Do you feel waves of anxiety washing over you quite suddenly… when there is nothing to be anxious about? Are you tired of feeling worried and fearful of… you don’t know what? Have you tried to talk about it to a friend or family member but they brushed you off?
If this happens to you, you are on the right page.
You are suffering from anxiety. It is a painful and disastrous disorder that can destroy your life. You will find out: What is anxiety? Why does it happen? How does it affect your psyche? along with practical tips for managing it in this blog post.
You will have a clearer picture of whether your worries are signs of chronic anxiety or not. Also, you will know how you can take steps toward making your life better.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is not that uncommon, actually. We all feel anxious and extra cautious sometimes. Thing is, it is a natural emotion. However, it becomes a disorder when you stay anxious all the time.
You might face it during a stressful meeting at work, making the first move in your relationships, sitting an exam, or even visiting a new restaurant. You might be so overwhelmed and afraid that you may totally skip these events.
That, of course, will have bad consequences. You might lose credibility, reputation, respect, promotions, or grades.
Neuroscience explains that anxiety is your brain’s response to perceived threats (which you think will happen but won’t). Your amygdala becomes hyperactive and sends continuous signals that something is not right.
As a result, it triggers your sympathetic nervous system that makes you fight or flee. Your body becomes ready to run or hit.
Thing is, this happens constantly in anxiety. Your brain is always on high alert, your body is always in action mode… and you cannot focus on anything else going around you. This includes your work, relationships, and your own self.
Your body shows that mental strain through: heart palpitations, sweaty palms, or a sudden urge to run as fast as your legs can carry you. Or you may freeze completely. You feel as if your mind “stopped working, closed up.”
What is Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a treatment method. It is a trance-like state that increases your focus and concentration. It opens your subconscious mind to positive suggestions. Hypnosis uses this half asleep state to change your negative thoughts, behaviours, and perceptions.
Hypnosis works by tapping into the subconscious mind. It stores our habits, beliefs, and automatic behaviours. Unlike the conscious mind (logical and analytical) your subconscious mind is more receptive to suggestions.
You can bypass your conscious mind’s critical faculties during hypnosis. This allows you to communicate directly with the subconscious. This is where you can reprogramme deep-seated patterns.
Hypnosis is a wholesome approach. It addresses both the mental and physical symptoms of anxiety to promote your well-being.
It helps you achieve a balanced state of health by focusing on the mind-body connection.
Step 1: Initial Consultation
Assessment: You sit through an initial consultation where your hypnotherapist discusses your anxiety symptoms, medical history, and treatment goals. They use this knowledge to make a plan that can help you out faster and better.
Step 2: Preparing for Hypnosis
Explanation: Your therapist explains how hypnosis will work. You can ask any questions or concerns you might want to. It is important so that you can trust the process completely.
Step 3: Induction Phase
Relaxation Techniques: Your session starts with relaxation techniques to help you become calm. You might do deep breathing exercises, gradual muscle relaxation, or visualisation.
Focus of Attention: You will be asked to focus on a specific object, sound, or your therapist’s voice. It will help narrow your attention and get you into a trance-like state.
Step 4: Therapeutic Approaches
Calm and Safe Spaces: Your therapist may take you to visualise a ‘safe place’… any place where you think you can let loose. You can recall this image whenever you get anxious in everyday life to help calm your mind.
Receiving Messages from Anxiety
Visualise your anxiety
Notice its shape, colour, texture
See where it is inside your body
Imagine a safe, unbreakable glass wall between your mind and your anxiety if it becomes too intense. Direct the anxiety from your body to your palm and flick it to a safe distance in front of you.
Then, talk to it. You can say, “I see you, Anxiety! I know you are here to help me. What is your message?” This can help you find out why you get anxious all the time. It will help you become more aware of yourself.
Returning Inherited Anxiety to Ancestors: Visualise your anxiety between you and your family line. Watch your ancestors lined up behind your parents.
Bow to them, acknowledging their presence and tell them, “I see you all. I respect you. I have carried this anxiety for too long… but I know they are not mine only. I return what belongs to you with love and respect.”
Imagine your ancestors stepping forward, taking their pieces of anxiety away, and thanking you. This exercise can help you let go of inherited anxieties.
Positive Affirmations: The hypnotherapist implants positive beliefs and builds strong mechanisms in the subconscious mind.
Your therapist gives you positive affirmations and suggestions while you are in a suggestible state. This helps you make new and constructive thought patterns and behaviours.
Reframing Negative Thoughts: The therapist may work on changing your negative thoughts that build up your anxiety. It helps you see triggering situations more positively and reduce anxious reactions.
Step 5: Visualisations and Imagery
Future Pacing: Visualising yourself successfully coping with anxiety-inducing situations in the future can reinforce positive behaviour and reduce anxiety.
Reinforcement: Positive suggestions and affirmations given during the session are reinforced as you emerge from the hypnotic state, helping them take root in your subconscious mind.
Step 6: Emerging from Hypnosis
Gradual Awakening: The hypnotherapist safely guides the client back to full conscious awareness. They may count or just suggest that you wake up. Note that you will remember everything that happened in your trance-like state. You can discuss your findings and make plans for the next session.
Step 7: Post-Session Debrief
Homework and Practice: To reinforce the positive changes, you may be given exercises or self-hypnosis techniques to practise between sessions.
Step 8: Follow-Up Sessions
Repetition and Reinforcement: You discuss the session with your therapist. You can be as random and chatty as you want. However, you must focus on the memories and emotions you felt.
Also, tell them how you felt about the positive suggestions. You can plan the next steps together, which may be about more hypnotherapy sessions or additional therapies.
Monitoring Progress: The hypnotherapist will monitor your progress and adjust the treatment plan as needed so you can continue to improve.
Hypnosis for anxiety treatment is a collaborative and gradual process that empowers you to use the power of your subconscious mind to manage and reduce anxiety.
Through a combination of deep relaxation, positive affirmations, and guided imagery, hypnosis can help you break free from the cycle of anxiety and live a more balanced, peaceful life.
Related Read: Do I Have Anxiety?
Hypnosis has many benefits that can improve your mental well-being remarkably. Here are some of them:
Promotes deep relaxation, reducing stress and tension
Reprograms negative thought patterns into positive ones
Improves sleep quality by addressing underlying anxiety causes
Boosts self-esteem and confidence through positive affirmations
It provides a safe space to explore and heal from past traumas
Encourages emotional release, leading to reduced anxiety levels
Offers a natural, drug-free alternative for anxiety management
Helps manage physical symptoms of anxiety, such as rapid heartbeat and sweating
Hypnosis has garnered increasing interest and recognition within the scientific community for its efficacy in treating anxiety. Let’s look at the studies and findings that support the use of hypnosis for anxiety treatment:
A comprehensive meta-analysis published in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis reviewed multiple studies on the use of hypnotherapy for anxiety.
The analysis concluded that hypnotherapy is an effective intervention for reducing anxiety, with significant improvements observed in both clinical and non-clinical populations.
Our clients have already changed their lives for the better and successfully overcome anxiety through hypnosis.
Nadine S had severe social anxiety for years. She didn’t go to meetups, get-togethers, or official events. After a few sessions of hypnotherapy at MIHH, she experienced a remarkable reduction in her anxiety levels.
She gained the confidence to engage in social activities, speak in public, and pursue career advancement opportunities.
Nadine S. shared:
“I have attended both in-person and online sessions with Sandy and found her to be a professional and empathetic practitioner dedicated to helping her clients achieve progress in their chosen areas.
For myself, I have managed my anxiety and increased my self-belief so much since having sessions with Sandy. I would definitely recommend Make it Happen Hypnosis to people who need guidance and support to better their mental and emotional well-being.”
Anxiety has a broad spectrum of emotional, physical, and cognitive experiences that profoundly affect those who live with it. Hypnosis is a safe and wholesome treatment method that helps you resolve your hidden traumas. You can revisit and change your built-in responses in hurtful situations by reaching out to your subconscious mind.
Ready to Take Action? Book a Free Consultation with our experienced Hypnotherapist now.
Master Your Mind, Master Your Life
Our Hypnotherapists are dedicated to help people to harness the power of the mind and
feelings, so that we can reach our true potential and be the best version of ourselves.
Benson House, Suite 1/2 Benson St Toowong, QLD 4066
2023 Make It Happen Hypnotherapy, Registered in Queensland, Australia
Registered Address: Suite 1, 2 Benson Street, Benson House, Toowong, Brisbane, QLD, 4066 Australia
Our Clinical Hypnotherapists will guide you into a state of trance similar to daydreaming. By working with your subconscious mind, we will find out the underlying causes of your emotional suffering, and establish desired outcomes for you. To achieve this, we will use various techniques like Inner Child Therapy, Regression, Parts Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Rewind Technique, and more.
