ANXIETY:


Clients suffering with anxiety often develop panic attacks, phobias and IBS.  Continually worrying about what may or may not happen in their lives, does not help them to be calm, relaxed and in control, but will of course increase feelings of stress and tension.

Stress, if left untreated can seriously affect our work, social life, relationships and health. The stress response is often referred to as the flight/fight response, which is a natural protective mechanism originating from primitive man when it was needed for fighting or running away when physically threatened.  In the modern world most of our stress is psychological, but it still activates the primitive flight/fight response in our minds.  During stress the sympathetic nervous system which is responsible for action responds by increasing heart rate and blood pressure, forcing blood to areas of the body which need it during activity.  It slows down digestion.  Blood is diverted to the brain and muscles to ready for running or fighting.  Under stress urination will occur more frequently as urination and defecation lightens the load for the body to run faster.  An increase in respiration so that more oxygen makes its way to the muscles.  Increase in perspiration helps the body to cool.  Muscle tone increases to get the body ready for action.  An increase in blood clotting in case of injury.  Increases in adrenaline and noradrenaline will raise the heart rate.  Increase in cortisol which prepares the body for physical activity

The Autonomic nervous system maintains the body's balance and is divided into two components, the sympathetic nervous system [already mentioned] and the parasympathetic nervous system responsible for rest, which can be stimulated by hypnosis.  The sympathetic and parasympathetic should be in balance, with the sympathetic nervous system being calmed down by the parasympathetic nervous system after the fight/flight response has been activated.  If the sympathetic is not being calmed leaving it active, then the result is damage to health.

Prolonged exposure to stress is a serious issue which may lead to prolonged health problems, even death and should not be thought of as unimportant.

SHORT TERM EFFECTS.

Physical

Headaches, gastrointestinal problems, aches and pains, trembling, sweating, insomnia, elevated blood pressure, weakened immune system

Psychological

Panic attacks, anxiety, aggression, depression, poor concentration, feeling helpless, lack of confidence, avoiding social activities.

LONG TERM EFFECTS

Physical

Stomach ulcers due to high cortisol levels, greater risk of getting opportunist infections [some experts would include Cancer and Rheumatoid Arthritis] hypertension, heart attack, stroke.

Psychological

Chronic Depression,  Psychological Breakdown.


Stress exposure needs to be dealt with and hypnotherapy will aid the client to learn how to cope, to relax, be calm and maintain the body's equilibrium.  The therapy will let the client be in control of their stress and not their stress in control of them.  Talking to a qualified registered hypnotherapist makes sense.