This week’s Talk Radio Topic is “Recovering From Phobias and Fear Associations.” on Planetary Streams Talk Radio
Salem, UT – December 29, 2010 – Planetary Streams Talk Radio Network today announced that Diana Hoffman, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Trauma Recovery Specialist, and host of “Healing Talk” radio show, will be discussing “Recovering From Phobias and Fear Associations.” Healing Talk broadcasts locally every Wednesday on Utah’s KSTAR 1400 AM and globally throughout the following week, starting on Saturday at 11 a.m. Mountain Time on Planetary Streams Talk Radio Network, and Web Campus World Wide Talk Radio.
According to Diana Hoffman, LPC, Trauma Recovery Specialist, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Mind/Body Healing Coach, and owner of Salem Counseling Center, phobias are created by rapid association mechanisms in the brainstem. All sensory input comes into the brain through the brainstem, and the brainstem acts as a huge filtering system, stopping all of the mundane input and forwarding only that sensory information that is unique, changing, or is tied to strong emotional associations in the past. This keeps the conscious mind uncluttered and allows it to focus on what is more important.
In contrast, sensory input that is similar to something in the past that has caused a strong emotion is immediately forwarded. Such sensory input often creates an instantaneous physiological response in the brainstem itself. Such a response happens with reflex speed, before the conscious mind has a chance to react.
The most intense brainstem responses occur when a strong fear association is triggered. Fear emotions tend to be interpreted by the brainstem as essential to survival. Thus the unconscious reflex response is very intense, very physical and very rapid. Because this response happens at such a deep and primitive brain level, and happens before a sensation is consciously noticed, fear responses feel innate and unchangeable to an individual, even if they are irrational. Often fears are so strong that an individual with a phobia is afraid of even attempting therapy. Thus, the most difficult part of phobia recovery is just convincing an individual that recovery is actually possible.
Brainstem-based release techniques such as EFT, TFT, and EMDR are remarkably effective at releasing phobia associations. With phobias caused by single-event trauma, this release is so impressive that it is often chosen for stage demonstrations in lectures and presentations, with such dramatic effect that lifetime severe phobias can frequently be resolved in one or two sessions. Activating the brainstem by getting it “busy” with sensory input, bilateral stimulation and association trigger words opens up access to the trauma associations and allows them to be “reprogrammed” with speed and permanence.
False fear associations can also be reprogrammed. For example, a common abuse association is “a man abused me as a child so I must be afraid my husband, doctor, etc. because he is a man.” Often a simple sequence of brain-stem based therapy can change this association into “abusive men are dangerous, but my husband/doctor is safe.” This change can be effected long before the work of resolving all of the abuse trauma is completed. It is not a cognitive therapy process of changing beliefs; cognitive therapy approaches are much slower. This is a brain-stem-based process of changing the synaptic connections between neurons, and it is very physical, involving tapping, eye movement, and even breathing exercises. The effect produced by these approaches can create tremendous relief for those burdened by phobias and fear associations.
About “Healing Talk” Radio Show: The “Healing Talk” Radio Show explores the best of current research and resources for healing mind, body and relationships, and for building a bridge between the conscious and subconscious mind. Hosted by Diana Hoffman, LPC, Trauma Recovery Specialist, Clinical Hypnotherapist and owner of Salem Counseling Center in Salem,Utah. Listen LIVE every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on KSTAR 1400 AM. Listen to internet replay every Saturday at 11 a.m. Mountain Time with the previous week’s show repeating daily at 11 am on http://www.planetarystreams.com and http://www.wcww.com. Contact: healingtalkradio@gmail.com. or visit the website, http://www.dianahoffman.com or the radio blog, http://healingtalkradio.wordpress.com