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Therapy With Craig

Welcome to Hypnotherapy for Spider Phobia (Arachnophobia) and Fear of Spiders 

My journey into becoming a hypnotherapist started as a result of needing to find ways to manage my own anxiety. 

Firstly, I became fascinated with meditation as this provided me with the much-needed relief from the experience of anxiety on a day-to-day basis.   As a result of this, I wanted to learn more about how the brain, mind, and body were working and then ultimately, how I could help others with their experiences too.

Approaching a decade of working with clients predominantly in the field of anxiety, depression, trauma and chronic pain,  I understand that these things don't start when you wake up one morning - as they didn't for me.  

I firmly believe that learning about what anxiety actually is and why our minds and bodies can react in this way, is as important as the therapeutic work itself.  I have added some information to this page about anxiety that I hope you find useful 

Craig Fookes, Clinical Hypnotherapist and Mindfulness Instructor

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Hypnotherapy For Anxiety

Is Hypnotherapy For Anxiety right for me? 

Are you tired of feeling anxious and overwhelmed all the time? Do you struggle to manage your emotions and find yourself avoiding certain situations or people? Hypnotherapy could be the solution you've been looking for.


If you're struggling with anxiety, you're not alone. Anxiety can impact anyone at any time, and it can be overwhelming and debilitating. While medication and talk therapy can be helpful, many people are seeking alternative therapies to help manage their symptoms. Hypnotherapy is one such alternative that has shown promising results in treating anxiety.


Hypnotherapy uses guided relaxation and focused attention to help you enter a trance-like state. While in this state, you're more receptive to suggestion and can work with your therapist to explore the root causes of your anxiety and develop strategies for managing it. 


This can include techniques like visualization, positive affirmations, and deep breathing exercises, amongst many other techniques and practices. 


At our practice, we specialize in using hypnotherapy to help our clients overcome anxiety and related issues. Our experienced hypnotherapists will work with you to uncover the root causes of your anxiety, develop personalized treatment plans, and guide you through powerful hypnosis sessions designed to reduce stress and promote calmness.


With hypnotherapy, you can learn to retrain your mind and change negative thought patterns that contribute to anxiety. You'll gain tools and techniques to manage your emotions and improve your overall mental and emotional wellbeing.


If you're ready to take control of your anxiety and live a more peaceful life, contact us today to schedule a consultation. We look forward to helping you achieve your goals.

What is Anxiety?

What is Anxiety? 

Feeling Anxious is a complex emotion that can be described as a feeling of apprehension or fear about the future, often accompanied by physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, sweating, and muscle tension.

In the context of psychology, anxiousness and some anxiety, is considered a normal and adaptive response to stress or danger, but when it becomes chronic or excessive, it can interfere with daily life. 


The brain structures involved in anxiety include the amygdala, which is responsible for processing emotions, particularly fear, and the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in decision-making and regulating emotional responses. The amygdala plays a crucial role in the fear response by triggering the release of stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, and activating the sympathetic nervous system, which leads to physical symptoms of anxiety.


The nervous system also plays a key role in anxiety, with the sympathetic nervous system responsible for the "fight or flight" response, and the parasympathetic nervous system responsible for calming the body down after a stressful event. In individuals with anxiety disorders, the sympathetic nervous system may become overactive, leading to chronic stress and heightened anxiety symptoms.


Overall, anxiety is a complex emotion that involves a range of psychological, brain, and nervous system factors. Understanding these factors can help individuals with anxiety develop effective coping strategies and treatment approaches.

What Causes Anxiety In The First Place?

What Causes Anxiety?

My personal belief is the biggest factor in determining if someone will develop anxiety in later life is their psychology:- 

  • how they think about things 
  • how they think about themselves 
  • how they think about their relationships 
  • how they think about the future 
  • also, the experiences that they have had over the course of the lifetime
That's the great thing about Hypnotherapy for Anxiety, as it can help someone to change their thought patterns and even re-shape how they feel about the experiences that they have had over the course of their life. 

I believe that there is a strong link to anxiety and earlier emotional challenges, particularly in childhood.  That doesn't necessarily have to mean abuse or neglect, although sadly for many people this is the case.  

It can simply mean that things happened at a time in your life before you had the life experience to understand them fully.  

There are of course, physiological reasons that can exacerbate the symptoms and experience of anxiety.  For example it is known that those going through menopause and also those with Thyroid issues are more prone to experiencing symptoms of anxiety.

It is important to keep in mind - Anxiety isn't simply your thoughts.  It is a full-body experience that your nervous system, cardiovascular system, respiratory system, endocrine (hormonal) systems and digestive systems all have a role to play in the experience of Anxiety.  

You can't just stop thinking anxious thoughts; it doesn't work like that. 

If you would like to learn more, read more about Hypnotherapy For Anxiety below or by clicking here 

Read More About Hypnotherapy For Anxiety Below

Or if you would like to get in touch, please click the button to contact us

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Hypnotherapy provided in a comfortable, inviting, and homely setting in Colchester, Essex

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What About Social Anxiety?

It is perfectly understandable to have some level of apprehension about doing anything new, for the first time, or something that you don't feel confident or initially comfortable doing.  This is a natural response to new things and it's part of the brain's defence "mechanisms" to make sure that you are concentrating, alert, and focused.


Imagine if we all felt perfectly at-ease and relaxed in new situations? What would job interviews, first dates, work presentations look like?  This level of anxiousness is an important part of life as it helps us to focus and give the necessary attention to very important things that are going on in our lives.


However...


Social anxiety is a type of anxiety characterised by intense fear, nervousness, and discomfort in social situations. 


Individuals with social anxiety may experience anxiety and self-consciousness in social situations, such as public speaking, meeting new people, or participating in group activities. They may fear being judged or embarrassed in front of others, and may avoid social situations or endure them with significant distress. 


Social anxiety can interfere with daily activities, relationships, and quality of life.


Read more about the types of thoughts that people have in the section on intrusive thoughts below...

When I experience Anxiety, I have lots of Intrusive Thoughts, can Hypnotherapy help?
Common thought patterns for those experiencing Anxiety

- I'm not good enough
- I think bad things are going to happen all the time
- It needs to be perfect and it's not
- I can't ask for help 
- I can't let anyone know how I actually feel
- People are talking about me
- People look at me in a strange way
- People think badly about me
- I just want to help people
- I can never do enough for people

Hypnotherapy for Anxiety can help to change this patterns of thought very quickly!  Imagine how you might feel if you go in to a situation thinking differing about yourself, the other people, how you relate to them and understanding that you are an equal to them. 
 
Are Panic Attacks the same as Anxiety. Can Hypnotherapy help with Panic Attacks?

For anyone that experiences or has experienced a panic attack, you have my greatest sympathy. 


When I think back to my own personal experiences of them in the past, I can easily recall how physically debilitating, painful, and truly terrifying they can be.  Also, that there always seemed to be a period of recovery time afterwards when I felt fatigued, "brain-foggy", and emotionally depleted.


I wonder if that might resonate with you?


Think of it this way...


I believe that for anyone that experiences anxiety, sometimes it is necessary to "push-through" and continue living your life on a day-to-day basis.  However... We can ignore our anxiety and continue to push-through when we shouldn't.  Our brain is trying to communicate something to us about the situation we find ourselves in and "it" (our brain's) believes that we are in immediate danger of some sort - whether it is true or not, it really doesn't matter!  


Our subconscious mind instructs our body to start to freeze and we get the feeling of shutting down. 


Hypnotherapy for anxiety and panic attacks can help your mind to unlearn the whatever it is that is causing this situation to arise in the first place. 

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Get In Touch Today to discuss Hypnotherapy for Anxiety 

If you are ready to have an initial chat about how working together and a course of hypnotherapy sessions for anxiety might help you, then please do get in touch via the button below

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Email Address

craig@therapywithcraig.co.uk

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