A pocket watch swaying back and forth. A spiral of white and black swirling and spinning.
Closing your eyes. Clearing your mind. Entering a state of hypnosis.
I know what you’re thinking, ‘hypnosis?!’ It’s something we see in cartoons or is sometimes even used as a premise in thriller movies. However, there’s a lot that TV and movies get wrong about hypnosis.
Anxiety can already make you feel like you’re not yourself. Hypnosis may be something you’ve never considered before. But you can’t knock something until you’ve tried it.
Here’s how hypnosis works to treat anxiety.
Why Hypnosis Is Used
Hypnosis is a trance-like state where an individual can experience heightened focus and concentration. Typically, with the help of a therapist, hypnosis can make an individual feel more calm, relaxed, and open to suggestions.
Hypnosis can be used to help you gain control over certain behaviors and better cope with things like anxiety.
What to Expect
Movies and TV shows have depicted hypnosis as a way to control someone’s thoughts and emotions. It’s actually quite the opposite! Hypnosis can be used for exploring repressed memories, instilling a desire for healthy habits, and relaxing an anxious brain.
Your therapist is there to help guide the process, not to control you or your mind.
Hypnosis for Anxiety
Hypnosis isn’t as widely known as therapy and medication for treating anxiety. A study that was conducted in 2016 found that a hypnotized brain can experience changes, like an increased ability to focus, greater physical and emotional control, and less self-consciousness. The relaxed state that hypnosis can put you in is very similar to when taking medication for anxiety.
During hypnosis, your mind becomes more open to suggestions. This openness can allow your therapist to coach and help guide your confidence in dealing with the anxiety you may be facing. In a more relaxed state, you can avoid common anxiety symptoms like:
- Feelings of sudden doom
- Shortness of breath
- Escalated heart rate
- Muscle tightness or tension
- Irritability
- Stomach aches and pains
Next Steps: Seeking Treatment for Anxiety
Understandably, seeking help may feel like just one more stressful thing on your plate. But it’s so worth it. When you invest in yourself and your wellbeing, you heal the source of your anxiety and gain the power to overcome it so you can live the life you want.
With the right mental health professional as a partner, you can stop avoiding situations that increase your anxiety and take control of how you react.
If you’re ready to give hypnosis a try for your anxiety, you should consider the following:
Find a Therapist You Trust
Do your research. You don’t have to know everything about it, but educate yourself enough to ask the right questions. Take the time to learn about the necessary training and certifications.
Find Your Motivation
Hypnosis may be completely new to you, and that’s okay. You may be uneasy about it at first, but if you stick to your reason and motivation for seeking treatment, results will follow.
It’s a Partnership
You are not alone. You and your therapist will work together throughout your entire treatment. That’s why finding someone you trust is key.
You’re in Complete Control
The thoughts you’re having under hypnosis are still your thoughts. The only difference is you’re not having to deal with the signs and symptoms of your anxiety in the relaxed state you’re in.
Ready to overcome anxiety? Find out more about anxiety counseling here. Then consider reaching out to schedule a short phone consultation. We can talk about options, next steps, or even finding the right match for you if not myself.
