Stress

In the modern world, many of us find ourselves constantly stressed, rushing from one task to another while juggling the pressures of home and work. Much of our time may be spent in a distracted, and fragmented state of mind, accompanied by a sense of frustration, disillusionment and unhappiness with life. We may also have a constant flow of thoughts and emotions racing around, much of which can be very negative towards ourselves and our world.  Despite an increased use of medications, rates of stress, anxiety and depression are on the rise.

Stress is your body's way of responding to any kind of demand or threat.  When you feel threatened, your nervous system responds by releasing a flood of stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, which rouse the body for emergency action - the 'fight or flight' response.  Stress can come from many sources such as health problems, relationships, workplace, financial worries, deadlines, exams, or even the demands we place on ourselves.  A little bit of stress is sometimes needed to spur us into action, but when it is ongoing and persistent, stress can have serious effects on both mind and body.  It can lead to conditions such as anxiety or depression, irritability, anger, sleep problems, inability to focus or concentrate, feeling worn out all the time.  Certain physical conditions such as hypertension, heart problems, immune problems, obesity, eczema, headaches, muscle tension and so on can also be linked to lifestyle and stress.

Learning to manage stress, problem solve, improve self-care and relax more is necessary for everybody and can lead to a longer and certainly happier life.  During a session we can discuss some simple steps that you can start with such as taking time out to do the things you enjoy with the people who are important to you.  Eating well, exercising more, and getting enough sleep are also essential.

Self-hypnosis for relaxation, breathing and mindfulness are also very effective 'de-stressing' tools.  I aim to help clients take away these essential tools so that they can use them on an ongoing basis.