Otherwise known as genuphobia, this fear of knees has been in the papers today.

[1] http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/03/13/the-woman-who-is-so-scared-of-knees-she-s-lost-friends-and-can-t-go-swimming-115875-21195732/

Sadly, these stories only get into the papers because they are ‘a bit strange’ and we seem to love to read about other people’s disadvantages. The truth is that so many of us live with fears that we might not want to admit to, and which effect the way we go about our lives. Whether it involves flying, heights, spiders or fear of public speaking which are the better known and somehow (strangely) more socially acceptable phobias, or something more obscure such as knees, particular foods or even a particular tone of voice, there is hope.

Consciously, we know that our fears may be irrational. We can reason with ourselves and know that we shouldn’t be afraid - how many times have you heard “pull yourself together”, or “don’t be silly, it’s perfectly safe”. So, why can’t we pull ourselves together?

The answer lies with the unconscious part of your mind, the part that runs ’on automatic’. This is the part of your mind that allows you to drive without constantly thinking about what you are doing with the pedals and the gear stick.  It is the part that makes us run away from a dangerous wild animal without consciously having to think about it. The unconsious part of your mind is designed to keep you away from danger and motivate you towards pleasure, and the only way it can do this is by learning from the minute you are born.

Sometimes, as part of that learning, incorrect associations can be made. Your unconscious mind can truly ‘believe’ that there is something about knees that is dangerous, because it has somehow learned this in the past. But because it is unconscious, you find yourself automatically reacting before you are consciously aware of it, and without consciously having any idea of why!

This is where hypnotherapy comes in. Hypnotherapy can give access to the unconscious part of your mind, in order to understand where that association came from and gently correct it. There is hope in a technique that does not rely on de-sensitisation, does not rely on forcing someone into overexposure to the very thing they fear. This is a gentle and lasting approach to becoming free of our irrational fears for good.

If I can help in any way, please feel free to contact me on 07792312465 or [2] cathy@cathysimmons.co.uk