Research has shown that hypnotherapy can help relieve stress, fear, and anxiety. It can also be used to help in coping with the symptoms of panic disorder. There are many ways that we can help ourselves build resilience:

Water: Keep hydrated – drink at least 1.5 litres a day; A hydrated mind is a focused mind.

Learn to say NO: NO does not have to be a negative response

Take a Break: Taking a break helps you to re-energise; 5-10 minute breaks taken regularly thought the day can increase productivity

Relaxation: Book time away for yourself and family; a day out, a holiday or a weekend away. Take time to recharge your batteries!

Hobbies: Spend time enjoying your hobbies; if you haven’t got any, start to think about what you might enjoy trying or doing

Sleep: Sleep is very important; it’s a time to repair and restore our mind and body

Taking care of ourselves by using such methods as mentioned above, will help to relax the mind and allow you to feel more in control.

If you are interested in hypnotherapy to help you to become less stressed and anxious, call Sophia on 07391 295766 for an informal chat.

Below, I share with you an article from Psychologies Magazine, which contains some interesting statistics in regards to anxiety and ways of dealing with it, including hypnotherapy.

How to beat anxiety

One in five of us experience anxiety on a daily basis and most of us have no idea how best to deal with it. Don’t panic – help is at hand… By Martha Roberts – Psychologies Magazine – Oct 2014

Whether it’s fear of what might be around the corner or worry that you’ll make some terrible mistake, the government’s 2013 ONS Wellbeing survey reported that one in five of us experience anxiety on a daily basis while research by Nuffield Health suggests that 23 million UK adults (44 per cent) experience anxiety symptoms at least once a week.

Women seem to suffer disproportionately. A recent survey of more than 1,000 UK women found that two-thirds feel anxious at least once a week and that a third of these have no idea how to cope with these feelings. And the numbers are rising.

There is good news, however. There are simple, everyday actions you can take that will help alleviate the symptoms of anxiety and make it less likely to catch you out the next time. So how do you move from panic attacks to peace? Instead of reaching for a glass of wine, try these:

1. BE MINDFUL: This exercise is one that Ruby Wax suggests to readers in her book: if your emotions or thoughts are getting too hot, just switch your attention elsewhere to take down the heat. Try not to pick something that will harm you – for example, drugs, overindulgence in food or shopping.

• Start counting from one to 100 backwards
• Watch an engrossing film
• Read something easy
• Listen to some loud music

2. GET DOWN TO THE GROUND: If you’re prone to anxiety, it’s important to introduce regular ‘grounding’ activities into your life that calm you, such as yoga, Pilates, tai chi or a chat with friends. ‘These things can lower raised adrenaline levels and help to alleviate anxiety,’ says psychologist Dr Bijal Chheda-Varma.
3. START MOVING: Exercise is the original natural remedy for anxiety. It helps bring levels of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline back to normal. It also raises feel-good endorphin levels and increases body temperature, which may have a calming effect. ‘Exercise can be an exceptionally powerful tool to help manage stress and anxiety disorders,’ says Leanne Spencer, a personal trainer who started up recoverfitness.co.uk for people suffering from anxiety and other mental health issues, after suffering from anxiety herself. She has found that pad work (boxing) is particularly helpful for helping clients to de-stress.
4. GO UNDER: Although it’s not approved by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), there is anecdotal evidence that hypnotherapy may be beneficial for anxiety, according to Anxiety UK. Juls Abernethy, hypnotherapist and behaviour coach at The Body Retreatsays: ‘Hypnotherapy combines talking therapy with relaxation, often combining psychotherapy with work that’s done in a trance state. Trance is a wonderful relaxing state that also helps to reduce stress levels, increase self-esteem and feelings of personal control.’ Writer Jenny Cooper saw a clinical hypnotherapist for her anxiety. ‘The hypnosis was fine – I just felt deeply relaxed. I could still hear everything that was going on as I was fully conscious but ultra-laid back!’ She recorded the hypnosis onto a CD and listened to it a couple of times a week, turning it into her ‘down time’ for relaxation.