Part 5 Primal Fears - BBC Explorations

Jackie is petrified of feathers, Ryan cant fly, and Trevors scared of heights. Irrational phobias are damaging their lives. Will the latest treatments help like dropping them in at the deep end?

When fear goes wrong it can turn into a phobia an irrational fear so strong it sometimes ruins lives. Jacqueline Kelly is petrified of feathers. Just seeing a bird can send her into a state of hysteria, so she cant even take her daughter to the park to feed the ducks. But then she finds the courage to visit a psychologist. Using a treatment called cognitive behaviour therapy he gradually forces her to confront her worst fear.

Her first 45-minute session is painful - but the results are dramatic.

Ryan Hackett loves roller coasters but is terrified of flying. He lives in Great Britain, so how will he get to the USA to ride one of the worlds largest roller coasters? With just days to find a cure he tries to force himself to fly in a small private aircraft.

But at the last moment he pulls out hes just too scared. Then he contacts a hypnotherapist Trevor Swales is a builder. But because hes terrified of heights he can only work on buildings, which are no taller than one storey high. His phobia is such a handicap he decides to visit a clinic in Germany, which specialises in a radical therapy called flooding.

Flooding involves hitting phobics with a massive dose of their worst fear. And theres no chance of escape. The next three days are like a horror movie for Trevor.

First hes forced to climb to the top of a church spire, then a huge tower with glass sides. Just when he thinks things cant get any worse, they do. Hes raised into the air on a fire engines ladder. There are tears and foul language. But like Jacqueline and Ryan, Trevor shows remarkable courage and an incredible result.

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[Botie2]

Each one of these people is a hero, I will never begin to imagine the horror they must have felt in order to overcome their own personal adversity. Each person depicted was insperational. I hope you enjoy in full the rest of what life has to offer. You know you have earned it.

[bluebeard2]

Amazing series. Great work guys.

[Jeorney]

I have a fear of getting a phobia now and oxymorons ;)

[hotwhire]

I really respect Ryan here

[MrPinaka]

i badly want to be the pilot and play with this chicken shit :)

.>

[invaderpink]

Lol who wouldn't be afraid of a cherry picker?

[TedSki82]

I can only imagine what sort of event one would have to endure in order to be afraid of feathers. That would be tough.

[MsZane2010]

So happy for him, I know what he had bee throught! =)

[straightupmenace]

this was very good.thanks