Category

Anxiety / Panic Attacks

Nov 16
0

Spiders in your house?

By | Anxiety / Panic Attacks, Fear of Flying, hypnosis, Hypnosis in London | No Comments

Fear of Spiders?

There are so many hanging around at the moment aren’t there.

I had a fear of spiders for as long as I can remember.   I remember being in my first year of senior school and being chased around the classroom by boys holding daddy long legs.  I can still remember that panic – my heart was beating so fast I thought it would burst out of my chest.  I could hardly breathe and tears were streaming down my face, smearing my mascara.  Not a good look for a teenager trying to impress her peers I can tell you!  My fear continued until 7 years ago……

I knew that I had to do something about my phobia when , a few months after my first son was born,  I was hanging out the washing.  I knew I had only a couple of minutes before my baby woke up but I was so worried that there may be spiders lurking in the peg bag that it took me 10 times as long to do a simple job.   This really annoyed me,  as I am a busy girl, things to do, nappies to change, babies to feed and I just haven’t got time for all this silliness, so I decided to do something about it.  To cut a long story short, I took a few deep breaths, had a word with myself and cured myself.  I can now put my hand in the peg bag as quickly as I want.

I can remove a spider from a situation (using a friendly spider catcher) but I will admit that I will not hold one.  However, I don’t actually want to be able to hold one and I believe that my life is not affected just because I don’t want to stroke a furry spider! (However, I wouldn’t scream and shout if one crawled on me.  I would calmly and gently brush it off with no panic)

If you are one of the many people suffering with a spider phobia you will be relieved to know that you can overcome your fear of spiders.  Your fear of spiders is a learnt response.  You weren’t born fearing them, it may simply stem from being told as a child to be wary of them or you may have seen someone else scared of them but it doesn’t really matter what the cause was anyway.  And because of this it means that your fear can be stopped.

On a conscious level, you know that your fear of spiders is irrational, however the fear has persisted because your very clever subconscious mind has associated fear and panic to the very thought of spiders.  These asscociations can be changed using an effective combination of NLP & hypnotherapy, enabling you to overcome your fear of spiders.

Just imagine being able to sleep in your bed even after seeing one scarper under the dressing table!

 

 

 

Sep 12
0

Why to blog….

By | Anxiety / Panic Attacks, Fear of Flying, hypnosis, social media | No Comments

Following the ‘we-network’ meeting on the 6th to celebrate their first birthday bash, we suggested having guest bloggers as a great way to add fresh content to your own blog.  Bridgette as quick as a flash asked me to do a guest blog for her and what better subject to write it on than blogging itself.

I believe that out of all the ‘social media’ frameworks that you can use the most important one is to have a blog…  what is a blog ? I hear you cry, well a blog is an additional CMS (content management system) i.e. WordPress that your web host or indeed I can add to your site, this is a really important point, it MUST be on your actual site, there are lots of free blogging platforms out there blogger and wordpress.com which is not to be confused with wordpress.org which is the one you need.  These are great for folks who simply have a hobby or share their personal world, you may ask why does it have to be linked to my site? The answer being that the whole reason to have a blog is to lure people to your site, if you use one of the free ones the hits are going to blogger or tumblr or whoever it  might be, it’s like when you upload a Youtube video, you must make sure that when you share the video you have embedded it into your blog and that is the link you share  not the link to YouTube, they get quite enough hits as it is thank you very much.

So what to blog about ? well with Bridgette for instance there is a wealth of information, lots of people have their own perceptions of hypnosis and have the fear that they will end up dancing like a chicken or it will change them in some way, so Bridgette could get across the fact that you are conscious the whole time and fully aware.

The main cusp of the blog is a way you become the expert in your field, you must NEVER sell using your blog as soon as people see any kind of sales they will be off.

The ideas for content are:

Frequently asked questions, take one at a time and write a blog about it

Compare products that you use, pro’s and con’s

Guest Blogs

The best way to…

What’s trending ?, is there a subject that is trending that you could write about

The Google keyword tool is a great resource to help with blog titles, you can watch my video here about how to use it. http://www.lucyswebdesigns.co.uk/video-how-tos

Finally here are the top plugins to add to your blog

•Social Media Widget

•Facebook Like Box – or text

•Digg Digg

•Tweet Old Posts

•Pinterest Pinboard Widget

Have fun out there blogging and be sure to share your links here once you have completed them, we look forward to reading them.

 

Written by Lucy Hall of Lucy’s Web Designs

Lucy Hall

www.lucyswebdesigns.co.uk’

www.lovingsocialmedia.com

Sep 01
0

Get rid of stress – it’s simple.

By | Anxiety / Panic Attacks, Emergency Hypnotherapy, Fear of Flying, Hypnobirthing Enfield, Hypnobirthing North London, hypnosis | No Comments

Get rid of stress – it’s simple.


If you’re experiencing too much stress in your life, it’s probably making you anxious, irritable and unproductive, affecting your performance at work, your relationships at home, your long term physical and emotional health and, the quality of your life in general.

So why is it that all we seem to hear about these days is stress? Why does it seem to pervade everything we do? Well the simple answer is…pressure.  So much is expected of us  and people are constantly ‘on alert’ and as a result , we are spending increasing amounts of time using our bodies natural stress response.

This instinctive response, which protects us from danger, releases stress hormones directly into the bloodstream. These hormones cause an instant mental, emotional and physical change that provides us with extra awareness, extra endurance and extra strength. So if we were in a dangerous situation, this would help us to survive.

Luckily, we are very rarely in a life threatening situation, however, our subconscious can’t tell the difference between what is actually real and what we are imagining so our bodies respond ‘as if’ we were in actual danger.

 For example, if you were going for an interview or off to present at a meeting, or if you are working towards a deadline, or worrying about missing a train, or when can’t get onto the Internet, or when someone records over our favourite DVD, etc..our bodies still produce the same hormones getting us ready to fight harder or to run quicker.

So the stress hormones get us as fired-up as sprinters crouched and waiting for the starting-gun, however,  because most stressed people don’t release that energy, the stress hormones just keep on working. And as a result, we retain this pent up emotion/feelings and don’t relax.

Stress can have a dramatic impact on the quality of our lives. Stress  can cause a wide range of emotional problems including issues with anger, anxiety, panic, obsessive thoughts and addiction. It can also effect us physically in relation to insomnia and the ability of our immune system to work effectively.

Well I use a combination of hypnotherapy and neuro linguistic programming (NLP) to help you overcome stress quickly and easily, leaving you physically more relaxed, mentally calmer, altogether more confident and most importantly, free of that old unwanted stress. Ultimately, I’ll help you to start living the life you desire.
We will also provide you with the tools required to avoid stress ongoing.

So why contact us?  No matter what you are facing, we are sure that we can help you.  We have a proven track record of success – just look at the testimonials .  We are friendly, informal, affordable and here to help, so no matter what your concern is – get in touch and we can have a no-obligation chat so you can “set yourself free”.

Jul 16
0

The Many Uses of Hypnosis

By | Anxiety / Panic Attacks, Fear of Flying, HypnoBirthing, Hypnobirthing Enfield, Hypnobirthing North London, hypnosis, Hypnotherapy London, Hypnotherapy North London | No Comments

Hypnosis is most commonly associated with losing weight and stopping smoking. However, you can use hypnosis for many, many other things

For example, hypnosis can enhance your athletic performance. Not only can it be used to increase your self-discipline, it can be used to help you focus on your shot, your stroke, your accuracy (depending on the sport you are playing) to improve each little movement which in turn improves your overall performance. The results of using hypnosis for fitness and competition have proven amazing, making this a valuable training tool for athletes in all sports, at any level.

Hypnosis can be used for overcoming your fears. The fear of public speaking, social engagements, claustrophobia, stage fright, a fear of heights, flights, driving or spiders or snakes … these are all areas that can improve dramatically when hypnosis is administered by a professional hypnotherapist.

Then of course, hypnosis can help you to change your bad habits and behaviours such as nail biting, gambling, drinking too much alcohol, drug abuse, pulling your hair, picking your skin, nervous twitches, OCD,  procrastination, anger etc.

Relationships can be improved at home and at the work place by working on any issues that may be holding you back.  Hypnosis can be an excellent tool when applied to school work, studying, or academics in general by giving you the tools to calm your nerves and taking the edge off your stress.

Self confidence,  determination, motivation and concentration … pain control, depression, anxiety, social anxiety, memory improvement, healing, relationships, tension and stress – the list goes on…..hypnotherapy can help you to  overcome all of these issues which can open up an entire world of new opportunities.

If you have an issue that you need help with, call me for a free consultation over the phone to discuss further 07932 084 321

 

Jul 16
0

Are you going on holiday soon and worried about the flight?

By | Anxiety / Panic Attacks, Emergency Hypnotherapy, Fear of Flying, hypnosis | No Comments

Did you know that a fear of flying is one of the most common phobias?

Many, many people experience anxiety whilst flying.  Although consciously (and statistically) we know that flying is safer than driving a car, flying is essentially an unnatural thing for people to do so our subconscious kicks in thinking it is protecting us by making us anxious.  Symptoms can include sweating, dry mouth, panic attacks, racing heart beat, hyperventilating, feeling out of control or uncomfortable.

We aren’t born with a fear of flying – it is a learned fear, which may stem from childhood (perhaps if the individual’s parents showed fear) or could have developed after experiencing a negative experience (such as bad turbulence or the plane having to make an emergency landing). Fear of flying may also be caused by other fears and phobias such as claustrophobia or fear of heights.

Many people who come to see me to overcome their fear of flying say that this fear is interfering with holidays or business travel and can sometimes lead to an individual avoiding a career involving travel or a family holiday abroad.  There are different reasons for this fear, such as:

fearing the plane will crash,  claustrophobia,  being out of control,  fear of having a panic attack,  fear of terrorism.

Even being at the airport or boarding a plane may create anxiety for some people. Fear of flying can therefore range from mild anxiety before flying, to a state of terror which can prevent an individual from getting on the plane or even leaving it once they have boarded.

It’s such a shame because people miss out on the excitement of the build up to their holiday.  Some also worry they will transfer this fear to their children.

By accessing the subconscious mind through hypnosis, we can change our reactions and control our fears.  Imagine actually looking forward to go getting on the plane, flying off to a different country and experiencing joy whilst at the airport!

Here are a few of my testimonials about overcoming a fear of flying

Not only did I want to let you know about the flying session, but I weighed myself this morning and I have lost exactly 1 stone now. I am so chuffed! It’s been 2 and half months since we started the sessions and I plateued for a while, but a couple of pounds seemed to have now dropped off quickly. Not bad considering that I do not feel as though I’ve been dieting and I’ve just come back from holiday. In addition, the plane journey this year was the most relaxed one I’ve had in years. I was able to read my book, watch the movie, and I even managed to look out of the window which I always avoid doing. I was expecially pleased as I did not cry during the journey. Even when we were told 1 hour into the return journey that there was a problem with the engine and we had to turn back, there was never the panic and tension that I’d experienced before. We can now contemplate on doing longer haul flights – the only issue this time is being stuck in a plane with 3 kids for a longer period of time 🙂

Thanks for all you help and I will contact you shortly to arrange a weight loss “booster” session.

Best Wishes

Maria

Hi Bridgette,

I’m so sorry I haven’t been in touch but life has been ridiculously nuts!

I have wanted to tell you that you have totally turned my little life around!! I got out to Turkey and back from Turkey without a hitch. My mindset has been so altered, whereas before I was so terrified of flying, now it’s really bearable. I won’t go so far as to say it was enjoyable…but it will not ever hamper my holiday plans or arrangements ever again… Woooooooo Hoooo!!

Just an example of how improved I am… I’ve never left my seat on a plane as I’m too scared to leave it, but I happily had a little wander to the toilet and back again!

Bridgette, you are truly wonderful and have helped me so much.

I look forward to seeing you again soon…hopefully you can work your magic on my other areas of nuttiness!!

Thanks again,

Warmest regards

Kate x

I’m here. I love you x I’m going to become a pilot. Thank you thank you thank you x I have never been so calm and there was a thunder storm! I can’t thank you enough. I’m so excited x

S.C

Very happy to report the hypnotherapy worked really well ! I was so relaxed that morning and no nerves what so ever in the airport. The take off and flight going was perfect, I had a few nerves but nothing like normal.

We really had a great time and I never once thought about flying home.

Thank you so much for your help ( my hubby is very thankful too! )

Lisa

I have been avoiding flying for years and was only able to do so when drugged up to the eyeballs, but deep down I knew this wasn’t a long term solution.  Flying made me panicky and stressed, I would spend weeks worrying about getting to my destination and most of my holiday worrying about the journey home.

I heard of hypnotherapy and thought it sounded like the perfect solution.  Bridgette looked after me very well, taking the time and trouble to really understand my fears and worries.  Being hypnotised was not only very relaxing, but also an amazing opportunity to tidy up my stressed out brain!

After seeing Bridgette I felt really confident and capable that I would be able to fly, and managed to do so with no tears, no stress and most importantly, no drugs.  Not only did I find myself capable of flying, I enjoyed the journey and found myself making plans to visit friends in Australia… something which I never thought would be possible.

Thank you Bridgette!

Natalie B

 

Jul 01
0

I’m Dreaming of a…………… Good Night's Sleep

By | Anxiety / Panic Attacks, Emergency Hypnotherapy, HypnoBirthing, Hypnotherapy London, Insomnia, Relationships, Resolutions, Stop Smoking, Uncategorized, Weight Loss | No Comments

I’m Dreaming of a…………… Good Night’s Sleep

You just can’t beat a good night’s sleep…….Waking up in the morning feeling refreshed and full of energy sets you off to a good start to the day.

Sometimes, insomnia is simply the result of a broken routine….. jet lag, night shifts, traffic noise, a snoring partner, new babies or it can be due to stresses and worries of every day life
A lack of sleep can make you miserable, forgetful and crabby and simple things become out of proportion as both the brain and body become overwhelmed and exhausted.
It can affect your concentration, appetite, can cause mood swings, depression, stress, anxiety, impair your performance and can cause you to react irrationally.  In fact, it can make such a massive negative impact on your life.  .
You can understand why sleep deprivation was used as a form of torture as well as a fast route to madness!
There are as many cures as there are causes of insomnia and it can often be overcome without resorting to medication.
And it’s never too late to do something about it, even after putting up with the misery of sleep loss for years
Treatment
Hypnotherapy is often seen as a last resort after all else fails when, in fact, just going through the process of learning self-hypnosis is a big step in the right direction. And hypnosis can have a positive knock on effect for any other problems going on in your life.In hypnosis, the habit of disrupted sleep can be adjusted  to suit the lifestyle and expectations of the most long-suffering insomniac.

Here are a few tips to help re-establish a healthy pattern.

Keep to a routine – i.e. try and go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
Try to exercise 20 to 30 minutes a day
Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol
Relax before bed: A warm bath, reading, or another relaxing routine can make it easier to fall sleep
Don’t lie in bed worrying: The anxiety of being unable to fall asleep can actually contribute to insomnia. Write your worries down on paper
Maintain a comfortable temperature in the bedroom.
Replace an uncomfortable or old bed
Block out noise (snoring / noisy street etc) with ear plugs
See your doctor: If you always feel tired, there may be an underlying medical condition which needs treating.
Learn self hypnosis: A good hypnotherapist will teach you a variety of relaxation techniques to enable you, with practice, to fall asleep quickly and sleep soundly through the night. They will also help you cope with any contributory factors like stress or anxiety.

May 01
0

Anxiety / Panic Attacks

By | Anxiety / Panic Attacks, Emergency Hypnotherapy, Hypnotherapy London, Uncategorized | No Comments
Get rid of anxiety and panic attacks
These days, I see more and more people coming through my door suffering with anxiety, stress and panic attacks.  Many have tried other avenues and finally give hypnotherapy a try.
I am sure most of us have been affected by anxiety, whether it is us who are suffering or someone they know.  Most anxious people think they are the only ones suffering and just by knowing that they are not alone and that their symptoms are harmless is a big relief.  Our minds are so vast and our imaginations are incredibly powerful that our thoughts have physical effects on our bodies.Here’s a test – close your eyes and think of your favourite food.  I will give you an example of my favourite chocolate bar – a StarBar – the best chocolate bar ever!    What’s your favourite food?  Close your eyes and imagine in as much detail as possible:

You are handing over the money for the Starbar
You are walking out of the sweet shop
You sit in your car
You open the wrapper
Bring the starbar to your mouth and take a bit bite, chewing it slowly. YUM!

By this point, you are most probably salivating because your subconscious can’t tell the difference between what is actually real and what we imagine – your body is responding as if that treat was actually there – all with the power of your imagination and thought processes.

When people become over anxious or panicky it’s because their bodies are responding as if they were in a life threatening situation.   The body is getting ready to run away or fight the situation.  Just say you were about to deliver a speech and you started sweating, your heart started to beat faster and your muscles tensed.  These symptoms are all perfectly normal  – your subconscious is getting ready for battle, even though you are just talking to a bunch of people.  It’s all about getting it into perspective.

Tips to help you overcome anxiety and panic attacks:

BREATHE IN! – you would be surprised how much we hold our breaths without realising.  Just by taking in a deep breath through your nose will make a difference.
BREATHE OUT! – exhale that old air, those old thoughts and negative feelings and emotions.
RELAX – by relaxing all the muscles in your body will help the tension and stress to flow away from your body, leaving you feeling calm and relaxed.
EXERCISE – move your body more, release those endorphins (the feel good hormones) to make you feel better.

The above all may sound obvious but you would be surprised how often we hold our breath / tense our muscles without even realising it.


Please e-mail us or call us on             07932 084 321       to arrange the booking 
So why contact us?  No matter what you are facing, we are sure that we can help you.  We have a proven track record of success – just look at the testimonials .  We are friendly, informal, affordable and here to help, so no matter what your concern is – get in touchand we can have a no-obligation chat .

Mar 31
0

Tips to help you stop smoking

By | Anxiety / Panic Attacks, Emergency Hypnotherapy, Hypnotherapy London, Stop Smoking, Uncategorized | No Comments

Here are some tips to help you stop smoking:

Work out why you want to stop…we all have different reasons
Do you want to improve your health / breathe easier?
Is it financial reasons?
Are you embarrassed about the smell on your breath or clothes?
Are your teeth yellow (or brown? eek)
Are friends and family nagging you?
Are you afraid of an extra risk of cancer?
Are you finding it just too inconvenient to smoke – freezing in the cold and rain / feeling like an outsider?If you have tried to stop before, do you know why it didn’t work? 
You need to do a little self-analysis to work out why, as this increases your chances of quitting with the help of therapy

Are you scared to stop?
Do you worry about what you will do with your hands?  What if I get stuck in a traffic jam, what will I do if I don’t smoke?  How will I deal with stress?
Most people are afraid to stop smoking – what if you fail?  What if you succeed?  These fears cause you to sabotage any attempt to stop.  You can overcome these fears if you understand them – you will find a way to work it out.

If what you are doing isn’t working, then do something else
Once you know the real reason why you keep failing, stop trying to stop with the methods you have used and failed with, because they don’t work for you. For example, if taking nicotine doesn’t help you to stop smoking, taking nicotine some other way isn’t likely to help you stop smoking either.

Which method is the right method for you?
Once you stop wasting time doing the wrong thing, think about other methods that could help you.  Also – if you know someone who succeeded with hypnotherapy, for example, that doesn’t necessarily signify it is the right therapy for you (but of course it might be :).

Find the right hypnotherapist 
There are many people out there promising they can stop you smoking.  The only person who can stop you smoking is YOU.  A therapist can HELP you to stop smoking.  When choosing the right therapist for you, check their qualifications.  Money back guarantees are usually a bad idea and more expensive does not mean better.

Please email me if you would like to book a session ..

Mar 16
0

Do you have any fears or phobias?

By | Anxiety / Panic Attacks, Fear of Flying, HypnoBirthing, Hypnobirthing Enfield, Hypnobirthing North London, hypnosis, Hypnotherapy London, Hypnotherapy North London | No Comments

Do you have any fears or phobias?

Do you fear flying? Scared of heights?  Scared of spiders?  Frightened of feet?  Afraid of appearing on stage? Terrified of trains? Petrified of presentations? Wary of water? Anxious around animals?  Dodging the dentist?

A fear of flying is a learned fear, which may stem from childhood (perhaps if the individual’s parents showed fear) or could have developed after experiencing a particularly terrifying experience (such as bad turbulence or the plane having to make an emergency landing). Fear of flying may also be caused by other fears and phobias such as claustrophobia, fear of heights or agoraphobia. Misunderstandings of the principles of aviation can fuel a fear of flying too.
Treatment
Hypnotherapy can often really help individuals suffering from fears and phobias.  Hypnosis can be used to communicate with the subconscious mind and re-evaluate thinking patterns and behaviour. Hypnotherapy can also help an individual to relax and access a calm, focussed state of mind to help them control their fear.So why contact us?  No matter what you are facing, we are sure that we can help you.  We have a proven track record of success – just look at the testimonials .  We are friendly, informal, affordable and here to help, so no matter what your concern is – get in touch and we can have a no-obligation chat so you can “set yourself free”.

Feb 14
0

Love Is in The Air – or is it?

By | Anxiety / Panic Attacks, Emergency Hypnotherapy, HypnoBirthing, Hypnotherapy London, Relationships, Resolutions, Stop Smoking, Uncategorized, Weight Loss | No Comments

Love is in the air…….or is it?

As Valentine’s day approaches, I thought it only right to discuss relationships……So, if you are

  • Unsure about how or where to meet the right partner
  • Facing divorce or separation
  • Feeling trapped in the relationship
  • Trying to deal with a partners infidelity
  • Feeling frustrated by a poor physical relationship
  • Wanting to improve your current relationship
Then read on…….All relationships are different.  Some are fun, some are serious, some are happy, some are sad, some are committed, some have their own arrangements, some are active, some aren’t!

You may not understand why your friend has chosen the partner they have, or why your friend is best mates with the wall flower in the corner but we all choose people in our lives for different reasons and are attracted to different characteristics in people (otherwise life would be very dull).

Relationships only work if they have the right balance for you.  Whether it’s a relationship with a family member, colleague, friend or lover, everyone will probably experience relationship problems at some point during their life.

We all react differently to situations and emotions and  it can sometimes be hard to know how to resolve certain issues. If these problems are not dealt with they tend to build up over time.   Lack of communication can be a major problem in a relationship and not being able to express feelings may create pressure on the relationship.

An unhappy relationship can impact on your happiness in other aspects of your life too. Most people are much more likely to be fulfilled with other aspects of their life if they are in a happy, fulfilled relationship.

There are many reasons relationships may not be working as well as they should be, but with determination, love and understanding, lots of relationships can get back on track. It often takes time, effort and compromise to make relationships work, but if this ultimately leads to a fulfilling relationship it’s usually worth exploring the problems.

Remember, people mirror each other.  If you are a ‘shouter’, you are very likely to be shouted back at.  If you are calm and objective, people tend to reciprocate that.

Hypnotherapy can be used to help relationships in a number of ways, from learning how to relax to building confidence. Specifically, hypnotherapy can help to:

  • Put problems into perspective and develop an appreciation of each other
  • Recapture the lost feelings of love, friendship and commitment
  • Help you to forgive yourself and others
  • Learn relaxation techniques allowing you to be calm around each other and react in an appropriate way.
  • Increase your confidence and ability to create new and successful relationships.

Hypnotherapy can help you to communicate with your subconscious more effectively, and ultimately build strong relationships.