Dan’s Blog

What to Expect in Your First Hypnotherapy Session

by Dan Regan | Dec 22, 2025 | Hypnotherapy Hypnosis and NLP

What to Expect in Your First Hypnotherapy Session

In this post, I’ll walk you through what happens in your first hypnotherapy session so you feel prepared, calm and confident — from your free consultation to the hypnotherapy experience itself.

Starting hypnotherapy can feel like a big step, especially if you’re not sure what to expect. You may not have seen a therapist before but someone has recommended me or you’ve read through my reviews. Or perhaps you’ve had hours of therapy and you feel no better so coming to see me seems like your last hope.

Either way, you may feel curious, positive, sceptical or slightly nervous before your first session. This may be because it is all new to you or it may be influenced by myths and misunderstandings about hypnosis.

It’s why I always suggest starting with a free consultation. We can meet in person, talk through how I work and how I can help you, and I’ll answer any questions you have. Once you go ahead we have a shared understanding and you’ll have already met me and seen my office before your first hypnotherapy session.

If you’re considering hypnotherapy and wondering what actually happens in a session, this guide will help you feel more prepared, reassured, and confident about taking that next step.

Wishing You a Merry Christmas

by Dan Regan | Dec 21, 2025 | Hypnotherapy Hypnosis and NLP

Wishing You a Merry Christmas

Wishing you a Merry Christmas!

It’s that time of year again…already! I’ve still got a whole load of gift buying to do and the clock is ticking down quite quickly to Christmas Day! Thank goodness for the awesome local Ely shops and Amazon.

I feel like I’m less organised than last year but think I’m just about going to get everything done on time. Luckily my girls are now old enough to just tell me what they want and I just need to add a few little surprises. Then there’s just the dreaded wrapping it all up to go! At least I can watch my favourite version of A Christmas Carol while I’m fighting the sellotape again.

This year I took the opportunity to go out and help Santa on his annual journey around the streets of Ely. The Rotary Club organises the annual fundraiser as part of their work to raise funds for local charities. Santa is pulled around on his sleigh each night through different streets. I remember how excited my kids would get when they were little and Santa was coming. You can hear the Christmas music before he arrives and they would be sitting at the window looking out for the first glimpse. Then it was run downstairs, shoes on and out to see him. It was a delight to be on the other side and to see so many excited children on our rounds (and a few very excited adults too!).

And here is the man himself:

Post Christmas Anxiety and Emotional Crash

by Dan Regan | Dec 17, 2025 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Post Christmas Anxiety: Feeling low or anxious after Christmas?

Do you struggle with post Christmas anxiety? The build up and the rushing around are all over. You stop and pause. And you experience a wave of anxiety, low mood and negativity.

You knew the Christmas pressure would pass but you also know how you usually feel once it’s all over. Every year, many people experience a sudden dip in mood or a rise in anxiety in the days after Christmas. It’s a sort of post Christmas emotional crash or holiday letdown. It can feel confusing, especially if you’ve enjoyed the festive period or feel you should be grateful and content.

If you feel anxious or low after Christmas, then you may find the days after are harder and more draining than the build up. Once the pressure, anticipation and activity stop, you may notice a sudden drop in mood, anxiety without a clear cause and that you feel emotional or even tearful. You start overthinking everything, have trouble relaxing and may have trouble sleeping.

The most frustrating part is that you looked forward to these quieter days. They were a sort of reward to look forward to and that you used to push on in the build up to Christmas itself. Just when you think you can enjoy relaxing and resting, you get post Christmas anxiety, sometimes called a post Christmas emotional crash.

Like all anxiety, once it starts, you may have trouble stopping it. You dwell on how bad you feel and worry about it continuing. You start to think about how you will cope in January if you haven’t had time to recharge. And outside of your normal routine, those anxious thoughts and feelings can expand and accelerate. You find yourself feeling lower, more drained and more anxious.

In this article I’ll be covering why anxiety increases after Christmas, and more importantly, how to calm your post Christmas anxiety.

End of Year Reflection Anxiety and Overthinking

by Dan Regan | Dec 16, 2025 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

End of Year Reflection Anxiety and Overthinking

Do you struggle with end of year reflection anxiety and overthinking? Sometimes it can be hard to quiet a busy mind in December.

As the year draws to a close, many people notice their minds becoming busier than usual. Even before Christmas arrives, it’s common to start mentally reviewing the past twelve months. For some, this reflection quickly turns into overthinking. Thoughts loop and regrets resurface. Self-criticism creeps in – often at the same time as festive pressure and emotional overload. The tiredness from the Christmas rush can play a part in where your mind goes, along with the increased alcohol and sugar. Your normal routines can be thrown out and you can have more time to think. Old family and festive triggers and memories can also create anxiety.

The end of the year can feel like something significant. It’s a time of endings and the coming of a fresh chapter with the twelve months ahead. You find all sorts of overthinking can fill your mind. Thoughts about the past twelve months, what went well, what didn’t, what should have been different, what you didn’t achieve and what the New Year might bring can all start circling at once.

For some, this reflection can feel positive and motivating. For others, their end of year reflection triggers overthinking, anxiety, regret, guilt or self criticism. End of year reflection anxiety can dominate your mind and leave you feeling low frustrated and full of worry. It could be part of your general anxiety and habitual thinking processes. Or it may be something that just hits you as the year draws to a close.

You can find yourself overthinking and replaying moments from the year, worrying about the future, or feeling uneasy instead of peaceful in December. End of year anxiety can trigger and exacerbate anxious thoughts and feelings that then quickly take hold.

Alcohol Anxiety

by Dan Regan | Dec 15, 2025 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks, Excessive Drinking and Binge Drinking

Alcohol Anxiety: Why Drinking Makes Anxiety Worse

Does drinking alcohol seem to make your anxiety worse?

You may have a drink or two as a way to relax. It can mark the end of the busy day and the transition into evening. You have a couple of drinks to take the edge off, to unwind or to feel more at ease socially. Perhaps you look forward to that first sip, or you long for that initial nice feeling it can give you.

But rather than helping you feel relaxed, you may have noticed the opposite effect happening afterwards. You experience a spike in worry, racing thoughts, poor sleep and that familiar feeling of dread. Rather than waking up the next day feeling refreshed, you drag yourself out of bed fearing the worst.

With anxiety and social anxiety you may drink at social situations to try and feel more comfortable and confident. It may work for a bit but it’s easy to drink too much, too quickly. The following morning you are filled with anxiety and overthink what you may have said and done. It’s well known that hangovers often come with anxiety alongside all the other after effects of drinking too much. And some anxious people avoid alcohol as much as possible because they hate the feeling of being out of control.

I’ve worked with many people who binge drink, drink excessively or drink too much. They promise themselves (and others) that they will cut back this time. But the same habits and patterns creep back in again. They are no longer in control over their drinking.

If you’ve ever woken up the day after drinking with a pounding heart, low mood and a sense that something is wrong, then that is the alcohol anxiety. Alcohol can significantly increase your anxiety, even in people who don’t usually struggle with anxious thoughts and feelings. And if you already struggle with anxiety, despite the promise of relaxation, alcohol often makes it much worse.

As my anxiety clients have discovered, it is possible to take back control over your drinking habits and behaviours.

Anxiety in Ely at Christmas: Ely Standard

by Dan Regan | Dec 15, 2025 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Anxiety in Ely at Christmas

Christmas is billed as a time of joy, connection and fun. Yet if you are struggling with anxiety in Ely at Christmas, then it can be more about worry, overthinking, fear and dread.

As well as your usual anxiety, there can be changes in routine, social situations, pressures, expectations and a whole host of additional festive factors. It can all exacerbate your anxious feelings and negative thoughts.

My latest Ely Standard column, ‘Why Christmas can be difficult for those with anxiety’, has now been published on their website. In the article, I talk about anxiety at Christmas and offer a few practical suggestions to help.

Recently, I’ve also been covering many aspects in my website articles about dealing with the demands of the season. There are articles about social anxiety, money anxiety, family triggered anxiety, panic attacks at Christmas and sleep anxiety. There are also a couple of articles about festive eating without the guilt and managing Christmas stress eating. The articles contain a whole range of ideas and strategies for looking after your mental health so you can relax and enjoy yourself.

Be sure to take a look at those articles and you can find my latest column over on the Ely Standard website.

Holiday Money Anxiety & Financial Stress

by Dan Regan | Dec 15, 2025 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Holiday Money Anxiety & Financial Stress: How to Stay Calm This Christmas

Christmas is an expensive time of the year. Holiday money anxiety and financial stress can cause so much worry and tension that it stops you enjoying the season fully.

Christmas should be a time of joy, celebration and connection. But December may only be bringing you money anxiety and financial stress. On top of your usual monthly spending, there are presents, social occasions, extra expenses and more on food and drink. It can all overshadow the festive spirit.

That’s not to say we should all be like Scrooge at the start, where he was filled with misery and was miserly. Nor do we have to be like Scrooge after the ghosts had visited him where he was splashing the cash like nobody’s business. You still need to work within your means. But between gifts, social commitments, travel, food and household costs, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

If you already experience anxiety, then financial pressures can amplify symptoms. For many people I work with here in Ely and Newmarket, Christmas can magnify existing anxieties.

You may struggle with racing thoughts and overthinking. You may panic or dread dealing with accounts, payments and money matters. There can be sleepless nights worrying about finances and expenses. Some people experience guilt, regret or are self critical about spending, others feel trapped or helpless. And, of course, some try to ignore their anxiety, avoid dealing with it and delay things until the credit card bill arrives in January.

When it comes to money matters, you might get all the typical symptoms of anxiety. You can get a tight chest thinking about money and finances, and a sense of overwhelm from the pressure to buy gifts, attend events or host other people. Money anxiety is common, particularly at this time of year. You can feel out of control of your own thoughts, feelings and behaviours.

If Christmas is causing money anxiety then hypnotherapy and some practical strategies can help you manage anxiety, deal with financial stress and regain a sense of calm this festive season.

Mindfulness for Anxiety and Stress During Festive Chaos

by Dan Regan | Dec 11, 2025 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Mindfulness for Anxiety and Stress During Festive Chaos

Within all the festive chaos and busyness, mindfulness for anxiety and stress can help you to stay calm and feel more on top of things. In this article I’ll be sharing some simple mindfulness strategies to help you stay calm so you can fully enjoy the festive season.

Amidst the celebration of the festive season, it can also be one of the most stressful and anxiety filled periods of the year. With busier schedules, family pressures, social commitments, financial worries and the constant noise and activity, it’s no surprise that you may notice your anxiety and stress levels rising.

If you already experience anxiety, the Christmas period can intensify symptoms, leaving you feeling overwhelmed, tense or emotionally drained. It can turn the festive period from something that should be enjoyable into something to struggle through and endure.

At this anxiety provoking time of the year, you need to have effective ways to manage your thoughts and feelings so that you feel on top of things. One effective approach for anxiety and stress during the festive chaos is mindfulness.

Mindfulness can help you to slow down, manage anxiety in the moment and stay grounded and present. It can help even when everything around you feels chaotic.

Within this busy festive season, you can easily learn and apply some effective mindfulness techniques to help you to feel calm and more in control.

Family Triggered Anxiety at Christmas

by Dan Regan | Dec 10, 2025 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Family Triggered Anxiety at Christmas

Do you struggle with family triggered anxiety at Christmas? Is it hard to stay calm around difficult relatives?

You may already be worrying about dealing with family dynamics during December. Christmas can already feel more challenging than other times, with increased anxiety, stress and mental health struggles. There’s festive pressure, overthinking and social stress to contend with, along with darker days, unpleasant weather and the winter slump.

On top of these seasonal pressures, you also have to contend with family dynamics, relationships and tensions.

Instead of lights, food and celebration, Christmas can become about navigating old dynamics, unspoken tensions, difficult conversations and emotional triggers that switch on when certain family members are in the room. These can be things that directly affect you with other family members, or you may feel the tension and stress that lurks just below the surface involving others.

Family triggered anxiety can leave you filled with dread when you think about spending time with relatives. You get that tightness in your chest, a feeling of irritability and a sense of overwhelm. You can play out all the worse case scenarios, worry about things kicking off or play out conversations with people who cause you stress.

Family triggered anxiety is one of the most common forms of anxiety at Christmas. There’s the planning and navigating to try and make sure things go okay. And the constant worry and anxiety that something, however small, could spiral and ruin the occasion. There’s a sense of expectation and obligation to spend time with family. It’s a melting pot of stress, anxiety and tension that leaves you filled with anxiety.

If you struggle with family triggered anxiety then hypnotherapy for anxiety in Ely can help you. You can start feeling more calm, balanced, strong and in control around your family.

Social Anxiety Hypnotherapy Review

by Dan Regan | Dec 8, 2025 | Anxiety Stress and Panic Attacks

Social Anxiety Hypnotherapy Review

Today I’m delighted to be sharing a social anxiety hypnotherapy in Ely review video with you.

I’ve talked before about how I used to struggle with social anxiety and how it limited my life. I would worry incessantly about what other people thought and about being judged negatively. I felt worried before social situations, anxious when there and then would dwell negatively and overthink everything afterwards. Every situation became a threat of messing up in some way. It was exhausting and it was inhibiting. And it’s the sort of thing my social anxiety hypnotherapy clients in Ely and Newmarket describe to me.

This weekend I went along to my bootcamp Christmas drinks at RBK in Ely. Years ago, in the mindset of social anxiety, this sort of group situation would have filled me with dread. I’d have worried about who would be there, how I’d come across, whether I’d have anything to say or if I’d just stand there like a lemon on my own. I’d have stressed about walking in on my own and joining everyone. And I’d have been overthinking, running a critical inner commentary and scanning for signs of what other people might be thinking about me. I’d have needed a few drinks to try and help me relax a bit. I might have avoided it altogether. But if I did go, I’d have gone over and over it in my head afterwards, replaying every word, look and action and berating myself over it all.

Without social anxiety, these sorts of group social events become straightforward. You can go to them if you want to but also be ok if you chose to do something else instead. You relax beforehand knowing whatever happens it’ll be fine. You can chat away happily to others however well you know them. You feel comfortable during conversations, relax and speak naturally and even feel comfortable in the quieter moments when just standing there. Afterwards, if you do think back on it all, you remember the good bits or just know it all went fine. Social situations become things where you can just relax and be yourself, without wasting time imagining what others may be thinking.

It may seem strange to you to even consider how good life may feel without social anxiety. Right now, it feels like something that you are stuck with and that you’ve learnt to live with. However, it is possible to overcome that anxiety. In this article I’m sharing a social anxiety hypnotherapy review from a client of mine in Ely. He ended the anxiety and worry about what others thought and now feels more calm and confident as he gets on with his life.

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