tell us that "I have a phobia of vacuum cleaners. I go to boarding school and we have to do duties to help keep the house clean. I always end up having to pay my mates to do the hoovering for me. My mum shuts me in the garden when she has to hoover at home!!!"
Dental phobia? Tonight's show featured One Show viewer Mike Hughes. He wrote to us in April to tell us that when he was a small boy, he had the traumatic experience of having several teeth removed without anaesthetic. Mike has had a severe phobia of dentists ever since. Even walking past a dental surgery provoked Mike into a panic attack. He hasn't been to the dentist for 27 years.
The One Show introduced Mike to Dr Tim Newton, an expert in dental psychology. Tim helped Mike to 'rewire his brain' using a process called gradual exposure. Tim gradually exposed Mike to dental treatment rooms and procedures using a video technique and getting him to listen to the sound of a drill. This progressed to doing it in real life and gradually built up until Mike was able to walk into a surgery and sit in a dental chair.
Recently Mike received his first filling - he's on his way to overcoming his phobia.
What's your phobia? Do you have any tips about overcoming your fears?
Comments
5 months seems an excessive amount of time to desensitise soemone. I use a combination of hypnotherapy and cognitive behaviour therapy together with some emotional desensitisation - using visualisation and find that a phobia quite often is eliminated within an hour (for good).
I've used this combination over the last 3 years for fear of flying, needles, eating certain vegetables, driving, swimming and many other situations or events.
Complain about this comment
I have just been watching your programme this evening and was horrified to hear the report on phobias.
To start with "Metaphobia" as mentioned after the report is NOT a fear of vomit, it is a fear of eyes. Perhaps he ment to say "Emetophobia"?
I have seen many people over the past 5 years who suffer with all manner of phobias (vomit being one of the most common) and with a process of hypnosis and NLP many clients can be helped to a point of comfort within 1 hour, and many don't require a follow up session!
The cognitive psychology approach featured in your programme for the chap who did want to visit the dentist apparently took 5 months! Perhaps you should do another feature on hypnosis and NLP, which is being used more and more in the NHS and takes a fraction of the time (and cost) and has a higher success rate.
--
Best Wishes,
Eddie Miller
Psychological Coach
Complain about this comment
It's great that phobias are being covered but i was so annoyed that phobias are referred to as comical - I have severe emotophobia (fear of being sick) and have had it all my life - I'm 35. It totally ruins life and I'm desperate for help. if anyone think's it's comical think again...... i dont have a partner, children, i dont travel etc etc because of it. Comical? i dont think so!!
I am desperate and would love to have the input that the dental phobic that he has received.
Complain about this comment
I agree with the comment by alcoppock 5 months is an excessive amount of time.
As an NLP practitioner I have used the Fast Phobia cure to cure phobias in an hour or less. There is no reason for anyone to suffer with a phobia when such fast and effective help is available. Anyone suffering with a phobia should seriously consider going to an NLP practioner for help.
Complain about this comment
hi extraordinaryellie25,
I would strongly recommend you approach your GP for information on NLP techniques that may be available on the NHS. Alternatively do a search on Yell.com for local NLP practitioners as the Fast Phobia Cure is a relatively simple process and could free you from this problem in a very short period of time
Regards,
Pete
Complain about this comment
The feature highlighted a common problem for many people in the UK and around the world and the process Dr Tim Newton took him through is clearly effective. What surprised me though is that the method chosen to help Mike, which was described as new, took 5 months which is a long time given there are techniques that have been around for many years that have been proven to clear a phobia in less than an hour such as the NLP Fast
Phobia Cure, Time Line Therapy and EFT. It would be great to provide viewers with that information too.
Complain about this comment
to extraordinaryEllie25- perhapsyou could google some hynotherapists / NLP /psychotherapists /coaches in your local area, as Eddie also suggested (make sure they are qualified and familiar with these approaches) and try them out? I've used these techniques for people who were afraid of vomiting ( and were hoping to get pregnant!) nd it was very successful.
best wishes
Alex Coppock-Bunce
Hypnotherapist & Psychotherapist
Complain about this comment
My 9 year old daughter has a phobia of dentists/needles to the extent that it is impossible to even try speak with her on the subject as she becomes very anxious. She has had a hole in her tooth for 2 years now which is not causing her any problems at the moment but i'm sure it will do at some point.We went to the doctor who prescribed vallium ,which was unsuccesful. Any ideas/help would be much appreciated.
Paula
Complain about this comment
thanks to alcopock and NL Pete for your suggestions..... appreciate your comments. Have tried for many years telling the GP and other professionals how it impacts life but to no avail. Unfortunately the cost of such treatments makes it somewhat difficult!
I am still fuming about the reference to phobias being comical.......mad!
Complain about this comment
As a dental hygienist of over 35 years experience and a clinical hypnotherapist I specialise in dental phobias. I agree with the above comments that 5 months seems to be a long time for treatment. I am able to have the patient comfortably in the dental chair within a few weeks at the most and progress with treatment within a couple of months at the most using hypnotherapy.
Complain about this comment
Hi ExraordinaryEllie25
Google an NLP practitioner in your area or Yellow pages. The phobia cure could be a worthwhile and inexpensive option - most practitioners are very reasonably priced
Complain about this comment
I did not get a chance to see the show, busy fixing stuff... when my wife called to me about someone curing phobias over months... aaarrgghhh. Like many of the other bloggers, I cure these in the vast majority of times, in under an hour, sometimes over the phone without meeting the person. NLP and hypnosis is the key and it infuriates me to hear all about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy CBT, as being the only way forward. Rubbish!! This is both government and vested interests getting involved to get accrediation and training dragged out! Why the NHS does not formally recognise Bandler and McKenna work I will never know... Off to calm down now... Will
Complain about this comment
Had a cold sweat watching this. Jsut writing this and I'm sweating, I'm that scared. Have a cracked tooth at the front, one split down both sides, in fact they're crumbling they're that bad and can't face a dentist. I too even drive the long way round somewhere to avoid even passing a dentist in hte car it's that bad. I sonetimes wish I could have a bad accident, go unconscious, then have the teeth sorted whislt in hospital so i didn't have to think about it. Pain is constant but fear is greater. ALl pie in the sky talk from experts on here who think it's just a matter of walking onto a meeting then getting a cure. I can't even discuss this with ANYONE without going into a blind panic.
Complain about this comment
zak, talk to a trained NLP practitioner who has done Hypnosis or Hypnotherapy training. They need not discuss your challenge, in fact when I work with people we use another name or word altogether, then set about sorting it. One of the people I helped remove a life long fear of spiders and who could not bear talking or thinking of them, used one of her favourite words and this made it easy to discuss and she also enjoyed it, making her laugh, which reduced the tension also. Trust a good coach, they will sort it out for you even if you have what seems insurmountable. Will
Complain about this comment
I have a dental phobia. Ten years ago, while studying as a forty year old at university, I spoke to a gentleman who informed me he was the uni's dentist. He invited me to visit him when i felt ready and able to do so. i waited until half way through my second year before paying him a visit. He then talked to me about my fears, about what he would do, and about how he would do it. Sitting in the chair, sweating buckets, and feeling totally nervous, i allowed him to begin. For me, it was a shock to realise that the result of my fear was to have all of my teeth removed because only one, yes one, was good! This dentist talked to me, told me what he was doing and kept me calm throughout three and half weeks of visits and procedures. I now have a full set of excellent teeth. Only they come out at night and sit in a tub in the bathroom! Phobias are underrated in my opinion. There should be help for all of us who fear dentists or whatever. However, now as I approach fifty, i have to pluck up courage to visit another dentist to have my dentures renewed. HELP!!!! Steve, N. London
Complain about this comment
I agree with the others, 5 months is a really long time to get someone into the dentists chair. EFT could have eliminated the phobia the same day, often within minutes. So many people are left to suffer when there are simple solutions to be had and it doesn't have to cost a lot as insturctions are available free on the web.
Complain about this comment
To Steve, N.London
You don't yet know how lucky you have been! If you had gone to the dentist it is most likely you would have received dental amalgam fillings (The silver coloured ones).
There has been much controversy about these fillings and disputed evidence that the mercury that leaks from them causes MS, Alzheimer's, Lupus, Arthritis and many other immune system problems.
The FDA in the USA has been forced by a court of law to review the safety of these fillings and they have immediately banned their use in children and expectant mothers. Their report is due late 2009 and it is fully expected that the weight of evidence will result in a ban.
For more information type "Dental Amalgam toxicity" into a search engine and read the various comments.
JJ
Complain about this comment
any advice how i can overcome a fear of surgery? i was supposed to have a minor op but the thought of the anaesthetic caused me to go into a trembling panic. i cancelled the op but the panic continues
Complain about this comment
What is NLP?
Complain about this comment
For all the talk about NLP and fast-phobia cures, I have yet to see a person who visits our dental phobia forum (http://www.dentalfearcentral.org/forum) who has reported success using these methods. If they are really so successful, I wonder why nobody (except practitioners) have sung their praises? However, there have been some who have had terrible experiences using this method (resulting in flashbacks rather than in a fast phobia cure).
Instead, most people mention that finding a kind and caring dentist who was right for them made all the difference.
Complain about this comment
I can't stand spiders. I think this is probably a common one though,but even the thought just send shivers up and down my spine. If I see one on television i have to cover my eyes..
Another thing that winds me up into a panic is thunderstorms. When I was 3 our house was struck, and although I don't remember it, I still get scared. I run around like a headless chicken, jump out of my skin at the thunder and lightning, often have tears in my eyes and if its a bad storm will start shaking. My mum keeps threatening to send me to see someone about it, I think her and my Dad are fed up with having their 16 year old curl up at the bottom of their bed and jumping, which wakes them up. The last storm we had, we were driving home from our friends. Fork lightning was literally everywhere, the clouds were flashing purple,blue,yellow...I was just staring straight ahead and concentrating on not freaking out so that it didn't disturb my mum who was driving. The only solution that night to get me to go to sleep was the downstairs bedroom, which is almost soundproof as its half under ground and has shutters. I spent the night with the dog sleeping on me and our 3 cats happy to have a bed for the night!
Chloé smith, from France.
Complain about this comment
I have emetaphobia and it really isnt very nice to live with. I have had 12 months counselling but I am still the same. I would like to know more about NLP could anyone advise any books to read, I am too scared to have hypnotherapy. I can remember at the age of 5 being terrified of being sick, I am now 32 with a 5 year old boy of my own and want to try and overcome this for him as I dont want the way I am to affect him in any way.
Complain about this comment
I have ahd a phobia of fish since I was 6. I know what the problem is and why. I have tried everything to get over my phobia. Peopel laugh at me and think its a joke, but put me near a fish adn i will and do feint. The panic attacks are severe to the pont I am totally disabled until the offending item is removed and it takes me a good hour to recover.
The problem arose when i "think" I killed a fish in a lake by throwing stones in there. In reality the fish was probably already dead, my father was with me and accused me of killing the fish. That night I had dreadful nightmares of drowing in dead fish and woke to find the bed full of silverfish, in my face and ears and well everywhere.
Next day i went to my grnadads fish and chip shop, and promptly feinted on entering. I just wish I could find someone to help me get over it. and I wish even more people would stop laughing at me over it and telling me to "get over it"
Complain about this comment
I hate deep water. I've never been a swimmer as I have been terrified of going out of my depth. This is because I had a nasty experience with cramp in my feet as a child and I was in at the deep end of the pool at the time.... Since then I am paranoid about getting cramp - I get it quite alot unfortunately and this is on dry land!!!
Complain about this comment
i have an irrational fear of spiders. if i see one (even on tv) i start to sweat, shake and have been knowen on occasions to vomit. one time i was in the shower and i saw a spider on the wall, i ran naked from the bathroom past my sister and her boyfriend, i didnt care who saw me, i jst had to get away from it. its worse now i have a 4 month old son, icant run away from them and leave him!! any advice??
Complain about this comment
That FB really did have an affair with DL. That just sends me insane. And that it might of been DL that did the dumping increases my phobia even more.
Complain about this comment
Only joking !!! LMAO She would never sink so low. However cheeky the angry little ugly man is.
Complain about this comment
View these comments in RSS