In reality, a panic attack is an overstimulation of the body’s defense mechanisms. Stress builds up over time, and if we do not effectively release it from our system, suddenly the body overloads, producing a massive amount of adrenaline which presents itself in this terrifying form of panic disorder.
Hypnotherapy can be very successful with treating panic attacks. The therapist can help reveal the original source of a panic attack, and desensitize the patients to those overwhelming feelings. As the patient gains control, the neural pathways in the mind that previously were programmed to evoke a panic response, will be interrupted by other, calming feelings, thus ending the pattern.
A phobia is an anxiety disorder, triggered by an irrational response to rational stimuli.
In the majority of cases, a phobic patient is absolutely aware that their response is irrational and beyond reason, however they still cannot control it when brought into contact with their phobic stimulus.
In prehistoric times, man came across very dangerous situations on a regular basis. This would provoke a ‘fight or flight’ syndrome. Disturbing a giant predator, for example, would immediately kickstart this adrenaline reaction, and in a split second man would decide whether to run like the wind and save his life, or stay put and fight the creature. Either way, a huge surge of adrenaline is necessary to enable the response. As mankind has evolved, the adrenal glands are still very much in place and our bodies can react a little too well to certain situations or events. As well as the increase in adrenaline, which begins the chain of reactions as labelled in anxiety attacks our entire body becomes instantly heightened and aware.. the skin prickles, the hairs on the back of our neck are acutely sensitive. All these reactions are instinctive and primitive because they are designed to react instantly in times of threat or danger.
In many cases we will never know what has caused us to have a specific phobia to something, but here is an example from a patients file:
Patient X was driving along the motorway one dark, rainy evening, when suddenly a car careered out of control in front of her, causing her to make an emergency stop and screech into the hard shoulder. Although unharmed by the incident, X found herself reliving the event in her mind each time she ventured onto the motorway. Talking and thinking about her ordeal began to produce feelings of anxiety. Eventually, she found herself unable to even look at a motorway sign and more recently, had noticed that even driving in the rain was beginning to provoke the same feelings of anxiety and fear. These feelings prevented her from visiting relatives, attending weddings, and had even led to her cancelling work commitments... all to avoid the motorway.
Using hypnotherapy, we can desensitize patients to phobic triggers, and interrupt the neural pathways that were previously easily provoking that fight or flight response.
It is impossible to feel fear and relaxation at the same time. We can replace feelings of fear with those of relaxation, calm and control.
Stress has a profound impact on todays society. Research shows that 12 million British adults see their doctor with mental health issues each year. The majority of this number are suffering with stress related illness, anxiety, depression and low self esteem.
Stress can manifest itself in a number of ways. Hypnosis teaches us the art of incredibly deep relaxation , which we can use ourselves in the comfort of our own homes, in order to tackle the root cause of issues which cause us imbalance and upset in our daily lives. Hypnosis is truly a life-changing journey.
Sports and arts performance
Hypnosis can help to create a perfect performance...whether it is an important sporting activity coming up, or a musical recital, a stage appearance, a speech... the scenarios are limitless. Every performer or sportsman needs an edge to help them achieve, however sometimes nerves or adrenaline can take over too much, creating a feeling of nerves or worry that overwhelms the focus required. Hypnosis can help the patient to rehearse events in their mind to perfect them and deal with feelings of nerves, allowing them to achieve optimum perfomance. People who can benefit are:
Athletes
Golfers
Gymnasts
Sportsmen/Women
Actors/Actresses
Musicians
Lecturers
Public Speakers
Anyone who has to perform in some way, give a speech (ie father of the bride), or maintain focus… hypnosis can help.
UNWANTED HABITS / COMPULSIVE DISORDERS
Many unwanted habits are successfully treated with hypnotherapy, using a variety of different approaches to manage or eliminate symptoms. Some habits are deeply rooted and can present as an obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).
Some common habits and OCD’s are;
Hair pulling or chewing
Thumb sucking
Teeth grinding (bruxism)
Jaw clicking
Nail Biting
Snoring is due to many factors. As we age, our palate gets softer, creating the vibrational flapping we know to be snoring. Being overweight, drinking alcohol or eating spicy food can also exacerbate snoring. Although in many cases we tend to find snoring rather comical, it can actually have very detrimental effects on relationships and lifestyle. We not only help the snorer with hypnosis, but also their partner...after all, they are the ones who suffer the greatest!
Very common in todays' society, tension headaches can start like a tight band or vice around the head, and cause much discomfort and irritation. Stress forces our bodies to wind up tightly like a coil, the muscles in our jaw, face and scalp contract and hold the tension for a long time. We then relax by enjoying a holiday or a sunny weekend, and this is often when the pain begins. As the tight muscles soften, the aching pain kicks in, causing us to tense up again. Severe cases of tension headaches may be caused by no relaxation periods, but the muscles just becoming purely exhausted from holding the tension long term. By learning to relax and let go of tension regularly, we can eliminate the cause of tension headaches. For most of us, stress and tension will always be a part of our lives, however the management and control of this is in our hands.
Do you suffer with chronic pain? It can be incredibly wearing, depressing and draining. Hypnosis can give deep relaxation techniques to manage the pain, turn the intensity down, manipulate the symptoms and even provide a level of natural analgesia.
Do you rely on willpower alone to help you banish the cigarettes? Have you tried nicotine replacement therapies such as gum and patches, but found they do not work sufficiently? Hypnotherapy can tackle the part of your mind that wants desperately to stop smoking, and convey this easily to your subconscious, effectively ‘reprogramming’ you into enjoying life minus the tobacco.
Nicotine produces receptors in the brain that are stimulated by each cigarette. The chemical process of smoking satisifies these receptors enough to calm a craving quickly. With nicotine replacement therapies, these provoke a different chemical response in the body, which can stimulate some of the receptors and relieve a craving very mildly, but are not successful for all people and usually do not satisfy all the nicotine receptors in the brain. Willpower alone is similar to using NRT, since it really comes down to your strength to ignore those cravings.
Everyone needs willpower to stop smoking, or any other habit. Hypnosis can help empower a person to do so easily and effortlessly, with high motivation and determination.
Our smoking cessation programme is designed to be quick and effective. It involves a detailed case history, so we can then tailor the session specifically to the individual.
According to a survey by The Sun newspaper 2004
Method % Success
Willpower 3%
Nicotine patches 10%
Nicotine gum 20%
Zyban tablets 30%
Hypnotherapy 95%
Diets do not always work. Depriving the body of food triggers hunger, which can trigger bingeing.
Hypnosis gives control back to the patient, to the extent where they can enjoy food again, and recognise when they have eaten enough.
Many overweight patients are sometimes made to feel greedy. In fact, in most cases, they are not eating out of greed or hunger. In many cases there are other emotional issues or patterns behind the overeating. Hypnotherapy also tackles these issues and gets to the root of the cause, rather than just focusing on the symptom. This enables long term change and improvement.
We understand that weight issues can be complex, and we always tailor therapy to you as an individual.
ASTHMA MANAGEMENT & HAYFEVER
Pollen sensitivity has to be one of the biggest irritation factors about summer, with runny noses, watering eyes, sore throats, headaches, itchy skin and constant sneezing being the key symptoms. We cannot eradicate pollen from the air, however hypnosis can inform the body that pollen is not harmful, nor an irritant, thus having a very powerful effect in reducing irritation and reaction. Those who suffer with hayfever understand how limiting and draining it can be during an otherwise enjoyable time of year. Imagine if you can change your body’s defense system to recognise pollen as a natural airborne particle, that does not need to be sneezed away or cried out. Similarly, Asthma can be controlled and managed through the use of hypnosis and breathing techniques.
We would never claim to guarantee success with Fertility issues, however Hypnosis is being more widely used in this field, with good results. Infertility is often not just a physical symptom, and in some cases, can manifest as a result of underlying psychological issues. For those who are undergoing fertility treatments such as IVF, this can create a tremendous strain both physically and mentally, as well as putting even the strongest relationship to the test. Hypnosis can help bring awareness and insight to the patient, and allow them to harmonize their body and mind, achieving optimum balance to encourage success.
The skin is the largest organ of the body and unsurprisingly, can mirror on the outside feelings from the inside. Conditions such as psoriasis, excema and acne can be greatly soothed and aided with hypnotherapy. As well as learning to cope with the pain or itching, the skin has been known to greatly improve with the therapeutic techniques practised.
There are lots of factors that can cause insomnia... lifestyle, diet, exercise, worry, etc. Hypnosis can help aid a deep sleep by assisting you to 'close off your mind' at nighttime, rather like closing an internal eyelid. By practising the self hypnosis you will learn at HHC, you can also achieve a very pleasant level of relaxation and drift into an easier sleep.
RELATIONSHIP ISSUES & BEREAVEMENT
Hypnotherapy can be useful to assist people who are having relationship issues, those who are bereaved or feeling a level of grief… either from a relationship breakup, loss of communication, or even having lost a pet.
Have you always wondered if you have been here before? Maybe you have experienced déjà vu, dreamed about certain events in vivid detail, or simply just known about something you had no prior knowledge about? Maybe you are in a relationship where you feel you may have had some past life connection, or you wonder why you are drawn to a certain career path or talent. Maybe you have a huge disliking for something and would like to understand why?
Theories behind past life phenomena
1. Our brains and minds have a 'collective unconcious' whereby souls receive information in unison and interpret this individually
2. DNA from our ancestors' genetic patterns somehow stores memory
3. We have been reincarnated into this life from previous lives
Past life regression is a very interesting and often enlightening experience. It can signal true past life accounts, for which there appears to be much evidence and hundreds of interesting and documented accounts, or it can provide the patient an ability to express inner thoughts and realities. As with ALL hypnosis sessions, the patient remains in control and aware throughout. The session does not need to be complicated or traumatic.
Past life regression can be viewed as an interesting experiment for patients who wish to explore the possibilities that they may have ‘been here before’.
It may also provide insight to issues from this current lifetime, enabling us to resolve them.
Often all that is needed is the understanding gained from the past life regression experience, which we can bring forward to the present to enhance our current lives.
THE ABOVE LIST ARE JUST SOME EXAMPLES OF THE COMMON CONDITIONS THAT HYPNOTHERAPY CAN ASSIST WITH. PLEASE CALL TO DISCUSS YOUR INDIVIDUAL CASE.
01423 52 11 88
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