How do I overcome this fear of drowning?

I’m so afraid of drowning. I always get freaked out when I go into deep water or whenever I have to swim. I’ve taken so many swimming lessons before but they’ve never really helped. I can somewhat swim but still I have this terrible fear. I think it might be related to events that happened to me during my childhood. I’m currently doing this HORRIBLE swimming unit in gym and now I dread going to school everyday! I’ll always stop in the middle of the pool because I get too freaked out to keep going, and then end up half-drowning (so I think). There is no way my gym teacher would ever understand and I would never have the time/money to see a professional. Please, any help out there??

Technorati Tags: Drowning, fear, Overcome, this

How to Overcome Fear of Flying

Have you ever wanted to take that dream trip to a tropical island in the Caribbean to soak up the sun and atmosphere, but had that dream taken away from you because of your fear of flying? It doesn’t have to be this way! You need to identify exactly why it is you harbour these, and other, fears, and discover ways to overcome fear of flying and other limitations.

What is fear of flying?

An unwillingness to even think about getting onboard a plane is a sure fire sign of fear of flying, but these are some other common symptoms:

- Worrying, and becoming overstressed about a flight for days, weeks, even months in advance

- Having feelings of anxiety before boarding the plane

- Feeling you need a strong drink or sedatives to calm down before a flight

- Feeling uncomfortable when the door closes, when the plane takes off, and when you hear certain noises

- Feeling elated and overcome with relief when you finally get off the plane

Why do you fear flying?

In order to overcome fear of flying we need to understand why the fear exists. There are two types of things in our lives; things we can control, and things we cannot control. Things we can control include our thoughts, our actions, and our reactions to certain situations. However, we cannot control things such as the behaviour of others (legally anyway), the thoughts of others, and the weather, among other things.

Fears emanate from our irrational assumptions that the things we cannot control will turn out to be bad experiences. For example, with flying we have absolutely no control; everything is in the hands of the captain. And even if we wanted to, we can’t just stop the plane and get off. Where do these assumptions come from though? We certainly aren’t born with these fears; they are learned through our experiences and through the experiences of others. Try to think of a time that triggered your fear of flying, it could be a personal experience of a turbulent flight you had, the fearful stories of others, or the frightening images seen on television. It’s likely that your imagination takes these experiences and heightens them into a worse case scenario that accentuates your fear. You need to use your imagination to overcome fear of flying, rather than allow it to feed the fear.

Seldom do people realise that flying is significantly safer than travelling in a car or a train. Think about that for a second; it is more dangerous to hop into a car and drive down a freeway than it is to fly, yet people do it every single day without even thinking twice. When you hop into a car or a train what are you thinking? Really, the next time you get into a car or train, take note of what goes through your mind. Most likely you’re not even thinking about whether or not it’s safe to do so, you just do it. Yet when a plane is involved we allow our imagination to overwhelm us due to the uncertainty, because after all how can an object that big possibly fly?

Overcome fear of flying

There are a number of ways to feel more comfortable about flying, and to use your imagination in your favour.

- Prior to the flight have a full, nutritious meal as it will help you relax during the flight.

- Ensure you pack books to read, or music to listen to, or anything else that will distract you, while you are waiting for the flight, and during the actual flight

- Arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare so you can check-in and get your luggage through without too much hassle

- Avoid sugary foods, or caffeine prior to the flight as this may increase stress levels

Other than these practical tips, a very effective way to overcome fear of flying is to visualise the flight. Before your flight try to visualise every aspect of the journey; from the time you arrive at the airport imagine everything going smoothly during the check-in, see yourself walking calmly, even laughing, as you go through the gates and onto the plane. Imagine yourself sitting in your seat, being absorbed in your book, then seeing the magnificent view out the window. Visualise the smooth landing, and how thankful you are to the crew for such an enjoyable flight. Now that wasn’t so bad was it?

Visualisation is a powerful technique not just to help overcome fear of flying, but also to overcome any other fear you have.

Technorati Tags: fear, flying, Overcome

How do I overcome my fear of snakes?

I love reptiles (including snakes). I love any type of lizard. I own a gecko and 2 beardies.
I know snakes evolved from lizards…but there’s just something about them that makes me feel tense. Maybe it’s their eyes? Or head? Or slippery look to their body without legs? I know a fair amout about snakes. I wanna be a reptile vet…but I can’t if I’m scared of snakes. What do they feel like? Do they bite? When and why do they bite? Would you have to seek medical attention?

How can I overcome this fear?

Technorati Tags: fear, Overcome, Snakes

How do I overcome my fear of birds, rodents, and sometimes cats?

Hi,
I really have a problem with holding animals that really scratch or bite, and sometimes react easily to little sounds or movements, such as cats, rodents, and especially birds (because they are unpredictable and they move their wings a lot). I don’t meant that I don’t like these animals, on the contrary, I really like them a lot I just kind of have a fear of holding them. Please help me
Thanks!

Technorati Tags: Birds, cats, fear, Overcome, rodents, sometimes

How to overcome insectophobia?

I really have a HUGE fear of bugs. It is so bad I cry if there is a wasp, or bee by me. I also scream when there is a fly by me. If there was an ant on me, I would start crying too. Please how do I overcome his?

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BMV Quantum Subliminal CD End Fear of Failure: Overcome Failing Phobia

Product Description
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BMV Quantum Subliminal CD End Fear of Failure: Overcome Failing Phobia

Technorati Tags: Failing, Failure, fear, Overcome, phobia, Quantum, Subliminal

How do I overcome a morbid fear of drowning?

I don’t consider this an illogical fear for obvious reasons, but even still, I can barely watch someone drown on tv than to even think of drowning in real life. Is it possible to overcome this fear?
Aside from drowning myself, of course.

Technorati Tags: Drowning, fear, morbid, Overcome

Tips to Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking

If the thought of public speaking makes you start to shake and sweat. You are not alone. The fear of public speaking and presenting to groups is regularly voted the number one fear when surveys are carried out to determine people’s number one fear.

The fear of public speaking is a learned response because we are not born with it. Because it has been learned, it can be unlearned and many people overcome the fear of public speaking and go on to become effective speakers. There are a number of reasons why people face their fear and overcome the shakes:-

- Their job demands it

- To promote their business

- To develop self confidence in themselves

- They like a challenge

- Confident speaking is a great way to get noticed at work

- Speakers are leaders

- Successful executives use the same skills as those used in public speaking

- To promote a cause or club they believe in

To overcome the fear of public speaking apply the following 5 “P’s”

1. Preparation

Prepare thoroughly for your speaking engagement. Firstly understand your audience and what they expect. Who are they, their age etc? This will help when choosing your subject. Meet some of them beforehand it is easier to deliver a speech to people beforehand.

Choose a subject that will interest your audience and will be worthwhile to them. Research your topic thoroughly. Your primary source should be your own personal experience and after that read up on topic. Thorough research will make writing and preparing your speech easier. When you are starting out it is easier to write the speech out word for word. If you are going to read your speech, ensure it is written in spoken English.

The more thoroughly you are prepared the more self-confident you will feel. .

2. Passion

Choose a topic that you are interested in and will interest your audience. Your enthusiasm for the subject you are presenting will make it easier for you to speak on the topic and that enthusiasm is contagious. Also, you will have talked about this topic before and when you are presenting you will merely be extending the conversation.

3. Positive

Envision a positive outcome. Create a vivid picture in your mind of a successful speech and keep focussed on it. Just before you go on stage to present take several deep breaths to calm the nerves and really go overboard on your positive self-talk. Tell yourself how great you are. Your audience will respond well to your positive demeanour as you approach the stage and begin to speak.

4. Practice

Practice is of prime importance in building confidence. Practice as often as you can in front of a mirror and in front of your family and friends. Re-write your speech to make it easier to read and to make it more conversational. If you are going to be reading your speech, practice the tone and pace of your speaking. Lift your eyes up from the page. Practice until you are comfortable with the speech.

If possible have a dry run in the room you are going to deliver your speech. This will help your nerves because when you start speaking it will be in familiar surroundings. It will also have given you chance to address any issues with the facilities and the room.

5. Persistence

After you have taken your first step, the best way to overcome public speaking fear is to keep on doing it. George Bernard Shaw used this method to overcome his public speaking fear. To improve on his method, develop a short speech and deliver it frequently.

There are groups and organisations that meet every week that are ideal places to practice, e.g PTA meetings.

The advantages of public speaking to organisations and to the individual make it worthwhile making the plunge to overcome the fear of public speaking. The skills and techniques learnt are the same as those needed to be a successful executive.

In summary the fear of public speaking is a normal fear, but it has been learned and can be overcome by using the 5 “P”s. The rewards are there to be claimed by you in taking the steps to benefit your audience

Technorati Tags: fear, Overcome, Public, Speaking, Tips

Fear of Horses: How to Overcome Horses Fears With Self Hypnosis

Your fear of horses can be overcome with the help of hypnosis. This self help approach offers a valuable resource as you work your way through your fears. Getting over a phobia of horses is important whether you intend to ride a horse or not. You don’t have to be afraid of riding or of the panic and anxiety you anticipate when faced with one of these magnificent animals.

Magnificent Creatures

It is natural to be afraid of something as powerful as a horse. The equestrian creature is one of great beauty and splendor and it deserves respect. Part of developing ways to overcome your phobic response is to develop a new perspective that replaces the image of the horse as a threatening animal to one of a magnificent creature that is deserving of admiration.

You can begin to see past you fear of horses when you use your subconscious mind as a guide. Your anxiety has been in development for some time in your unconscious thought processes. You automatically respond to the animal because your mind is trained to react this way.

Behaviorism 101

Let’s take a quick look at behaviorism and the elements of fearful responses. You may be familiar with the basic stimulus-response cycle that was unveiled in Pavlov’s dog experiment. In a nutshell, dogs salivated because they heard a bell. They did this because they were trained to anticipate food right after the bell rung.

However, the dogs continued to salivate when they heard the bell whether food was present or not. Their bodily responses followed the cues of their mental processing. “I hear a bell. I’m going to eat.” The automatic response occurs no matter what.

Behaviorism and Fear of Horses

What does this have to do with being afraid of a horse? Your subconscious mind is the realm of your automatic responses. You have trained this portion of your mind to react fearfully in the presence of a horse even though there is no immediate threat. You have learned the fear of horses.

This is great news for anyone interested in using self-hypnosis as a means to overcome his or her phobias. Just as you have trained your mind on a subconscious level to respond automatically with fright, you can train it to respond with reverence and calm respect. Your outlook on the horse changes completely.

Guidance

The process of making the necessary changes in your thinking and perception can involve behavioral and cognitive interventions that are time-consuming. You can also opt for desensitizing yourself by exposing yourself to equestrian animals little by little but this can be a painful approach. Self-hypnosis is the ideal system for overcoming your fearful response.

Technorati Tags: fear, Fears, horses, Hypnosis, Overcome, Self

How You Can Overcome Your Fear of Crowds

A fear of crowds can be awkward to deal with.

Whilst you can be sure that certain places will almost always attract a crowd (big sports matches, crowded commuter routes, that kind of thing), there are other times when a crowd can appear as if from nowhere. It’s at times like that where your fear of crowds can really come into its own and disrupt your way of life.

The problem is that our brain learns pretty fast when it wants to. Especially when irrational fears are concerned. And despite what you may think, a fear of crowds isn’t the most rational thing to possess. Most crowds are harmless most of the time.

But try telling that to your brain!

Chances are the flight part of your inbuilt “fight or flight” response mechanism has reared its ugly head before you get a chance to reason with it.

So just exactly how do you go about overcoming your fear of crowds?

If your fear is a mild one, it could be that you simply need to mix with small crowds and gradually adjust by gradually mixing with larger and larger crowds. Sometimes taking an understanding friend along with you can be idea – they’re with you as a comfort and can help you if your fear suddenly starts to become overwhelming.

But what do you need to do if your fear is bigger than that?

If your fear is holding you back, you have three options:

* Run away from it – move to somewhere rural and isolated for instance.

* Live with it and avoid crowds as much as possible whilst still having a life.

* Face your fear and deal with it.

When it comes down to it, fear is actually pretty cowardly. So the third option (facing your fear of crowds) isn’t actually as scary as it may seem.

Think back to the last time you got trapped in a crowd. Sure, it may not have been a pleasant experience for you. But after all the worry and cold sweats, think back. Did you come out of the event unscathed?

Assuming you did come out of your last crowd experience without harm, that’s a good start. You can work with that positive memory to start to train your mind to react differently next time you’re seemingly trapped in a crowd. Focus on your breathing – take long, deep breaths in and out.

Stay as calm as possible (this gets easier over time – make sure you’ve got help at hand the first few times you try it).

Gradually, you’ll start to reprogram your mind.

If you can, think back to a time when you were happy in a crowd. Maybe a childhood birthday party or maybe a time when you managed to get to the cinema and watch a great movie. If you can find this kind of time, re-live it. In your mind’s eye make the memory bigger, brighter, louder. This will help you to associate positive memories with crowds and will help you overcome your fear of crowds faster.

Technorati Tags: Crowds, fear, Overcome