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There are 2 things that people find difficult to do without help: changing and letting go. Most people are aware how hypnotherapy can help people change their habits (stopping smoking, curing phobias, etc), but few people realise that it can also help them drop unwanted negative emotional baggage. The negativity backpack During our lives, we accumulate negative and positive experiences. In a healthy person, those experiences get processed, stored or discarded depending on their usefulness. Sometimes, those experiences are too overwhelming, like an accident or a physical attack. It could Read more…

“I need a drink to relax.”  We’ve all heard it before. Many people say that a drink at the end of a day helps them to relax, unwind, or ease into a restful weekend. But just as many people feel bad the next day. I’m not talking about the usual hangover, sickness and headaches you generally get (although that’s pretty unpleasant already). Often people feel more anxious and tired than before they started drinking. It’s as if you get a temporary break from anxiety, but you pay it back the Read more…

The trick is to just not want it anymore. ? When stopping smoking, nicotine is NOT the issue. The main problem with most smoking cessation tactics is that they address the nicotine issue, but they all ignore the psychological aspect. It’s like giving Valium to someone with anxiety, without dealing with the cause of anxiety. It helps a bit, but the problem is still there. But let’s have a look at patches for example: you stick a patch on your shoulder, and over 8 to 12 weeks, you decrease the dose. Read more…

If you feel an anxiety attack coming, there are 5 steps to take to help create progress towards finding symptom reduction and/or relief. These steps might not be overnight magic but can significantly help reduce symptoms of anxiety, trauma triggers, and other unwanted emotions or thoughts. Start with deep breathing as the introduction to any coping skills. Then go through the numbers in order to help ground yourself in present thinking through external factors: 5) Acknowledge FIVE things you see around you. Maybe it is a bird, maybe it is Read more…

I keep going on and on about breathing and how it can help you calm down and be more settled. How can such a simple tip even work? What is the biological explanation behind it? The answer is the vagus nerve.   First, let me remind you of the “fight-or-fight” (or freeze) response that is triggered by what is called the sympathetic nervous system. It gets you ready to act and fight. Your heart rate increases, you get a boost of adrenaline and cortisol, and non-essential bodily functions are reduced Read more…

A lot of people struggle with anxiety disorders, stuck for too long in an unhealthy state, ending up with no motivation for anything. To get unstuck, do something. I know first-hand that the suggestions below can help you more than you might think. You might have to get over that bump of increased anxiety (“Doing something new! Aaaaarrrgh!”). Trust me, it will be worth it! IMPROV CLASSES When I mention this to clients, they think I might have gone mad and am not listening to them talk about their anxiety. Read more…