Hypnotherapy for Atelophobia

Professional hypnosis treatments for atelophobia, the fear of failure, at the Wombourne Clinic in Wolverhampton

WARNING – THIS PAGE CONTAINS A PICTURE DEPICTING POTENTIAL FAILURE

Atelophobia is the Fear of Failure or not ‘being good enough’.

It is commonly associated with Social Anxiety (worrying about what other people might think of you for getting things ‘wrong’) and may also be linked to having a ‘perfectionist’ thinking style.

On this Page:

• Atelophobia Symptoms
• Atelophobia Treatment

All phobias are, by definition, irrational, but regardless of what the feared object or circumstances are, phobic beliefs also produce real feelings of Anxiety and Stress for the sufferer, and Atelophobia is no different in this sense.

Whilst the feared object or situation may seem, to other people, to be ‘ridiculous’ or ‘silly’, the person who suffers from Atelophobia knows only too well that the Anxiety that they experience is real and is having a detrimental impact on their life.

Learn more about our general approach to hypnotherapy for anxiety in Wolverhampton here.

We completely understand this here at Wolverhampton Hypnotherapy and will treat you and your fear of Failure seriously.

For many years Psychologists have been aware that our minds are more than capable of producing a real biological reaction to any given situation and so as long as the Atelophobia sufferer “believes” that the object or situation they fear represents danger to them, then they will experience real fear.

The majority of people who do suffer with Atelophobia recognise that their fear is “irrational” but continue to experience it regardless of this knowledge. This is why simply being told to “snap out of it” rarely produces a solution!

Atelophobia Symptoms

The symptoms of Atelophobia are very similar to other specific phobias and will often include:

• Panic attacks
• Trying to be perfect
• Inability to make a decision
• Inability to Relax
• Feelings of dizziness
• Prickly sensations
• Palpitations
• Aches & pains
• Dry and Sticky mouth
• Sweating Excessively
• Breathlessness

Atelophobia Symptoms are generally automatic and uncontrollable and can seem to take over a person’s thoughts which frequently leads to extreme measures being taken to avoid the feared object or situation, what are known as “Safety” or “Avoidance” behaviours.

Unfortunately, for the sufferer, these safety behaviours have a paradoxical effect and actually reinforce the phobia rather than solve it!

The fear of Failure may be the result of negative emotional experiences that can be either directly or indirectly linked to the object or situational fear.

Over time, the symptoms often become “normalised” and “accepted” as limiting beliefs in that person’s life – “I’ve learnt to live with it.”

In just as many cases, Atelophobia may have become worse over time as more and more sophisticated safety behaviours and routines are developed.

The good news is that the vast majority of people who suffer from the fear of Failure will find a course of Psychological Therapy helps enormously.

What Can Cause a Fear of Failure?

Experiencing atelophobia, or the fear of failure, often originates from a lifetime of experiences that intricately influence our self-perception.

These experiences may include critical feedback received during formative years, where an emphasis on perfection fosters the belief that anything short of excellence is unacceptable, as well as the discomfort of comparisons in social or academic contexts that leave us feeling inferior.

Instances of vulnerability, such as failing to meet expectations set by family, friends, or ourselves, can reinforce feelings of inadequacy.

The remnants of past disappointments can persist, cultivating a mindset that views failure as an outcome to be avoided at all costs.

Over time, such experiences can evolve into a significant fear that overshadows our aspirations and ambitions, initiating a cycle of avoidance that may lead us to believe that security lies in refraining from effort.

Recognising how these experiences shape our fear of failure is a crucial step towards restoring our confidence and courage, empowering us to navigate life amidst its inherent uncertainties.

Atelophobia Treatment

Wolverhampton Hypnotherapy is able to offer a wide range of different psychological treatments for Atelophobia including both ‘cognitive’ (thinking) based talking therapies as well as therapies based on ’emotional’ content such as Hypnotherapy.

Hypnotherapy for Atelophobia

Hypnotherapy for atelophobia can be particularly effective for helping people to locate and then use many of their own inner strengths and resources to combat the problems associated with a fear of failure.

In this respect, hypnotherapy helps a person to ‘help themselves’ in very much the same way as other therapeutic approaches.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Options with Paul Lee MSc at Tranceform Psychology

If you’re unsure about undertaking a course of hypnotherapy for your fear of failure then you might like to consider a structured programme of CBT with Paul who runs our main applied psychology business Tranceform.

Initial Consultations

Joan offers all prospective clients a low cost (£30) initial consultation to discuss your mental health concerns.

During this 50 minute consultation Joan will discuss the various options that are available to you and make a considered recommendation based on your individual personal circumstances.

At Wolverhampton Hypnotherapy we understand the importance of the therapeutic relationship and so place a great emphasis on being able to meet PRIOR to agreeing any kind of help.

Our policy is to help people make a fully balanced & considered decision about undertaking therapy with us, including both the financial, work-load and personal implications.

E-mail joan at:

Joan@WolverhamptonHypnotherapy.co.uk