The Isis Centre

How to cope with the stresses and strains of everyday life.

Of the many diverse issues and problems that are presented to any hypnotherapist or NLP Practitioner, one condition stands out as one of the most common concerns: STRESS!

We’ve all felt it. You know, those times when it all just seems too much. We doubt our ability to cope with what life has dished up. Yet, how do we know we are stressed?

Here are some of the symptoms:

Not sleeping well, eating less or more than normal, digestive problems - indigestion or bloating, feeling anxious or jumpy, or feeling low or down.

Of course, these symptoms seem to add to our burden of feeling over loaded. What can we do to help ourselves? Here are my 7 tried and tested steps:

1. Put things in perspective

Ask yourself what is it about this situation that will really matter in 5 years time? Work out what’s important and concentrate on that. Let go of what isn’t crucial.

2. Clear the clutter

If your surroundings appear chaotic that can rub off on your mind and you won’t see clearly how you can help yourself. The simple act of clearing your space seems to miraculously clear your mind.

3. Organise yourself

If you feel overwhelmed by the amount you have to do - STOP! Take stock. Ask yourself:
a) What exactly needs to be done?
b) What is more important?
c) What could I manage without if I had to?
Then look at your list and place things in order of importance.

4. TAKE ACTION!

Don’t allow problems to build up, they become a burden and weigh heavily in the back of your mind. Instead decide what action you can take to begin to ease your load. Remember, the journey of a thousand miles begins and ends with just one step.

5. Say that little word (No!)

If you find it hard to say ‘no’ practise in low key situations first. You may feel selfish not helping someone out or acquiescing to their demands, but there are times when it is more important to look after yourself and your own needs. It’s what I call being ‘healthily selfish’.

6. Take time out

Take at least 10 minutes to just unwind. Here’s how:
a) Select a relaxing or inspiring piece of music to play
b) Lie on a blanket on the floor (not your bed, as you might fall asleep!)
c) Concentrate your attention on your breathing, and take several slightly deeper breaths. Imagine breathing out all your unnecessary tension with each out breath.
d) Begin to relax each set of muscles, starting with your toes and gradually working your way up your body to your head.
e) Mentally repeat the mantra: ‘I am relaxed’. Don’t try to relax, rather just let relaxation take over.

7. Have fun!

Do something to divert your attention from your troubles. It can be temping to drink excessive amounts of alcohol when you are stressed, but in reality it just makes your situation seem worse. Instead go see a funny or uplifting movie. Enrol in a belly dancing or jive class, or go and see your favourite band.

I hope you find my 7 steps helpful. Let me know! You can comment at the bottom of this article. I’d love to hear from you!

All the best, Christina

One of the consequences of running a hypnotherapy training school is that we are often asked for information or advice on difficult or unusual problems. I was contacted recently by Southern Counties Radio about a lady who had a fear of vegetables. She was unable to handle any vegetables and most fruit, in addition she was not able to say the names of vegetables without causing herself extreme anxiety. So saying ‘cauliflower’ or ‘broccoli’ was something that she had been unable to do for about 40 years.

The radio station asked me to have a hypnotherapy session with her. An interview was transmitted live of us before the session and afterwards. Also BBC South East Today broadcasted a piece about the session in their evening programme.

Krissy* arrived at my clinic with the film crew in a state of high anxiety. They had taken her to a vegetable shop to demonstrate to the viewers just how anxious her reaction was. After the crew left, we were able to settle down to our session.

I used E.F.T. as the first part of my session with her. Before we began I asked her to scale from 1 to 10 her anxiety levels about vegetables. She stated that it was 9 or 10. After two rounds of ‘tapping’ it was down to 2 or 3. That’s a good start to any hypnotherapy session isn’t it?

After this, we talked about the origins of her phobia. Her mother had died when she was 8, her father was ‘always putting her down’ and she had the impression he never really liked her. She also felt he may have blamed her in some way for her mother’s death. Consequently she was sent to various relatives to look after her. One of these was an uncle who owned a vegetable shop. The shop was dark, dingy, and smelly - and so was he! As she used to walk through the shop the smell of vegetables made her feel sick. Of course she was grieving for her mother and also suffering the disruption of the family life she knew. Since that time, her phobia of vegetables developed.

The session of E.F.T. hypnosis and NLP was so successful that she was able to say the names of several vegetables live on air straight after the session without any anxiety. Not only that, but she says how she feels so much better about herself in many ways. She is continuing to make progress and is learning to let go of the past.

After 4 decades of suffering from this phobia, it is extremely satisfying that the skills of hynotherapy and NLP are so effective at releasing Krissy from the prison of her phobic reaction.
The session attracted the interest of the local and national press, and various magazines.

*Krissy has given my kind permission to publish her case details in the hope that it will inspire others who suffer from similar phobias to seek professional help from a qualified hypnotherapist or NLP Practitioner.