Anxiety disorders affect millions of Australians every year, resulting in anxiety being the most prevalent mental health issue in Australia.
A study published towards the end of 2020 reported that due to COVID‐19 restrictions, the prevalence of clinically significant symptoms of depression and generalised anxiety, dark thoughts and irritability were markedly higher than reported by previous surveys (Fisher et al., 2020). This was noted particularly among people who had lost jobs because of the restrictions, were concerned about contracting COVID‐19, or for whom the restrictions had a significant impact on their daily lives.
There are many commonly known treatments for anxiety and anxiety-related disorders, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, exposure therapy and medication. Over the years, hypnotherapy has become a more widely accepted alternative; and more and more, we are seeing doctors and psychiatrists referring their patients to Clinical Hypnotherapists.
Hollywood has done a great injustice to the modality of hypnotherapy; contrary to what most people have been lead to believe, hypnosis is not a magic carpet ride into the land of your subconscious mind. The state of hypnosis is much like the moments just before one falls asleep; it’s a deep state of relaxation where a patients mind is open to receive positive suggestions that assist in changing old, outworn, outgrown, unhelpful behaviour.
A study conducted by Stanford University in the United States proclaimed that hypnotherapy is the oldest known form of psychotherapy (Williams, 2016). This same study found that under x-ray, many notable changes are displayed by the hypnotised brain; the brain shows more focused attention, greater emotional and physical control and less self-consciousness. A skilled clinical hypnotherapist will use this heightened state of awareness and control to drive in “post-hypnotic suggestions”, which will all assist in subduing the presenting anxiety and its related symptoms.
After hypnotherapy, people have reported that feelings of panic and doom became less frequent, their irritability lessened, attention and focus increased, fears and phobias disappeared and their general health improved.
When looking for a hypnotherapist, make sure you choose one who has a Clinical Hypnotherapy qualification. Many out there have completed 3-5 short courses, which means they don't have the same level of skill or experience to help you achieve long-term changes. Do not expect to be hypnotised in your first session, as the therapist needs to spend some time with you understanding your triggers; a great therapist will work with your “root cause” rather than the presenting issue. Sometimes, the treatment will be very different than your expectations – there is no such thing as “curing you in just one session”. You can expect to be with your therapist for at least six sessions.
Our onsite Clinical Hypnotherapist, Angela, has 11 years experience. She specialises in anxiety and related issues. She has worked with children as young as three years of age, right up to 83 years young. She says children are especially receptive to hypnotherapy and recommends that parents seek treatment as early as possible for their children.
For further information, please book a complimentary 15-minute telephone consultation to see if hypnotherapy is right for you.
- Fisher, J., Tran, T, Hammarberg, K., Nguyen, H., Rowe, H., Popplestone, S., Stocker, R., Stubber, C., & Kirkman, M. (2020). Mental health of people in Australia in the first month of COVID‐19 restrictions: a national survey. The Medical Journal of Australia, 213(10), 458-464. https://doi-org.elibrary.jcu.edu.au/10.5694/mja2.50831
- Williams, S. (2016). Study identifies brain areas altered during hypnotic trances. Stanford Medicine. https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2016/07/study-identifies-brain-areas-altered-during-hypnotic-trances.html
