Dorset

Overcoming Dental Fear with Hypnotherapy

by

Does the thought of visiting your dentist fill you with dread, fear or anxiety? This is a highly common problem that many of us suffer without resolution throughout our lives. Some can manage it of course, but for those of us that can’t, then Hypnotherapy can be a very powerful way to manage your thoughts and feelings regarding the whole process and allow you to get the treatment you need with the least amount of stress.

Phobias in general can often be dismissed as a sort of weird thing; people can be phobic of just about anything. For those of us that suffer with a Phobia, can literally be in fear of their lives.

So why does this happen?

Well, the dictionary will define a phobia as something that is an irrational fear of an object or circumstance. However, fear can be perfectly rational. If we are confronted with a charging rhinoceros for example, it would be perfectly acceptable to be afraid. Our fight or flight response kicks in, so that we might save ourselves.

If our distant ancestors experienced a life-or-death situation, they needed a way to ensure their survival. Imagine if one of our ancestors is ambushed by a sabre-toothed tiger. If they escaped, they might associate the rustle of tall grasses with a fear response in future preparing the body for a fight or flight.

Unfortunately, this learned response can be inexact, meaning that as people we can’t afford for the exact circumstances of the first attack to happen, before we trigger the fear response, because that might be too late. So, we can continue to irrationally process the similar circumstances, such as rustling of tall grass.

The same can be true of visiting the dentist. Rationally we know we will be well looked after by a professional, but on an unconscious level our fight or flight response is being triggered.

Hypnotherapy can help here, because it can relax the mind to a state where we can alter the way the mind processes the association with a visit to the dentist. We can reduce the threat response. This is also true for other phobias, we just need to re inform the subconscious mind that it is ok, to reimagine a visit to the dentist without the trauma or stress.

Phobias are never necessary; they cause distress, drain energy and stop people living full lives. Nobody should have to live with them.

If this sounds like something that might help you, please get in touch and we can start the process of making the situation manageable for you.

Overcoming Anxiety: How Solutions Change Your Mindset

by

It may seem an obvious notion that by finding solutions to our problems we would immediately start to relieve worry and anxiety that can build up in us over time. However, for many suffering with anxiety often all we can see are the problems, and the idea of finding a solution can sometimes seem insurmountable.

The important thing to be aware of here is that when we look to find a solution, however big or small, we switch to a more positive part of our brain, the pre-frontal cortex. This is the part that is unique to humans, and where we are at our best. It is very difficult to feel both stressed and anxious while be completely present in thinking of ways to make solutions.

Think about that for a moment!

We can be anxious one minute, think of a solution and then go back to feeling anxious, but what we can’t do is feel both at the same time. The more time we spent focusing on thinking of solutions, the more time we spend away from our anxious feelings. Then when we find a solution and apply it, we have achieved something that makes us feel good.

So, with this information we learn that it is sensible to dedicate some time each day to sit down, break down our problems and try and come up with a solution. We may know what we want to achieve ultimately, but what we don’t sometimes apply is the idea that when problems are too large, we may need several steps to break this down, and so part of the solution might be just a very small thing that leads to the ultimate resolution.

If you are having trouble with this process, Solution Focused Therapy or Counselling is a very useful modality in which you can start this process for yourself. Solution Focused Therapy uses a variety of techniques, tools and questions that help refocus the mind to help you step away from your problems. Over time and with practise this then becomes your new normal.

Sounds like you?

Reach out and take the first step on the journey to finding your resolution.