Desensitization
Contents
What is Desensitization?
Desensitization is a process where you become less sensitive to a stimulus, usually a fear or phobia. The aim is to gradually reduce fear and emotional reactions and get to a point where the response is minimal or disappears completely.
This is achieve through repeated, controlled exposure to the feared situation or object. This takes time to achieve, it is critical not to rush it. This helps reduce the intensity of the reaction and remove the fearful response. This kind of therapeutic approach may be used in CBT, psychology, psychotherapy or psychiatry as well as hypnotherapy.
How Desensitization Works
Desensitization works by gradually exposing you to what you fear in a calm, safe, controlled way. Gradually, your mind learns that the situation is not dangerous and the fear response begins to weaken.
This process helps retrain automatic reactions and replace them with calmer more controlled responses.
How Desensitization is Used in Hypnosis
This is used in hypnosis for fears and phobias. It is a much gentler experience than doing it in day-to-day life (such is with CBT). The use of positive suggestions, reinforcement, post-hypnotic suggestions, anchors and visualizations helps to get you feeling comfortable and relaxed while visualizing the object or situation you are afraid of. This is done very carefully.
In some of our hypnosis audios there will be a pause in the process where you visualize yourself facing your fear. You can start off with an easy visualization and build it from there, just like in-person desensitization therapy.
How We Use Desensitization in Hypnosis Audios
Our fear and phobia hypnosis audios approach the process delicately. So for example, if you have a fear of wasps you would not hear suggestions or visualizations that one had landed on your arm, or that you suddenly and inexplicably find them adorable. Instead you will hear gentle, permissive suggestions that allow you to move at your own pace. As you are invited to visualize, you can start off small and build the visualization to a more realistic challenging level. Then, after using the hypnosis audio for a short while you can be in situations where you might encounter your fear and notice and test out what changes may have occurred. Gradually your reaction will be reduced.
Explore Phobias
You can explore a comprehensive A-Z list of phobias with over 640 real phobias listed.
You can also explore hypnosis videos on our YouTube channel
Find Out More
If you would like to understand more about hypnosis, you may find these helpful:
If you have any questions, read our hypnosis FAQ page.
Rachael Eccles is an Advanced Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist with over 20 years of experience. She is fully licensed and registered with the GHR GHSC and CNHC.
She specializes in helping people overcome anxiety, lose weight, break habits and build confidence using proven hypnotherapy and mindfulness techniques.
Rachael has created one of the world's largest collections of hypnosis downloads and meditation audios (700+), and has been featured as an expert on BBC radio, Hello magazine and Thrillist.
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