Dan’s Blog

My Go To Two For My Anxiety and Stress

by Dan Regan | Jul 29, 2020 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

My Go To Two For My Anxiety and Stress

I’ve lost count over my last decade as a hypnotherapist of how many times people have asked me, because I seem to so calm and upbeat when they meet me, whether I’m always calm or whether anything phases me. Of course some things do push my buttons and there have been times of stress and worry in my life (I’m only human after all!).

Being a bit of a thinker, I need to keep an eye on where my mental focus and thinking is going sometimes. Thankfully, as with my clients, by learning to not worry about things outside of my control, and to take action (rather than being passive) about things I can control, problems become challenges to find solutions to. On top of that (again, as my clients get to learn), there will always be ways to tackle the kind of stuff that goes on inside your head that help you to cope better with the things you are facing and experiencing.

Recent weeks have been a particularly challenging period with my hypnotherapy practice, not just because of covid-19, but because of the consistent and persistent anti-social behaviour of another tenant in the building. I won’t go into all the details but sadly discussion failed to improve things. As I mentioned above, I believe in taking action to deal with life’s problems and challenges, so as the other business owner and my landlord have been unable or unwilling to help, I’m going to soon be sharing some super exciting news with you about an awesome new location I’ll be operating from (it’s a fantastic venue and I can’t wait!).

But in the meantime, I wanted to share my go to two techniques that I always call upon first for anxiety and stress, because they are easy to implement and because they work so well.

Misconceptions About Hypnosis

by Dan Regan | Jul 8, 2020 | Hypnotherapy Hypnosis and NLP

Misconceptions About Hypnosis

‘Look into my eyes, not around my yes, look into my eyes…’ as the Little Britain hypnotist character used to say. Obviously that’s a bit of comedy yet it seems many people (perhaps supported by films and TV) mistakenly do think of hypnosis as involving some kind of mysterious Svengali type thing going on. They think that hypnosis involves some sort of ‘mind control’ happening, with strange trance like effects, and worry about being controlled by some mysterious force wielded by an all powerful hypnotist (who presumably has spinning kaleidoscope eyes, a swinging watch and who uses a walking stick with one of those fossils in amber things at the top…).

Sadly these myths and misconceptions sometimes seem to hold sway more than scientific evidence and research, and I’ve even heard some of the nonsense spouted from the lips of those who should know better such as mental health ‘ambassadors’ and therapists who use some other types of therapeutic approaches.

Pretty much all of these misconceptions about hypnosis can probably be traced back to Mesmerism, which did indeed assert that any results were due to the power of the mesmerist invoking some sort of strange and powerful force of animal magnetism. Mesmerism was largely debunked way back at the time and indeed, hypnosis arose and was introduced in direct opposition and to correct the errors of Mesmerists (for more on the history check out Robertson’s The Practice of Cognitive-Behavioural Hypnotherapy).

All of the evidence and research shows us that hypnosis is a conscious and voluntary process that someone has to actively engage in (for example, have a read here: Hypnosis is Conscious and Voluntary).

Hypnotherapy For Anxiety

by Dan Regan | Jul 8, 2020 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Hypnotherapy For Anxiety

Anxiety is one of the more prevalent mental health issues out there. It certainly forms the largest part of the issues that I help people with.

Whether it’s in relation to a specific event or situation, social anxiety, OCD, or more general, hypnotherapy for anxiety can certainly be beneficial (and you only have to take a look through my What People Say pages to find out how many people have overcome their anxiety with my hypnotherapy).

You don’t just have to take my word and that of my clients to know that hypnotherapy can be very effective for anxiety. Last year (2019) I wrote about research showing that hypnosis is a highly effective treatment for anxiety (have a read here: The Effectiveness of Hypnotherapy as a Treatment For Anxiety).

And there are certainly reasons why hypnotherapy can work so well for anxiety.

Anxious Worst Case Scenarios

by Dan Regan | Jul 6, 2020 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Anxious Worst Case Scenarios

If you struggle with anxiety then you’ll be very familiar with those worst case scenarios that can take over your mind. Your mind fills with all sorts of imagined future situations and circumstances where things go wrong or badly in some way, or where people judge you negatively or you can’t handle and cope with things. And you may have noticed how you can go down the ‘anxiety rabbit hole’ of thinking of that worst case scenario and then what the negative consequences of that would be. In no time at all you can move from something you imagined might or could happen, to overthinking and being mentally absorbed in even more disastrous and anxiety-producing outcomes.

With all that anxious thinking, it’s no wonder that you are filled with dread, fear and anxiety. What’s more, the more you overthink those possible worst case scenarios, the more anxious and on edge you tend to feel, and the more anxious overthinking you struggle with. It becomes a pattern that exacerbates and increases your anxiety.

I’ve talked before about how, with anxiety, avoidance and escape become common behaviours. You avoid or get of that situation or thing that is filling you with dread, or if you are in a situation where you feel anxious, you try and escape and get away. Having escaped or dodged it, you feel relief and a bit better, yet that only negatively re-enforces your anxiety and avoidance in the future.

Overcoming anxiety and dealing with those anxious thoughts is something that I help people with day in and day out. Rather than being controlled by your anxious thoughts, you can learn to challenge them, to take away the anxiety and to take back control over your thinking.

Positive Feedback – Hypnotherapy in Ely

by Dan Regan | Jul 6, 2020 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Positive Feedback – Hypnotherapy in Ely

I’m very fortunate to have received a whole mass of positive feedback over the years from people I have helped with issues such as anxiety, panic attacks, self-esteem and confidence. Whilst helping people move from a place where they are initially unhappy and troubled, to a place where they are calm, confident, happy and in control is rewarding in its own right and it’s wonderful to receive hypnotherapy reviews from these people.

As I write this, I’m approaching somewhere in the region of 250 written and video hypnotherapy testimonials and I just wanted to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to everyone who takes the time to submit a review or record a video. Naturally these reviews help me but they also give hope and belief to others who may be struggling and uncertain what they can do to improve their mental health.

Many, many others prefer not to leave a review, which is absolutely fine, and to rather just tell me how well they are doing. A huge thank you to you too!

Recently, since reopening after lockdown, I’ve received an influx of positive updates from clients. This has included someone I helped to stop smoking and who has now been a non-smoker for a year (happy anniversary!), and someone I helped through a difficult and anxious time a year ago and has told me how his hypnotherapy sessions helped him to cope and helped him get back to his normal self. And another client who struggled with debilitating anxiety for three years also told me how she is now feeling good and getting on with life.

Problems and Challenges

by Dan Regan | Jun 25, 2020 | Hypnotherapy Hypnosis and NLP

Problems and Challenges:

If there is one thing that is certain in life (apart form death and taxes…), it’s that you will inevitably encounter challenges and problems along the way. Sometimes life can seem relatively smooth sailing but there will always be times when things are more tricky and there are obstacles to be navigated and addressed.

Many people when faced with problems find themselves getting stressed and anxious, and they may try to ignore it or find themselves fearful of dealing with it. Problems become things filled with anxiety, struggle and negativity that we would rather avoid, even though we know such things are bound to arise from time to time.

Your mindset and attitude when faced with problems and challenges will decide whether you experience anxiety, dread and worry, or whether you find the strength and resilience you need to tackle it. Problems and challenges are inevitable but (in most cases) they can have a positive side that helps you to learn, engage your mind and get better at handling things.

Thank you NHS (Again!) – Hypnotherapy in Ely & Newmarket

by Dan Regan | Jun 25, 2020 | Hypnotherapy Hypnosis and NLP

Thank you NHS (Again!) – Hypnotherapy in Ely & Newmarket

As I write this the sun is scorching outside, the shops have reopened and more lockdown easing is due imminently. While we all need to take social distancing and hand washing precautions, I’ve been sensing a shift in the general atmosphere towards life restarting and returning to much more normality. Whether or not you think that’s a good thing, I hope that within the whirlwind of the pandemic there have been some positives for you that you can take forward in what you do or how you do it.

During the pandemic there was a mass outpouring of gratitude for the work of the NHS and other key workers. For those of us working from home and staying at home during lockdown and viewing all the pandemic news on TV, I think it seemed strange to think there were people going about their business almost routinely.

Early on in lockdown I recorded a short video to say thanks to the NHS and all key workers for what they were doing during the pandemic. At that time things were definitely still escalating and uncertain.

I’ve been helping clients who are key workers with issues such as anxiety and stress, and some of the stories they’ve told me of life on the front line are pretty harrowing, particularly for those in the NHS faced with the risks and consequences of the coronavirus each day.

So as lockdown relaxes once again and we all continue to adjust, it’s a good time to once again give thanks and to make sure we remember our gratitude into the future.

Know Your Why To Achieve Your Goals

by Dan Regan | Jun 19, 2020 | Hypnotherapy Hypnosis and NLP

Know Your Why To Achieve Your Goals:

Yesterday morning my alarm went off at 6am so I could be up and out for a run in time to get back and ready for work. The alarm went off as planned and I awoke to the sound of the rain lashing against the window. It was torrential! In that moment I started to wonder about postponing my run and going another, unspecified time. Yet I knew that if I didn’t go then, I wouldn’t have time later that day and I’d miss my planned run.

It’s times like these when having your ‘whys’ at the forefront of your mind matters. Your ‘why’ is all the motivations and reasons you have for achieving a goal, the things you want and desire in your life, and those things that annoy and frustrate you that you no longer want and are moving away from.

Many people find their motivation is strong when they first start taking action to achieve something. Whether it’s eating healthier, drinking less, stopping smoking, exercising or taking action to overcome anxiety and build confidence, in that moment when you decide you need to do something about it, your mindset and your emotions are pumped up and you are committed.

Yet over time that initial burst of enthusiasm can start to wane. Time passes and those things become less compelling. Life gets busy and you don’t find the time or mental energy to take the actions consistently. Or maybe you get some initial success and start to feel good but then that gives you reason to ease back rather than push on. And maybe, as often happens, you encounter setbacks, frustrations or challenges and you give up.

That’s why you need strong enough reasons, they push you on and they keep you focused and resilient, even in the most challenging times (like when it’s pouring down and windy and you need to get out of your comfortable bed and put your trainers on). Your whys give you persistence, motivation and tenacity to keep going.

Anxious Thoughts – Possible versus Probable

by Dan Regan | Jun 16, 2020 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Anxious Thoughts – Possible versus Probable

If you struggle with anxiety then you’ll know how those catastrophising thoughts and worst case scenarios can dominate your mind, leaving you feeling tense, anxious and full of dread. The more vivid and strong those thoughts become, the worse you start to feel.

You may even be very aware that the things you are imagining are illogical or at least unlikely to happen in the way you are thinking, yet those emotions start to take over and that thinking dominates.

So part of any overcoming anxiety treatment involves calming the anxious feeings and emotions so that they aren’t fueling and taking over your thinking. And part of the process of overcoming anxiety is the switch from possibility to probability. Something you think may be possible, but that doesn’t make it probable.

Anxiety and Avoidance

by Dan Regan | Jun 15, 2020 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Anxiety and Avoidance

The classic behaviour that goes with anxiety is avoidance. Those anxious thoughts and feelings are so strong and uncomfortable that you make excuses, cancel plans or say and do whatever it takes to avoid going into that feared situation or environment. And if you can’t avoid it altogether, your anxiety will certainly lead to you escaping from there as soon as you practically can.

When I struggled with social anxiety, making excuses and avoiding things were common occurences. I might have been looking forward to that night out when it was days away, yet the closer it came, the more I would worry about things going badly, about how I might look or saying the wrong thing (or having nothing interesting to say at all). The more anxious and filled with dread I would become, and the more it would play on my mind as I tried to think of a believable excuse I could use to bail out of the plans. There were times when even if I was at a social event, I would feel so uncomfortable from anxiety that I would make my escape and head home.

Of course, sometimes a few drinks might relax me enough to enjoy myself but that’s not a reliable, healthy or always acceptable strategy for tackling anxiety. And it can easily lead to overdoing it, feeling sick and losing the next day with a hangover (as well as those thoughts of what other people might have thought about what you were saying and doing). When it came to something like public speaking, I would try and get out of it any way I could, even to the point of faking sickness.

The problem with avoidance or escape because of anxiety is that it brings you relief when you do it. You dodge or get away from your anxious thoughts and feelings and then feel better as a result. But that short term relief only re-enforces your anxiety and makes feeling anxious and avoidance all the more likely the next time.

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