People often arrive with a good understanding of their anxiety. They may know which situations trigger it, recognise the pattern and have already tried several ways of managing it. The difficult part is putting that understanding into practice when anxiety is happening.
Hypnotherapy can help relieve anxiety by combining focused attention, guided relaxation and therapeutic conversation within a structured session.
What hypnosis feels like
Hypnosis is not sleep or unconsciousness. Most people describe it as feeling absorbed and physically relaxed, a little like becoming engrossed in a film, a book or a familiar journey.
You remain aware of what is happening. You cannot be made to reveal something or do anything against your wishes, and you can stop the exercise at any point.
The focus of an anxiety session
Before using hypnosis, we talk about:
- how anxiety has been affecting you
- the situations or sensations you find most difficult
- what you have already tried
- what would tell you that things were becoming more manageable
The hypnosis itself may include calming imagery, suggestions connected with the goal we have agreed and mental rehearsal of responding more comfortably in everyday situations.
Some people value the opportunity to experience a period of calm without having to force it. Others find that rehearsing a different response helps them approach a situation with greater confidence. Experiences and results vary.
A collaborative process
Hypnotherapy is something we do together. Your own choices, practice and participation remain important. I will not tell you that a single technique can erase anxiety or that other forms of support have failed.
Where appropriate, hypnotherapy can be used alongside support from a GP, counsellor, psychologist or NHS Talking Therapies. Do not stop medication or alter medical treatment without speaking to the professional responsible for your care.
Is it suitable for everyone?
An initial consultation helps us decide whether my approach fits your circumstances and your goal. Sometimes another service will be more suitable, particularly where symptoms need diagnosis, risk is present or specialist psychological treatment is required.
If you would like a broader overview of anxiety, visit my main Hypnotherapy for Anxiety in Hayle page. You can also explore the pages on panic attacks and phobias, situational anxiety and chronic stress.