Fear of Earthquakes – A Rational Fear, but an Irrational Phobia, Explains Expert

olks who live on or around major fault lines are wise to keep in mind the possibility of a serious earthquake, and take appropriate precautions. But if the fear designed to warn becomes an obsessional earthquake phobia, an individual should seek help. "Fear is a normal and natural emotion designed to keep us out of harm's way" says Seymour Segnit, Founder and President of CTRN: Change That's Right Now. "But when someone focuses for too long on an issue they can inadvertently do what we call 'stacking' the fear, making it stronger and stronger until it impacts their quality of life."

"To overcome any phobia, it is critical to understand exactly how you are creating the fear. Vivid disaster movies in which the person imagines themselves right in the middle of an extreme situation are the hallmark of many phobia cases. But the images have to come from somewhere, and as earthquakes are so rare, almost everyone is either making stuff up, or playing over visuals they've seen in the media."

CTRN offers the following advice to anyone whose earthquake fear is becoming phobic: 1: Understand that it's what you are thinking that triggers the fear. If you notice the fear starting, you must immediately interrupt the fearful thought patterns. Do that dramatically enough and the mind will break the neurological associations at the heart of the problem. 2: Seek help, and remember that drugs can't get to the source of the problem, just dull the symptoms. Find a program that is focussed on re-wiring the phobic thoughts, without making you face your fear, which is totally unnecessary. "Overcoming any fear - earthquakes, flying, speaking, whatever, is really very simple," says Segnit.

CTRN: Change That’s Right Now, Inc. was founded in 2002 to help people stop the worst fears, phobias and anxieties from stopping their lives. They offer two programs to overcome any fear or phobia. With customers in 67 countries around the globe, today CTRN: Change That’s Right Now is recognized as one of the leading organizations in the field. With clients from local businesses to the Fortune 500 CTRN, has developed a deserved reputation of discreet help for serious fears and phobias. Seymour Segnit, ChangeThatsRightNow.com, 1 Grandview Ave Cornwall, Hudson,NY 12520, 800-828-7484, seymour.segnit@changethatsrightnow.com