Mental and Physical Health

Anxiety, Worry and Stress

 

Whilst these words are often used interchangeably, they have distinct meanings in psychology and therapy.

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Worry

This is the thinking, or cognitive part of anxiety.  Worry comes from the frontal cortex of the brain in the form of thoughts or anticipations about potential future events or outcomes.  It is often accompanied by feelings of unease or apprehension and can sometimes be difficult to control.

 

Anxiety

Anxiety sits between worry and stress - it comes from the emotional and feeling part of our brain (the limbic system).

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It involves feelings of fear, apprehension or nervousness, often accompanied by physical symptoms e.g. increased heart rate, sweating, tension.

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It may be specific e.g. fear of public speaking or more generalised without a clear trigger.

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Stress​

Stress is a physical reaction to anxiety originating from our "reptilian brain" that many of you will recognise is associated with the fight, flight or freeze response.   It is automatic when you feel under threat  (physical or psychological; real or perceived).

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It comes from your lived experiences in life such as work; relationships; financial issues or major life events.

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It shows up as emotional; physical or behavioural symptoms and can have short or long term effects on your health and wellbeing.

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All of these conditions respond well to hypnotherapy which teaches the brain new ways of reacting and thinking.

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Unhelpful Behaviours

Many of our behaviours have their roots in childhood development, things that happen to us in our formative years.  ​

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As a result we can develop behaviours that we think are "just who we are" but don't really serve us and can even get in the way of our happiness.

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We could struggle with self soothing mechanisms around smoking, drinking, eating and compulsive behaviours - all of which serve to divert us from our distress.

Sleep disorders can develop either as a primary response to the root cause, or as a secondary response to soothing behaviours such as drinking.​

Hypnotherapy can help by dealing with the root cause and then on the compulsion, whatever that may be.  Old thoughts are replaced with life affirming ones and we work on replacing old habits with new ones.

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Low Self Esteem

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It is often said that at the very bottom of most human distress is he concept of "I am not enough".  Feelings of low self worth can have many causes, from childhood issues, the result of bullying; bad relationships and many more.  Low self esteem can prevent us from living a fulfilling and happy life.  It can really hold us back.   Hypnotherapy works on dealing with the causes of these feelings and putting them out of the mind and body.  Anchoring techniques to give you a rescue process at difficult times and what is known as ego strengthening, i.e. replacing the old beliefs with new positive ones.

 

Panic Dissorders

 

Panic is your fight, flight, freeze response gone into overdrive. The physical responses can be overwhelming.   Hypnotherapy helps by working on your understanding of he process and on helping you can control them​.

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Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (OCD)​

 

Obsessive behaviours are mechanisms we use to divert us from a sense of distress.  Sadly, this can often be the cause of more stress than the motivating trigger, but it can be very hard to change such behaviours.

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Hypnotherapy helps because it speaks directly to the subconscious bypassing the higher thinking brain that will sabotage any attempts at change.  Thus releasing you from the prison of your compulsion.

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Strong Internal Voice & Intrusive Thoughts

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You are not the voice in our head.   Really I hear you ask, if I am not who is???!!!

You are the observer of he voice.  The controller of the voice.  Hypnosis works on letting go of thoughts process and re-framing thinking patterns.

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Phobias

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Do you  have a fear of flying; heights; needles; spiders or even holes?!!

All of these fears come from the most ancient parts of our brain and is aimed at keeping us safe.   If you have a phobia it just means these messages have got a bit out of control.  Phobias can be helped by hypnotherapy where suggestions can be given to your subconscious mind  to stop their affects.

 

Stopping Smoking or Vaping

 

Smoking is the TOP cause of preventable illness and death in the world.  Many people understand the importance of stopping and want to quit.  

Equally, vapes are coming under increased regulation and some devices have been shown to have extremely damaging chemicals in them.

 

Both are what is known as a "self-soothing" mechanism to distract and anxious or worried mind.

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These habits are tough to kick, our thinking brain resists change because of their highly addictive and soothing characteristics.

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This is why hypnotherapy is effective, it bypasses the higher brain and speaks directly to the sub-conscious.  Helping you identify and avoid triggers and work on behaviour change.

 

Managing Weight/Altering your attitude to Food

 

​Just like smoking, eating either too much or too little is a self-soothing technique that creates an artificial sense of control over anxiety and intrusive or obsessive thoughts.

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My approach to this is one of a healthy attitude to eating, rather than focussing on what the scales say.   Food is meant to be enjoyed and relished, making it the enemy is not, in my opinion the answer.  Rather it is better to work on modifying the thoughts and feelings that drive this "wonky" behaviour.

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As with any habit, hypnotherapy works on identifying causes and triggers and substituting them with new thoughts and behaviours.  

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Much better to think of health span - improving your overall health, rather than punishing and shaming yourself.

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Stopping or Reducing Drinking

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OH THIS IS THE TOUGH ONE ISN'T IT - WE ALL KNOW WE SHOULD DRINK LESS, OR EVEN STOP.  HUGE HEALTH BENEFITS FLOW FROM DOING SO.

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Stopping or reducing your drinking is tough because of the addictive element to alcohol, but also the glamour attached to it.  Not to mention the social difficulties or event judgment that comes with being at a party or event and saying you don't drink.

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Many of us feel that we only have confidence in social settings if we drink.

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But is this statement true - heard of the expression "NOTHING GOOD HAPPENS AFTER 11PM" That is because alcohol is a depressant not a stimulant, and it disinhibits your responses.   Hence the wailing and fighting that can be seen at the end of any "good night out"

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Like all habits, hypnotherapy works on identifying belief systems, triggers and impulses and creates behaviour change.

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