How Hypnotherapy Can Help

Hypnosis as a phenomenon can be found in the history of most cultures, the earliest practitioners of which were usually known as 'shamans' 'witch doctors' and 'healers.'

Although studied extensively from the early 1700's it wasn't until the mid 1800's that the hypnotic trance was regarded as a normal state, and not until the early 1950's that researchers found new and potent ways of employing the trance state in facilitating healing this being known as hypnotherapy.

Hypnotherapy utilises the trance state in a client to effect changes in the way they process the world.

Hypnotherapy seeks to deal directly with the subconscious mind. The subconscious is the repository of everything that makes us who we are.

The subconscious controls our physiology, keeping our body working in perfect harmony. It also is the seat of all our learning and emotions and feelings.

If we feel afraid or anxious the subconscious creates the physiological changes that give us the best chance of survival-'the fight or flight' reflex. Our heart beats faster pumping more blood, we hyperventilate to bring in the oxygen and we release adrenalin amongst other things to prepare us physically for any danger.

The first time we become anxious in a non threatening situation and these changes occur then it is a very unpleasant feeling. We try to avoid feeling that way again, and it becomes a viscious circle. We are made anxious by flying or spiders or public speaking or open spaces or intimacy or thoughts of illness or any of a million other things, and before long we become anxious at even the thought of doing these things until we simply just can't do them.

Similarly with stress, something occurs we become very stressed and the result may be a painful headache. In time we learn that that trigger causes stress and we become stressed simply at the thought. We may avoid confrontation or not state an opinion or feel that we are being untrue to ourselves and we limit ourselves which may lead to a lack of confidence and low self esteem.

Hypnotherapy goes to the seat of the problem helping to change our learnt behaviours, consciously we know a spider in the bath is not life-threatening and through hypnosis we can learn a new behaviour, we can learn how not to have an anxiety attack and if one still happens upon us then we learn how to stop it almost as soon as we feel those first heart flutterings. Personally my own preferred method of spider removal is to have a teenage boy do it instead!!

Everyone has anecdotal evidence of 'the power of the mind over the body.' Drug trials show that some participants who are given a placebo, a sugar pill, and believe it to be medicated often do get better through no other reason than they believed in it and expected to get better.

The power of positive thought shows us that we do have extensive control over our bodies, thoughts and feelings.

Hypnotherapy is a key allowing access to the subconscious wherein these changes can be made. Simply put it can be used to improve your life both physically and mentally.

Some uses are as follows:

Anesthesia and Pain Control
Allowing clients to control the level of pain they feel.

Improving Sleep
Allowing insomniacs to reprogram their subconscious to improve quality and duration of sleep.

Partial Age Regression
Allowing clients to relive the past in a safe and secure environment, therefore eliminating the initial
cause of irrational fears or other traumas.

Weight Loss
Motivating weight loss and reprogramming eating habits.

Smoking and Addictions
Promoting permanent behaviour modification.

Self Esteem and Motivation
Changing negative behaviour, increasing confidence and self-esteem, changing the perception of success.

Learning
Enhancing the learning process by increasing memory, improving study habits and positive attitude.

Improve Performance
In sports by enhancing focus, goal orientated motivation, increasing stamina, coordination and attitude.

Anxiety, Panic & Stress
Teaching relaxation methods to use during periods of stress. Negating negative thoughts. Enhancing
coping strategies. Recognising the onset of panic attacks and stopping them.

Creativity
Unblocking potentiality in the creative arts.

Loss & Separation
Easing the physical results of loss and releasing the emotional blocks to recovery.

Phobias & Fears
Eliminating fears & phobias that can otherwise limit life experience and cause stress.