i have a fear of dogs..... will the NHS help??

Question

i have a huge fear of dogs. im 20 and ive had this fear as long as i can remember, and every year my fear gets worse and worse. its gotten to the point where walking anywhere alone is scary and doing things like walking in parks, even with other people, is out of the question.
i was almost bitten as a kid of about 10 but i was scared long before that.
seeing friends who have dogs isnt really the answer for me, coz they dont understand how i can be so scaried of their cute little doggy, so they dont really understand that they need to take baby steps with me and their dog.
was wondering if i could get some help on the NHS?

MJ

Answer 1

If it's affecting your daily life then you may be able to get cognitive therapy. Probably have a long wait though. See your G.P, some have counsellors at the surgery.
Might be worth thinking about a course of hypnotherapy though.

Answer 2

Hi, If you have a phobias your doctor can registered you with a Keyworker who helps find various therapies to try along behavioral cognitive therapy. There is a long waiting list but your Keyworker will help you with some therapy in the meantime. Some things you can try is writing the words like dog bit, fear, etc in a book like you would have done lines in school. Also look a pictures, sit in a car in a park watching dogs, listen to calming music and practise relaxation, so when the fear starts you may be able to control it, stay in your feared state until it starts to ebb away, this could be 2 hours but will lessen each time you do it. Progress to sitting on a park bench, perhaps reading a book. Explain to friends, it is a real fear, they will help. Ask then to put the dog at the end of the garden, stay till your fear lessens and each time you visit get the dog a step closer, stay til the fear lessens again and keep doing so. if you need to take a step back at any stage, do so, until you feel comfortable. Eventually you may be able to touch the dog if it faces away from you, or while sitting, have a friend muzzle it, even it its the friendliest.. Read Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway and any other self help books, from libraries. Keep a graph to show your progeression, seeing your fear lessen each time will help you see your fear diminishing. Hynotherapy and even massage will relax you during this time to make it more bearable. Best of luck, you will overcome it

Answer 3

Let the doctors alone... This is something you have to help yourself through. Ask yourself these questions:
1. Do you want to get over the fear?
2. Do you realize logically that the fear is not based on a true fact(Do you realize the dog will not bite you)?
3. Do you think a doggy is cute? Would you like to pet it etc?
4. Can you try and find out inside you what is the real fear you have in life, what real traumatic experiences you have, which you projetc to the fear of dogs, in order to send the real ones to your subconscious?
If the answer to these questions is yes, then start slowly. Find a small puppy, a baby. You can't be afraid of that. Touch it, or at least go near it. Do that as much as possible. Then, find an adult calm and small dog. Do the same, gradually. Then a bigger but friendly dog. You don't have to be their best friend and roll around with them, just be near them. And keep in mind the following:
Communicate with the dog. You can tell if a dog wants you or not. If he is waving his tail and is looking at you with these nice doggy eyes, he won't bite you. Don't do any frightening moves, let him smell you and then pet him, when he accepts you. If he shows his teeth, barks or even when he doesn't show enthusiasm towards you (tail waving etc), don't force him, don't go near. He doesn't want you. If you respect his feelings he will respect yours. Dogs are not crazy, they won't bite you if you don't bother them. A small minority gives them a bad name.

Answer 4

To be honest unless this becomes a seriuosly debiltating problem the i dont think the NHS will be much hellp to you.To be honest i would suggest not trying to see a psychologist but a dog handler/trainer. Think your problem boils down to the old saying "People fear what they do not know", In your case(and i have a similar less acute aversion to dogs) it is that you are unable to understand dog behaviour and signals, hence you are uncomforttable round dogs and may misinterpret a friendy bark for something more aggressive. I have never been a fan of dogs and hated any dog that barked fearing it wanted to bite me, once i understood more clearly how dogs act. Thus i didnt feel as uncomfortable with dogs in the room as i understood what they doing wasnt threatening in intentions but playful hence i then became more relaxed and now i dont really have a problem with dogs anymore. You suffer from an irrational mental block thats all.

Answer 5

you need to speek to doc, when thay tell you there is nothing they can do keep on at them visit other docs in the practice and make them understand how much this is affecting your daily life. fears dont get better without help i know cos im getting help for a fear of the dentist on the nhs with a community dentist and fears dont get better without help
your more than welcome to visit my dog i understand baby steps but hes a german shepherd and very nosey so he may not be the best choice
keep on at them doctors
good luck

Answer 6

My girlfriend due to her early experience suffered fear of dogs. At age of 29 she (after divorce) acquired a small one. In a month she has lost 20 pounds of weight. Latter dog helped her to overcome many personal crisis and became her love.Today she still suffer from her memories tied with dogs and avoids unknown, but don't suffer from panic as previously.Generally said she (knowing a lot about them and their behaviour) now likes them.They remind her of a years spent with her pet.

Answer 7

Yes they will I am the same I have a dog myself only if I see one on the street I panic am even the same with others dogs

Answer 8

Fear/Phobia of Dogs (Cynophobia) Yes you should get help from the NHS because its a Fear/Phobia which is causing you distress and is affecting your quality of life so you should get asssistance...good luck !!!

Answer 9

1

Answer 10

think the nhs will offer you cognitive behavioural therapy but you'd get better and faster results with eft. contact bob at www.eftme.com