Hypnotherapy

[iwbus]

I have problems with anxiety after a certain incident that happened to me a few months ago. I cannot use treatments such as Kalms because I drive for a living and they would make me drowsy. Could hypnotherapy help me to stop being so anxious?

[Cockney_si]

Best you try and get some counselling or something rather that losing cash over someone messing with your head by telling you how much of an intelligent confident person you are.

[Hermia]

I had hypnotherapy as part of a course to cure my phobia of spiders and it was brilliant, although of course it was part of a course so it wasn't being used on it's own. During the hypnotherapy the guy kept telling us how our response to seeing a spider would change and I do react exactly as he told us! From what he told us hypnotherapy is not about telling people they are an "intelligent confident person", but about breaking the patterns that are making that person anxious. So, he was saying that when someone gets anxious their body reacts in a certain way which makes the person more anxious and creates a vicious circle etc etc. He was trying to break that pattern. I have no idea what the scientific view of hypnotherapy is, but I found it useful.

There are lots of excellent books about anxiety disorders out there so it might be worth going to the library and doing a bit of research. There is some interesting information here as well: http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/mosby_factsheets/anxiety.html

My mum started to have panic attacks after my father died. The doctor didn't want to give her drugs so he just told her to sit down and take slow deep breaths every time she had an attack (even if it meant sitting down on someone's garden wall if she was out!) It sounds a really simple thing, but she did find that the attacks got less frequent and she was less scared of them.

There seems to be lots of different treatments for anxiety so there ought to be something that would work for you!

[widowpurple]

I am a holistic therapist...which means we treat the whole person...mind body and soul...If the incident has passed and is unlikely to reoccur, any sort of holistic therapy (including hypnotherapy) can help you feel a whole lot better.  Reflexology is good for anxiety, as well as all sorts of massage.  Check out that your chosen therapist is a member of a governing body...in England the Federation of Holistic Therapists is one of the best...this will ensure the therapist is qualified.  If you cannot afford this, relaxation/meditation tapes can soothe shattered nerves...candle lit,quiet room where you can feel safe and not be disturbed...I do hope you feel better soon.