topic Hypnotherapy for Anxiety in Treatments, health professionals and therapies

Hypnotherapy for Anxiety

Anxious_1 — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 04:53:55 GMT

Has anyone tried Hypnotherapy for anxiety or other mental health issues? If so did you get relief?

I'm just looking for all/any alternative treatments, I have only started on meds 3 weeks ago and was going ok with them, but I feel like anxiety is starting to creep back in!

Any info or advice would be appreciated!

Cheers

Hypnotherapy for Anxiety

blondguy — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 08:35:45 GMT

Hello Anxious 1

An anxiety condition is awful to have.... you are strong for seeking alternative treatments

This is my third year on the forums and havent heard of any success where hypnotherapy is concerned.......Yet

I do know that the sooner earlier anxiety is treated the better our recovery will be

any questions are more than welcome Anxious 1

Can I ask about your anxiety symptoms?

you are not alone

Paul

Hypnotherapy for Anxiety

Anxious_1 — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 02:29:07 GMT

Hi Paul

Thanx for your reply. My anxiety started in may/june last yr as a result of taking on too many roles at my job and I ignored my stress signs and got burnt out. I felt like i had a nervous breakdown and had to leave my job of 3.5yrs which i loved. I didnt know what was happening to me woth anxiety and was a mess and terrified. My boss is a doctor and she informed me to get antidepressants but I thought i could deal with it myself and sought help from kineseologist, natural therapy and herbal bush anxiety relief but when it affecting my day to day life i realised i had to go on meds. I am only 3 wks in and they have been ok until the last few days, i feel anxiety is creepin bak in. I am seeing my gp in a week and i guess she may suggest trying something different. My concerns are trying new meds is that going to give me hell in the first week or so like the ones i am currently on. Have you experienced anything like this if so how are you coping?

Hypnotherapy for Anxiety

Deni-e — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 21:14:08 GMT

Hi,

i have had friends try it and say it has helped change their thought process. Both have needed multiple sessions.

I saw someone when I was at my peak of a mental break down due to ocd anxiety.

While it was weird and relaxing for part, she made me look back into my past to heal trauma that causes the issue so she calls it.

Well I found a trauma I didn’t know about and still don’t know about.

It was traumatic horrific and made my healing 1000 times worse.

Sometimes your brain keeps things hidden from you for good reason.

I would still go again as it was good for relaxation in part but I wouldn’t let them do any regression.

Hypnotherapy for Anxiety

blondguy — Sat, 19 Jan 2019 10:20:26 GMT

Hi Anxious 1

Thanks for taking the time to post back! I understand you are doing everything you can...and yes its 'painful'

Can I ask what your doc said about your anxiety?

Many people have also taken too much on board with their work and ended up with this awful condition. I am no different and understand you as I was in a senior role at work and was involved in the family court at the same time......my bad! The anxiety hit hard...I hear you

Can you describe your symptoms on this antidepressant? 3 weeks is still a bit early to tell yet you are proactive by having your GP appointment set up 🙂

Please excuse the questions Anxious 1....Do you have supportive family and/or friends you live with?

The Good News!...The severity of our anxiety symptoms do reduce with frequent counseling using the meds as a foundation to help us more than a person that isnt on the meds

I hope you are doing reasonably okay....you are not alone with anxiety....its a very common condition

my kind thoughts

Paul

Hypnotherapy for Anxiety

memorytrap — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 02:50:10 GMT

I'm just keeping an eye for responses here because I'm very curious about this too. I am strongly considering hyponotherapy for my depression this year but they seem quite expensive. Would like to know other experiences with hypnotherapists. Unveiling hidden traumas seems like everyone's worst fear though, sorry to hear that Deni.

Hypnotherapy for Anxiety

blondguy — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 12:49:28 GMT

Hi Memorytrap......(excuse I for hijacking your thread for a minute Anxious1)

After 35 years of anxiety followed by depression (in recovery) and working in a senior role at the same time..I havent heard of one person who had benefited from hypnotherapy. It would be great if anyone could let us know about any positive news with hypnotherapy.

I respect hypnotherapy for basic issues like stopping smoking...which apparently does help with!

Depression is partially chemically based through various ongoing issues in our lives. The symptoms of depression do reduce...in time...with frequent therapy and if prescribed...medication.

Thankyou Memorytrap and Deni-e for your valued support to Anxious1.....I really hope you can both feel comfortable being part of the forum family 🙂

my kind thoughts

Paul

Hypnotherapy for Anxiety

memorytrap — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 02:39:49 GMT

Thank you for the insight, Paul. Yes I have my doubts about it, but I'm at a point now where I need to try something new because the old methods just aren't working. The sessions are over $160 though so I am waiting on any good news before I make that kind of commitment.

Hypnotherapy for Anxiety

Anxious_1 — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 09:42:26 GMT

Hi Paul

Thanx for your response, i do have family and friends support which helps alot. We are in the habit of walking most evenings with the kids taking them to different parks etc and we are all enjoying this. Walking def helps my anxiety and I sleep well also after. My meds have made a difference alot and still going to continue with them. I am working a new job 15 hrs a week which is going well also. I listen to relaxation music when I feel the need and resorting to relaxation baths with epsom salts as i hear its good to relax muscles. I also feel good when i read on bb that others are in the same boat. So at the moment things are good... 😊

Hypnotherapy for Anxiety

blondguy — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 17:01:35 GMT

Hi A1

You are a caring dad A1. Its always really good to get a reply even though there are no expectations to do so

I had forgotten all about epsom salts and the good they do....Thank-you for re-booting my memory! I will be doing the same thanks to you A1

Your thread and posts are a huge help to more people than you know. Just for your info....approx 70% of the people that 'click' on the forums are readers only which is great as you and I have helped a lot of people just by posting here. The remaining 30% of the people that click on the forums choose to post

Thankyou for your kind post about the forums and reading what others are going through

Great to have you as part of the Beyond Blue Family A1....and have a good weekend too!

my kind thoughts always

Paul

Hypnotherapy for Anxiety

PamelaR — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 04:06:51 GMT

Hi everyone here

There is a newby I see too - welcome Deni-e.

Hypnotherapy - well, I have had it. Especially when I was going through a breakdown. My psychologist used it mainly to calm me down, to explore the trauma in a safe place and to help rebuild my life. I see Paul you don't think it works. For me, it did.

Basically the hypnotherapy helped reduce my dissociation, my symptoms of anxiety, memories and feelings associated with the trauma.

It did work. I think it's getting over the idea that hypnosis is like what you see on tv where it makes people do weird things.

For me the therapy was sending me into a very deep and relaxed state to allow my mind to rest without fear and fright. Had she not helped me I would have had to go to hospital.

Maybe it worked because I had been seeing the psychologist for about 18 months before I had my breakdown. So I trusted her implicitly. I don't think it would work if I went to someone for the first time. I can see someone asking - how come I had a breakdown if I was seeing someone. It was because during that 18 months I was reliving a childhood trauma that my memory had stored away for nearly 30 odd years. I refused to take medication and eventually all my 'happy' chemicals had been used up.

It wasn't just the hypnotherapy that worked, I had to start taking medication too. It was both these things that helped me through.

Medication can take up to 6 weeks to start working. So don't give up on the meds yet.

Hope some of this helps those out there who are thinking of using hypnotherapy.

If you have any questions, let me know.

Kind regards

PamelaR

Hypnotherapy for Anxiety

memorytrap — Sun, 27 Jan 2019 02:55:27 GMT

Thank you for replying Pamela.

I have two questions, was your psychologist already qualified as a hypnotherapist or did you have to seek one out? I was also wondering, what was the experience like, were you aware during the process and what was it that was making you open up, and most importantly, did you feel safe? Thank you very much.

Hypnotherapy for Anxiety

blondguy — Sun, 27 Jan 2019 12:39:52 GMT

Hi A1 (Anxious1) My apologies for hi-jacking your thread for moment if thats okay

Hey PamelaR.....I only mentioned that I (myself) had never heard of anyone that has had success with Hypnotherapy where anxiety/depression is concerned. Until you mentioned you did which is great. I did have hypnotherapy and it was relaxing during the process....just as Homeopathy and Acupuncture was too.

We do have many people that post asking about hypnotherapy on the forums which is great yet it cant be recommended as it doesnt have anyone that can show us any long term results that therapy can...unfortunately. I agree with you about it having a relaxing effect...and thats great to hear too!

I am not against Hypnotherapy at all....Just my humble opinion that anxiety is a partially chemically/behavioral condition that requires frequent therapy and if prescribed..medication. And I have always been anti-meds until I nearly lost everything in the mid 1990's...then the meds were a really good idea 🙂

I mentioned on 21/1 "I respect hypnotherapy for basic issues like stopping smoking...which apparently does help with!"

I am still learning about Hypnotherapy on an ongoing basis and Memorytrap asked excellent questions above that you may able to help with

Please excuse me for interfering in your thread Anxious1 (A1)

my kind thoughts

Paul

Hypnotherapy for Anxiety

PamelaR — Mon, 28 Jan 2019 08:32:44 GMT

Hi Anxious 1

If it's okay with you I'd like to continue the conversation with Paul about hypnotherapy as well as respond to Memorytrap's questions. In some ways I don't think it's highjacking your thread because I think it's relative to the heading of your thread Hypnotherapy for anxiety. Just let me know if I'm overstepping it - all good.

By the way my comments below in no way make recommendations that people use this form of therapy. I'm just relating my experience and what I would do now.

Answers to Memorytrap's questions

was your psychologist already qualified as a hypnotherapist or did you have to seek one out? To be honest, I don't know. I never asked, nor did I go looking for a hypnotherapist. For me, it was just another tool my psychologist used to help me through my recovery from my breakdown. In hindsight I would now ensure the person is qualified, i.e.registered professional membership with Australian Society of Clinical Hypnotherapists.

what was the experience like? The experience was like going into a deep meditation. It was very relaxing. My body felt heavy and light at the same time. Sorry can't explain it any other way.
were you aware during the process? I was totally aware during the whole process. I knew what she was saying and asking.
what was it that was making you open up? Do you know I can't really remember. It was the soft voice telling me to feel calm to relax and allow my body to relax. Why I opened up - mainly because I'd been working with my psychologist for 18 months previously. It was easy. I wanted so much to be better. I wanted to be - over it all, recovered, healed. So opening up was easy. Now this is only my thoughts, I think it's because my pathways (neurotransmitters) were opened up through such deep relaxation that it helped to get the memories to emerge, to feel the emotions.
most importantly, did you feel safe. I felt completely safe during all the work we did.

Hiya Paul

I'm pleased you raised the topic of the long term affects of using hypnotherapy. I was a little remiss in my explanation and should explain further. I'm going to have to start another post 🙂 🙂

PamelaR

Hypnotherapy for Anxiety

PamelaR — Mon, 28 Jan 2019 08:45:29 GMT

Hiya Anxious 1 (and Paul)

I'm back again to finish my story about my use of hypnotherapy.

One thing I probably should say is - anxiety doesn't go away for good. It's always there and pops it's head up every now and then. It's learning techniques to help managing it when this happens. So my use of hypnotherapy was to 'cure' my anxiety, it was used to help me reduce the impact of the severity of the attacks. I.e. reduce heart rate, reduce heart palpitations, calm the breathing, calm the mind.

I didn't use hypnotherapy in isolation to any other forms of therapy. It was just one tool used at a particular crisis point - when I melted down with the very last memory that emerged. It was the most dreadful and I just couldn't take it anymore. Up until that point my psychologist had used a lot of different therapies (exposure therapy, CBT, BT, DBT, plus many others) to help my PTSD, anxiety and depression. It started with me doing a course that she ran for others with anxiety. Before we did any work it was important to try and get my anxiety levels under control before I started looking at my memory.

The biggest thing for me is - everyone is different, some things will work for some and won't work for others. It all depends on your experiences, your beliefs and a range of many other things.

So I'm not recommending hypnotherapy as a solution to anxiety. Sorry for misleading anyone. It really is just one of many tools for some people who find it useful.

Kind regards

PamelaR

Hypnotherapy for Anxiety

KateGreat — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 04:06:01 GMT

I just saw this post and wanted to add that my Husband had amazing results with hypnotherapy. He first went because he was getting increasingly anxious on packed trains, and as he commutes daily that was a big problem. After one session he felt that no longer bothered him, so he went back as he was finding he was having trouble doing things without checking multiple times like he hasn't locked the door when he left home etc. He would worry constantly about work and wasn't sleeping well as so many people with anxiety don't.
He was recommended someone and made sure they didn't do past life regression and that kind of stuff. They didn't look into his childhood or anything like that. He tells everyone now, he's a changed person. Hope this helps.

Hypnotherapy for Anxiety

blondguy — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 08:56:08 GMT

Hi KateGreat

Welcome to the forums and thankyou for providing your (your husbands) success using hypnotherapy and congrats to your husband for feeling like a changed person!

Great to have a successful outcome using hypnotherapy with commuting anxiety issues 🙂

Thankyou for the helpful post KateGreat!

Paul