Hypnotherapy for Stress

".. a state arising when the demands placed on the individual threaten to exceed their ability to cope."

It's a well used word isn't it? Who among us has never claimed to be stressed? Some people thrive on it, whilst others feel overwhelmed by the demands.

Typically in the workplace a person might feel the need to work flat out just to keep up. They may stop taking breaks during the day, skip breakfast or lunch or both, work late or take work home and are unable to switch off. At the end of the day they may feel too tired to cook so they just snack and unwind with a bottle of wine. This can often lead to disturbed sleep and morning exhaustion.

For others, family commitments or making time to care for others leaves little time to care for themselves.

Excessive or ongoing stress leads to health problems such as headaches, insomnia, stomach complaints, ulcers, IBS, skin disorders, lowered libido and general agitation.

Whatever the reason for the stress, hypnosis can help you get back on course, by teaching you to relax deeply and restore peak energy and performance.

Modern Stress

Of course, it's extremely unusual these days for a person to be confronted with a real life-threatening situation, though there are many things, which a person might perceive as threatening, albeit to a much lesser degree.

There are many situations in our modern lives that feel as though they may go beyond our ability to cope. Perhaps at work, a person might feel like they have to run to keep up or work twice as hard as everyone else to achieve the same results. People often have a fear of 'being found out'. They worry about timescales and deadlines. Juggling work and family responsibilities can be very difficult. Perhaps there might be a feeling of finances getting out of control.

Each person has his or her own experience. For some, the smallest thing can feel overwhelming, whereas others might have a higher threshold.

Whatever your circumstances or your experience, it is important to consider impact of stress. Although it is designed to be a short-lived response, the human body is more than capable of mounting and sustaining stress for prolonged periods, sometimes even years! Consider the long-term effects of low-level fight/flight.

Prolonged stress can reduce your thinking or memory capacity, which in turn can lead to a poor self-image.

Many long-term stress victims suffer high blood pressure and heart problems.

Prolonged periods of stress hormones in the system can lead to anxious thoughts, anxiety or panic attacks.

The constant need for stress hormones being pumped, leads to adrenal exhaustion making it more difficult for the body to produce dopamine and serotonin (the calming, pleasing chemicals) or any other hormones that the body requires.

A person is always in a state of high alert, which can make it difficult to get to sleep.

There is a greater tendency to worry which leads to over dreaming, early morning waking and exhaustion in the mornings.

The 'turning down' of vital functions in favour of the stress response leads to illness and slow repair (immune) digestive problems, ulcers, IBS, appetitive disruption (digestive), lowered libido, irregular periods, impotence, inability to conceive (reproduction).

Let's face it; it's not a good way to live. So what can you do about it? It's important to realize that we can't always control the things that happen in life. What we can control is how we respond to those things.

You can begin by introducing a few small changes into your life, which, over a very short time will have noticeable benefits.

1. Take breaks
2. Breathe Well
3. Notice your thinking
4. Get your basic needs met.