by Dominic Knight

Created on: August 24, 2009   Last Updated: August 25, 2009

I was just reflecting on a holiday I had a couple of years ago and remembered an experience that didn't seem scary until I decided to go ahead with it. I had just arrived in Santorini, a gorgeous little Greek Island, and we had just got off the cruise that had brought us there. I have never seen so many Donkeys in my life! To get to the little village and shops meant either going up a tram, or taking a Donkey up the mountain. Being the adventures type of guy I am, I decided to go via Donkey, the route up the mountain was daunting and the speed of these donkeys would have even intimidated Lewis Hamilton. At points on the trip up, it literally felt that I was going to fall off the side of the cliff! I grew to respect the fact that Donkeys really can be dangerous and I could sympathize with anyone who has fear of them. But come to think of it, in all my years of practice I have worked with every imaginable phobia under the sun, but never have I worked with a Donkey Phobic.

According to a National Geographic statistic, donkeys are deadlier then flying on an airplane. So why are so many people still afraid to fly? The answer is simple, they create a scary picture in their mind, talk to themselves negatively and imagine how everything could possibly go wrong and if that isn't enough they expect to panic up there and then wonder why they can't fly. The simple fact is that they are inflicting the fear on themselves. Inevitably when I work with flight phobics I ask them, "when was the last time you were in a plane crash?" and of course I get the answer, "its never happened." The mind is amazing. If you create imaginary fears, it feels very real. However, if you create imaginary happiness and confidence that too feels real. The last flight phobic I worked with would use several drugs to get on the airplane and would still panic! Then she booked a session with me and her flight was as smooth as could be. I received a phone call from her saying it was easier then she had expected.

Follow these easy steps and you to can find freedom from this fear:

1) Change the negative images in your mind of fear, panic and crashing into comfort and enjoyment.

2) Use positive self dialogue and deep breathing.

3) Watch a comedy before heading out to the airport (Endorphins are released during laughter and this collapses the emotions of fear)

4) Meditate morning and evening by laying in bed and imagining the whole experience turning out more comfortable then you had expected.

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