| How Disasters Turn Into Fears and Phobias | | | | Older Bridges Are They Dangerous |
| Yesterday, August 1, 2007 the I-35W bridge in | | | | The Bridges And Structures Of The Major Rivers |
| Minneapolis collapsed, leaving little hope of | | | | Of Minneapolis And St. Paul points out the I-35W |
| survivors in a very short time. Those on the | | | | bridge's "Claim to Fame" was being "built with a |
| bridge at the time could have done nothing to help | | | | single 458 foot long steel arch to avoid putting |
| themselves as it simply happened too fast. | | | | any piers in the water to impede river navigation." |
| How Fears Get Started | | | | Weeks adds, "a University of Minnesota Civil |
| Fears typically start in the same manner. | | | | Engineer in a report to MN-DOT recently noted |
| Something happens or we see or hear about | | | | that this bridge is considered to be a |
| something that we do not want happening to us | | | | non-redundant structure. That is, if any one |
| and a fear is born. For some just thinking about | | | | member fails, the entire bridge can collapse." |
| the awful effects of enduring the trauma causes | | | | Not all bridges have this design, and those that do |
| them to rehearse the scenario as if they were | | | | are not necessarily doomed to fail. Rather than be |
| actually living it, thus creating a full-blown phobia. | | | | ruled by fear, there is a simple, self administered |
| Then the phobic pattern simply runs whenever | | | | method you can quickly learn that helps reduce |
| the thought of the fear returns. | | | | the fear, and eliminate the anxiety and stress |
| A good example is when a person is just about | | | | associated with it. Car crash victims also |
| to step off a curb when an oncoming car | | | | experience this type of fear and become afraid |
| suddenly narrowly misses them. The sudden | | | | to drive or ride in cars. Imagine not being able to |
| wave of fear rushes over them and their instincts | | | | get into your car without experiencing severe |
| take over pulling them back just in time. From | | | | anxiety, and imagine how much better life would |
| then on, whenever they approach that same | | | | be if you did not have that fear. |
| intersection, their heart may pound, they may get | | | | Examples of Using EFT for Fear of Bridges |
| short of breath and they think about that earlier | | | | Here are a few examples of EFT statements. |
| near miss. Some will simply refuse to walk that | | | | You'd say these, then tap the seven separate |
| route again, while others realize they are working | | | | tapping points. Interestingly you must think about |
| themselves up into a fearful state and they can | | | | the fearful state or condition while you do the |
| calm themselves down. | | | | procedure or you aren't affecting the correct |
| If you are already running a phobic or fear | | | | thought pattern. Don't try to over analyze EFT, |
| pattern, simply deciding you want to stop won't | | | | just try using it and see what happens. |
| work. Your brain is designed to do what it does | | | | "Even though I'm too afraid to go across a bridge, |
| best and that is to run the familiar patterns time | | | | I deeply and completely accept myself." |
| after time. Otherwise simply deciding what to do | | | | "Even though I'm sick over the idea of having to |
| from one moment to the next would take far | | | | drive across the bridge, I deeply and completely |
| too long. Using EFT can take care of the fear, | | | | love and accept myself." |
| without needing lengthy analysis or months on the | | | | "Even though people died on that bridge and they |
| couch. | | | | didn't know but it happened and you never can |
| Learn EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) for | | | | know when things will happen, I deeply and |
| Fear | | | | completely accept myself." |
| You can learn EFT by reading the free manual | | | | "Even though I feel helpless about the world |
| from EFT Founder Gary Craig's website. You can | | | | around me, I deeply and completely accept |
| also work with a practitioner such as myself who | | | | myself." |
| can walk you through the EFT process over the | | | | You can change the words to whatever thoughts |
| phone. In as little as one 45-minute session you | | | | you are having, or you can think about how you |
| may have your fear of bridges completely | | | | feel before you must drive across a bridge, then |
| resolved. Not everyone achieves the same rapid | | | | do a round or two of EFT on that right now, then |
| results but since doing the EFT procedure yourself | | | | later tonight and again tomorrow. |
| takes about two minutes, why not learn it and | | | | If you didn't fear bridges but now you think |
| use it and see for yourself? | | | | maybe you should, use EFT on that, "Even though |
| Once you've learned it you can use EFT for fears, | | | | I'm stupid to think the bridge will support me, I |
| traumas, anxieties, and other things such as | | | | deeply and completely accept myself." |
| sports performance and even weight loss, my | | | | EFT takes just a few moments to use and it is |
| specialty. Interestingly this type of fear or anxiety | | | | especially useful for fears and phobias. Learn it |
| can cause much of our overeating and indulging | | | | and use it and you'll find yourself feeling much |
| behaviors so I work ofter with reducing fears in | | | | better and lighter as you go about your lives, |
| my work with weight loss. Don't let fear rule you. | | | | living in our uncertain world. |