How solution-focused hypnotherapy can help ease health anxiety

Health anxiety is a common problem that brings clients to the therapy room. In fact, recent research suggests that health anxiety may be on the increase with the internet... or rather self-diagnosis via the internet and the recent COVID pandemic is thought to play a significant part in that increase. Some monitoring of one’s own health is vital - if we ignore symptoms the consequences could be devastating. But for those with health anxiety, that worry goes too far and can lead to obsession about health even when multiple tests and consultations have shown them to be well. 

Health anxiety can come wearing different disguises that vary from person to person: 

Sometimes it’s obsessive “wellness” behaviours; from strict exercise regimes to hyper-clean eating, some have a relentless need to control the body with a desperate attempt to outrun illness through perfection. Typically, these clients are exhausted mentally, physically, and emotionally - harshly criticising themselves when they break their own health ‘rules’. 

For others, it shows up as a constant need to research. A simple headache turns into hours spent Googling symptoms, leading to imagined worst-case scenarios. A cycle of reassurance-seeking and further worry then ensues. Any reassurance provides only a brief respite…. The fear, worry and uncertainty are sure to return uninvited during the night or quieter times. Many with health anxiety suffer from poor sleep patterns.

Avoidance is another disguise that health anxiety can wear. Doctor appointments are missed, symptoms are ignored, and conversations about health are shut down. These clients switch off the TV or quickly scroll past anything that touches on illness or death.  It can, from the outside seem to be a lack of worry but it’s rooted in fear—an overwhelming dread of uncovering something catastrophic. For many, this avoidance backfires as that missed test or scan lurks in the back of their mind creating all kinds of havoc with their imagination - increasing their anxiety and fear of the future. 

Some clients are exhausted with the constant monitoring of their own bodies - their hypervigilance turning ordinary sensations into fearful symptoms of some dreaded disease. Constantly on the watch for any changes, some feel for lumps, some are perfectly tuned into their heartbeat so that they can be alerted to imminent cardiac arrest whilst others are on constant watch for any changes. A dull ache can become unbearable, a fluttering heartbeat feels life-threatening.

Although every client is as unique as their fingerprints with their own personalities, circumstances, experiences and backgrounds, one thing remains the same...health anxiety can be extremely distressing to live with. 

So, how can solution-focused hypnotherapy help?

The core belief of the solution-focused approach is that the client already possesses the skills and resources needed to solve their problems. A solution-focused hypnotherapist works collaboratively with their client using questions to clarify the issues, to determine the client’s desired future and to harness the client's strengths and resources to achieve those outcomes. These insights and strategies are then reinforced through hypnosis—a natural, enjoyable, yet powerful tool that engages the subconscious mind to support meaningful change. 

Interestingly, that change can begin at the initial consultation. Whilst we don’t do hypnosis at the consultation, it can be a profound and transformative session for those seeking help. The most influential part of the consultation is the ‘psychoeducation’, explaining how the brain works - how it creates issues such as anxiety, anger or depression.  Anxiety is an evolutionary survival mechanism that helped us escape and survive danger - which was really useful when life was more physically hostile and we had to run away from other tribes or wild animals.  

However, in modern life, it is more likely to be an accumulation of smaller, more chronic stressors and our negative thoughts about those things, that create anxiety. Stress and anxiety can create a powerful sense that something terrible is about to happen. When it isn’t tied to an immediate threat—like a bear prowling outside the tent—it fuels the imagination, generating frightening scenarios that give form to what was once vague, free-floating anxiety.  Without a specific focus for our stress, our mind will ‘find one’ and in some cases, it is  “I must be seriously ill!”   

In addition...when we experience anxiety our brain releases stress chemicals such as adrenaline and cortisol. These can cause physical symptoms; a tight chest, shortness of breath, a fuzzy head, tingling hands or feet or lips, a lump in the throat, nausea (and more…). For the person with health anxiety,  these symptoms usually mean that they have a severe illness, which is more than likely to be life-threatening. Of course, this increases their anxiety which increases their symptoms and so on...An endless and cruel vicious circle from which that person feels they can never escape. 

Thankfully, there are things that we can do to escape that primitive survival mechanism of anxiety and instead engage our pre-frontal cortex, our ‘intellectual brain’. This part of our brain is rational and sees things in their proper perspective - so it’s not difficult to see how engaging this part of the brain can be transformational to those experiencing health anxiety! 

Leaving the initial consultation with a thorough understanding of how their brain creates health anxiety and what they can do about it can be life-changing for sufferers. Most are keen to get going with sessions. We always start with a ‘What’s been good ? ‘ type of question, encouraging the client to notice the positive things in their lives.  Those with health anxiety are usually extremely focused on their bodies and symptoms so encouraging them to become more engaged in positive things in their lives can be extremely beneficial. 

The neuroscience is revisited in some way or another each session - by the end of treatment, clients often feel like they have their very own manual for their brain!   

Other therapeutic work can include scaling and solution-focused questioning to elicit details of the client's preferred future - what their life will look like when their best hopes have been achieved. Questions are also helpful to get clients to identify their own strengths and resources and how these can be harnessed to help them move forward to a life without the same old fears and anxieties. Sometimes, NLP techniques such as anchoring or the swish technique are used where appropriate.

Every session concludes with hypnosis. The client is guided gently into a state of focused relaxation, the mind and body are calmed and the subconscious mind is engaged. Here the mind can take on new understandings, learn new perspectives and helpful suggestions can be reinforced.  Over the course of sessions, clients develop new beneficial neural pathways that enable them to break free of the old unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours. Most find that they begin to assess symptoms with more rationality, no longer jumping straight to catastrophic conclusions. Clients enjoy a newfound freedom... No longer focusing solely on their health but able to enjoy all those things that are theirs to enjoy.