Phobias and Fears

Fear of Needles: How a Long-Term Phobia Can Start to Change

by Dan Regan | Apr 21, 2026 | Phobias and Fears

Fear of Needles: How a Long-Term Phobia Can Start to Change

Many people experience a fear of needles linked to anxiety, even when they know logically that the situation is safe.

You know it is perfectly safe – and even positive for your health and well-being. Yet still it fills you with dread and anxiety.

Many people dislike needles and injections. But for some people, it’s not just discomfort, it’s a strong, immediate reaction that can feel out of proportion but very real.

It can cause a racing heart, muscle shakiness and tears. Your mind races and some of my clients in Ely even described fainting and passing out when in sight of a needle.

Fear of needles anxiety can affect:

Why Some Fears Don’t Make Sense

by Dan Regan | Apr 21, 2026 | Phobias and Fears

Why Some Fears Don’t Make Sense (But Feel Completely Real)

You know your fear doesn’t make any sense. It’s not rational. But the overwhelming thoughts and feelings that come with it feel very real.

If a fear doesn’t seem to make sense, it’s usually not about the situation itself, it’s about how your mind has learned to respond to it.

Whatever thing your phobia and fear is linked to, it can bring on worry, anxiety and panic.

For example, the fear of swimming is a common anxiety that I help clients in Ely to tackle.

You might find yourself avoiding going to the pool when you know it isn’t logically dangerous.

It could be:

Fear of Dogs in Children

by Dan Regan | Apr 18, 2026 | Phobias and Fears

Fear of Dogs in Children: A Recent Success Story

Fear of dogs is something many children experience at some point..

For some, it’s a mild discomfort. They can be in the vicinity of dogs but are wary and keep a distance..

For others, it can begin to affect day-to-day life, especially when it leads to avoiding places like parks, walks, or outdoor activities. Just the possibility that there may be a dog can create anxiety and fear. If a dog comes nearer it creates panic..

Recently, a parent got in touch about their daughter, who had developed a strong fear of dogs..

She had reached the point where she was refusing to go on walks or visit the park in case she might see one. Just the thought of a dog coming near could create worry..

After our sessions, things changed positively and dramatically..

Whilst this was help for a child and fer of dogs, I’ve helped many adults too who struggle with this fear..

Why Phobias Can Feel So Intense

by Dan Regan | Feb 6, 2026 | Phobias and Fears

Why Phobias Can Feel So Intense (And Why They’re Not Logical)

If you’ve ever struggled with a phobia – whether it’s heights, spiders, injections, flying, enclosed spaces, or something else entirely – you might have wondered why the fear you feel can seem so intense, even when the danger is minimal or nonexistent. It doesn’t make sense logically, and that paradox can leave you feeling frustrated or worried.

Fears and phobias are pretty common things. You may have learnt to live with it or just to avoid things. Yet even this can be uncomfortable if your phobia feels intense just when things get mentioned in conversation or you see something related on a screen. You live on edge and in fear of having to face your fear. And when that day comes, as it so often does eventually, you struggle with anxiety beforehand and either bail out or find yourself an anxious wreck as you try and do things that others seem to do so easily.

You may know when and why your phobia started. However, it’s far more common that at some point, probably when young, it started and then at some point it became problematic and limiting. The same thoughts, feelings and behaviours repeat when you see, hear or think about it.

You know that your fear is irrational but that knowledge doesn’t change anything. Your phobia feels intense. The way your brain works means that emotions always triumph over logic. Panic, tears, shaky legs, racing thoughts, heart palpitations and sleepless nights can all happen.

Many people I work with in Ely and the surrounding Cambridgeshire area describe the intensity of their phobic reactions as one of the most confusing and overwhelming aspects of their anxiety experience.

Fear of Flying: Anxiety or Phobia?

by Dan Regan | Dec 31, 2025 | Phobias and Fears

Fear of Flying: Anxiety or Phobia?

I work with many people in Ely and Newmarket who struggle with a fear of flying. The anxiety and fear can stop you flying altogether, or make it a thoroughly uncomfortable experience. So is your fear of flying an anxiety or a phobia? And how can you tackle it so that you can fly calmly and confidently. How can you overcome your fear of flying so you can look forward to going to the places you want to go?

For many people, flying isn’t just uncomfortable, it’s deeply distressing. The thought of getting on a plane can trigger anxiety days or even weeks in advance, and for some, it leads to avoiding travel altogether.

If you are able to tackle the initial barrier of buying a ticket, your anxiety and panic starts to increase. You imagine all the worst case scenarios, from the plane going down to having a panic attack and feeling trapped. The closer flying gets, the more you feel restless and get that sinking feeling. The airport can feel hot and uncomfortable. And being on the plane can lead to panic, hyper alertness and wave after wave of fear. You can arrive at your destination feeling drained and exhausted from all the anxious thoughts and feelings you’ve been trying to deal with.

If you struggle with a fear of flying, you may wonder whether what you’re experiencing is anxiety or a phobia. Understanding the difference is an important first step toward feeling calmer and more in control. And, as my many clients in Ely and Newmarket have gone on to discover, you an feel more calm and in control before and during flying.

Fear of Needles and Injections

by Dan Regan | Nov 10, 2025 | Phobias and Fears

Fear of Needles and Injections – Hypnotherapy Ely & Newmarket

Do you struggle with a fear of needles and injections?

For many people, the thought of having an injection or a blood test can cause an immediate wave of anxiety. It’s something they actively avoid. Even the mention of injections and blood tests can create anxiety. Yet, you know that sooner or later you’re likely to need to have a jab, blood test or injection of some kind. And that’s when the worry and fear really accelerates.

The other day, I headed to my GP surgery for my annual flu jab. I’d barely taken off my hoodie when I was called into a consulting room. The nurse took out the needle, and I saw it there in his hand. I lifted my sleeve, felt a little sting and it was all over. From arrival to departure took a total of only about five minutes. In fact, I was going to ask if I could take a photo of the injection to show future clients, but it was all over too quickly!

Recently I was working with a client who had a fear of needles and injections. She told me that she couldn’t even look at a picture of a needle, or anything hospital related, without a surge of fear and anxiety. If other people started talking about injections or blood tests then she had to shut them down straight away because she couldn’t stand it. On the rare occasions in her life when she’d had to have an injection, she’d had panic attacks that led to crying, feeling sick and passing out. Even though it was for her health, just the thought of needing another one was overwhelming.

A picture, a movie, a conversation, even a thought of an injection or blood test. Anything associated with needles and injections can be enough to cause your heart to start racing, your temperature to rise, and your nausea to start. You feel tense, restless and on edge. Long before you come anywhere near your appointment, your imagination is racing through worst case scenarios.

The good news is that, just like with other forms of anxiety, you can manage, reduce and overcome this fear. I’ve helped many people go from panic and passing out to feeling calm and composed. It’s never going to be something to get excited about, yet you want to be able to calmly go and get it done if needed, in the same way you go to any other appointments. And with the right approach, you very much can start to feel calmer, more in control and more confident when faced with needles and injections.

Emetophobia Hypnotherapy

by Dan Regan | Apr 2, 2025 | Phobias and Fears

Emetophobia Hypnotherapy

Helping people through emetophobia hypnotherapy is perhaps more common than you may think. Many people struggle with a fear of vomiting, often hiding their anxiety and avoiding situations that may be challenging.

Emetophobia is a very common issue that I help people with. If you have a fear of vomiting then you may try to hide it from others. You avoid situations and people that you consider to be high risk. And the possibility of encountering vomit (in yourself or others) is constantly at the forefront of your awareness. It can dominate your daily life.

Often the anxiety has elements around the possibility of other people being sick. You may avoid social situations, crowded places or places where people drink. If someone says they feel sick or coughs and splutters then you are immediately on high alert. If you’ve seen vomit somewhere then you may totally avoid going to that place, and similar places, again. Things like travel are filled with risk and dread. And if someone has been unwell then you may avoid them way beyond when they have recovered.

You will also worry about being sick yourself. If you were to catch something then it would be catastrophic. You may avoid alcohol or certain ‘high risk’ foods. You may feel like you are on constant alert for how you feel. If you get a sensation in your stomach or at the back of your throat then you start to panic about whether this is it, this could be the time you actually vomit.

Of course, everyone has an association of unpleasantness around vomit and being sick. No one wants to be unwell or to be exposed to it.

Healthcare Anxiety

by Dan Regan | Mar 2, 2025 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks, Phobias and Fears

Healthcare Anxiety – Hypnotherapy in Ely & Newmarket

Do you struggle with healthcare anxiety?

Healthcare anxiety can be a constant lingering worry that lurks at the back of your mind. You see things on TV and in the press about health issues. People tell you about their ailments and treatments. Maybe you even have something that you know you should probably get checked out but your anxiety holds you back and leaves you overthinking and worrying about it.

You’ve probably got used to avoiding going to the doctor or having any investigations or tests. Yet you know that in all likelihood, at some point in your life you are going to have to face it head on. Sooner or later, you know that you will need to get something looked at or have something done. Even the thought of it can be enough to raise your blood pressure and give you restless moments.

Medical procedures and appointments are a normal part of life. You may need to visit your GP for a check up, undergo a procedure at hospital or need an injection or blood test. You may be ok with some of these things yet there is some part of healthcare that fills you with immense dread, fear and worry.

With health anxiety, medically related things (sometimes even if for someone else rather than yourself) can fill you with anxiety, dread and fear. You try to avoid medical things. But at some point avoidance no longer becomes an option and you have to face it. That’s when you need to learn how to change your mindset, calm your anxiety, think clearly and change that old healthcare anxiety habit.

Fear of Being Sick – Anxiety Hypnotherapy in Ely and Newmarket

by Dan Regan | Feb 26, 2025 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks, Phobias and Fears

Fear of Being Sick – Anxiety Hypnotherapy in Ely and Newmarket

Do you struggle with a fear of being sick?

When someone comes to see me about their fear of sick, they are often surprised when I tell them how common a thing it is that I help people with. As with many fears, you can get good at avoiding situations associated with sickness and vomiting. And you can become an expert in keeping it under wraps no matter how anxious you are feeling.

If you struggle with a fear of being sick (emetophobia), then you can worry that you, yourself, will be sick and you can feel anxious that someone around you will vomit. You may hate any reference to feeling sick or being unwell and avoid anyone who has been unwell until you can be sure that the danger period is over. When you hear about sickness bugs going around you may feel tense and on edge and avoid even more people and situations.

The likelihood is that you don’t like to drink much alcohol because of the risk of being sick, and you may worry about social events with alcohol in case someone else vomits. Certain forms of travel associated with potential sickness, such as flying and boats, may be no-go areas. I’ve known clients who tell me that even their pet cat or dog being sick is enough to trigger the panic.

You may avoid certain ‘higher-risk’ foods or those linked in your mind to sickness in some way. A feeling in your stomach may be enough to convince you that you are definitely going to be sick this time (just as you were certain last time, when it didn’t happen). And even watching an actor on screen being unwell may be too much for you to cope with. The more people there are somewhere, especially if someone burps, coughs or splutters while eating, the higher the risk. And fairground rides that cause that wavey feeling in your belly are probably a no-go for you right now too.

Being sick is a normal human function (at the right time) and usually someone with emetophobia hasn’t actually vomited on many occasions. However, the fear is so great that it can stop you doing things you’d like to do and it can rule your life at times.

Fear of Birds Review – Hypnotherapy For Fears and Phobias

by Dan Regan | Feb 25, 2025 | Phobias and Fears

Fear of Birds Review – Hypnotherapy For Fears and Phobias

In this article, I’m sharing a fear of birds review video from one of my recent hypnotherapy clients.

Fears and phobias can be funny things. You know that your phobia is irrational yet you still get the same old fear, anxiety and panic about whatever it is. I’ve helped people with the more common fears and phobias, like flying, driving, needles, blood and injections. And phobias can attach themselves to any other manner of things, such as spiders, balloons, certain sounds, sickness, clowns and almost anything else you can think of.

Whatever your feared thing, you dread encountering it and you probably do all you can to avoid it. And if you can’t avoid it, you get out of there as quickly as you can because the panic and fear are so great. Your heart races, you feel tense, your breathing rate increases, and all you can do is fixate on the thing that your brain perceives as a threat. The fear quickly takes over your thoughts and feelings.

Recently, I was working with someone who struggled with a fear of birds and who couldn’t go anywhere near them. Now, she is getting on with life free of her old fear. You can watch her video review below.

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