Tim Maude Hypnotherapy

Tag: #anxiety

  • Goodbye Anxiety: Focusing on the Good Can Supercharge Hypnotherapy

    Goodbye Anxiety: Focusing on the Good Can Supercharge Hypnotherapy

    I often start my hypnotherapy session with a simple question: “What’s been good?” It seems a strange question to ask of a client who has come to me with a life full of anxiety.

    My clients think they have come to talk about their problems, and they find me asking, “What’s good in your life?” Strange though it may seem, talking about the positive really boosts the power of hypnotherapy in sorting out the problems they have with anxiety.

    Breaking the Downward Spiral

    Anxiety can get into a downward spiral. The purpose of anxiety is to get you to focus on the problem in order to sort it out. But thinking about the problem often only makes the matter worse. Anxiety is a bit of a hangover from the time when our ancestors lived in a dangerous world.

    Focusing on problems and the bad things that happen to us all simple adds to the anxiety. The increased anxiety makes us focus on all the bad stuff all over again … and so on into a downward spiral.

    Why Appreciation Matters

    Appreciation isn’t about pretending everything is perfect. It’s about acknowledging the good, the positive aspects of life, even in the midst of difficulty. It’s like shining a spotlight on the tiny green shoots pushing through the bare soil, celebrating the small victories and pockets of joy that exist alongside the challenges.

    Appreciation does more than just make you feel good. It has a profound impact on our minds and bodies. Studies have shown that practicing gratitude can:

    • Reduce stress and anxiety
    • Boost the immune system
    • Improve sleep quality
    • Increase feelings of happiness and well-being
    • Enhance self-esteem and confidence

    Appreciation in Hypnotherapy

    Having a few moments of being positive provides a real boost to hypnotherapy. When you learn to appreciate the good things in life – no matter how small – your subconscious mind relaxes, just a little bit, and allows change to take place. So that when you go into a light hypnotic trance the subconscious is far better able to deal with the backlog of stress and anxiety that has built up.

    Appreciation does not only help boost the power of hypnotherapy. It can be used to decrease the impact of anxiety in your life, even if you don’t have any type of therapy.

    How to Cultivate Appreciation

    Appreciation is a skill that needs practice. You may like to try some of these:

    • Keep a gratitude journal: Take a few minutes each day to write down things you’re grateful for, big or small.
    • Practice mindfulness: Pay attention to the present moment and notice the good things that happen around you, even if they seem insignificant.
    • Express gratitude to others: Let the people in your life know how much you appreciate them.
    • Celebrate your successes: Take time to acknowledge and celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small.
    • Focus on the positive: When you find yourself dwelling on negative thoughts, make a conscious effort to shift your focus to the good things in your life.

    By incorporating these practices into your daily life, you’ll cultivate a more positive mindset and create a foundation for lasting change. Remember, it’s not about ignoring the challenges you face, but rather about acknowledging them while also shining a light on the strengths, resources, and positive aspects that already exist within you.

    Appreciation is a powerful tool, and when used in conjunction with hypnotherapy, it can help you unlock your full potential.

    And Finally

    Not everyone can manage their own anxiety without help. If feel you need some assistance, I help people overcome their anxieties using hypnotherapy. I work from my clinic in Fleet, Hampshire as well as online. Give me a call or drop me a message.

    Yours appreciatively
    Tim

    Photo courtesy of JoEllen Moths on Pexels

  • Loosing Control Can Make Anxiety Go Through The Roof

    Loosing Control Can Make Anxiety Go Through The Roof

    Loosing control of things that happen in your life is one of the worst ways to create anxiety.

    • Maybe there are a whole load of bills that have just come in, and you have no idea how you can possibly pay them all – you feel the anxiety growing.
    • Maybe there is a big reorganisation happening at work, and you don’t know where you will end up, or even if you’ll have a job at the end of the month – anxiety increases again.
    • Or maybe you need to see a doctor urgently and you cannot find a way through to get an appointment – and the anxiety goes through the roof.

    These are things that are out of your control. Bad stuff happens to us in our lives and sometimes we cannot control it – it just happens. When things get out of control, the primitive part of our brain starts to generate anxiety. Anxiety hits us in the gut over and over again because the problem just doesn’t sort itself out on its own.

    The problem gets worse because when anxiety strikes, it is very difficult to think straight. The anxiety floods your thinking process so it is extremely difficult to put any serious thought into starting to solve the problems that have just hit you.

    And when friends or family say, “Just calm down a bit.” It doesn’t help! Unless you have trained yourself to calm down, you cannot just calm down on command!

    So what do you do? …

    To operate properly, your brain needs to have some sense of control. You need to find something that you can control.

    You don’t have to solve the problem all at once – but just find one thing that you can get control of. It doesn’t even have to be something to do with the problems that are throwing themselves at you. It might be as simple as taking control of your breathing and slowing it down.

    Once your have control over something, the primitive part of your brain that generates all that anxiety will start to relax – even just a bit. So look for what you can do.

    You could do something related to your problems – like phoning the bank and telling them you are have difficulty paying the bills. You could also do something not related to your problems – like tidying up the socks in your sock draw. I know this sounds a bit silly – tidying socks will not sort out your financial problems – but it will help get your brain to calm down a little bit – because you are regaining control. And maybe that little bit of calm will allow you to start sorting out the real problem.

    So to get your anxiety to calm down, find something that you can control and do it – straight away.

    If you need help is getting your anxiety under control, remember that I help people who are only just coping with anxiety and stress. I use hypnotherapy to help people get back in control of their lives. I work in Fleet, Hampshire and can also help people online over Zoom. I would be happy to hear from you.

    Photo by Elisa Ventur on Unsplash

  • What are your Best Hopes?

    What are your Best Hopes?

    Take a minute to think about it. What are your best hopes? – For the next week, for the next month or two, for the next year, or even beyond that. What would you like to happen?

    And for those of you who answered, “I’d win the lottery” – think again. Yes, it would be nice to win the lottery, but let’s keep it real. Go back and answer the question, “What are your best hopes?” with something that, with a fair wind, you might actually achieve.

    You see, when your mind is focused on what you want, it’s not focused on your anxiety, your stresses or your other problems. The more often you spend time focusing on how you want to be, the more your brain will re-align itself. And importantly, the brain will be better able to deal with the stuff that you have built up in that collection of stress we call the stress bucket.

    Many of the anxiety-ridden people I meet in my clinic have very simple “best hopes”. They want to be normal again, leading normal everyday lives. They want peace in their lives – free from the anxiety that they suffer from every day. This is their best hope. This is what they want to achieve. I see the smile on their face as I get them to describe the future that they would like.

    Of course, I use hypnotherapy to help reinforce the brain re-alignment, but you can do it on your own. Ask yourself, “What are my best hopes?” Now imagine what it will be like when you achieve your best hopes. Remember, this is not a goal you are setting yourself that you “have to” achieve. It is simply using the power of your imagination to create a better future in your own mind, allowing the brain to sort out your stresses and anxiety on its own. The following time that you do it, you might think of a different future – and that doesn’t matter. What matters is that you can use your imagination to dream of a future that is more positive.

    For some people, this is too difficult to do on their own – and if this is you, look for a therapist to help. If you want to give hypnotherapy a go, I run my clinic in Fleet (Hampshire UK) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

    Photo by Aziz Acharki on Unsplash

  • How Much Does Hypnotherapy-for-Anxiety Cost?

    How Much Does Hypnotherapy-for-Anxiety Cost?

    Two of the most frequently asked questions about hypnotherapy on Google are:

    • How much does a hypnotherapy session cost?
    • How many sessions will I need for anxiety?

    These are important questions, but probably not as important as, “How much will my life be changed once I get back in control of myself, and how much is that worth to me?” First, let me answer the questions directly.

    How much does a hypnotherapy session cost?

    I currently charge £75 for an hour’s session. This is typical in the South East of England. There are hypnotherapists that charge £150, and some that charge as low as £50. Some give a free or reduced rate initial session.

    Aside: Many hypnotherapists (including myself) charge a higher rate for a quit-smoking session (I charge £250 for a 2-hour session). Why? For quit-smoking hypnotherapy to work, you have to be really committed to the process to start with. When you have to pay a lot, you are committing yourself. And of course, when you quit smoking, you make all the money back again very quickly.

    How many sessions will I need for anxiety?

    It all depends! I know that this is not the answer you are looking for, but it is nevertheless true. Typically, I see clients with anxiety for between 5 and 10 sessions, and this is quite typical of other hypnotherapists.

    However, there are no guarantees. I have had some clients who I have seen for 15 or 20 sessions, and others for whom all anxiety issues have gone after 2 sessions. I have given up trying to guess how many sessions a client will take, because I often get it wrong. My advice would be to be wary of any hypnotherapist who gives a guarantee of the number of sessions you will need.

    To add to the problem in answering this question, hypnotherapists vary in their abilities – even with the same level of training and experience. Some will typically take longer than others.

    A more important question to ask

    Of course, it is important to have an estimate of how much your are going to have to pay for your hypnotherapy treatment for your anxiety. There is another really important question to ask yourself. That is:

    • How much will my life be changed once I get back in control of myself, and how much is that worth to me?

    This is a question that only you can answer. How much is getting rid of anxiety actually worth to you? Indeed, is it even possible to put a monetary value on it?

    What other questions should you ask?

    Other questions you should ask before engaging a hypnotherapist are:

    Are they qualified? Are they insured? Do they follow best practice?

    The easiest way to answer this is to check that they are registered with the official registers of hypnotherapists. In the UK, you should check the National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH) or the Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapists (AfSFH).

    What do other people think?

    Check out testimonials and references on independent sites such as Google My Business.

    Do I get on with my hypnotherapist?

    This is important – the more you like your hypnotherapist, the quicker things are likely to work. Trusting your hypnotherapist is important. And the only way you can find this out is by going to see them. Most hypnotherapists will be pleased to give your a free 10 minute chat on the phone, but the real test is the first session with them. You have to put your hand in your pocket and book in for an initial consultation – but don’t be afraid to walk away and find someone else if you don’t feel happy with the first session.

    References

    National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH)
    https://www.hypnotherapists.org.uk/therapist-finder/

    Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapists (AfSFH)
    https://www.afsfh.com/hypnotherapists-postcodes/

    Google My Business
    Go to Google and enter “Google My Business” followed by the name of the hypnotherapy clinic. For example, “Google my business Tim Maude Hypnotherapy”

    Photo by Colin Watts on Unsplash

  • How Hypnotherapy Can Help With Anxiety

    How Hypnotherapy Can Help With Anxiety

    Millions of people suffer from anxiety in one form or another. For some people, anxiety becomes a normal part of everyday life, but chronic anxiety should not be seen as normal. Hypnotherapy is one way of treating anxiety. Hypnotherapy helps people reach parts of the brain that are outside their conscious control, where the anxiety is generated.

    Anxiety

    Whatever form the anxiety takes, it is generated from a primitive part of the brain. That part of the brain is outside our conscious control, so we cannot simply decide not to be anxious. It is a reaction that is learned over time, and is much more likely to happen when we are under stress.

    Anxiety can be debilitating. It can have a massive negative impact on our lives. Some people live with chronic anxiety, assuming it to be normal, but it is not. Anxiety is treatable. It is quite possible to live our lives with little or no anxiety at all.

    Treatment for Anxiety

    There are three broad areas of treatment for anxiety:

    • Life style changes – Exercise, eating properly, sleeping well, meditation, mindfulness and so on.
    • Medication – Antidepressants, beta blockers, and anti-anxiety medication for example.
    • Therapy – Hypnotherapy, CBT, Counselling and other therapeutic practices.

    People find some of these practices to be more effective than others – but there is no general rule. We have to find what suits us best.

    Hypnotherapy and Anxiety

    Hypnotherapy works well with anxiety because the anxiety is generated outside our conscious control. Hypnotherapy works on the unconscious parts of the brain – the parts we don’t have any conscious control over. It allows those parts of the brain to rewire themselves into patterns that are more useful.

    You may have heard about the plasticity of the brain – the ability of the brain to constantly change as we learn new skills, think of new ideas, and change our thinking patterns. Sometimes it learns the wrong thing – it may learn to be anxious when it is inappropriate to be so. Hypnotherapy can help it re-learn that reaction, so that we can deal with stressful situations more appropriately.

    Hypnotherapy is not magic. A hypnotherapist does not simply click their fingers and make everything better. It may take time and a bit of effort, but after a few weeks, changes start to emerge.

    If you suffer from anxiety, in any one of its many forms; if you would like to get it under control; if you think that hypnotherapy might be an option for you – then contact me to talk it through, and see what hypnotherapy can do for you.

    Photo by Gift Habeshaw on Unsplash

  • A Quick Guide to Social Anxiety & Hypnotherapy

    A Quick Guide to Social Anxiety & Hypnotherapy

    Having anxiety about social situations is far more wide-spread than you might think. Around one in ten people in the UK will have social anxiety at some point in their lives. It is so common that it has its own medical classification – it is known to doctors as Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), or sometimes, Social Phobia.

    Social anxiety is a problem when someone has anxiety or fear in social situations – meeting people, being in a workplace, going to a supermarket when it is busy … any situation where there are a lot of people around can trigger social anxiety. It is diagnosed more often in women than in men, and often starts in the teenage years.

    How do I know if I have social anxiety?

    When in a social situation, someone with social anxiety may suffer some of these symptoms:

    • A feeling of anxiety or fear – for no apparent reason
    • Thinking that other people may be judging them
    • Sweating, blushing or trembling
    • Feeling embarrassed
    • Being self-conscious
    • Difficulty speaking clearly – both hesitant and unable to find the right words to say
    • Having a feeling of not being good enough compared to everyone around them
    • Finding it difficult to maintain eye contact
    • Physical changes such as increased heart rate, dry mouth, or fast breathing

    People with social anxiety disorder may change their lifestyle in order to avoid social situations, being happier on their own or with small groups of close friends.

    What causes social anxiety?

    The exact cause of social anxiety will vary from individual to individual. It tends to run in families, so there may be genetic factors involved. Some people may have had a bad experience in a social situation in the past which their brain has not processed fully; they may think of themselves as lacking importance, or not as good as everyone else in the group; or they may simply have a super-shy personality.

    The cause of an individual’s social anxiety is not really very important in dealing with the issue. The cause may be interesting, but it does not help in sorting it all out.

    How can hypnotherapy help with social anxiety?

    As with all anxiety-related problems, it’s only a problem if it’s a problem. If a person is content with their life as it is, there is no need to do anything about it. However, if social anxiety prevents them from living how they want to live, then hypnotherapy can help.

    Hypnotherapy allows an individual to change those automatic feelings of fear, anxiety and generally being uncomfortable in social situations. It can also help by improving self-esteem, a factor which is sometimes associated with social anxiety. Hypnotherapy can help individuals be fully comfortable and in control of their feelings in a social situation.

    References

    NHS advice on social anxiety
    https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/social-anxiety/

    Royal College of Psychiatrists description of social phobia
    https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/problems-disorders/shyness-and-social-phobia

    Hypnotherapy for social anxiety
    https://www.mindsethealth.com/matter/hypnosis-social-anxiety

    Photo by Kimson Doan on Unsplash