It is natural to have moments of high stress so there is no need to stress over that – we all have them, whether it is worrying about a speech you have to make or suddenly realising you are late for school or work.
These are anxious moments and, contrary to popular belief, there is a difference between stress and anxiety.
Stress, says the website healthstatus.com, comes from the pressures we feel in life which puts pressure on our minds and body, releasing adrenaline and this can cause depression, a rise in blood pressure and other negative effects if prolonged.
Or, as hypnotherapist Mark Tyrell says: “If there is one difference between anxiety and stress, it is that anxiety is usually perceived as more short-term, whereas stress can last for weeks, months, or even years.”
So, stress is caused by an existing stress-causing factor or stressor while anxiety is a stress that continues after that stressor is gone.
According to the National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH), anxiety is a fear or concern that is exaggerated, and is out of proportion to the situation, although sometimes it may not feel like this.
“The symptoms of anxiety correlate with the stress response or ‘fight-or-flight’. This is primal response that protects you against threats in your environment,” says the NCH.
While it is normal to feel anxious when facing something difficult or dangerous, mild anxiety can be a positive and useful experience. But, for many of us, anxiety interferes with normal life. And excessive or ongoing anxiety is often associated with other psychiatric conditions, such as depression. Anxiety is considered abnormal when it is very prolonged or severe.
The NCH says it is important to reduce anxiety as research shows that prolonged exposure to cortisol and other stress-related hormones can cause memory problems, a weakened immune system, weaker bones, increased blood pressure and can even reduce fertility.
But, by working with an over-anxious person, a clinical hypnotherapist can assess the anxiety and identify its root – whether it is a situation, a physical issue, a past experience or a relationship.
Then, by using a variety of hypnotic technique and working with the subconscious mind, the therapist can bring about therapeutic in order to achieve realistic goals.
The good thing about hypnotherapy is many instances is that it can deal with an anxiety more specifically than can a drug – and without harmful side effects.
If you suffer from ongoing anxiety, or know someone who does, make contact with a qualified NCH therapist. There are more than 1,800 well-trained therapists across the UK, making the NCH the country’s largest not-for-profit hypnotherapy association.
You may be one of those people but are now ready to explore ways of freeing yourself from anxiety and living a fulfilled and happy life, free to do things that bring you joy.
All currently active therapists registered with the NCH are on the directory. Just click here to access the directory and find the therapist nearest you.