In times of crisis, we could all do with some support

With the current cost of living crisis and the looming spectre of recession, people tend to put engaging with therapy on the back burner. As much as that can help with some of the stress of the situation in the near term, it will also make dealing with today’s challenges much harder in the future, as it adds another layer of stress and discomfort on top of what is already there.

We are living in strange times: still in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, deep in a cost of living crisis, the war in Ukraine, the worries about a looming recession all weigh heavy. It’s not like we haven’t experienced these situations before, maybe one or two at the same time, however, not all at the same time. The pandemic has had a big, long-lasting impact on us in many ways and will do so for many years and decades to come. 

Maybe you were already struggling with personal issues prior to all this disruption. Perhaps with addiction, alcohol, gambling, or poor mental health to name but a few. During this unsettled period, more than ever, there has been a tendency to brush them aside, to ‘kick the can down the road’ (for later) and ‘just get through each day’. The thing about that though, is that it just adds to the struggles that were already there, and can escalate the coping systems, drinking more, etc. This all adds to the financial burden, in small incremental amounts.

In these times, as much as people know in themselves that they need help and want it, money always has a huge influence on seeking help. I am confident if you added up what you spend on the drink, drugs or gambling, you may be shocked at how much it costs. But, when it comes to thinking about spending money on support for yourself, that voice in your head screams at you "No, you can’t afford it". That voice is working on the basis that the coping system is more important, and you can deal with that stuff later not seeing that it is making the whole thing worse. 

We do not know how long the cost of living crisis or recession is going to last, possibly years. Can you imagine where your physical and mental health could be by then? With that feeling of overwhelmingness and despair getting deeper. The ‘just get through each day’ becomes harder and harder as the period progresses. 

Can you imagine how your life could be if some of that weight on your shoulders was lifted? Some of the burden gone? Having a toolbox that can help you deal with the rest of the crap that life can throw at you?

Looking at dealing with your stuff as an investment instead of a cost is a powerful shift in mindset. I appreciate that private therapy has a price tag and that sitting on a waiting list with the NHS seems a better idea but it may not be as expensive as you think. Myself and other hypnotherapists can offer a payment plan so that clients can get the support they need now, in a financially manageable and sustainable way.

Maybe it's worth thinking about reaching out for that support now, rather than waiting till you hit that rock bottom? If there is one thing that I learnt from my history of addiction and poor mental health it's that I wish I had faced it earlier. Looking back with the luxury of hindsight, I knew for a long time I had issues, and I knew deep down in my heart that it was only going south and that one day I would crash into that destructive rock bottom.

What price would you put on having some of that weight lighted, being able to relax, even just a bit more or sleeping better?

If you feel that there are issues such as alcohol, drugs or poor mental health that are impacting areas of your life and you want to explore what options are available to you, please get in touch. One thing you’ll never get from me is judgement. I simply want to support you through your journey and find solutions that work for you. It starts with a phone call, don’t worry about where to start, we start where we start and take it from there.