Hypnotherapy For Anxiety: Does Hypnosis Really Work?

Uncertainty is inherent to life. People don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. Yes, people make plans, and they follow through on these plans a lot of the time.

But the fact is that a person never knows if their plans will fall through. There are times when circumstances outside of a person’s control can derail carefully laid-out plans. 

This uncertainty and lack of control can make people feel anxious. It’s perfectly normal to experience bouts of anxiety now and then, but these feelings fade and eventually resolve. The problem arises when a person’s anxiety continues and intensifies. 

Some people can feel constant anxiety, and it can have a detrimental effect on their daily lives and even cause them to have physical symptoms such as chest pains.

Because of how anxiety disorders can be debilitating, people look for ways to treat it and dull the effects that its symptoms can have. Some people use medication or therapy to reduce anxiety, but others may also use hypnosis.

What Are Anxiety Symptoms?

Anxiety can present with several symptoms. Some of the symptoms of anxiety include:

Psychological Symptoms

Some people who have an anxiety disorder can worry about being worried. They may have difficulty relaxing and concentrating because they’re so concerned about everything all the time. Their constant worrying may also make it hard for them to make decisions as they’ll constantly second-guess themselves.

Physical Symptoms

Anxiety is not limited to psychological signs. It can also manifest physically. Some people can develop ulcers as a result of anxiousness. Others can have chest pains. Sweating and shortness of breath are also physical indicators of mental stress. 

Because people who struggle with anxiety also have difficulty with relaxation, some will develop insomnia, which can affect their sleep patterns and worsen their mental health.

Forms Of Anxiety

Anxiety disorders can come in several forms. Some of the different forms of anxiety include:

GAD

Generalised Anxiety Disorder, or GAD, is a common form of anxiety. People with GAD will suffer from excessive worry and fear. Some will be restless and will feel on edge at all times. This anxiety doesn’t necessarily have a trigger, and people with GAD can worry over nothing in particular.

Social Anxiety

People with social anxiety have an intense fear of socialising with other people because they’re worried that they’re going to be judged. They’ll worry that they’ll do or say something that will make them lose face. This form of anxiety can make normal social interactions, such as getting coffee, difficult.

Panic Disorder

People who have panic disorders can suffer from intense panic attacks. These attacks can come from nowhere, and many people who go through them report experiencing a sense of impending doom.

Phobias

People who have phobias have a crippling and sometimes irrational fear of specific things. For example, people who have agoraphobia are afraid of leaving the house, and people with ornithophobia have an intense fear of birds.

People with specific phobias will take measures to avoid the things that they fear or situations in which their fears may be triggered.

PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a condition that arises when a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. This can be war, being the victim of a crime, or a major accident. People with PTSD will have a difficult time relaxing as they may have flashbacks of the traumatic event.

OCD

People with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder or OCD suffer from intense anxiety and find themselves performing rituals to relieve their stress. They may become incredibly distressed when they are unable to perform these rituals. Common rituals include washing hands, arranging everything specifically, or checking if doors are locked. 

In many cases, these rituals must be performed in a specific way, or the person will have to start them over again.

Does Hypnosis Help Treat Anxiety?

Hypnosis can be an effective treatment for anxiety. Many people who suffer from anxiety can find that working with a skilled hypnotherapist can relieve many of their symptoms and improve their overall quality of life.

However, it should be noted that clinical hypnotherapy shouldn’t be the only treatment used. Hypnosis for anxiety is usually combined with other treatment modalities, such as cognitive behavioural therapy.

How Does Hypnotherapy Work?

Hypnotherapy works by putting someone into a relaxed state, which is often referred to as a trance. While in this trance, the patient’s conscious mind is quieted, and they become more open to suggestions. The therapist makes gentle ones to help the patient confront their issues and make positive changes in their behaviour.

While popular media may depict people in a trance as being unconscious, patients are fully conscious and aware of their surroundings and in control of their actions. Patients cannot be forced to do something against their will. 

A hypnotherapist may also teach patients coping skills, such as guided imagery, that can be used to help overcome anxiety.

How Long Are Hypnotherapy Sessions Needed?

There’s no timeline on how long hypnotherapy is needed to help a person conquer their feelings of anxiety. Some people need as little as one session, though phobias and anxiety may take up to 12.

However, mental health conditions can vary in severity from person to person, so the length of treatment will also have to vary. How many sessions are needed will depend entirely on how each patient experiences anxiety.

What Are The Side Effects?

Hypnotherapy isn’t known to have harmful effects. There can be a few, but they are rare. Unwanted side effects can include nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, headaches, or sleep problems.

What Are The Benefits?

Hypnotherapy can potentially have numerous health benefits. One is that it can help treat anxiety and depression. It can also help people change their behaviour, such as eating less or quitting smoking.

It’s also been known to help people break the thought patterns that cause them to overthink and continuously question themselves. Hypnotherapy can also help people overcome common phobias, such as aviophobia or the fear of flying.

It can also ease stress, which has been known to have health benefits such as helping with fertility.

The Use Of Self-Hypnosis For Anxiety

Self-hypnosis can help people, especially if they’re suffering from acute anxiety, such as right before undergoing a medical procedure. Self-hypnosis works very similarly to hypnotherapy in that a person is put into a relaxed state, suggestions to work toward positive changes are made, and then a person slowly emerges from their relaxed state.

Self-hypnosis is somewhat similar to meditation. The main distinction is that self-hypnosis has a specific goal, whereas meditation does not.

Is It Dangerous?

Self-hypnosis isn’t generally dangerous. Some people may experience nausea and dizziness, but the practice is generally safe for most people. However, anyone who wishes to hypnotise themselves should do so in a safe, comfortable place.

Alternative Ways To Get Help With Anxiety Disorders

In extreme cases, anxiety can be a debilitating condition to live. For that reason, many people look for ways to ease their symptoms and live without worrying for no reason. Hypnotherapy can be part of comprehensive anxiety treatment, but it’s often just a part of it.

At Sivana Bali, we can offer treatment to help people control their anxious thoughts and live their lives. Contact us to learn more.