Looking Beyond the Symptoms with Hypnotherapy

 




An individual’s mental health is experienced in the present but is influenced by the past, and informs future behaviour.

Analytical approaches to Hypnotherapy view the symptoms as an outward expression of past behaviour. The symptoms are what is happening in the present, but are reflections of past experiences and the effect they had on the individual.

When we approach understanding mental health in this way, we accept that symptoms are not the root cause of the problem. They are a response to difficulties that mirror their experience.

The person who experienced disrupted early years may not have had the opportunity to learn what stable and consistent care/love looks and feels like. In later life, they may find it difficult to form long-lasting and meaningful relationships or develop anxiety in social settings. These symptoms are a reaction to those early years.

Alternatively, if a child's formative years were carefully managed to prevent distress. They were shielded them from the typical emotional upheaval of growing up, ensuring that the child experiences little if any challenge. In later life, the adult finds it difficult to cope with life changes and daily hassles. They have little experience to fall back on. The distress they feel as an adult from an ability to cope is a reaction to those past experiences.

Why Does Emotional Understanding Matter?

Now, you may say that I do understand the origins of my behaviour, but I am referring to the depth of understanding. Understanding our present behaviour requires us to examine how we interpreted the originating experiences at the time and the emotions that were created.

It is also important to remember that thinking about mental health in this way, is not denying the importance or distress that is being caused by the symptoms. The symptoms can and should be eased where possible, but I’d argue, in addition to a greater understanding of the originating behaviours.

Emotional understanding involves recognising how we felt about events at the time regardless of how we may interpret them now. Thinking through (processing) and releasing the bottled-up emotion from the time, gives the person insight into why they developed their symptoms.

With that insight, the symptoms are redundant. The mind does not need to use the symptoms as an outlet anymore. The individual is free to be able to establish more helpful ways of responding to the world.

It’s asking: 

What happened to lead you to this point, rather than focusing only on what’s happening now?

David treats clients at Kettering Osteopaths and Oundle Osteopaths. You can contact him for a free initial consultation on 07429 522 723 or visit www.ketteringhypnotherapy.com

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