How NoVA Hypnosis Can Help with Anxiety and Stress Disorders
Those suffering from anxiety disorders often find themselves struggling in many different ways. Anxiety affects both the sufferer’s mood and physical health, which can negatively impact interpersonal relationships, the ability to pursue or maintain a career, and lead to more health problems in the future. Taking steps to manage your anxiety can change your life enormously and improve your overall wellbeing. Many people are especially interested in natural remedies for anxiety as either an alternative to or in conjunction with medication. Hypnosis is a safe and natural way to get help for anxiety disorders if you are under the care of a mental health practitioner, and will not cause unwanted side effects. Hypnosis can help those who struggle with anxiety to feel more confident and happier in their daily lives.
Since it affects everybody differently, there is no one best solution for anxiety. Different strategies work for different people—finding the right solution for you can be a daunting and frustrating process (especially when you are already struggling with your mental health), but hypnosis is a safe and often very effective way to treat panic attacks and anxiety disorders along with the care of a mental health provider. Many people don’t think of hypnosis when they think of managing anxiety, but it can be a very powerful alternative or compliment to medication, CBT, or other traditional anxiety-aid methods. For those who are looking for an anxiety solution without medication, hypnosis is a great option.
What is Anxiety?
Our brains are complex organs that are wired to keep us safe. As such, they are programmed to release adrenaline and cortisol when we are in danger, giving us the sudden boost of energy we might need in order to fight or run away from a threat. This is called the “fight-or-flight response.” If you are not in a physically threatening situation and the brain sends out these hormones, your body will feel like it is in distress, which is why we feel anxious. Anxiety occurs when the fight-or-flight response in the brain is overactive and sends out cortisol and adrenaline even when it does not need to, which causes feelings of panic. Overactivity in this part of the brain can occur for many reasons, including past trauma, internalized shame, abandonment issues, and many other factors.
When a person has an anxiety disorder, their brain reacts to otherwise physically harmless situations, such as accidentally burning toast or having an appointment unexpectedly rescheduled as if they are experiencing a matter of life or death. This can cause various physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, stomach pain, overactive bladder, shortness of breath, dizziness, and panic attacks.
Can Hypnosis Help Reduce Anxiety?
Hypnosis has the connotation of being a magic trick or some mystical practice with no real-world applications, but it is actually a practical, effective wellness aid for those suffering from different anxiety disorders including social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic attacks, and post-traumatic stress disorder along with the care of a mental health provider. Hypnosis for anxiety is gaining in popularity because it is a safe, natural wellness option that can help some people make major breakthroughs.
Individuals who have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder can get help for their feelings of stress and anxiety, as well as the work, relationship, and mindset issues causing the problem by using hypnosis as long as their hypnosis provider can communicate with their mental health provider. Hypnosis and mental health services can provide very different kinds of help at different speeds for the same concern, so used together they are much more effective than one or the other alone.
Those who experience anxiety but who have not been diagnosed with a disorder may not need the supervision of a mental health provider.
How Does Hypnosis Work?
Different hypnosis providers will employ different specific strategies for decreasing anxiety depending on the individual client, but the general process is the same every time. The hypnosis provider will begin by putting the patient into a very calm, relaxed state so that they can focus deeply, at which point the hypnosis practitioner will use a variety of techniques to help the patient explore and work through their anxiety using their subconscious. Next, the hypnosis practitioner will bring the patient back to their regular, alert state of mind and go over practical steps the patient can take to work on their anxiety with their conscious mind in their day-to-day life.
How to Prepare for Your First Hypnosis Appointment
Choose a Hypnosis Provider You Can Trust
You need to feel comfortable and safe with your hypnosis provider if you are going to be able to truly let them into your subconscious mind. Do an initial assessment and meet with your prospective hypnosis provider first so that you can get to know each other a bit and make sure that you feel at ease. It is important to know that you are in good hands. At NoVA Hypnosis, we make sure that you are paired with a professional you can trust.
Keep an Open Mind
Hypnosis is more likely to help with anxiety (or any issue) if you are open to it. If you are skeptical, it can help to think of hypnosis as a relaxation technique. Think of this as a way to slow down and reign in your anxiety in the moment, not unlike a grounding exercise.
Know That You are in Charge
A lot of people are apprehensive about hypnosis because they feel like they will lose control when put into a hypnotized state. People suffering from anxiety are often particularly uncomfortable with the idea of letting go of control or feeling helpless, so it is important to know that you are always in control during your appointment. We are not here to take over your mind! You are always in the driver’s seat during your appointment and our hypnosis practitioners are merely there to guide you through the process.
Don’t Expect Instant Results
While many patients do find a decreased anxiety level after only one appointment, it usually takes a few appointments to make major progress and for some people can take multiple appointments before they feel any difference at all. Don’t expect results right away. Like other forms of wellness work, this is a long-term investment in your overall wellbeing and may take some time to create a noticeable impact.