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While it’s not widely diagnosed, emetophobia affects an estimated 1.7-3.1% of males and 6-7% of females. The symptoms and severity vary from person to person, for many though the fear of vomiting (or seeing others vomit) stops them doing the things they want.

If this sounds familiar and you think you may have emetophobia, speaking to your doctor can help you get a diagnosis and look at treatment options. The good news is that there are several different treatment options available, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), gradual exposure and hypnotherapy.  

Looking into a basket of rocks at a recent health and well-being conference I was asked to pick one that ‘called out to me’. I picked up a small round sandy coloured one that was just a little bit different to the other rocks in the pile. “This is a gratitude rock” I was told. Looking at the rock I’ll admit, I felt a little skeptical.

I’m a strong believer in the power of gratitude and journaling regularly to prompt a more grateful mindset, but wasn’t sure how this rock would fit into the equation.

The idea, I was told, is to put the rock somewhere you’ll either see or feel it regularly. Then, every time you see or feel it, think about one thing you are grateful for in that moment. And with that I smiled, thought ‘nice idea’ and popped the rock in my coat pocket, not giving it much more thought.

It...

According to Harley Street hypnotherapist, Adam Cox, phobias can affect our relationships all year-round.

“Phobias are an unconscious reaction to a stimulus, not a choice. People don’t choose to be frightened of love, intimacy, rejection or germs. The impact of these fears and phobias can mean people avoid flirting, dating, kissing and even sex and relationships.

The good news is that no matter how severe the phobia is, psychological tools such as hypnotherapy

Researchers from Columbia University and the University of California placed mice in mazes with open spaces (something mice are afraid of) and found certain cells at the bottom of the hippocampus became more active.

The team then tried to alter the activity of these ‘anxiety cells’ in the brain using optogenetics, which involves using light to control cells in living tissue. Reducing the activity in these cells made the mice less anxious and more willing to explore the open spaces.

Read more about the study on the Independent.

Making a change, and maintaining the change, is a difficult thing to master. Old habits die hard and well, we find comfort in routine. But when a habit or fear is holding you back, change is a good thing. In fact, it can change your life.

If there’s something you’re struggling with, whether it’s anxiety, a phobia, a habit or addiction, make this year the year you overcome it.

Hypnotherapy is one option, and is thought to be effective in treating a number of issues. Below, we look at three common issues hypnotherapy can help with, and how it can promote change for the better.

Anxiety

All of us will have felt anxious at some point. While when...

When the new year rolls around, so many of us sit down to decide what it is we really want to achieve in the next 12 months.

While we always have good intentions behind us, after a few months the novelty of the new year wears off and many of us revert back to old habits. If this is the year you really want to make lasting change, it may be time for you to consider getting a little extra help. And for many, hypnotherapy is the answer.

Here are some common New Year’s resolutions and how support from a hypnotherapist could help you finally keep them!

“I want to change my diet”

Eating habits can be very difficult to break. The way we eat can be ingrained from childhood, leading to some people turning to food as a source of comfort. If you have tried and failed to change your eating...

Childbirth is possibly the most natural thing in the world. For most women, it’s an exciting, positive and life-changing experience. But childbirth also comes with a plethora of emotion, and sometimes, a fear and anxiety about labour can get in the way. This fear and stress can affect the birth, prolonging labour.

Whether this fear is sparked by hearing horror stories, or a previous experience of labour, learning to relax and listen to your body can make for an easier birth.

Hypnobirthing is a method which aims to help women relax in the lead-up to, and during, childbirth – free from stress, anxiety or fear. The idea is that, as an expectant mother, you attend a course of hypnobirthing classes in the lead-up to labour. You’ll learn self-hypnosis and breathing techniques, which you can take with you when the time comes.

When should you start classes?

If...

While Christmas is meant to be a time for joy, we all know it can bring its own stresses. From dealing with family to last-minute gift shopping, for some, it’s the most stressful time of the year.

We asked the office how they cope with stress at this time of year.

Bonnie, Creative Writer and Producer

“Plan, plan, plan! My other half and I try and agree ahead of time roughly how we’ll split time between our different friends and family to help minimise stress and avoid any arguments.

We’ve also found that spending time individually with our friends/family can be a great way to avoid extra stress when going to meet extended family or friends...

Diet culture is rife in our everyday lives. Whether it’s in magazines, adverts and social media, or even on the food packaging itself. What we ‘should’ and ‘shouldn’t’ eat is everywhere.

Fitness and food bloggers and social influencers are on the rise. Yet so is obesity, with recent findings suggesting that Britain is now the most obese nation in Western Europe (63% of UK adults being overweight).

Why are obesity rates rising, despite there also being a huge surge in wellness, fitness and health-related content?

Are we fighting against what we’re being told, due to the sheer volume of information?

How do we know whether we have a healthy relationship with food, or if we’re falling victim to negative diet culture?

There is so much information available, and much of it conflicting. It’s understandable that the topic of health and diet can be...