Stress can be a normal, natural part of life, and in some cases be beneficial to us. However, when stress is persistent, for example, when dealing with workplace demands or relationship issues, our concerns can seem insurmountable, and we can become overwhelmed. Persistent stress has been proven to not only affect our mental health but can also have a negative impact on our physical selves.
When we experience stress, we may interpret it as a threat, whether real or perceived. Our anxiety then rises and triggers our automatic, instinctive fear and survival responses: fight, flight, freeze, fawn, and flop. This is useful as part of a mechanism to help us deal with a real threat, such as if an attacker is chasing us.
However, anxiety experienced due to a perceived threat can vary from person to person and in its intensity. We also know that anxiety is caused by negative thinking. For example, two people may need to give a presentation at work; one may find it an exciting opportunity to share their knowledge and expertise on the subject, however, the other may experience feelings of dread and panic, worrying obsessively about the presentation going badly and considering calling it off.
In the short term, anxiety is not harmful to us and has only a minimal impact on our body and mind. When anxiety is longer-term, we can be affected in many ways, including anxiety (panic) attacks. These can occur even if we can’t immediately identify the trigger or stressor and can happen without warning.
Symptoms can be distressing and may include shaking, chest pain, and a feeling of dread or overwhelming fear.
Your concerns may regard many different things and ‘catastrophise’ or experience ‘negative forecasting,’ that is, fearing that the worst will happen and may feel anxious most of the time.
Some individuals can feel especially anxious around others and in social situations. Feelings that others are judging or evaluating them negatively can often stem from an 'inner critic', a relentless voice dissecting their usually perceived flaws, reminding them of previous mistakes, missteps, or anticipating social rejection.
‘Imposter syndrome,’ is the feeling of being a fraud despite a lack of proof or even evidence to the contrary. Although those experiencing imposter syndrome may not experience social anxiety, the two can occur together, with social anxiety potentially fuelling feelings of being an imposter or fraud.
Persistent stress can also have more noticeable effects on our body. The body and mind don’t work independently of each other and even if we feel that we are coping well under stressful conditions, our body can be telling us otherwise. In our sessions, I can discuss how some of the physical symptoms you may be experiencing are related to stress.
SFH sessions can help enable a sense of calm through relaxation, where we can think more clearly and act less reactively. Once levels of stress and anxiety are reduced this can help give us the mental space to view situations or events more objectively, allowing us to make decisions based on reason rather than our negative thoughts.
As solution-focused hypnotherapy is a complementary therapy, it can be used alongside conventional medicine. This means that if you are diagnosed with an anxiety-based disorder, for example, you can also receive SFH sessions.
We may experience low mood in response to events or situations in our lives, especially those that are out of our control, such as illness or redundancy.
Depression is more often a diagnosed condition but shares some symptoms with low mood. These can include, but are not limited to, feelings of hopelessness and despair, self-neglect, and a lack of interest or motivation, especially in activities that were previously enjoyed.
It has been shown that hypnotherapy can help individuals with persistent low mood or depression, focusing on a preferred future and getting on the road to achieving their goals one step at a time and at their own pace, as they are guided into a relaxed, focused state. Hypnotherapy can then help to build resilience and enable them to cope better.
SFH sessions can be used alongside medication prescribed for persistent low mood or depression, for example, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). It has also been asserted that hypnotherapy can improve the efficacy of such medication by increasing serotonin levels naturally, through our sessions.
When we experience a threat, whether real or perceived, we may respond with anger. This is because threat increases anxiety levels, which then triggers the fear and survival responses of fight, flight, freeze, fawn, and flop. Fight can manifest as anger in some people when they feel they need to defend themselves.
Examples can include ‘road rage,’ or a ‘red mist’ descending during arguments or stressful situations at work. Such anger can escalate almost immediately, and individuals can feel out of control very quickly. Consequences can be destructive and far-reaching. Once the anger has abated, there may be feelings of shame and embarrassment, where the individual does not know how to make amends.
People with anger concerns often react in the same way in similar situations. SFH sessions can help the individual dealing with anger concerns to change, as we ‘rewire’ the brain to help stop negative patterns of thoughts and behaviours and move towards a more beneficial mindset where we become calmer and more measured.
It has often been said that we can live in a ‘prison of our own making,’ where we create self-imposed limitations and constraints. We can be our own worst enemy, erecting emotional barriers that can prevent us from growing and reaching our potential or living life to its fullest, limiting our happiness.
Negative self-talk, dwelling on past mistakes or worrying excessively about the future is incredibly restrictive and we can become trapped in a cycle of negative thought patterns.
We now know that the brain is 'plastic' and that we are capable of change, well beyond infancy and adolescence. This means that negative mindsets are not 'fixed', so we can encourage a healthier, more productive way of thinking, allowing us to move forward and enjoy our lives.
SFH helps to look at what we can achieve and be our biggest support, rather than our most savage critic. SFH can be of benefit for anyone experiencing a lack of confidence, whether in the workplace, day-to-day, or even to improve their golf game!
Sometimes, stress can be beneficial to us. In some cases, we would use the term 'challenge stress', for instance, if we are about sit an exam or give a presentation where there is scope for self-improvement or progression. Stress in these circumstances helps us be motivated and remain focused.
However, persistent stress can have the opposite effect leading to feelings of overwhelm, anxiety, low mood, and even ‘burnout.’ Individuals experiencing low mood or depression may find their motivation is negatively affected and feel it difficult to engage and enjoy their day-to-day lives.
By learning how we are affected by stress through your sessions, you can develop the skills and coping mechanisms to better manage stress in an effective way, where you are more in control and find your motivation to move forward, improves.
Stress, particularly persistent stress, can cause changes in our eating habits. Some may find that they have a complex or concerning relationship with food.
SFH sessions can help you to understand your eating habits and move away from negative thoughts and behaviours so that you are able to make healthier decisions regarding food intake and choices.
During the initial consultation, I’ll discuss reasons for weight management difficulties and how they can affect you.
Pain can be experienced either as acute and felt locally and immediately, such as if we burn ourselves on a pan, or as chronic pain. This can occur sometime after an injury or may not have a formal diagnosis, for example. We may experience throbbing, tingling, or aching in our body and this can be distressing at times.
Solution-focused hypnotherapy sessions help to manage pain, including in the following ways:
When we experience pain (both acute and chronic), there comes an emotional response to it. We may feel anxious, low, or even irritated and angry. SFH focuses on relaxation and positive suggestions, so we become calmer and better able to deal with our day-to-day lives.
Confidence, self-esteem, and motivation, which are often negatively affected especially when living with persistent pain, can be improved with hypnotherapy.
SFH can also help those living with chronic pain to sleep better, enabling them to cope better and enjoy their lives more.
Hypnotherapy can also be used in conjunction with other pain management treatments, such as physiotherapy.
During the initial consultation, I will discuss further the role of solution-focused hypnotherapy in pain management.
When we’re overwhelmed, or struggling in other ways with our mental health, one of the first things we notice is that our sleep is suffering. Maybe we find it difficult to drop off, our mind whirring as soon as our head hits the pillow.
We may find ourselves initially falling asleep, only to wake frequently throughout the night, worried and anxious. Others may experience the opposite and find it difficult to wake up and feel groggy and low.
We know that if we’re not well rested, it can affect not only our mental health where we might find it difficult to respond to daily challenges calmly and with reason, for example, our physical health can be negatively impacted too.
During your initial consultation, I’ll discuss sleep concerns and how SFH can help with your sleep hygiene and get you on your way to a restful night’s sleep.