Dan’s Blog

Pregnancy Related Anxiety – Hypnotherapy in Ely and Newmarket

by Dan Regan | Apr 19, 2022 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Pregnancy Related Anxiety – Hypnotherapy in Ely and Newmarket

Life can be funny when you’re a parent. One minute they are on the way, and then they arrive and the life is full of ups and downs, and laughter and telling offs and getting stuff done (and then even more needing to get things done!). In no time at all, old photos are popping up on social media memories and you realise how much has gone on and is still to happen in their lives (and your own too).

Recently my youngest had her birthday and, amongst all the fun, we talked about some of early memories of her. There where the moments when we first met her at the hospital, when her sister excitedly saw her for the first time, the laughs, the chats and the other little quirks that we love so much and that happened along the way. A friend brought her little baby around to our house and you suddenly remember there was actually a time before they could even answer you back!

And pregnancy and babies seems to have been very much the theme at home recently, with my wife currently training to be a doula (which I think she’ll be fab at) so that she can provide guidance and support to new mum’s, especially during those early days when everything goes haywire and the level of demands and challenges massively magnify.

I often work with women during pregnancy where they may be struggling with anxiety and a sense of overwhelm. There may be anxiety about health, about being in hospital and coping with the birthing process, and about how well they think they will cope with having the responsibility of a new born to look after. There is no doubt that there are a lot of demands, challenges and things to learn through pregnancy and into parenthood (as well as a lot of love, happiness and joy, of course!!).

Mental Health and The Positive Impact of Pets…And Meet Frank!

by Dan Regan | Apr 19, 2022 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Mental Health and The Positive Impact of Pets…And Meet Frank!

I’ve written before about the positive mental health impact that can come from having a pet. Naturally you need to have a pet that fits with your own individual circumstances, yet, the companionship, emotional support and need for routine can certainly bring you psychological benefits.

Sadly we lost our lovely rabbit, Nibbles, last year, but now we have a new arrival into the Regan household! So today I’d like to introduce Frank (although I’m not sure if that really is a proper name for a rabbit??!), who will shortly be joined by a companion.

So amongst all the excitement and playing with Frank the major decision right now is what to call his friend when she arrives? My vote goes to Jesse so that we create the namesakes of those famous outlaw brothers (Jesse and Frank James). Or how about Nancy, so that we have the father and daughter Sinatra named rabbits? Although knowing how things generally turn out in our house we’ll probably end up with a rabbit called Sparkles or Sniffer!

So here is the lovely Frank for you to meet…

The Physical Sensations of Stress and Anxiety – Hypnotherapy in Ely

by Dan Regan | Apr 8, 2022 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

The Physical Sensations of Stress and Anxiety – Hypnotherapy in Ely and Newmarket

Back when I used to struggle with anxiety, it was the anxious feelings that used to really trouble me and that used to quickly escalate to the point when they felt overwhelming and uncontrollable. There were times when I would be low, shaky and uncomfortable to the point that I just wanted to be safely back home and in a place where I felt calmer and safer (and then all the anxious thoughts would arrive to remind me of how useless I was for feeling that way). It can be hard to appreciate just how bad anxious feelings can get unless you’ve experienced it and had it affect your life. The avoidance, the escaping, the gruelling discomfort and the repetition of the unpleasantness can really start to get to you and limit your life.

And it doesn’t matter whether the anxiety is about something specific (like driving, flying or public speaking) or more generalised (where there seems to always be something that the anxiety latches onto). When those bodily sensations and feelings strike and get you, it can feel debilitating and crushing. Things you know you can ordinarily do become impossible to you. Every atom of your being seems to be focused upon how anxious you feel, how bad it makes you feel and how, in situations when you feel anxious, it seems inescapable until you flee to somewhere else and away from it all.

One of the issues that people with anxiety know all too well is how you then start to become anxious about the possibility of becoming anxious. Even when you aren’t in the anxiety-provoking situation or at the event, you can still feel the dread, the sense of approaching doom and you can still be overwhelmed with the worry. When you get there (in the car, on the plane, about to give your presentation etc.), everything becomes massively ramped up and amplified. The anxiety gets more and more linked, associated and embedded with the situation/event/person/place and so the next time a similar thing is looming, the worry, anxiety, stress and dread grow and repeat with ever increasing vengence.

Yet it is very possible to overcome those anxious thoughts and feelings and to take back control over what is going inside of your mind and body. I’ve helped hundreds of people to move on from unnecessary anxiety and to learn how to effectively manage their thoughts, feelings and behaviours.

Yet first, it’s important to understand and remove any confusion about exactly what is happening in your mind and body that leads you to experience those physical sensations of stress and anxiety.

Attitudes to Hypnosis and Some Hypnotherapy Misconceptions To Be Aware Of

by Dan Regan | Apr 6, 2022 | Hypnotherapy Hypnosis and NLP

Attitudes to Hypnosis and Some Hypnotherapy Misconceptions To Be Aware Of

One of the main reasons I always invite you to come for a free initial consultation is so that we get a chance to chat about what hypnosis and hypnotherapy involve and how it can help you with things such as overcoming anxiety, increasing confidence and taking control over eating habits (and, of course, if we are going to be working together then it’s always great to meet face to face at the outset too).

There can be a lot of mystery, misconceptions and uncertainty about hypnosis, how it works and what it involves, all of which we clear up at the outset so we have solid foundations to increase the likelihood of a positive outcome for you. Some of that confusion and uncertainty comes from portrayals on TV and in film. As I’ve written about before, most of this stuff is pure garbage that generally just helps the plot move along and is far removed from the reality.

Sadly though, a lot of the confusion and mystery is perpetuated by hypnotherapists themselves waffling on about communicating with your subconscious and how change happens at a different level of your conscious awareness and so forth. Little (if any) of this is based upon the scientific evidence and the wealth of knowledge we have about combining hypnosis and psychological processes. Rather than being something done to you, hypnotherapy should always be about helping you to develop your own awareness, ability and control over directing the thoughts, feelings and behaviours that you experience.

Hypnosis is about using psychology to help you to take control over what goes on inside of your own mind. We draw upon your thoughts, feelings, imagination, self-talk, motivations, beliefs and expectations to put you in the driving seat of your life and to help you maintain that even after the sessions are completed and your therapy goals have been achieved.

Rather than being thrown from one thing in life to another and just having to struggle on, you can start to direct your habits and patterns of thinking, feeling, acting and reacting in the kind of ways that will please you in your life.

The Effectiveness of Walking in Nature For Anxiety and Depression – Hypnotherapy in Ely

by Dan Regan | Apr 4, 2022 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

The Effectiveness of Walking in Nature For Anxiety and Depression – Hypnotherapy in Ely and Newmarket

Ah the great British weather! Last week the sun was out and shining bright and, in the warmth, I started to think about whether it was time to dig out my shorts. Then this week it’s been cold and wet and windy and I had to search back in the cupboard for my winter coat before heading out anywhere.

Now, whatever the weather, it’s always great to get outside, whether that is for exercise or just to take a mind clearing walk. Few things top those moments when you are out walking in nature. Recently we’ve been for a family walk through the Abbey Gardens in Bury St Edmunds and for an explore on our first trip to Audley End House. On top of that I always enjoy my walk through the quiet fields on my way to and from work (especially now that the clocks have changed and it’s lighter in the evening).

I love those moments when you feel connected to nature as you walk along. There are the trees and the brightly coloured flowers and the green grass. There are the insects buzzing around and often a squirrel or two scampering about. I could watch the sights and listen to the sounds of nature in some secluded spot (on a nice day at least!) for hours. One of the reasons I love my office in Ely so much is because I can look out over the fields and catch sight of the deer, or a bird of prey, and even recently a fox walking through the undergrowth.

I often suggest to clients with anxiety, worry and stress that they start taking a daily walk to get the mental health and well-being benefits of moving and exercise, and as a way of seeking to get some time off from unwanted thinking. And there are even better benefits if that walk is in nature, where you feel a sense of connection to nature, as the mental health research clearly supports.

Award Winner For Service Excellence! Hypnotherapy in Ely

by Dan Regan | Mar 28, 2022 | Hypnotherapy Hypnosis and NLP

Award Winner For Service Excellence! Hypnotherapy in Ely

It’s been a tough couple of weeks coming through being rather unwell with Covid and then getting back up to speed with work, exercise and life afterwards.

I know Covid is supposed to be mild but I can tell you that it made me pretty unwell with a fever, sore throat, fatigue and so on (I even lost my voice for two days because my throat was so bad!). Thankfully, our whole household has now come through it and we are all back up and running.

Sadly, Covid meant I missed the Ely Business Awards ceremony….but the good news is that I won something!!

Hypnosis For Golf Performance – Sports Performance Hypnotherapy in Ely and Newmarket

by Dan Regan | Feb 3, 2022 | Sports Improvement

Hypnosis For Golf Performance – Sports Performance Hypnotherapy in Ely and Newmarket

Recently I’ve been working with a golfer to help him to overcome issues and unhelpful habits with a certain part of his game. As anyone who takes part in a sport will know, there is always scope for tweaking, learning and improving, yet there can also be aspects where the improvement doesn’t seem to happen.

I know from my own running and training that sometimes a run or session just doesn’t go to plan. Maybe other aspects of life are getting in the way and affecting things, maybe you are tired, or it could just be an off occasion for some reason. It’s never great but you know it’s a blip and you expect things to be back on the usual positive track next time.

However, there can be aspects of your sport where things just seem to always be awry. It can be anxiety, self-doubt, a lack of belief in your own ability, worry what others think, the legacy of a previous poor performance, too much tension or overthinking. Each and all of these things drain energy and undermine your performance.

I’ve worked with golfers who get anxious and tense only when playing with certain other people or only when playing in a competition. There are those who overthink their actions and so don’t swing smoothly and strike the ball cleanly. And there may be certain shots or conditions where you expect to mess up and then you become tense and make it a reality (and having done so, you then expect to mess up again and anticipate happening again with similar shots in the future). As well as tackling the psychological aspects and unhelpful habits, there are also those golfers whose game is fine yet who want to use their mindset and sports psychology to improve their play and increase their level of performance.

In this article I’m covering some of the research and evidence that supports hypnosis for golf performance and which covers how to improve your game.

Anxiety About Dentists, Doctors and All Things Medical

by Dan Regan | Jan 31, 2022 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Anxiety About Dentists, Doctors and All Things Medical

It’s been a hectic start to the year with things now well and truly back in full swing. I’ve been busy helping people to overcome anxiety, build confidence and to take control over eating habits and it’s been fantastic to see so many positive results. Outside work, I’ve been busy with my exercise and doing a bit of running again, I’ve been continuing to learn guitar (snapping some strings along the way) and spending fun time with the kids (well, maybe 95% of the time with the kids is fun, the rest is nagging them, cajoling them, reminding them to do things and tidying up after them!).

Many of the people I’ve been helping recently have come to see me about anxiety and fear to do with medically related things. For some, all medical things create anxiety, and they avoid the doctor and dentist because of the overwhelming uncomfortable feelings the thought of it evokes. Sometimes even talking about medically related things can be enough to create the fear and panic, even where the actual situations and events purely concern other people. There can be fears about needles, injections and blood tests and again, avoidance will be the main way they have of trying to deal with the fear and uncomfortable sensations.

As with most anxiety and fear, there is a cycle of imagining the worst case (e.g. needing a blood test and passing out), which creates anxious feelings and leads to avoidance and struggling.

Yet, however your fear and anxiety affects you right now, it is possible to take back control over your thoughts and feelings so that, like other people seem to do with ease, you can calmly go and do whatever medical things you may need to do.

Is Your Success With Hypnosis All About Your Subconscious Mind?

by Dan Regan | Jan 4, 2022 | Hypnotherapy Hypnosis and NLP

Is Your Success With Hypnosis All About Your Subconscious Mind?

Take a scroll through the websites of a few hypnotherapists and in no time at all you’ll come across many references to the subconscious mind. There are those in the hypnotherapy field who believe that hypnosis is all about communicating with the subconscious mind and you’ll find their websites and posts littered with references and claims that link everything about hypnosis to this purportedly powerful, yet generally inaccessible, part of your mind.

They will tell you how your conscious mind only controls about ten per cent of your behaviours, habits and beliefs, with the remaining ninety per cent being controlled by your subconscious mind (they may even chuck in a picture of the brain or an ice berg for good measure to illustrate this). You’ll read how ‘hypnotherapy works by bringing your conscious mind and unconscious mind into harmony’ (whatever that means), or how during hypnosis your subconscious mind will be busy working in the background to make positive changes in our life (which presumably means you are unaware of what these changes will be) and how working your subconscious mind gets to the root of the problem.

I remember when I first turned to hypnosis and hypnotherapy to help with my anxiety and low self esteem issues. I was so confused and frustrated by my thoughts, feelings, actions and reactions that the prospect of some miraculous changes going on somewhere in my brain (while I just sat there relaxing with my eyes closed) seemed very appealing. I honestly expected to be ‘put under’ (whatever I thought that meant!) and to be out of it for a bit and then to come around with a totally new mindset of confidence. Best of all, I wouldn’t have to even do anything because my subconscious mind would figure it all out and fix it. Happy days!

So with all the claims of subconscious mind greatness that are published out there, is achieving success with hypnosis all about your subconscious mind playing ball?

Most Read Articles of the Year – Dan Regan Hypnotherapy in Ely & Newmarket

by Dan Regan | Dec 14, 2021 | Hypnotherapy Hypnosis and NLP

Most Read Articles of the Year – Dan Regan Hypnotherapy in Ely & Newmarket

Phew! It’s been another busy and engaging year and it seems like so long ago since the start of the year (and the third Covid-19 lockdown).

Covid-19 and its impacts have continued to rise, diminish and lurk around over the year. Yet it has still been another year helping many people to overcome anxiety, end phobias, build confidence and self-esteem, quit smoking, lose weight and with many other issues that were getting in the way of their happiness. Thank you to everyone who has worked with me this year, those of you who have bought one of my powerful hypnosis audios and to everyone who has recommended me to others and left a kind review of our sessions together.

I always like to do a little personal review of the year in my head and to think back on some of the highlights of the year. I’ve really enjoyed meeting and working with so many people this year (face to face and online) and it makes my day whenever I hear how well you are doing (and it makes my week when you leave a positive review!). I’ve also been in the studio a number of times so that I can now help you with a wider range of hypnosis downloads, and I’m honoured to be a finalist in the Ely Business Awards.

Outside work, the kids are continuing to grow and to occupy my time and thoughts (usually in good ways!!); I’ve been continuing to practice the guitar (and can now play a few tunes recognisably!); and my exercise has continued to ensure that there is always some part of my muscle that aches.

I’ll be off for a short break with the family over the festive period (I’ll still reply to emails although may be a little slower than usual so please bear with me).

As part of my review of the year, I’ve brought together a treasure trove of my most read articles from the past twelve months (just a snippet of what’s available on my website blog pages).

There’s a lot of things included here that can help you with issues, such as reducing negative thoughts and feelings from things like anxiety, stress and distress. And there are also many strategies and techniques for helping with sports psychology and for increasing confidence, resilience and well-being. In most cases there is evidence and research to support them which you can find over in the full article using the links (more and more we are able to call upon evidence based practice to help with aspects of mental health and psychology).

I hope you enjoy reading these articles as much as I’ve enjoyed researching and writing them. So whether you’re visiting these articles for the first time today, or revisiting them and reminding yourself of how to boost your mental health, I hope you find something you enjoy that helps you and that you can take away to help you have a wonderful 2022, and even more, to make progress towards being the best version of yourself that you wish to be and can be.

Happy New Year!

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