Hypnosis for Stress Related Disorders

Including but not limited to Anxiety, Panic Attacks, PTSD, Phobias, Insomnia, Depression and Pain Syndromes such as Fibromyalgia and Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy

What is stress?

There are two types of stress:  acute and chronic.

Acute stress: Acute stress is the mind and body’s reaction to a real or imaginary threat. For example, you go out your back door and see a black object coiled by the door. If you are afraid of snakes, and the coiled object is a snake, that will produce acute stress. If you believe that the coiled black object is a snake but it is, in fact, a garden hose, you will still experience acute stress.

Chronic stress: Chronic stress is the result of long term exposure to stressors.  It can be caused by many upsetting factors in our lives which result in strong negative emotions such as  anger, irritation, disappointment, frustration, fear, grief, humiliation, shame, and hurt.  These chronic stressors and negative emotions are often the result of dysfunctional or unhealthy relationships. Chronic stress response  can also be caused by various other traumatic events from our lifetimes such as withholding of love and affection, physical or emotional abuse, molestation, rape, bullying, violation of trust etc.

How does stress cause problems?

Fight or Flight Reflex: Whether the stress is acute or chronic, it causes our bodies to go into a “fight or flight” reflex. This reflex developed in our ancestors during the Stone Age. When they encountered a danger such as a saber tooth tiger, the fight or flight reflex immediately kicked in so they could either fight the tiger or run away from it. When your fight or flight reflex is active, your body releases hormones and chemicals that cause your body’s nervous system to go into high alert. This leads to heightened senses, increased blood pressure, faster breathing, tense muscles, and excess stomach acid. All of these things help a person to fight the danger or flee from it.

Our bodies are wired to slow down and recover after responding to an acute stressor. We no longer have to fight tigers, but consistently responding as if there is acute danger takes a toll on the body, mind, and spirit.

What are the long-term effects of acute and chronic stress?

Long term stress is unhealthy and potentially deadly:   Chronic stress has been associated with anxiety, panic attacks, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), fears, phobias, pain syndromes such as fibromyalgia and reflex sympathetic dystrophy, sleep loss, sleep disorders, sexual dysfunction, accelerated aging of the brain, brain atrophy, cognitive impairment and dementias,  cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, type II diabetes, abdominal obesity, stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, some cancers, and shortened life expectancy.

Please contact me if you have any questions!