Hypnotherapy for anxiety

Hypnotherapy is really good for anxiety and the good news is, while it can come on fast, anxiety can also go away. ​​On average my clients see a marked improvement in the first week and feel much better after 6 sessions. And the improvements are lasting. After 8 or 12 sessions you can expect to be happy and in control, and confident it's going to stay that way.
"I can't believe what a difference it's made, and in such a short time."

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is a natural response to perceived or imagined risk. It's part of our natural "Fight or Flight" response. Sometimes it's entirely appropriate and helps to focus our attention. However it can gradually increase, sometimes without us noticing, until it gets to a level which doesn't match what's actually happening.
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​The fight or flight response is only ever trying to help, but part of its job is to assume the worst - so it can be really negative. The good news is there are really good things we can do about it. With the right support, recovery from anxiety can be really successful, and life-changing.

What are the symptoms of anxiety?

Anxiety can affect our thoughts, our feelings and our behaviours. The emotions include worry, dread and fear. The feelings include sensations such as tightness in the chest, dizziness or nausea. There are often physiological changes too, like shallow breathing and increased heart-rate. Our thinking can become clouded, it gets really hard to think straight, and the impact on our behaviour is usually to avoid things or get out of there, or feel like we're going to pass out completely. It can be really horrible and many people report feeling like they are going to die.

​Some people experience anxiety in relation to social situations or contact with other people. Others feel generally anxious. It can sometimes seem to be better or worse at certain times of day. The good news is - it doesn't need to be this way.

How does hypnotherapy help with anxiety?

Hypnotherapy helps by calming down the natural stress responses that lead to anxiety. We do this partly by talking - we generally start off by talking about the brain, how it does anxiety and what we can do about it. Conversations then move on to positive things, like things you enjoy, times when the anxiety wasn't there, and imagining what it will be like in the future, when it's gone.

Then we have Hypnosis, which is also enormously helpful. Hypnosis helps us to relax our stress responses and to activate instead our natural states of calm relaxation. These are also known as 'rest and digest' and 'tend and befriend'. We all know how to do these. There are a number of techniques we can use, but generally it's more natural and straightforward than people might imagine. Overall it's a really easy and enjoyable process.
​"I haven't felt like this for a very long time. If ever.”

Meet Adam Pearson, your hypnotherapist
I'm Adam Pearson. I trained with the Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy College in Bristol and I am accredited by the National Council for Hypnotherapy and the Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapy. My background is in management and youth development.
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​I also volunteer with The Wave Project, a brilliant charity helping young people to reduce anxiety and develop confidence through surfing. And I run various local community health groups. You can see more on linkedin.