Psychotherapy and Hypnosis for Anxiety
by Gail-Elaine Tinker M.S, CH, NCC, LPC Psychotherapist
Anxiety is an unpleasant state of inner turmoil, accompanied by nervous behavior, such as pacing back and forth, nail biting, or hyper-focusing and/or avoiding the issue which causes distress. Anxiety is often accompanied by muscular tension, restlessness, fatigue, problems in concentration, somatic (body) complaints, and rumination (playing thoughts over and over = worry). Anxiety can be appropriate, such as before bad news, an exam, or making a speech; but when anxiety is experienced regularly there could develop a disorder which needs help from a doctor or psychotherapist. Anxiety is not the same as fear, which is the emotional response to a real or perceived threat; anxiety is more the expectation of future threat.
Regularly experienced anxiety can be very harmful for mind and body. Mental damage happens when the source of anxiety is not removed, then the propensity for more anxiety grows, creating an emotional cycle of anxiety. Should such a state continue, the mind will perceive more and more issues to create anxiety. Physically, anxiety invokes the ‘fight or flight’ syndrome, meaning the body itself perceives reason to create energy for the sufferer to run or fight their way through anxiety. Rarely does such worry call for the hormones which the body delivers to save an anxious person from dire danger. This hormonal response is why sufferers often have a kind of ‘nervous energy.’ The body is trying to defend against a problematic worry, with all the internal forces reserved for life-saving threats. It is harmful to have prolonged fight or fight mechanisms of the body engaged frequently, as science is discovering the harm it does in diseases and inflammatory conditions.
In the treatment of anxiety, we must address the situational, emotional, and physical causes of prolonged anxiety states. First, we must determine if anxiety is not a symptom of a physical disorder, as many medications or health issues can result in anxiety. [Many doctors prescribe anxiety medications without getting to the cause of the issue or without mentioning the addictive qualities of the medication the client is using.] Next, we determine of the situation can be improved. For example, imagine ‘test anxiety’ to be the reason to seek help; in therapy, we’d examine the root causes and determine if there are solutions in study and in educational accommodations. Next, we would examine social health and the ability to relax. Does the test taker know how to use breathing and other mindfulness techniques to quell anxiety? Does the test taker inadvertently do other activities which increase anxiety? Mindfulness can be taught via holistic psychotherapy (and by yoga) to help the anxious person to abort the fight or flight going on in the body. Recognition of the processes and gaining tools for intervention go a long way in interrupting the body feelings of anxiety. But when there has been a long history of anxiety, hypnosis can be utilized to correct the ‘catch 22’ feelings in long term anxiety.
Hypnosis is not at all like what is often depicted on TV or films; hypnosis is merely deep relaxation. One does not lose control during hypnotherapy. One relaxes during a guided relaxation exercise and then during the deep relaxation, they are responsive to suggestion or direction. Many of my clients feel like they are so relaxed they fall asleep, they even snore… but others stay relaxed and ‘listen’ to all that I say during hypnosis. Either way, it works, because when one is in the foggy zone like the one before sleep or waking, it is like hypnosis. Have you ever fallen asleep with the TV on and subsequently dreamed the dialog of the program you were watching? That is the kind of relaxation and suggestion we are discussing regarding hypnosis. You need to want to change; hypnosis can’t make you do things you do not want to do. For the hypnotherapist, hypnosis is the time to suggest affirmations and goals which the client has asked for. This process is excellent for anxiety conditions, as the client self-directs the wellness and can reinforce it at home with self-hypnosis. This is how hypnosis can be very effect of halting anxiety issues.
I am a licensed psychotherapist, so I use education, therapy, and hypnosis effectively for clients who experiences anxiety, phobias, insomnia, and as well as unhelpful behaviors due to anxiety. If you would like to see if your anxiety can be remedied via therapy and hypnosis, you can find a qualified therapist in your area via Psychologytoday.com and the National Guild of Hypnotists offers a list of certified members. I can be found at tinkerpsychotherapy.com, if you are able to come to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. My business number is 610-216-4319.
