Treatment for anxiety can vary from prescribed drugs to talking therapies, which can include clinical hypnotherapy. The trouble is that many people who suffer from anxiety or stress do not feel comfortable telling others about their anxiety.
A recent survey by Anxiety UK showed that anxiety and stress affects 15% of the UK population but many people living with anxiety are simply told to ‘snap out of it’. And anyone who has lived with anxiety will know it is much more difficult than that.
Anxiety UK adds that hiding anxiety can lead to increased isolation, resulting prolonged suffering and delayed help.
While many people have feelings of anxiety at one time or another – like being worried about an exam, interview or public speaking – this is seen as quite normal. But some find it hard to control their worries and their feelings of anxiety are more constant and can often affect their daily lives.
This can be a generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) which is a long-term condition that causes you to feel anxious about a wide range of situations and issues, rather than one specific event.
But clinical hypnotherapy can help people cope with stressful and anxiety-provoking issues. The National Council for Hypnotherapy is the UK’s leading hypnotherapy association with in excess of 1,800 therapists on its register – all of whom are highly-trained experienced in all aspects of hypnotherapy.
The NCH says: “With about one in seven people are suffering from anxiety at any one time in the UK, there are more and more people are showing signs of over-anxiety, which leads to stress, which can make a significant impact on the quality of life and wellbeing.”
Now could be the time to explore ways of being free from anxiety and living a fulfilled and happy life with out anxious thoughts that prey on the mind and affect everyday behaviour.
The NHS people with GAD often struggle to remember the last time they felt relaxed. As soon as one anxious thought is resolved, another may appear about a different issue. Slightly more women are affected than men, and the condition is more common in people from the ages of 35 to 59.
It points out that psychological therapies and talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can help overcome anxiety and stress.
Mental health charity MIND says humans have evolved ways of protection from dangerous, life-threatening situations.
Mental health charity MIND says, when under threat, the body releases hormones, such as adrenalin and cortisol, which help in physical preparation to either fight the danger or run away from it. In modern society we don’t usually face situations where we need to physically fight or flee from danger, but our biological response to feeling threatened is still the same.
Using clinical hypnotherapy can hep an anxious person overcome their problems and live a normal life.
The hypnotherapist can help assess the anxiety, identifying the root of stress or anxiety – whether this is a situation, a physical issue, a past experience or a relationship.
Then they will set you a goal asking how you wish to feel, how you would like to be, and things that you would chose to do in your life if you were free of anxiety. They will then work with you to reach your goals using a range of different techniques. Every therapist may use slightly different techniques, but working towards the same goal.
Sessions with a hypnotherapist can leave the client feeling more confident and even relaxed in situations that have previously been challenging or stressful. Many people say that they are calmer and that they have more clarity of thought – able to make decisions more easily.