Many people experiencing anxiety feel unable to talk about their symptoms. Fear about what others will think is a big factor in keeping silent and can stop people from getting the help that they may need. There are many misconceptions about anxiety and so in this blog I have listed a few facts to help dispel any myths and take the stigma out of something that affects us all.
7 Facts about Anxiety
- Anxiety is a normal emotion that we all experience. That’s right, anxiety is a normal emotion. Just knowing this fact can be helpful in itself. Often a person experiencing anxiety may think that they are the only one who feels the way they do, which can create feelings of isolation and exacerbate the anxiety.
2. Anxiety affects people of all ages, backgrounds and personalities. Today more and more celebrities, including the royals, are talking openly about their own personal struggles with anxiety.
3. Nearly one in five people feel anxious a lot or all of the time (Mental Health Foundation 2014).
4. Anxiety can range from fear about specific events or situations to constant fearfulness about anything and everything. In extreme cases anxiety can result in full-blown panic attacks and / or a person feeling unable to leave their own home.
5. Anxiety can build up gradually over a long period of time, months or years, without us even realising it. Or, it may come on suddenly as a result of something such as illness or a change in circumstances.
6. Anxiety affects our emotional wellbeing. Some common symptoms include feeling on edge, difficulty concentrating, persistent feelings of dread and obsessive or irrational thoughts.
7. Anxiety affects our bodies and physical wellbeing. Symptoms will vary from one person to another as everyone experiences anxiety differently. You may experience all or none of the following symptoms or a combination of a few. There can also be more unique symptoms not listed here.
- Chest pain and heart palpitations
- Shortness of breath
- Tension or pain in the muscles
- Numbness and tingling in the skin
- Feeling hot, sweating or shivering
- Dizziness, sensitivity to sound or blurred vision
- Upset stomachs or skin complaints
- Raised blood pressure
- Headaches or migraines
- Problems sleeping
How can hypnotherapy help with anxiety?
Hypnotherapy helps an individual to change their way of thinking through ‘retraining’ the brain. This relaxing and enjoyable process helps a person to face their fears by reducing negative thoughts and emotions and ‘rerouting’ the brain to increase feelings of calm, confidence and control.
In Solution Focused Hypnotherapy we use a combination of talking therapy and hypnosis. Solution focused therapy focuses the mind on solutions for the future rather than analysing the root of the anxiety and problems of the past. The client is helped to identify for themselves their solutions and the steps they can take to move towards their preferred future.
To find out more about hypnotherapy and how it can help with anxiety please call 07514 931 096 or email me using the contact form.