By Eleni Sakellis
Phobia Relief: From Fear to Freedom by internationally bestselling author Kalliope Barlis is a helpful book for those suffering from phobias and illogical fears. A step by step guide, the book contains exercises that use simple, yet tried and true techniques to free people from the endless cycle of fear. Part of the Building Your Best series, Phobia Relief uses Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). The author of three books, Barlis is a Licensed Trainer of NLP, the same techniques her mentor, NLP founder Dr. Richard Bandler, used to rid Good Morning America personality Michael Strahan of his snake phobia.
Fear is a part of everyday life. As Barlis notes, we are born with two fears- falling and loud noises, but the rest “are learned and can be unlearned.” Among the fears that can be unlearned are the fear of dogs, clowns, spiders, flying, needles, close spaces, and getting sick. In the book, Barlis shares the way she helped countless people overcome their fears using NLP, but the story of one woman and her fear of clowns highlights the effectiveness of the self-help book. The woman’s fear was so debilitating that she actually left her child unattended to flee after seeing a clown. She had missed spending time with her child at the circus out of this fear and had finally reached out for help. The results were dramatic and demonstrate the brain’s plasticity. The exercises allowed the woman to learn the true cause of her fear, gain control over her uncontrollable thoughts, shrink her fears and reverse them. Using visualization, she was able to change the way she thought about clowns and free herself from the fear practically instantaneously, or within one session.
For many people, fear holds them back from living their best life. The fear of success, many have pointed out, is greater for some than the fear of failure, so they limit themselves and their opportunities. How many times do we let opportunities slip by because we fear the outcome? How many wonderful people do we miss meeting because we let social anxiety get in the way and fear what might happen if we said a simple hello? The techniques in Barlis’ book can apply to many aspects of life where fear intrudes and impedes our progress. The book empowers people with the knowledge to help them find their purpose and focus on what they want out of life instead of what they don’t want.
On May 8, at the George Billis Gallery, 525 West 26th Street in New York City, people who suffer the shame, fear, and stress that accompanies phobias for such everyday things as snakes, clowns, spiders, public speaking, social anxiety and dentists—can get relief as part of the first annual Phobia Relief Day.
The brainchild of Barlis, who has helped thousands of people overcome their fears, the special day will be marked by in-person phobia relief sessions in New York City as well as training that can be accessible anywhere in the world through the internet.
Tickets are required to attend the sessions in which Barlis will explain how people can shrink their fears, shed stress, and build their best lives ever. People can attend in person or virtually. Either way, all participants will receive free access to the audio book version of Phobia Relief: From Fear to Freedom. Some volunteers will have their phobias diminished in front of the audience. The special event is designed not only for phobia sufferers who are seeking relief, but also their friends and families looking for ways to help, and professionals interested in gaining a feel for phobia relief skills.
More information is available online at www.PhobiaReliefDay.org. The book is available online at Barnes & Noble and Amazon. The audiobook is available on iTunes.
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