Hypnotherapy treatment helps a Winterton grandmother overcome fear of swimming

HYPNOTHERAPY treatment has helped a Winterton grandmother beat her crippling 50-year fear of swimming.

Cynthia McGowan, 62, conquered her fear with the help of clinical hypnotherapist Richard Scott of Grey Matterz, and is ecstatic she can finally enjoy summer holidays with her family.

Cynthia's avoidance of the sea and water created a break-water between her, her children and grandchildren.

She said: "Since my childhood I have always been apprehensive about being in the water. When I was on holiday or just at the local swimming pool with my family I always shied away from going in the water.

"Deep or shallow water always made me feel the same – fretful and uneasy."

She said her nerves had caused her to miss out on much of her children and grandchildren's enjoyment in the water.

She said: "If I had to, I could only stand in the shallow end with my feet on the floor and holding onto the side for support.

"For more than 50 years, holidays just haven't been as enjoyable as they should have been and I felt like I missed out on the enjoyment, but now it's a completely different story.

"I'm more confident in the water and I now enjoy taking part in all the holiday fun and games."

Cynthia said a huge part of overcoming her fear was down to the hypnotherapy sessions.

She said: "I tried hypnotherapy for the first time, not really knowing what to expect, but it was so relaxing. I felt empowered afterwards and filled with motivation and confidence.

"It really boosted my efforts in learning to swim."

Richard, who is based in the Enterprise Centre at the University Of Hull, said: "It's very common when the warmer weather arrives to hear of people like Cynthia who are afraid of typical holiday- related subjects like swimming in the sea, fear of flying or travelling in general.

"In most cases these fears have been learned from childhood and so we now have generations of adults with phobias leading unfulfilled lives and being unhappy about it.

"Anyone can benefit from hypnotherapy, it's completely different to the antics you see at stage shows.

"Doctors are increasingly referring clients to me instead of using the traditional prescription route with some fantastic success stories."