I tried a £450 hypnotherapy session to cure my fear of spiders
For as long as I can remember I have been afraid of spiders. The little ones pose no problems, but the large ones, with their fat bodies, beady eyes and long legs, fill me with dread.
In late summer, when those mottled garden spiders build their expansive webs across the back garden, I fear getting a face full of arachnid. Autumn is worse, though, when giant house spiders venture indoors, on their long, sprinting legs. If I'm brave enough to catch them beneath a glass, I'll release them 100 yards down the street, so they never darken my doors again. But I'd rather not interact with them at all.
I realise my fear is irrational, infantile even. I'm a 6ft 1in middle-aged male. I go camping, I go hiking, I go mountain biking through the woods. Spiders surround me at all times. So why this ridiculous arachnophobia?
It's an affliction, I'm sure, inherited as a toddler from my mother, who couldn't be in the same room as a spider. It may have eased off somewhat as I've grown older, but I still harbour a deep-seated fear, which is why, when offered hypnotherapy from a specialist, I leapt at the chance. Might I finally be cured of my ridiculous arachnophobia?
Using your mind
The expert in question is clinical hypnotherapist Aaron Surtees, director of City Hypnosis, in central London. Pioneer of a mind programming technique he calls the 'Surtees Method', he has treated thousands of phobia sufferers during his 20-year career – the majority of them scared of public speaking. The 47-year-old also cures addictions and procrastination, helps people dispel negative thoughts, and builds confidence and self-discipline.
His method combines hypnotherapy with neuro-linguistic programming 'to tap into the power of the subconscious mind, bypassing willpower entirely to reframe clients' mindsets'.
Although he can't reveal details of their ailments, several celebrities have laid upon his couch, including Ant McPartlin (of TV duo Ant & Dec), the singer Paul Young, the comedian Robert Webb, singers Perrie Edwards (from Little Mix) and Ashley Roberts (from The Pussycat Dolls), and a serving British MP, who he would rather not name. He has also treated actor Mark Gatiss (famous for comedy show The League of Gentlemen) for a phobia. Again, he can't reveal details.
Wrapped in cotton wool
My own session with Surtees, in his small treatment room in London's Holborn district, started with a brief history of my arachnophobia. Surtees then had me lying back on his reclining armchair, with my legs extended, almost horizontal. Upholstery and a soft rug made me feel like I was wrapped in cotton wool, while the subtle lighting added to my mood of calm.
Speaking to me through headphones, Surtees then started to hypnotise me. This was my first experience of hypnosis, yet, thanks to Surtees's deep, languorous, reassuring, albeit rather croaky voice, I felt totally relaxed at all times. The background sound of gently flowing water coming through the headphones enhanced the effect.
My eyes were closed, and my arms and legs began to tingle, feeling heavier and heavier. Surtees encouraged me to breathe deeply, slowly counting down from ten, all the while assuring me with relaxing phrases. I didn't fall asleep, as I expected.
I remained conscious for the first half of the 20-minute session, or at least I think I did. I remember Surtees asking me to imagine writing and erasing words on a blackboard; to clear my mind of unwanted images and thoughts; to imagine a deep-rooted tree growing in the soil.
There was no mention of spiders until halfway through the hypnosis, and it was at this stage I think I fell unconscious. Having recorded the session on a tape recorder, I later listened back to Surtees' words. 'No fear, no worry. Calm, unaffected, comfortable, near a spider, any time, any place, anywhere,' he said to me ever so slowly. 'Confident, at ease, clear-headed, inner calm, inner peace, effortless, able to manage fear, anxiety.' Then he slowly counted me back into a conscious state.
Surtees explained how he uses a method called hypnotic suggestion, based on the theories of a Scottish surgeon called James Braid, who popularised the term 'hypnosis' in the 1840s, and is considered by some the 'father of modern hypnotism'.
Turn the negatives to positives
Surtees says our brains are able to rewire their neural connections thanks to something called neuroplasticity. He encourages patients to change negative thoughts – such as phobias, anxiety or addiction – into positive ones. 'You may be telling yourself you're going to mess up, or fall flat on your face,' he says. 'You may have a racing heart. My hypnosis will enable you to use that adrenalin positively and to feel confident you can manage panic or anxiety.'
Unlike psychotherapists, Surtees does not dwell on childhood trauma or parental influence. Not for him any sort of Freudian psychoanalysis. Instead he focuses on clear, simple suggestions of positivity. 'This takes better effect, more quickly, and lasts long term,' he adds. 'It's easier for the brain to digest.'
After my session, on the way home, I certainly felt more confident as I contemplated spiders. Without anxiety, I imagined huge house spiders running across my living-room floor, even across my bedcovers.
Later, back at home, I wanted to test my new-found courage. A spider had been living in a dark corner of my kitchen all winter, and I'd been eyeing it suspiciously for months. Might I have defeated my nemesis?
I stood on a chair and reached up towards it, touching its web without too much trouble. Then, boldly, I tried to touch the wee beastie itself – something I would never have contemplated before my session with Surtees.
Unfortunately, this proved a step too far. I baulked. I think I may need a few more sessions with my hypnotist.
How to conquer your phobias
The NHS splits phobias into two types: specific or simple phobias, such as the fear of spiders, snakes, heights, germs, flying and injections; and complex phobias such as agoraphobia (fear of public transport or of leaving the house) and social phobia (fear of social situations).
Symptoms include dizziness, nausea, sweating, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, trembling and an upset stomach. Some phobias, such as ophidiophobia (the fear of snakes) or acrophobia (the fear of heights) have clearly evolved due to self-preservation. Others are completely irrational. Surtees says several of his clients display extreme fear of pigeons, for example.
Causes of phobia
Surtees says there are three main causes of phobias. 'Often a phobia is learnt in childhood from a relative,' he says. 'Arachnophobia or ophidiophobia, for example, can be passed on from mother to child.'
Sometimes phobias stem from a single traumatic incident. 'Just one scary airplane flight, for example, can result in a lifelong fear of flying,' he adds. Genetics can play a role too, with agoraphobia one affliction thought to be naturally inherited by offspring from parents.
Treatments for phobia
Surtees uses his method of hypnotic suggestion to treat all phobias. 'While hypnotising a patient, I might say: 'You are starting to feel calmer and much more confident and positive',' he explains. 'I'll say: 'You are starting to manage anxiety and stress easily, confidently and effortlessly.'
'Hypnotic suggestion allows for a healthy, safe, natural and positive reprogramming of the mind with new patterns of behaviour, habits, thoughts and feelings. You're rooting out the weeds in your flower beds and planting new seeds that can grow into nourishing vegetables or beautiful flowers.'
Other effective remedies:
Write negative thoughts in a journal: 'More often than not, you'll realise the negative thoughts you're experiencing aren't true or useful.'
Adopt a daily gratitude practice: 'Take a few minutes each day to write down three things you are grateful for, focusing on what's good and abundant in your life.'
Meditation: 'Taking deep breaths, meditate for a few minutes, engaging with the present moment.'
Positive visualisation: 'Spend a few minutes a day visualising positive outcomes for your goals and challenges. Imagine yourself succeeding.'
Think of empowering statements: 'Instead of 'I can't do this' or 'I will fail', say, 'I believe in myself', 'I can do this', and 'I will succeed'.'
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