Fear Isn’t Fixed: How Hypnotherapy for Fear Can Help
I’ve been thinking a lot about fear lately.
It shows up in so many different ways, doesn’t it?
Sometimes it’s obvious—like fear of flying, fear of spiders, fear of heights.
Sometimes it’s more subtle—fear of losing control, fear of being trapped, fear of being seen, fear of failing.
This time of year, I always notice I’m busier with hypnotherapy for fear of flying.
The holidays are getting booked, trips planned… and for so many people, that excitement comes with a quiet dread underneath.
And what’s really struck me, over the years of working with clients, is that fear doesn’t always come from some big dramatic moment.
Sometimes it does—a trauma, an accident, a really scary experience that leaves a deep imprint.
But sometimes fear gets passed down, like a quiet hand-me-down we didn’t even realise we were wearing.
It seeps in from the people around us.
The things we heard growing up.
The way we watched others react.
The little warnings, the “be carefuls,” the anxious glances, the stories we overheard.
And little by little, our brain starts to link certain things with danger.
Not because we’re silly or weak or overreacting—but because that’s what our mind learned to expect.
That fear of losing control, of being close to danger, of “what if”—it can show up in ways we’d never expect.
For some, it’s flying.
For others, it’s driving.
There’s a road near me called 16 Foot Bank—it runs right alongside a canal, and at certain points, you’re driving so close to the edge and there’s no barrier at all.
It’s not a dramatic road.
But over the years, I’ve lost count of how many people have come to me, terrified of driving it—or even just thinking about it.
Because fear doesn’t always make sense to outsiders.
But to the person feeling it? It’s so real, so powerful, so hard to just “logic away.”
How Fear of Flying, Fear of Driving, and Other Fears Show Up
Every time we avoid something scary, every time we replay it in our minds, every time our body tenses up just thinking about it…
We’re reinforcing that fear pathway, deepening it like a groove.
It’s the brain doing its job—trying to protect us from what it believes is unsafe.
But that same brain?
It’s capable of learning new patterns too.
Fear isn’t fixed.
It’s not set in stone.
It’s learned—and like anything learned, it can be unlearned.
I used to be terrified of fireworks.
And I mean terrified.
I’d freeze at the sound, couldn’t be near them, hated bonfire night.
And if I’m honest, I wasn’t sure I’d ever feel different about it.
But slowly, gently, over time—by understanding where that fear had come from, by giving myself new experiences, by working with my own mind—I found that fear started to soften.
These days, I actually enjoy watching fireworks. I never thought I’d say that.
It doesn’t mean the old fear never whispers.
It just means it doesn’t have the same grip it used to.
And it’s a reminder to me, every time, that fear isn’t a life sentence.
It’s not who we are.
It’s just something the brain’s been taught to expect.
And it can be gently taught something new.
Gentle Hypnotherapy Support for Fear and Anxiety
If fear’s been showing up for you—whether it’s fear of flying, fear of driving, or something completely different—you’re not alone.
Fear can feel huge. It can feel stuck. It can feel like part of who we are.
But it isn’t fixed.
And it doesn’t have to stay as strong as it feels right now.
I’ve been sharing more reflections, gentle tools, and calming hypnotherapy tracks over on my Patreon.
It’s become a really lovely, safe space—a supportive corner of the internet where we talk honestly about fear, anxiety, pressure, and all the invisible weight we carry.“I also offer one-to-one hypnotherapy sessions if you’d like personalised support—learn more about my hypnotherapy services here
If you’d like gentle support, or you’re curious to explore some of the calming resources I’ve been sharing, you’re so welcome to join us.
Fear isn’t fixed.
And you don’t have to face it alone.
Sometimes, the smallest softening can change so much.