This debilitating condition is extremely common. I only realised this
after becoming a hypnotherapist. In fact my own mother had the
condition which I did not know until recently. I used to think it meant
that the sufferer could not leave the house but that is not always the
case. As with my mother she felt safe at home and at work and a few
other familiar places. Some people simply cannot understand
agoraphobia and will try telling the sufferer to 'pull themselves
together '. What they don't understand, is that you simply can't.
Something deep in the mind is sensing danger or some kind of
threat that simply isn't there, or is greatly exaggerated. This goes
contrary to the belief of the conscious mind which is as aware as the
next person that there is no rational cause for alarm. Hypnotherapy is
a gentle method of re-assuring the deep, normally inaccessible parts of
the mind, persuading them to stop releasing the feelings of insecurity,
panic or terror, allowing the person concerned to go about their lives
in a way the rest of us take for granted. It may need to be done in
stages but I have often seen an immediate improvement.
Sufferers often feel ashamed of the condition, or believe they are
going mad and are very relieved once they understand more about the
workings of the inner mind. Incidentally, it is not only past traumas
or upset which brings on agoraphobia, it can manifest for a number of
reasons. It is not always necessary to know the cause to be able to
treat it successfully. Sometimes, knowing the root cause of a problem,
as is the prime goal of many analytic forms of therapy simply doesn't
make it go away. Automatic feelings of panic can occur when a primitive
system of defence, which is designed to protect us, has got it all
wrong. The subconscious mind thinks it is helping and may be
simply 'mis-programmed', rather like a computer with the wrong disc in
place. Hypnotherapy in these cases is best applied to help the mind to
re-condition and 're-program' itself to release calm and feelings of
wellbeing in place of the agoraphobic feelings, whilst building up self
esteem and confidence. If you are sufffering from agoraphobia, or a
problem of a similar nature, I can assure you you will receive the very
best help possible and will find the whole experience relaxing and
enjoyable.
Alcohol
Many people enjoy a drink. Sometimes however drinking can get out of
control. It can creep up on you and before you know it you may have got
into the habit of drinking every day and too much at that. Then you try
to cut down or even stop drinking and find it difficult to do so. I
have helped many people with alcohol related problems. Over the
consulation you decide whether you want to control your drinking to an
acceptable level or decide to totally give up alcohol and leave it
behind in the past. If your problem is binge drinking I can help with
that too. To see if I can help you please call or email me.
Anxiety and panic attacks
If you find you rarely or never feel particuarly calm, always feel
agitated and have got so used to this way of feeling be assured it
doesn't have to be like this. This state of being is harmful to you in
the long term and can effect your health. Is is also a very unpleasant
way to live your life. I probably see more clients for this problem
than most others. Just a few sessions can bring about a major change in
the way you feel. After so long it comes as such a relief to
go
out there do all the normal things in life that you want to do and feel
calmer, more relaxed or simply not worried or anxious. Sometimes the
sufferer is aware or what started the feelings but not always. It is
not important to know as treatment will still be effective.
Panic
attacks can be something that comes on very
suddenly and can be extremely frightening to the sufferer. Although not
life threatening when they happen you feel out of control and in
danger. Hypnosis is a very poweful way to end these attacks and put
them in the past. I used to have them myself many years ago but now I
don't think about them and feel safe in the knowledge they will not
return. After a period of time has gone by without them you can feel
safe again and know it was just something that you once had but now
they have gone for good.
Blushing and embarrassment
I see many people for this embarrassing condition. Sometimes when
people come to see me they have often suffered for years. It may have
started
at school and they have just gone on living with it. Hypnosis can be
very effective in treating this problem. Very often people who
blush set very high standards for themselves and are often
high
achievers. They want to be good at everything they do. Now that is not
a bad thing at all, but it can cause a feeling of pressure or even
failure if things don't go according to plan. In the session we explore
your personality and understand the reasons behind your feelings of
embarrassement.
Sometimes these reasons cannot be explained and blushing has simply
become an automatic response to a stressful or embarassing situation.
Either way hypnosis can help by accessing the unconcious mind and
making your reaction to certain situations confident and relaxed. There
is no need to suffer any longer, try hypnosis, it could make a major
change to your life.
Children's problems
I find treating children one of the most satisfying areas of my work.
Having two children myself and seen them grow into adults I have come
across all the trials and tribulations that growing up involves.
These are just some of the things I see children for: Exam nerves,
memory and learning, sports performance, fear of flying, bullying at
school, bed wetting, confidence, fears and phobias ,OCD and nail
biting. If you have a child who needs help and the problem is not on
this list, do not hesitate to contact me and see hypnotherapy could
help your child.
Confidence / social
anxiety / shyness
Most of us can be ourselves and be calm and confident with best friends
or certain members of our family but when faced with other situations,
confidence magically disappears, such as when meeting new people or
giving a talk or presentation. We can be relaxed, calm and assertive
with some people and then be shy, tense and inhibited with others. Deep
within the mind of everyone is a natural confidence which may rarely,
if ever come through, or may be blocked only in certain situations. For
some fortunate individuals this natural confidence is nurtured in
childhood, but for others it may be damaged by negative life events or
maybe have never seen the light of day. Hypnosis does not 'give' you
confidence so much as release what has always been there, locked away,
awaiting release and ensure that it comes through in a steady stream
whenever it is needed.
At some stage during the session you will experience, under hypnosis,
what it feels like to be a totally confident person in certain imagined
situations. This is very pleasant in itself. Any blockages preventing
your confidence from coming through are discussed beforehand or may be
investigated during hypnosis. These blockages are removed and the
subconscious mind is conditioned to release confidence automatically in
the future.
This treatment is very powerful indeed, but at the
same time is extremely relaxing and enjoyable. You will remain in total
control at all times and will not be 'sent to sleep' as if so often
feared by those without previous experience of hypnotherapy.
Hypnosis has control not just over the mind but will also, where
appropriate, be used to influence physiological functions, for example,
to slow down a racing pulse or prevent
excessive sweating brought on by nerves.
Depression
Depression can often be a reaction to some kind of loss or something
going wrong in your life. You get into a state of mind where nothing
brings you happiness and everything you do seems pointless. You cannot
look forward to things as you used to. It may feel like a dark cloud
hanging over you. Sometimes these feeling can come on suddenly or may
manifest themselves over a period of time.
The sufferer is sometimes unaware of the reasons for the depression or
even unaware of what is really causing problems deep down. There are
well known therapies, eg cognitive behavioural therapy, that try their
best to reason with the depressive's negative feelings, thoughts and
beliefs, but though they can be helpful, they are only dealing with the
tip of the iceberg.
With hypnotherapy, the parts of the mind
that are causing the depression can be helped to come to terms with
things and can be persuaded to release all the old feelings of
wellbeing, contentment and enthusiasm - they are still there, deep
down, blocked by what has happened, or by disappointment, just wating
to be
released. Be assured, there is a way out. I have seen dramatic
results after just one session of hynotherapy on
several occasions. However quickly you respond, I urge you to give it a
go. Many of my depression clients go on to become a source of new
referals. Remember, if the mind can get you into this situation, it can
get you out.
Driving
If you fear your driving test because nerves may get the better of
you or you have failed previous tests because of nerves or
you
have already passed your test but lack the confidence to drive or you
have lost your confidence because of an accident. Maybe you have been
driving for years but have lost confidence for some other reason, do
consider hypnotherapy. I have helped many people pass their driving
test and enjoy driving again after a period of lack of confidence.
Exam nerves
How sad it is when you know your subject, know the answers but when you
are under the pressure of an exam situation the stress and anxiety
cause your mind to go blank. It's an opportunity lost and it could put
your whole professional future at risk. There is no need to suffer in
silence. Just one or two session may be enough to help you to go into
an exam and be calm enough to perform at your very best. I have helped
students off all ages from GSCE and A level students to mature students
returning to college after a long break away from education. I am
sometimes still surprised by the sheer power of hypnotherapy to help in
so many situations. Whatever your age or situation if you need help
with overcoming exam nerves contact me for my confidential and caring
help.
Nail biting
If you look at your hands and
nails with disgust because they are all bitten and unnatractive try
hypnotherapy to give you hands and nails to be proud of. Just a couple
of sessions can break the habit that may of gone on for years. I will
help you to never bite your nails again, or the skin around them so you
can look in the mirror and feel good about yourself.
Past life regression
Have you ever wondered if a problem in this life is because of
something that happened to you in a previous life? With past life
regression you can explore this. It is often very revealing and an
interesting experience. Past life regression has helped many understand
and heal present life problems, and gain insight into their own
personality, though present life circumstances or
current problems cannot always be attributed to past life experiences.
Phobias especially fear
of flying
Hypnosis can be very effective for treating phobias and I have had a
great deal of success in this area. Some types of phobia are more
common such as fear of flying, dogs, cats, spiders, ballooons, needles,
dentists, doctors etc. others are less common and you may feel your
phobia is unusual only to discover there are many people with the same
one.
Whatever the
phobia, it can be very upsetting and begin to affect your whole life.
It can stop you doing the things you want to and prevent you from
getting out there and getting on with your life. Hypnotherapy is a way of
communicating with the irrational,
subconscious mind and helping it to stop releasing the negative
feelings. An immediate change is not unusual after just one
session, though in some cases it may take a little longer, each case is
different, often depending on how long you have had the phobia. One
thing is certain there is no need to live with the phobia. Be assured
it is not a scary experience , for instance if you are frightened of
spiders I will not show you pictures of them or do anything to heighten
your fear, quite the contrary, you will find it a relaxing experience.
Public speaking
This can cover so many things. Here are just some of the areas I have
treated with success.
Best mans speeches, talking in meetings at work, interview nerves,
students having to
give presentations at school or college or just having to stand up and
talk in front of others. I have seen several people who were training
to be lecturers and teachers. Whatever area you need help with
hypnotherapy can be extremely effective in helping you to perform and
present yourself at your very best. For my sympathetic and
understanding help please call to discuss.
Psychogenic infertility
If you are having problems conceiving and there is no medical reason
for this then hypnotherapy may help you. Many years ago I knew a woman
who desperately wanted a baby and tried for years to conceive.
Eventually they decided to adopt a baby. She adopted a little girl and
almost immediately fell pregnant and went on to have two natural babies
of her own. The reason was probably because she relaxed and gave up
worrying about conception. This is how hypnotherapy may help, in the
trance state the unconscious mind can accept suggestions for relaxing
and letting go of the worry of conceiving. It has helped many people to
conceive when there was no medical reason for not conceiving. It is
safe with no side effects.
Relationships
Our relationship is often the most important area in our life. After
all we are human and it is only natural. When things so wrong it can be
very distressing. The very thing we want so much and feel is so
important in our life is just falling apart. Over the years I have
helped many people rebuild or even come to terms with a relationship
ending. During the session I will talk to you at length and establish
what you want from your relationship. We know we do not have the power
to change others, but we can change how we react in certain situations
thereby making a relationship happier and more calm. Just talking about
the problem is therapeutic in itself. Then with discucussion things
come to light and you can see things so much more clearly. You will
find the hypnosis calming and enjoyable and hopefully leave the
practice feeling refreshed and with hope for the future.
Self esteem
Frequently linked to lack of confidence in some people is low self
esteem, which can arise for a whole variety of reasons. Hypnotherapy
will help boost your self esteem, and give you a new belief in
yourself. Whatever has happened to you so far in your life, there is a
strong, positive side that is waiting to come out. If appropriate, past
situations may be explored and negative feelings such as guilt, anger,
disappointment, failure and regret are released for good, so that you
can live the rest of your life free from the baggage of the past.
Everyone has the right to believe in themselves, to stand up for
themselves and to be proud to be who they are.
Most of my confidence clients respond very quickly to hypnotherapy,
often within a session or two. To see if hypnotherapy can help you
please call or email me to discuss.
Sleep problems
Going to bed at night should be a good feeling, that time at the end of
the day when you can just relax have a peaceful and restful sleep and
wake up the next day feeling refreshed and ready to go. If though, you
are suffering from insomnia, broken sleep when you wake and cannot get
back to sleep or nightmares then going to bed is a time of day which
you can begin to dread. A pattern then occurs when which can be very
difficult to break. I have helped many people overcome these problems
and helped to establish a good sleeping pattern so that once again
going to bed is pleasant.
I can also help with sleeping problems with children including
nightmares and waking in the night and not being able to get back to
sleep.
Weight loss
Being overweight can affect your confidence and put your health at
risk. Whatever your reasons for needing to lose weight hypnotherapy can
be a very real help to change your eating habits for life.To begin I
will talk to you at length about your eating habits, discussing the
foods that are your weaknesses and the ones you crave. Together we
analyse and discuss a healthy and less calorific way to eat and
eliminate the urge for sweet and fattening foods. If you are a comfort
eater or bingeing, emotional issues will be dealt with. I will help you
to stop
eating when you are full and encourage you to take more exercise. The
weight loss should be gradual but steady, and come about because of a
lifestyle change. It will usually require 3 sessions with the
occasional top up session depending on the progress. Imagine how good
life would be if you could reach your target weight.
Many people, both men and women come to me after trying many
different
weight loss programmes and find hypnotherapy can help them to reduce
their weight safely and naturally with a successful outcome. I can also
help with weight gain and other eating disorders.