Phobias: Gamophobia

Following a previous article on Coitrophobia, it is perhaps appropriate to mention Gamophobia or the fear of marriage.

Whilst this is not as common as other phobias, it is nevertheless frustrating for males and females alike. As with many phobias, there can be numerous reasons for the onset of a phobia. In this case it maybe fear of commitment for life, a previous failed marriage, a fear of losing control of one’s independence, a memory of trauma of one’s parents’ volatile marriage etc.

Take Jack (fictitious name) for instance. He came to me not in a state of distress as many phobics do, but with a puzzled mind as to why he could not walk down the aisle with his beloved fiancée. She was now due to break off the engagement as she believed that he was not really in love enough to commit himself to her.

Despite endeavouring to rationalise the fear he had, his nerves always got the better of him and, therefore, no date could be set for the wedding.

Jack and I set about finding the root cause, and we discovered that he had been severely traumatised: (a) when his parents were divorced at his tender age of ten years, (b) he had been jilted by his first fiancée just one month before a planned wedding when he was twenty-two, (c) he became obsessed with his secure situation living at home with his mother at the age of forty.

So, using hypnosis, we removed the trauma which had affected Jack at the age of ten. Then I had to work on his subconscious and help it rationalise that he would not necessarily be jilted in this present relationship.

Finally, his phobia was removed when the subconscious mind was convinced that just because he was married, it would not affect his long-term security and ability to look after his mother. His fiancée came into the consulting room and assured him that she loved his mother too and that all would be well.

The last I heard was that they had a splendid wedding and I received a card from Sri Lanka whilst they were on honeymoon.

His wife is now best friends with Jack’s mother, so let’s hope that they live happily ever after as the best stories always end with.