Can hypnotherapy stop me worrying?

Worrying is a natural part of life. And actually, some would consider it an indication that you care – the fact that you take the time to consider something, especially if important to you, and try to manage a positive outcome by preparing and pondering it. It may be a loved one that takes up your thoughts or perhaps a big event, such as a wedding. So yes, worrying about these things can be an extension of your caring, and demonstrates an investment in the particular focus of your worries. However, while some feelings of worry are normal, there comes a point when your worries are unhelpful.

Worrying often gets bad press and being nicknamed a ‘worry guts’ is hardly a compliment, but it is only fair to mention that there can be positive outcomes to worrying. 

When worrying works

A concern may cross your mind that leads to action – solving a situation or preparing yourself so that you are able to cope better. An example of this may be that you’re worried about completing a long list of tasks, so you ask your boss for an extension on that important report and enlist the help of a handyperson to fix that leak. As the overbearing list diminishes and you buy yourself more time to complete your work, the worry becomes more manageable. You remain in control of the situation; finding solutions and positive outcomes. In this case, a worry has led to action and resolution. 

Another example of a positive aspect of worry is preparation for negative outcomes. For instance, it’s been proven that you are more likely to deal with the bad news if it becomes a reality. So, if you’re worried you may have failed an exam, you may strategise for this eventuality and have an alternative path planned. As a result of your worry, the failure doesn’t come as such a shock. You are less upset by the news as you’d already considered it as a potential outcome. Whereas, those that had not foreseen this outcome will be more affected and the failure is more likely to impact them for longer. 

Despite these positives, not all of us are able to keep our concerns in check or be bolstered into finding a resolution to our concerns. Some of us find that worrying can become more consuming and even habitual. And so, it’s always worth being honest with yourself about how your worries affect you. Constant over-thinking can lead to some ingrained anxieties and it may be that your concerns spiral, leading you to catastrophise or even worry about things that are way out of your control. 

Gain control of your worries with hypnotherapy

Fortunately, there are ways to manage constant worrying, and all of them can be linked directly to hypnotherapy.

Finding the route of your troublesome thoughts

For some, it may be that there is a route concern that can unravel into lots of negative branches of thought. Feeling a lack of control can often result in trying to reclaim this in other areas of your life. Worrying about something can be someone’s way of trying to solve a situation, making plans, strategising and ultimately, controlling it. 

There may have been a trigger scenario that has led to this frame of mind – one bad experience can play out in all sorts of ways – but hypnotherapy has the ability to help you identify this catalyst. Hypnosis will provide you with a set of skills to help you tackle it and reduce its impact on the way you think and the related behaviours. And, if there is no one event or trigger, this too can be helpful to know as it sheds light on alternative reasons why you may worry.

Meditation, relaxation and being mindful

Mindfulness enables you to gain a perspective of what is within the realms of your control; what is in the here and now, what is positively impacting on you, what you have to be thankful for, what is causing you distress and how best to navigate it. As a school of thought, it actively encourages you to perceive things without judgement or over-complication. It is, in itself, a way to calm your senses and settle your thoughts.

Carving out time to relax and regain a sense of peace is almost becoming essential in the world we live in. It can be hectic and overwhelming at times, and if we do not ensure we have the opportunity to breathe deeply and quieten our minds, then life can seem frantic. Hypnotherapy is a deeply relaxing experience. Its success is directly related to how relaxed you are, and so, your therapist will take steps to create a calming space for your sessions to take place. This time for peace and harmony can be incredibly rejuvenating, enabling you to proceed with a course of action that will benefit you, your thinking and your behaviours.

Give time to your worries

It may go against the grain, but giving time to your concerns rather than burying them away can be incredibly beneficial. You may prefer to put aside time each day when you allow yourself to worry, or to discuss your concerns with someone on a weekly basis. Either way, putting aside time for these worries can mean they don’t build up and boil over. 

Many hypnotherapists will couple hypnosis with other styles of therapy such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or psychotherapy. Both avenues give you time to talk and process your concerns without judgment or bias. As therapists, we have no agenda other than to help you navigate a situation that you seek support with. 

Rather than voicing your concerns, you may opt to write them down and journaling can be most constructive. Instead of the constraints of a daily diary, turning to a journal can be more fluid and spontaneous. They are there when you need them, rather than having to be written in every day. Adding lists or ‘thought webs’ can be a way of doing a ‘brain dump’ – where you literally scribble everything down that comes into your mind. It’s a liberating experience that can help to clear away all the busyness of your thoughts and support in settling, organising and even discarding them.

Creating new thought patterns

There is no denying that worrying too much can be negative and draining. Hypnotherapy can help to rebuild more positive thought cycles. Hypnosis, coupled with positive affirmations and ego-bolstering work can give you greater confidence, more conviction in your own ability and boost your motivation. All of which can be hugely beneficial when aiming for a more optimistic outlook.