Hypnosis for anxiety

Hypnosis for anxiety is a highly effective alternative treatment.  Anxiety and stress are the real pandemics in our world, and yes there are many mindfulness and relaxation techniques that may help you feel better or calmer which helps but the truth is it does not teach you skills to deal with the same challenge better.

What is anxiety?

It is the fear of the unknown and characterised by feelings of worry or fear. Phobias are also classified as a type of anxiety.  Anxiety and phobias can be crippling and really lead to a restrictive life where you need to avoid a particular activity or object due to an excessive fear.

What is stress?

Stress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension which can come from an event or thought and can make you feel frustrated, nervous or angry.  Stress is your body’s reaction to a challenge, in some instances like avoiding a really life threatening situation, stress can be helpful but it small amounts and short periods.

What is the link between stress and anxiety?

Anxiety in essence is a reaction to stress and our body responds in the fight or flight way and also releases hormones that increase our heart and breathing rate and ready your muscles to respond to a threat.  Hormones like cortisol and adrenalin is released to provide you with the energy to run away or fight.  If stress levels are elevated far longer than needed for survival this could take a toll on your health and may even cause illness.

Waking up at night with night sweats and heart pulpatations, sometimes leading to a panic attack, is not just something you have to live with. Sitting in a meeting and feeling you are going to black out due to overwhelm is not just how it is. 

Symptoms of anxiety

Typical anxiety symptoms include feeling restless, nervous or tense, increased heart rate and having a sense of pending danger. You may feel weak, tired, headaches, have sweaty palms or have difficulty concentrating or just thinking of anything other than the worrying thoughts.

When we feel anxious we tend to worry about or fear something that is yet to happen. The problem is the focus here is merely on the worst possible outcome, negating all other outcomes whether good or neutral.  Some people experience an uneasiness in their chest, a feeling of shaking, as though you may black out or some just have the debilitating thoughts that makes it hard to do daily tasks. Some start avoiding certain situations or things like social gatherings or driving through tunnels due to extreme fear.

Tips to combat anxiety

A very good technique is to ask ” is this thought valid?” if it is not, park it! If it is then ask “is it useful?” If it is not , park it! If it is then ask “is this fear probable and how probable is it or is it merely possible?”

Then next step, if you have a valid concern that is very probable, would be to move to action and plan how you can mitigate the risk.

You can find more tips on my blog Tips to reduce anxiety

Is hypnosis for anxiety an effective treatment?

Sometimes although we use all the tips and techniques to reduce anxiety we cannot seem to rid the physical symptoms. That is because your body is still in the fight or flight mode readying itself for getting you to safety.  By dealing with anxiety on a subconscious level, with hypnosis, we can safely address the unnecessary automatic fight or flight response, so it is only activated when you really need it. 

Hypnotherapy for anxiety also instills new coping mechanisms to combat anxiety and naturally manage stress on a much deeper level.  I recently had a client who’s first sign of anxiety relief was his headaches and what felt like head palpitations disappeared after his first hypnotherapy consultation.

There is help for anxiety, with Ecomindz Clinical Hypnotherapy each consultation is uniquely tailored to our clients.Although anxiety may have a set of identifying symptoms, each person experiences it differently, so a tailored therapy would just make sense.

You are not “just an anxious person”, there is therapy and techniques to overcome anxiety!

Genine Raats

Founder | Clinical Hypnotherapis