| This section's pages: | 1. What's a Phobia? |
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Phobia Help
What's available? EFT
Virtual reality software is currently being tested, but not regularly used. Traditionally, the only way to get a handle on your fear of water has been "exposure therapy" – supervised, gradual experience with water – known as swim lessons.
I support that way for you.
It's also important to prepare mentally for your classes, in order to keep relaxed. Relaxation techniques can be taught in class. But how else can you face your fear as you prepare for a teacher and a pool?
Emotional Freedom Techniques
There's a treatment I've recently discovered; some of you may have, too. It's called Emotional Freedom Techniques, or EFT.EFT has a high success rate, it's affordable or possibly free, and you can learn to do it:
- on yourself
- by phone or even
- online, using software like ICQ, in order to type to a therapist no matter where either of you are.
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Briefly, I understand EFT to work like this:We are all made of subtle electrical energy. We measure this when we have an EEG or EKG, for the health report of our brain or heart, respectively. Acupuncturists have treated patients via their bodily "meridians", or energy circuits for the past 5,000 years. Your energy flow, or "chi", acts on both the body and the emotions in the same way, for practical purposes.
You might have a strong memory of the moment your fear of water started. An energy disruption happened then.
But, as the principle goes, your memories are not the cause of your fear. That long-ago energy disruption within your electrical system is the cause.
Correct this, and the corresponding negative emotion is thus also corrected.
To repeat: your fear is rooted in an imbalance or disruption in your energy circuit. This electrical disruption is the source of your problem, according to energy-based principles.
How to do EFT on yourself
Okey-dokey. So,
- you tap yourself with your fingers on a certain set of meridian endpoints, as you declare what your fear is and affirm that you accept yourself,
- while you dwell on your fear of water. Just briefly think about it; it's enough.
- the tapping sends out pulses along that certain meridian,
- rebalancing the energy disruption that feeds your emotions – your fear of water.
The energy disruption is corrected, and the unwanted emotion disappears, replaced by a calming relief. You are still yourself, only no longer so afraid of water. You will be ready to start lessons and the life of a beginning swimmer.
Can you believe it?
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The first EFT case
Fabulously, the earliest form of EFT, called Thought Field Therapy, was first discovered in 1980 by psychologist Dr. Roger Callahan, while treating a patient with a severe – guess! – water phobia.
After a year and a half of trying conventional psychological teatment, Dr. Callahan tried tapping under his patient's eyes, at the endpoint of the stomach meridian.
Like that, the phobia disappeared, and the patient promptly hied off to the nearest pool (this was Southern California) and began to splash water on her face. Phobia resolved.
This patient didn't lose her common sense, however, only her fear. She was rational as she went to the water. She knew she needed to learn to swim next. And, she made this decision without dread.
Discover for yourself...
It's not possible to state that one round of tapping will eliminate your fear of water. EFT does merit a closer look, however.I'll report on things as I learn them, but why wait?
Here's the primary link to all things EFT: http://www.emofree.com
To find an EFTpractitioner/therapist near you, go to:
http://www.emofree.com/practitioners/referralmain.asp
Relaxnswim is also pleased to bring you the remarkable story of one formerly water-phobic man,Tam Lewellyn-Edwards, who was treated via EFT in 1999 and has been completely free of his fear of water ever since.
Have a look...
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