 STRESS AWARENESS MONTH - APRIL 2021Most people experience stress at some point in their lives. Stress is a perfectly normal response of the body to some type of threat. It is the body’s response designed to energise you, to help you take action and ensure your survival. The combination of both physical and/or psychological reactions to stress is known as the fight /flight/ freeze response because it evolved as a survival mechanism, enabling people to react quickly to life threatening situations. Stress usually goes away once you solve the problem stressing you out. Unfortunately, the body can also overreact to stresses that are not life threatening such as traffic jams, work pressure and family difficulties. Stress can be both good and bad. Good stress motivates you to accomplish tasks to do them well and to concentrate on activities. However, overwhelming, and chronic stress is not good for psychological or physical health. The drip-drip effect of lots of seemingly small stresses can begin to snowball resulting in chronic stress. So, what can we do to help ourselves when feeling overwhelmed and stressed out? Here are some stress-busting tips for you:
….and of course, Solution Focused Hypnotherapy! I have a special interest in helping people to manage their anxiety and stress so that they can live a life that they enjoy and have a positive, helpful way of dealing with life’s ups and downs. Through my hypnotherapy training and practice; my pharmacist training and practice; my psychology degree studies; and my training as an Anxiety UK Approved Therapist I have a vast amount of knowledge and experience in helping people to manage their stress.
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SLEEP – Putting Insomnia to Bed
Sleep is something everybody needs. It plays a vital role in both our physical and mental health. Sleeping problems are a common issue that brings many clients to my practice – difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep long enough to feel refreshed the next day. I have seen over the years, not just as a solution focused hypnotherapist but also in my previous profession as a community pharmacist, the detrimental effect that difficulties in sleeping can have on mental and physical wellbeing. Lack of sleep can make us feel exhausted, lacking in motivation and feel more easily overwhelmed. I also know from personal experience, the incredible difference it makes to sleep well and wake up in the morning feeling refreshed, clear headed and ready for the day ahead. This has made me passionate about helping people with their sleeping problems so that they can enjoy their life to the full. I am co-author of the book “The Art of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy” and I am the author of the chapter “Putting Insomnia to Bed” within that book. Sleeping problems are often linked to anxiety, stress and/or unhealthy habits. During our sessions I will be asking you questions that will help you to change your unhelpful negative thinking patterns, break unhelpful habits and find solutions to whatever issues are on your mind and preventing you from sleeping. During the hypnosis part of the session, I will guide your mind to a calm, relaxed place where your subconscious mind can process what we have been talking about and plan the best way forward for you and your route to success. Good sleep hygiene is particularly important and so you will receive my FREE Good Sleep Guide which I have written, put together from reputable NHS resources and my 28 years of experience as a community pharmacist. Relaxation is a key component, and we will work on building a ‘toolbox’ of relaxation techniques that work for you. You will receive a FREE relaxation download to help you with this process. I am honoured and proud to be a co-author of a fantastic new book called "The Art of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy". Written by a wonderful group of experienced Solution Focused Hypnotherapists, the book is a collection of case studies and a unique insight into what happens within Solution Focused Hypnotherapy sessions. In Chapter 6, "Putting Insomnia To Bed", I write about my work with a client who had suffered from insomnia for years and their journey through the process of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy. Check out the website: https://theartofsfh.co.uk/ The book is available on Amazon   As the darker evenings are drawing in some people notice that they do not feel so good in the winter months. If your symptoms are bad enough to interfere with your everyday life, you may well have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Also called ‘Winter Depression’ and ‘Winter Blues’.
In the UK, about 3 people in every 100 have significant winter depressions (https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mental-health/problems-disorders/seasonal-affective-disorder-(sad)) Symptoms of SAD can include:
The main treatments are:
How can Solution Focused Hypnotherapy help? Solution Focused Hypnotherapy uses a combination of talking therapy and hypnosis and can help you:
CLANG - Five Ways to Good Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect – Spend time with people you enjoy spending time with. Humans are tribal and we work better as a team than we do as individuals. Connecting with other people gives you a sense of belonging. Even a simple smile can give us an uplifting boost in serotonin and make us feel much better. Having friendly chats and doing things with friends or family can be really beneficial.
Learn – Explore something new. Learning something new can provide you with an escape, gives you a sense of achievement and increases your confidence. It can also be a social activity that helps you to connect with other people. And, who knows, it could be fun!
Active – Taking regular exercise can cause chemical changes in your brain which can help to positively improve your mood. The secret is finding an exercise that you enjoy. Discover an activity you enjoy that suits your level of mobility and fitness and be active. Being active can also mean taking part in enjoyable hobbies.
Notice – Be curious about the world you live in. Take time out to enjoy the moment and the environment around you. Take notice by spending time in nature or practising mindfulness.
Give – Share something with others. Did you know that there are scientifically proven benefits of kindness? Random acts of kindness can release hormones that improve your own mental health. Volunteering can give you a sense of purpose, a sense of belonging to your community and an opportunity to meet new people.
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