Phobias
Phobias
It started off small enough: You got stung by a bee while pruning the petunias. But the next time you saw a bee, you ran inside, locked the door and dove under the kitchen table. Then the very thought of bees made you shake. You stopped putting honey in your tea for fear that somehow—hey, you never know—there could be a bee inside the jar.
Sounds like a phobia. It’s an unrealistic fear of something, a fear that you know is not rational. Phobias can progress to the point where they interfere with daily life. Common phobias include fear of animals, insects, lightning, water, heights and closed-in places such as elevators. Fortunately, 90 percent of phobias respond well to therapy such as relaxation and gradual exposure to the thing a person fears. The natural remedy in this chapter—in conjunction with professional care and used with the approval of your doctor—may help you overcome a phobia, according to one health professional.
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See Your Medical Doctor When...
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Flower Remedy/Essence Therapy
The flower remedy Mimulus is helpful for people trying to overcome specific fears, such as fear of the dark or fear of flying, says Leslie J. Kaslof, an herbalist and author of The Traditional Flower Remedies of Dr. Edward Bach.
Flower remedies are available in some health food stores and through mail order (refer to the resource list on page 635). For information on preparing and administering flower remedies, see page 37.
See also Anxiety; Panic Attacks