Stress Managment
Stress Managment with Hypnosis
What is stress?
Here are some definitions:
“Stress is the consequence of the failure to adapt to change”
“Stress is the body’s reaction to a change that requires a physical, mental or emotional adjustment or response”
“Stress is any outside force or event that has an effect on our body or mind”
“The adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure or other types of demand placed on them”
“As an organism’s total response to environmental demands or pressures”
As you will see from above there are a lot of different points of view about what stress is so I have decided to describe what it does and what causes it to make it easier to understand.
External causes of stress
Sensory: pain, bright light
Life events: birth, deaths, marriage, family conflicts and divorce
Responsibilities: lack of money, unemployment
Illness: depression, obsessive compulsive disorder
Work/study: exams, project deadlines, and group projects unemployment
Personal: relationships: conflict, deception, Break up
Lifestyle: heavy drinking, insufficient sleep
Environmental: Lack of control over environmental circumstances, such as food, housing: health, freedom, moving house
Internal causes of stress
• Uncertainty or worries
• Pessimistic attitude
• Self-criticism
• Unrealistic expectations or beliefs Perfectionism
• Low self-esteem
• Excessive or unexpressed anger
• Lack of assertiveness
The fight flight response
If the causes above are present the fight flight response can be activated which release a complex cocktail of chemicals into the blood stream.
Some of these chemicals are cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenalin which can lead to a constriction of blood vessels, accelerated heart rate, increase blood pressure, increase blood sugar, increased sweating and many other physiological responses.
If these chemicals are present in the blood stream for a prolonged period of time then some of the more severe symptoms of stress can start to affect the immune system which in turn starts a cycle which could lead the serious medical problems.
Stress Warning Signs and Symptoms
Cognitive Symptoms
• Memory problems
• Indecisiveness
• Inability to concentrate
• Trouble thinking clearly
• Poor judgment
• Seeing only the negative
• Anxious or racing thoughts
• Constant worrying
• Loss of objectivity
• Fearful anticipation
Emotional Symptoms
• Moodiness
• Agitation
• Restlessness
• Short temper
• Irritability, impatience
• Inability to relax
• Feeling tense and “on edge”
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Sense of loneliness and isolation
• Depression or general unhappiness
Physical Symptoms
• Headaches or backaches
• Muscle tension and stiffness
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Nausea, dizziness
• Insomnia
• Chest pain, rapid heartbeat
• Weight gain or loss
• Skin breakouts (hives, eczema)
• Loss of sex drive
• Frequent colds
Behavioral Symptoms
• Eating more or less
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Isolating yourself from others
• Procrastination, neglecting responsibilities
• Using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax
• Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing)
• Teeth grinding or jaw clenching
• Overdoing activities (e.g. exercising, shopping)
• Overreacting to unexpected problems
• Picking fights with others
Medical conditions are caused or exacerbated by stress
• Chronic pain
• Migraines
• Ulcers
• Heartburn
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Asthma
• PMS
• Obesity
• Infertility
• Autoimmune diseases
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Skin problems
How hypnotherapy can help
Hypnosis can help you with many of the symptoms of stress whether they are Behavioral, Physical, Cognitive or Emotional as well as dealing with the causes of the stress.
These are not just simple relaxation exercises but a Tailor made approach to your specific symptoms and there causes so that stress does not happened in the first place.
My approach isn’t about dealing with stress it is about looking at what causes stress and dealing with that so that you do not have any of the symptoms above which can lead to a variety of medical conditions.
