Judith Cures Volunteer of Phobia and Trauma on TV!

Judith A. Swack • January 9, 2024

As some of you already know, I went to Los Angeles the weekend of November 24, 2002 to film an episode of Worst Case Scenario, a syndicated TV show produced by Sony Pictures which airs on TBS Superstation. The premise of the show is that you can overcome your worst fears if you have the right skills and knowledge. In each episode a volunteer subject is taught how to overcome a specific phobia by teaching him/her the facts and skills to handle the fearful situation. I was asked to cure a woman of her phobia of the dark using Healing from the Body Level Up methodology (HBLU™) because there were no specific reality skills they could teach her to overcome that fear.


Naturally, I was inspired by the premise of the show, and I was very excited to have the opportunity to publicly demonstrate the effectiveness of HBLU™, and energy psychology techniques in general. Fortunately, I was working with Lars Ullman, a very respectful, thoughtful, and deep producer who had trained in psychology! He always takes a very careful history of each volunteer subject. We prepared my client, Allison, by having her complete the standard HBLU™ homework assignment, i.e. write a two page biography, a list of goals, a list of ways in which you sabotage yourself, a list of 10 experiences that really made you live, and identify your Enneagram personality type. She also read an explanation of HBLU and my paper, "The Basic Structure of Loss and Violence Trauma". Although she did not really understand the methodology before experiencing it, she did realize that HBLU™ was different from talk or desensitization therapy.


Then I watched an episode of Worst Case Scenario where they taught a woman how to overcome her fear (actually disgust) of rats by having her walk down a 600 foot sewer pipe with 500 rats in it.


The point they were proving was that rats won’t really jump on or bite you. If you give them enough warning and shoo them away, they will get out of your way because they don’t want to be stepped on. Her second challenge was to go into a small room full of 500 rats, pick up two of them (properly by the base of the tail so they won’t bite you) and put them in a cage. The woman almost fainted, threatened repeatedly to throw up, and was hysterical during both challenges. After the final challenge where she declared that she was very glad she had done this, someone asked her if she would now like a pet rat… and she flinched. Clearly, reality did not cure her phobia/compulsion structure of rats. However, the emotional reactions did make for suspenseful and riveting TV. I was on the edge of my chair the whole time wondering is she going to throw up yet (live on TV!)? Is she really going to faint?


Knowing that HBLU™ would really cure our phobia client, I told the producer that she would go through her challenge as easily and calmly as anyone without a phobia. There would be no fainting, vomiting, screaming, crying, or hysteria. I was afraid this calm would be boring, and thus not good TV. To his credit, the producer believed me and agreed that this would not be good TV. We decided to play up the before treatment reaction so that the drama would be in the contrast between before and after. That worked out beautifully.


We tested the volunteer before treatment. In fact, she was so severely phobic that she froze up completely in the dark. The director, unfamiliar with the effectiveness of HBLU™ or energy psychology techniques, was actually afraid the volunteer would be unable to do her challenge, and we would not have a show. Then we turned on the lights and treated Allison. I first described the fight/flight/ freeze reflex and how to neutralize that reaction by consciously activating her calming reflex with Natural Bio-destressing (a modification of EFT). (See my papers, The Biochemistry of Energy Psychology and Antidote for the Psychological Effects of Terrorism: A Rapid, Biological Technique for Clearing Trauma from Mind and Body available at www.HBLU.org ) I then treated her for trauma with HBLU Level I protocols and techniques and for a grudge with an HBLU™ Level II protocol. As (I) expected, she cleared completely and after calmly accomplishing her challenge remarked that now she was ready for the "real" challenge. The next day, one of the production assistants called to tell us that our work had inspired and amazed the entire crew.


The show will be broadcast on the East Coast at Midnight, February 5 (and again at 2:00 A.M.) and Saturday February 8 at 10:00 A.M. 2003.
 

Copyright Judith A. Swack, Ph.D.

January 2015 Judith A. Swack and Associates, Inc. Newsletter

Open Does Not Mean Vulnerable

By Judith A. Swack, Ph.D. • August 26, 2025
Copyright 2025 Judith A. Swack, Ph.D. Jane was dating two men at once and having trouble deciding who to choose. She listed all of John’s wonderful qualities and all of Steven’s wonderful qualities and remarked, “If I could just put the two of them together I’d have the perfect man.” When asked why she didn’t just date one man who had everything, she said she was keeping one man as a backup because she didn’t feel safe with either one of them. Puzzled, I asked, “Why would you date, let alone marry, anyone you didn’t feel safe with? Clearly, you’ll never marry either of these men.” Jane simply looked astonished. Love is a beautiful thing. We all need to love and be loved. Sadly, many of us have been hurt by the people we love and who are supposed to love us. When that happens, we no longer feel safe, and we shut down the ability to give and receive love. The tragedy is that we can no longer feel loved or experience ourselves as loving beings. We no longer experience the nourishing flow of warm golden buttery energy that uplifts the heart/soul, connects us all, and soothes all pain. And everyone else we could be loving is robbed. According to the dictionary, the word “vulnerable” means open to attack. When someone says, “I’m afraid to be vulnerable” he/she should be afraid to be vulnerable, but he/she should not be afraid to be emotionally open, emotionally present, or emotionally close. Opening to give and receive love should not make one vulnerable. So what to do about it? With HBLU we acknowledge the fear and heal the traumas, dysfunctional family system and cultural brainwashing patterns that caused it. This allows people to reach out with their hearts and share one of the greatest gifts in life. If you or anyone you know would like to open your heart to love, get happily married, or improve your marriage or other relationships, HBLU methodology can help you. If you would like to learn more or schedule an appointment, please call 781-444-6940 , email [email protected] , or go to www.hblu.org . Blessings, Judith
A vector graphic of a woman with 4 arms multi-tasking. Cooking, signing papers, and watering plants

June's Miracle

By C. C. Life Coach • June 24, 2025
Dear Judith, Of all the work we have done, of all the monumental healings and shifts you and your work has helped to facilitate in my life- this piece was the most hidden, the most perverse, the most subconscious- and was driving my life into oblivion. I could not live one more day enslaving myself to my family, being stuck in a loveless abusive marriage. I was exhausted and stuck begging G-d for a way out (any way out). Until you your work and my soul discovered that we needed to unblock my energy fields from using evil to seduce- by running a pathologically self-serving and self-absorbed seduction pattern. Here I was a slave to my family, doing everything, getting nothing- I was the last person self-serving. How did my soul and you even find this. At first I thought no… Until you pointed out that this is what Enneagram 4s do to get love. And it all clicked. This was the seduction. IF I enslave myself, I will get love- so it was all my agenda my mission- I was “doing everything for them” which was the illusion, the seduction I was under- but it was truly a manipulative pattern I ran to try to get love from everyone I could. Only to fail miserably- and to feel even worse. I felt powerless and stuck. Until you said those words…. And through your work- we prayed- and the seduction and illusion vanished. Poof just like that! I can’t believe this has all been me all this time. I WAS DESPERATE TO GET: Love, safety, approval, success and wealth and WORSHIP AND WORLD DOMINATION What I learned was that I created a pattern of need. Everyone had to need me- I had to do it all- so people would love me. Because deep inside I doubted they could just love me for me. And that I truly don’t have to do anything for love. And neither does anyone… And that I just give it up and teach my family to be self-sufficient so they DON'T NEED me and we can establish love for the sake of love. OR SCREW UP MY WHOLE FAMILY AND LIFE PERPETRATING EVIL BY BEING PATHOLOGICALLY SELFISH. Here are my learnings: I’m just another cog in the wheel and that’s ok. We all are working together. No one better or worse. There is no need to dominate just to do each of our missions. I was seduced into thinking I was so selfless and altruistic because I was working for what I thought “was everyone else’s good” but was really still what I thought- and my agenda I have been self-abusing all this time, putting myself last so I could get sympathy and love. I was acting like a victim and poor me to myself & failing because I got no sympathy gratitude or love… When we interviewed my husband - I sat still. It was the first time I could listen to him and learn. I was still - like air. Without an agenda. And It’s the first time I feel still. And my nervous system relaxed. The first time I’m not working to get something in every action. Today I put my agenda down. It feels so light and relaxing and freeing It’s all been one big undercover operation to get love shrouded in a mission to do for others so no one would ever find me out. That it was all about me. And it didn’t make sense until you said I was pathologically selfish and self-absorbed. Me? No!!!… oh my gosh yes…. And the shell around me shattered. I can relax and just be me for the first time in decades…. You and your work- Judith- I’m just in disbelief- after being in disbelief many times- you’ve changed my life. Thank you Thank you Thank you. You’re a true genius Judith. I can never thank you enough. You are my teacher my mentor and I’m so grateful to have been given you to guide me in this life. I only hope to help your work reach millions. All the Best! C. C. Life Coach

Nothing Is Impossible.

By Copyright 2025 Judith A. Swack, Ph.D. • January 31, 2025
James ’s brother, Samuel , sustained severe traumatic brain injury from a car accident. He spent the year going to many doctors for treatment, but could barely function. Samuel complained that not only did standard medical care not help him, but the doctors ignored and mistreated him. Whenever James suggested any complementary therapies, such as acupuncture, chiropractic, or HBLU, Samuel immediately came up with excuses as to why going for that kind of treatment was impossible. (Notice that he didn’t claim that that kind of treatment wouldn’t work. He just made it impossible to get there.) James said, “Even though I feel really guilty about it, I’ve stopped trying to help him because he makes everything impossible.” Monica ’s 25-year-old son, Ed , suffers from such severe debilitating Crohn’s disease that he couldn’t finish high school, can’t work, can’t leave the house, and can barely leave his room. Traditional medical care and medication is not helping. Monica and her husband bought him a dog thinking that would cheer him up, but Ed does not interact with it. Monica has suggested and made appointments for many complementary therapies such as nutrition, naturopathy, family therapy, and HBLU, but Ed refuses to go to these appointments. Monica experiences guilt and deep sorrow that her son is so ill, and she and her husband haven’t been able to help him. Valerie ’s partner, Nancy , is 200 pounds overweight, suffers from ADD and severe anxiety, and hates her job. Nancy had been on medication for the ADD and anxiety, but when her psychiatrist retired, never attempted to find another provider and let her medication lapse. When Valerie suggested that Nancy find new doctors and get back on medication to help her mental function and treatment for overweight, Nancy refused to make any follow-up phone calls or emails. Although they had gotten engaged in the Spring, by Fall, Valerie had asked for the ring back. Valerie said, “I don’t think I can live with her if she refuses to take care of herself and won’t let me help her.” What do James, Monica, and Valerie all have in common? They feel deep sorrow, guilt, and frustration that they can’t help someone they care about deeply. But the people who are suffering are also trapped in a pattern that continues to cause them suffering. Both the impotent helpers and the perpetual sufferers are trapped in a seducer strategy called, “I’m impossible.” What is a Seduction Pattern? Seduction patterns are some of the most energy draining, perverse, and frustrating patterns a person can experience. People with seduction patterns get tricked into doing things they don’t want to do. They are unable to leave bad relationships, jobs, family, or other upsetting situations.