One can have fear of a lion just escaped from the zoo, or of the sound of approaching footsteps along a dark and lonely street in a strange city. The object of fear is always readily nameable. The fear itself is always readily relatable to by others.<\/p>\n
Contrary to this, one can be anxious and not know why. In case of a phobia, the object is generally not fear-provoking to many others. So?<\/p>\n
Anxiety is always about deeper meaning.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
To name the object of anxiety may appear easy but the real object of anxiety is underlying. For instance, one can have a phobia for spiders. The real source of this phobia is not the (in most cases quite harmless) spider itself, but what the spider deeply, symbolically stands for. The spider may be harmless while the anxiety is profound. It may be related to many things. Indeed this is typical for symbolic stuff. Prior experiences with spiders for instance. Sounds obvious\u2026<\/p>\n
But why then were these prior experiences related to anxiety? Perhaps as a child, you as now-phobic person thought the little spider would suddenly become bigger and would really bite and this would be very painful. Obvious again\u2026<\/p>\n
But then simply pointing out the fiction of this idea should relieve the anxiety. It doesn\u2019t, generally. So?<\/p>\n
The real object of the spider phobia is what the spider symbolically stands for.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
This may be for instance the vague idea that \u2018harm\u2019 exists and can be present nearby: in the room for instance, or even in or under your bed (big and hairy) while you are unaware of it. It may be present all the time.<\/p>\n
Now this \u2018harm\u2019 may symbolically represent something even more vague and omnipresent. What lies behind, may be something like \u201cI am not safe\u201d or \u201cMy father cannot protect me\u201d. Or \u201cHarm exists \u2013 with a capital H, perhaps as a proto-devilish creature\u201d. It may represent a feeling of being overwhelmed and lose control. And indeed the person with a phobia can feel overwhelmed and lose control. Not the control as in a video game, but control over one\u2019s inner being. A symbolic kind of control.<\/p>\n
[see also: \u2018Symbolism lost. Symbolism regained.<\/a>\u2019]<\/p>\n
If you search very deeply, there is always an element of attraction.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Like in a dream where you are in danger \u2013 the spider is coming to get you, or the crevice is right before you \u2013 and \u2018something\u2019 retains you or even pushes you towards it and\u2026 oh no, you\u2019re losing control!<\/p>\n
The attraction may be far from obvious and you don\u2019t need to search it in order to diminish the anxiety. But if you encounter it within yourself, you may try to see it as a \u2018normal\u2019 part of your issue, something that is there and that you don\u2019t need<\/em> to control nor be controlled by it. Relating to it in a more relaxed way \u2013 if possible without coercing yourself \u2013 may already lessen the phobic tension or general anxiety.<\/p>\n
Contrary to this, a simple fear never contains such an element of attraction.<\/p>\n
Anxiety <\/strong>points to inside, to one\u2019s nonconscious, deeper layers of mind.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Fear points to outside, something objectifiable. Anxiety points to inside. Therefore, if you have a phobia or another kind of anxiety, you as a total person need to be involved in your healing.<\/p>\n
AURELIS sessions and coaching can provide support in this, not only in diminishing the anxiety itself but also in \u2018learning\u2019 something about yourself while doing so. [see: \u2018What You Can \u2018Learn\u2019 from Your Symptom<\/a>\u2019].<\/p>\n
Others have already had such healing experiences to a huge degree.<\/p>\n