Anxiety Hypnotherapy Treatment
Is there an anxiety hypnotherapy treatment? Life seems to become ever more complicated as today’s hyper-busy economy separates individuals from close family and community. These connections used to provide supporting foundations of belonging and meaning for our recent ancestors.
As these systems collapse, more people seem to fall prey to anxiety. There is even a modern day term for this condition – GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder.)
There is a huge range of symptoms of this disorder. It is however, important not to confuse anxiety with depression. ‘Depression’ results from a chemical imbalance in the brain, and is usually amenable to treatment with modern medicines.
Anxiety
It is not the same as ‘anxiety.’ Anxiety seems to be more directly related to external events or circumstances that arise in people’s lives and can be more (seemingly) irrational.
Such experiences as an earthquake, being picked on by a work-place bully, experiencing a family break-up or being attacked by a stray dog, can all set in train a series of intensely personal, inner thoughts and views that can blight someone’s entire life.
GAD victims can find it hard to go to work, have a fear of flying, struggle in social situations, or sometimes, can’t even leave the house.
The Doctor
The usual recourse (in many cases having first tried smoking, alcohol and comfort eating, which usually result in unwanted weight gain and can further induce anxiety) seems to be the family doctor.
These overworked practitioners try their best, but have their working days divided into fifteen minute slots and are expected to deal with such deep-rooted and complex matters as GAD within tight time-constraints.
The fastest and easiest solution is a prescription for a drug that will lower the brain’s emotional activity.
From my experience of treating an increasing number of clients suffering from GAD, a fifteen minute discussion followed by a prescription is unlikely to solve the problem.
To me, anxiety seems to be an addiction. In the same way that addictive substances can circulate in the blood-stream, so too a person can become addicted to the circulation of negative thoughts in the brain.
Anxiety Treatment With Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy and electro-puncture do seem to ease the problem considerably – but not in fifteen minutes.
My average anxiety hypnotherapy treatment session lasts for over an hour and usually, I would expect the client to return for several ‘top-up’ sessions. Happily, people I treat for anxiety will normally report a significant easing of their condition and an ability to get back into leading normal and functional lives.
About three percent (seven million) of the American adult population suffers from GAD and it would be surprising if New Zealand didn’t have a similar percentage of suffers (over 100,000 people.)
As the current frenetic rate of social and environmental changes intensify, these numbers are likely to increase.
What The Professionals Say
In the words of the ADAA (Anxiety and Depression Association of America):
“GAD is diagnosed in adults when they experience at least three of the symptoms below on more days than not for at least six months; only one symptom is required in children.
Do you have anxiety?
If you suspect that you might be suffering from Generalized Anxiety Disorder, the ADAA offers the review questionnaire below to understand the symptoms of GAD:
Are you troubled by the following?
Yes No Excessive worry, occurring more days than not, for a least six months
Yes No Unreasonable worry about events or activities, such as work, school, or your health
Yes No The inability to control the worry
Are you bothered by at least three of the following?
Yes No Restlessness, feeling keyed-up, or on edge
Yes No Being easily tired
Yes No Problems concentrating
Yes No Irritability
Yes No Muscle tension
Yes No Trouble falling or staying asleep, or restless and unsatisfying sleep
Yes No Your anxiety interfering with your daily life
Having more than one illness at the same time can make it difficult to diagnose and treat the different conditions. Depression and substance abuse are among the conditions that occasionally complicate anxiety disorders.
Yes No Have you experienced changes in sleeping or eating habits?
More days than not, do you feel
Yes No sad or depressed?
Yes No disinterested in life?
Yes No worthless or guilty?
During the last year, has the use of alcohol or drugs…
Yes No resulted in your failure to fulfil responsibilities with work, school, or family?
Yes No placed you in a dangerous situation, such as driving a car under the influence?
Yes No got you arrested?
Yes No continued despite causing problems for you or your loved ones?
Reference:
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Association, 1994.”
WebMD offers this article on Anxiety Hypnotherapy Treatment.
Hey Chris from Ntrance here,
I get clients frequently asking me “but does hypnotherapy work for overcoming anxieties?”. Now I love helping clients overcome their phobias and fears (or to stop smoking or lose weight), so I wrote this little post.
Life is hard enough as it is, wouldn’t it be nice if little everyday fears didn’t hold us back? If you’re ready to experience life more fully, I’m right here for you in Marlborough NZ, not far from the beautifully peaceful Marlborough Sounds.
Anxiety Hypnotherapy Treatment
Ntrance Hypnotherapy Blenheim
