Hypnosis for AGORAPHOBIA

Agoraphobia is a specific phobia characterized by fear of open spaces and public places.

People with agoraphobia feel intense anxiety, even panic, when they find themselves in these situations. This fear is strong enough to prevent them from living or working normally.

How can therapeutic hypnosis help overcome agoraphobia?

Agoraphobia, a fairly common problem:

The phenomenon of agoraphobia is quite common, but to varying degrees.

For some people, simple public transport becomes a real ordeal.
For others, it may be triggered by driving over a bridge, for example.

Causes of agoraphobia:

Following a traumatic event:
Exposure to a traumatic event or stressful situation can increase the risk of developing agoraphobia. For example, a person who has experienced a panic attack in a public space may develop a fear of such spaces.
In such cases, it’s important to consult a psychologist or psychotherapist.

Progressive avoidance:
Initially, a simple unpleasant experience such as a deserted, dark parking lot.
The person will progressively avoid such places, and as with each avoidance there is a kind of inner relief, more and more avoidance takes place. This increases the unconfort in the person’s mind, creating a veritable phobia.

Psychological causes:
Open spaces can represent a very different set of problems depending on the individual: fear of losing oneself or one’s identity, of no longer being able to express oneself, of being defenseless in social or professional life…

Studies have also shown that people with a family history of anxiety disorders are more likely to develop agoraphobia. This suggests that genetic factors play a role in the development of this phobia…

Symptoms of agoraphobia:

The most common physical symptoms are palpitations, sweating, trembling, choking, nausea or vomiting, dizziness and sometimes chest pain.

Emotional symptoms often include intense anxiety, panic fear, feelings of helplessness and loss of control. 

In terms of behavior, this can mean :

• avoidance of anxiety-provoking situations such as public transport, shopping malls or parking lots, or isolated places like bridges or tunnels,
• dependence on an attendant to leave home, drive, travel…
• restrictions on social and professional activities, such as going to the cinema or theater.

How to treat Agoraphobia:

There is no miracle cure for agoraphobia.
Medication can improve many symptoms (anxiety, return anxiety, panic), but not always.

For agoraphobia caused by trauma, consult your doctor or a psychologist.

For fears developed through avoidance or of psychological origin, cognitive-behavioural therapy helps people to identify and modify the thoughts and behaviours that contribute to their fear.

Exposure therapy involves gradually exposing the person to the situation they fear.

Hypnosis for agoraphobia :

Therapeutic hypnosis is an excellent therapeutic tool for people suffering from agoraphobia.
Hypnosis can be used to tame tricky situations at one’s own pace, to untangle unconscious associations and sometimes to create a “mental barrier” between the person and situations that make them feel insecure.

Hypnosis, a deep relaxation that helps you let go:
The hypnotic trance is a state of deep relaxation in which the person sees the situation in a different, detached way, so as to work in symbolic terms without reactivating fears. They will also be able to recognize the beliefs that create these irrational fears, so as to rework them and transform them into more positive beliefs.

Hypnosis enables you to work gently on your fears:
It’s up to you to work at your own pace, especially when it comes to visualization.

To see yourself, for example, first just in front of a bridge in the distance, then getting closer, walking then driving, etc…

Self-hypnosis tools for dealing with difficult situations:
By anchoring the relaxation experienced under hypnosis, we can give you a very powerful self-hypnosis tool, which you can use in your everyday life to keep calm and no longer find yourself emotionally overwhelmed in a delicate situation.

Is Hypnosis effective for agoraphobia?

Hypnosis isn’t magic, but it often works well in cases of agoraphobia.

One of our clients, who lives on the island of Montreal, panicked every time he had to take a bridge or tunnel to leave the city, and had to be accompanied on most of his car journeys…
He first consulted by video with a member of the Solutions Hypnosis team in Quebec, then managed to drive to see his hypnotherapist on the South Shore!

Maybe you’ll never enjoy driving on a highway, but you’ll be able to when you need to…

You suffer from Agoraphobia and you would like to try Therapeutic Hypnosis?

The entire Solutions Hypnosis team, in Quebec, Ontario and by video, is here to support you.

Depending on your situation and your goal, this may take a few sessions, or more if you want to work on self-confidence and self-esteem more generally with your hypnotherapist.

Either way, you’ll soon know if you enjoy the hypnotic state and see positive results towards achieving your goals.

Make an appointment now to create the life you desire through hypnosis!
We look forward to meeting you…

The Solutions Hypnosis team