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by luckyjeans on November 25th, 2006

luckyjeans

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I have an irrational fear that if I sleep on my back I will swallow my tongue, choke, and die. If I recognize it is in fact irrational, why can't I sleep on my back?

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Answers. 4 helpful answers below.

  • by Anonymous on November 26th, 2006

    Anonymous

    Your fear has become a phobia, and as such you simply cannot allow yourself to risk sleeping on your back. Consciously almost all people with phobias realize that their fears are at least overblown, and for many of them, that they are silly and even ridiculous. But to the subconsious mind, they seem very, very real and justified.

    There are several ways people can overcome phobias. Some techniques work better for different phobias. The best techniques in my experience are hypnosis by a trained professional (who may or may not also be a mental health professional) desensitization, which in the case of your phobia I doubt would do any good, "guided imagery" tapes that are actually like hypnosis, and are targeted at specific fears, and along with all of these, talk-cognitive therapy, which can help to a point with some phobias, and is usually used with desensitization techniques.

    For your phobia, I would suggest hypnosis, if possible from a person who is also a mental health counselor. If not, it ought to still work, if the person is well skilled. Sometimes a hypnotherapist will also give the patient a tape to listen to in between sessions to reinforce work done in person. A "cure" does not always come right away with hypnosis, and depends on how long and how deeply seated the problem is that you are trying to address.

    Good luck. I have confidence if you find someone qualified and stick with it, you will have good success at getting rid of this phobia.

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  • by EL1 2 on November 25th, 2006

    EL1 2

    Phobias are based on irrational fears. I have needle and surgery phobia. I realize that shots really don't hurt, but I still panic when I need one.

    There are numerous ways to destroy a phobia. The safest way is to visit a psychologist. Trying to desensitize yourself could result in the phobia increasing or spreading.

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  • by BAM@Cyberscrewed.tk on December 29th, 2006

    BAM@Cyberscrewed.tk

    You may reconize this as unrational but subconciously still believe it to be true or you may even be UNassuring yourself that it's not true. I sometimes believe something then realize it's unrational but think maybe my realization wasn't true. Does that make any sense?

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  • by justinoldguy on November 29th, 2006

    justinoldguy

    Try seeing a professional hypnotist or phobia expert. I saw one and they were alot of help to me.

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