Stress is the reaction of the autonomic nervous system to real or imagined danger. It is the human body’s instinctive defense against attack. When faced with a threat—whether physical or psychological—the fight-or-flight mechanism activates, releasing adrenaline to help us either fight or flee. Once the threat has passed, the system returns to normal. However, if unused adrenaline remains in the body, it can lead to chronic stress.
The fight-or-flight mechanism was crucial when early humans needed to escape predators, but in modern life, threats tend to be psychological rather than physical. Challenges like redundancy or financial struggles leave us with no outlet for this stress, as the system wasn’t designed to handle these non-physical threats.
The death of a spouse or close relation or friend
Getting divorced
Being made redundant
Moving house
Unhappiness in the workplace
Financial worries
Stress affects people in different ways and a sufferer may have some of the following symptoms:
Irritability and temper outbursts
Anxious feelings especially in the stomach, tightness in the chest and breathing issues
Low self-esteem and constantly worrying and over thinking and an inability to switch off
Drinking or smoking more than usual
Insomnia – inability to get to sleep / stay asleep / early waking syndrome
Changing your eating habits eg binge eating
Unwillingness to socialise
Finding it hard to concentrate and forgetting things
Muscle tension and pains throughout the body and headaches, migraines, bowel or bladder problems
Some people seem to handle stress effortlessly, while others constantly feel overwhelmed. This often stems from early conditioning during childhood. For example, a calm parent will respond differently to their child falling off a bike than a more anxious parent. Regression hypnotherapy can help uncover these early experiences and address the root causes of anxiety, allowing individuals to reframe their responses to stressful situations.
Hypnotherapy can also be beneficial for conditions like smoking cessation or weight loss, providing a holistic approach to mental and physical well-being. Clients can also learn self-hypnosis, a valuable tool that promotes deep relaxation, lowers heart rate and blood pressure, and eases muscle tension.
I am an award-winning hypnotherapist with 22+ years of experience in helping people manage stress, anxiety, and related issues. Call now to book an initial consultation or simply have a chat about how hypnotherapy could help you.
