Hypno Glo

Stress is everywhere, impacting every aspect of our lives in multiple ways, seen and unseen. In today's bustling world, the traditional pressures of work and relationships coexist with the unique challenges of the digital era, leaving a profound mark on mental and physical well-being.

Modern Stressors - Navigating the Challenges of 2024

 The stress landscape of 2024 is vastly different from decades past. Alongside enduring stressors, new challenges have emerged in the digital age. The consistent flow of information, ongoing connectivity via technology, and the pursuit of perfection fuelled by social media have added layers to stress levels - often without you even realising it.

 

Revealing the Unusual - Surprising Manifestations of Stress

 Stress isn't always easily recognisable. Beyond typical feelings of overwhelm or anxiety, it can manifest in unexpected ways, subtly finding its way into your life. From decision fatigue to the need for perfectionism, stress's effects can be far-reaching and insidious, resulting in a never-ending spiral of overwhelm. 

Why do we get stressed?

Our brains evolved to help us survive back in the Stone Age when we were facing daily threats to our lives. 

When a threat revealed itself, our brains would fire off hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, which got our hearts to beat faster, our breath to quicken, and our muscles to tense. This put us in ‘fight or flight’ mode, giving our bodies the physical edge they needed to either run away from the threat or fight it off. 

While times have certainly changed and the level of threat to our lives has decreased, our brains have retained this survival feature. 

Now, different things are perceived as threats to our brains - for example, when your manager emails you with a tight deadline! Your brain still goes through the motions to prepare you to ‘fight or flight’, but instead of fighting your manager, or running away from your desk, it’s most likely that you’ll stay put. 

 

This leaves those hormones flowing through your veins, making you feel stressed. 

 

Usually, this sensation will pass, but when you’re coming face to face with multiple stressors consistently, you can feel in a constant state of stress and start to develop unpleasant symptoms. 

It’s often this build-up of small, subtle stressors like work-related stress or financial worries that lead to ongoing (or chronic) stress.

 

Are You Stressed? Recognising the Signs

Stress often manifests in subtle ways, affecting your mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Here are ten common symptoms to look out for:

 

1. Fatigue: Feeling constantly tired, even after a full night's sleep, can be a sign of underlying stress.
2. Increased Irritability: Noticing yourself snapping at loved ones or feeling on edge more often? Stress may be to blame.
3. Difficulty Concentrating: Struggling to focus or frequently forgetting things can indicate heightened stress levels.
4. Changes in Appetite: Whether overeating or loss of appetite, changes in eating habits can signal stress-related symptoms.
5. Sleep Disruptions: Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or restless sleep can be a sign of stress.
6. Physical Aches and Pains: Stress often manifests in physical symptoms such as tension headaches, muscle aches, and digestive issues.
7. Increased Heart Rate: Feeling like your heart is racing or experiencing palpitations may be a physiological response to stress.
8. Mood Swings: Mood fluctuations, from overly emotional to numbness, can be a sign of underlying stress.
9. Withdrawal from Activities: Losing interest in once-enjoyed activities or isolating yourself can indicate heightened stress levels.
10. Heightened Anxiety: Constantly on edge, racing thoughts or a sense of impending doom are common stress symptoms.

 

Becoming aware and recognising these signs is the first step toward taking proactive steps to address stress and reclaim control over your well-being.

The good news is that once you start to learn how to recognise the signs of stress, you can employ a relaxation technique like self-hypnosis before your stress becomes difficult to manage.

 

The Power of Hypnotherapy - Your Journey to Stress Relief

Amongst the whirlwind of modern stress, hypnotherapy offers a solution. 

 

Hypnotherapy aims to break negative thought patterns and responses to stress, instead providing you with a more healthy outcome.

 

This is done via the subconscious - the part of our mind that works automatically and without us realising.  

 

Your hypnotherapist will help you enter a state of deep relaxation (hypnosis). 

 

When you’re in this state, your subconscious is more open to suggestion. The idea here is for the hypnotherapist to ‘suggest’ different ways of responding to stress, to your subconscious. By accessing the subconscious mind, hypnotherapy allows us to reprogramme deep-seated beliefs and thought patterns contributing to stress. 

 

Through relaxation techniques and guided imagery, clients can release tension, supporting increased resilience and inner peace. 

Hypnosis to Manage Stress - The Evidence

Although a systematic review published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine suggests that more research needs to be done into the effectiveness of hypnotherapy for stress, there is some evidence (alongside personal experiences) that it can help ease stress and related symptoms.

 

Practical Tips for Stress Management

In addition to hypnotherapy, incorporating mindfulness practices, efficient breathing exercises, and self-care rituals can effectively manage stress. Each individual possesses the power to manage and sustain a balanced life.

 

Tackling Stress with Hypnotherapy

Stress may be a sticking factor in your life, but it doesn’t define your existence. Through hypnotherapy, we unravel stress's unseen effects, reclaiming control over thoughts, emotions, and actions.

 

Ready to Take the First Step Towards Stress Relief?

If you're ready to break free from stress and embrace balance and well-being, contact Jo Curran at Hypno Glo, to explore how hypnotherapy can help. Unlock peace amidst chaos and embark on a transformative journey. Don't let stress hold you back - reclaim control over your life today!

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