Almost anything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you – Annie Lamott
Are You Feeling Stressed Or Overwhelmed?
Stress is not a mental health problem itself, it’s actually a normal, even healthy, part of life and something that everyone feels at times.
It’s just a sign that your powerful and remarkable brain is doing exactly what it’s designed to do – protect you. It’s our natural survival strategy to keep us safe when we feel threatened.
So, stress only becomes an issue when you’re finding it too much… then chronic stress can affect your thoughts, feelings, actions and even your physical health. It might make you irritable, anxious, unable to focus, feel physically ill or affect your sleep.
What Is The ‘Stress Response’?
The stress response is commonly known as the ‘fight, flight or freeze’ response. These responses are part of the body’s automatic and instinctual reactions to stress or danger, originating from our evolutionary past, when these responses were literally vital to our ability to stay alive – for example perhaps when threatened in our caves by a wild animal.
When the brain perceives such threats, the body releases adrenaline and cortisol in large quantities to enable the following physiological automatic responses. Our evolution has yet to catch up with the fact that in today’s society, where such life-threatening situations are rare, these automatic responses to threats and fear can be counter-productive.
Click on each of the below responses to stress to find out more.
The Fight Response
This is the instinct to confront the threat, involving a surge of adrenaline and cortisol which activates the body’s systems ready for physical confrontation.
The Flight Response
This is the instinct to escape from the threat, such as running – again, the body’s automatic response is to pump adrenaline around the body, increasing the heart rate and diverting blood flow to the muscles.
The Freeze Response
This is the response of staying still and silent, ‘freezing’ in the hope the threat won’t notice, immobility as a defence.
How Can Cognitive Hypnotherapy Help?
We’ll identify your stress triggers, enabling you to recognize when it starts to build.
Through Cognitive Hypnotherapy, we can learn to identify and reframe your negative thought patterns and beliefs that contribute to your stress. By accessing the subconscious mind, we can release deeply ingrained stress responses and develop healthier coping strategies to manage stress more effectively.
I’ll also provide you with proven strategies and tools to quickly recognise and calm your reactions, helping you handle life’s challenges more effectively.
This approach helps you stay in control and maintain clarity and perspective when it’s most crucial.
Stress can be a draining and pervasive condition, but with the right approach, it is manageable.
Cognitive Hypnotherapy offers a unique and effective way to address stress by changing your relationship with your thoughts and emotions.
If you’re struggling with stress, consider exploring Cognitive Hypnotherapy with me as part of your journey towards greater peace of mind and emotional well-being.
Hypnoasis 