Beyond The Swinging Watch - Hypnosis and Psychology in Everyday Life

  In 1977, Albert Bandura proposed an idea that your results are not a result of skill, they are dictated by what you believe, you can do. It was termed "The self-efficacy code.” Students, athletes, white/blue collar workers and leaders were studied. The were matched for the same intelligence, available resources and opportunities It was observed that people with talent failed while those without it succeeded. The difference wasn't ability. Why? Some people attempted challenges. Others avoided them entirely. Some persisted after failure. Others quit immediately. The outcome wasn't dictated by skill, it was the pattern of belief. Not positive thinking, Not confidence. A deeper belief: "Can I handle this?” Bandura suggested belief in your ability shapes your behaviour before reality. What you believe you can do determines what you try. What you try determines what you become. He called this belief Self-Efficacy. What behaviour does self-efficacy shape? What challenges y...

  How many times have you heard the advice: ’Just think positive’? It’s the ‘just’ part that bothers me the most. If changing negative thinking was a simple as just thinking positively, wouldn’t everyone do that? The act of challenging negative thinking is tough because it requires an individual to reappraise how they believe things are. It means having to change position in the our mental argument. We become fixed on a way of thinking and it shapes our expectations. Giving up what we have spent time mentally building and then admitting acknowledging there are more useful ways to think about things, is not easy. Take one look at a social media post about politics and you will get all the evidence you need to support just how difficult it is for people to consider a different point of view! Positivity has to be grounded in reality if it is to begin to change negative thinking. No amount of me thinking positively is going help someone run a marathon this afternoon, but using it to su...

  All through our life we amass different experiences; some pleasant and others we would rather forget, and occasionally we can struggle to let something go.  An unpleasant incident from our past can creep back into our thoughts at the most unhelpful moments and sometimes stop us in our tracks.  Most of the time we can rationalise these instances and accept them for what they were, but what happens when making it rational doesn’t seem to help? Consider someone experiencing a serious car accident, a broken relationship or the loss of someone close to them. Our way of coping is to rationalise them and make sense of the experience, which is usually achieved through social support . We talk about it with our friends and families, and this process of sharing the problem helps to halve it! We think about it, talk about it and make sense of it. Most of the time this is all that is needed. Slowly we overcome the feelings associated with the experience and get back on with the bu...

  “I know what happened and yet I still can’t get past it!” This one comment describes the purpose of analytical therapy and why it's important to address the emotional impact of trauma. True recovery from trauma, and the symptoms it creates, is only really achieved when two distinct types of understanding are achieved: Intellectual Understanding  Emotional Understanding  Intellectual Understanding refers to the knowledge of what happened and/or the events that led up to and are contained within the trauma. They are the facts of situation. what actually happened. The events are often describe in a narrative form. The events may be recent or from many years previously, but they are recounted as a description of what happened. Emotional Understanding refers to knowledge of what emotions the traumatic events created at the time. It includes the interpretations we gave to circumstances at the time. The emotion response to the events may be very different than compared to...

  With our increasingly busy lives, relaxation can often feel like a luxury. It becomes something that we aim to do when we have more time, but ironically it is the very thing that we should be planning for and including as a regular part of our everyday lives. Learning relaxation techniques and using them frequently can be effective in taking charge of many common stresses and worries we experience in everyday life. The more stressed we are the less able we are to cope and think positively. This can lead to being stuck in a cycle of negative thinking which prevents a person being able to achieve the things they would like. Hypnosis is an ideal way of benefiting from relaxation and encouraging a more positive attitude. Hypnosis is best described as focused relaxation. The deep relaxation, allows a person to be able to suggest a more positive way of thinking, encouraging a positive effect on their behaviour. Suggestion Therapy using Hypnosis is a way to re-programme the way we cope ...

  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 th...

  Anxiety is a common experience that affects millions of people worldwide. While it can serve a useful purpose by alerting us to potential dangers, chronic anxiety can lead to a range of long-term impacts that significantly affect an individual’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being. As a Hypnotherapist, I often work with clients struggling with anxiety. Mental Health Challenges Living with chronic anxiety can increase the risk of developing other mental health disorders. Anxiety often coexists with conditions such as depression, panic disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The persistent worry and fear can lead to feelings of hopelessness, isolation, and sadness. Over time, this can result in a downward spiral of mental health, making it more challenging to manage anxiety and contributing to a complex interplay of symptoms that can be overwhelming. Physical Health Consequences The long-term effects of anxiety aren’t limited to mental health; they can also manif...

In my practice as a Hypnotherapist, I often emphasise the power of self-hypnosis and auto-suggestion. These techniques are not just tools for relaxation; they can significantly enhance your mental and emotional well-being. Understanding the benefits of learning self-hypnosis and auto-suggestion can help you take charge of your life and improve your overall quality of life. Stress Reduction and Relaxation One of the most immediate benefits of self-hypnosis is its ability to improve relaxation. In our fast-paced lives, stress can become overwhelming. Self-hypnosis allows you to relax in a focused way, helping to reduce stress and tension. This can lead to improved mental clarity and emotional stability, making it easier to handle daily challenges. Enhanced Focus and Concentration Learning self-hypnosis can improve your ability to concentrate. By training your mind to focus on specific suggestions or goals, you can enhance your productivity and attention span. This is particularly benefi...

  Healthy self-esteem is essential for personal growth and well-being. In my practice as a Hypnotherapist, I often help individuals enhance their self-worth. Recognising the signs of healthy self-esteem can empower you to cultivate a more positive self-image.  Here are some key indicators: • Self-Acceptance: Acknowledging both strengths and weaknesses without harsh self-judgment. • Setting Boundaries: Understanding personal needs and asserting them effectively. • Resilience: Bouncing back from setbacks and viewing failures as opportunities for growth. • Positive Outlook: Maintaining an optimistic perspective and focusing on solutions rather than problems. • Effective Communication: Comfortably expressing thoughts and emotions, fostering open and honest dialogue in relationships. • Mutual Respect: Valuing oneself and others, creating supportive and healthy connections. • Intrinsic Motivation: Pursuing goals and interests aligned with personal values, rather than seeking ...

Overthinking is where individuals dwell excessively on situations, problems, or potential outcomes. While occasional reflection and planning can be productive, overthinking becomes a problem when it leads to stress, indecision, and emotional exhaustion. In its extreme form, overthinking can create a mental loop where the same thoughts repeat endlessly without resolution, trapping people in a cycle of worry, doubt, and anxiety. The Effects of Overthinking When overthinking becomes chronic, it can have negative consequences on both mental and physical well-being. Here are some key effects: 1. Increased Anxiety: Overthinking amplifies worries and negative thoughts, which can fuel anxiety. Instead of focusing on solutions, people caught in the habit of overthinking tend to fixate on worst-case scenarios, creating feelings of fear and dread about the future. 2. Indecision and Paralysis: Over-analysing every possible outcome can lead to "analysis paralysis." This is the inability...

Being "triggered" refers to experiencing an intense emotional or physical reaction, often linked to past trauma, when exposed to certain stimuli. These stimuli, known as "triggers," can vary widely and may include specific sounds, smells, places, or even words that remind a person of their previous painful experiences.  When someone is triggered, their mind and body react as if they are re-experiencing that trauma, even if they are not consciously aware of the connection. This can manifest as anxiety, panic attacks, anger, or other intense emotional responses. How Triggers Develop When someone experiences trauma, their brain sometimes stores the memory of the event in an altered way, especially if it wasn't properly processed at the time. The brain remains hyper-vigilant, scanning the environment for any sign of danger that resembles a traumatic event. This leads to seemingly innocuous stimuli becoming triggers, bringing back the emotions, thoughts, and physical...

  An individual’s mental health is experienced in the present but is influenced by the past, and informs future behaviour. Analytical approaches to psychotherapy 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. It Works For Both Positive And Negative Causes and Effects The person who experienced disrupted caregiving during their 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, imagine if a child'...

  What Is Meant By The Term Psychological Resilience? There are many definitions of reliance, but we could settle for the ability to be able to cope, adapt, recover and learn from life’s challenges. Coping usually refers to being able to ‘sit with’ unpleasantness/distress with the knowledge that you can weather that storm and things will improve. This particular interpretation and response to difficult circumstances makes us less likely to become overwhelmed. Adapting to stresses is a helpful aspect of resilience. It refers to altering your behaviour (and interpretation of events) about the demands of the circumstances. A lack of resilience leads us to respond in the same way: “Because that’s what I always do”. Linked to this is the ability to learn from events which of course informs how you adapt to future stressful experiences. That knowledge will also strengthen your ability to cope with further unpleasantness. Once all these elements are in play, your ability to recover from s...

  Your heart is beating alarmingly quickly, and you become aware that you are breathing more rapidly. It’s like you are struggling for air. You can feel a tightness in the chest with hot or cold flushes; feeling rooted to the spot.  Sound familiar? These symptoms are what we commonly call an anxiety attack. Anxiety can appear in many different forms and situations, and in most cases, it is very difficult for the sufferer to explain. What's The Difference Between Stress and Anxiety Stress and anxiety are different. Stress is a response to external pressures. We feel agitated and unhappy and can attribute it to external things: work, relationships and financial issues. We know they cause stress (rather than anxiety) because when our external circumstances change, stress symptoms change also.  Anxiety creates the same symptoms, but the stress comes from within a person’s mind. They feel the same nervousness, anger and agitation, but it remains even when external circumstance...

  A problem shared is a problem halved, isn’t that how the saying goes?  When something is on your mind and you're struggling to figure out which direction to take, talking it through with someone often helps you find a way out of the dilemma. What appeared to be an obstacle shrinks when you have put it into words. Why? When we talk about something, we adapt our understanding of it. Talking about something out loud means we have to slow down and think about it differently rather than having thoughts racing around our mind. Speaking about something forces us to think things through so we understand things differently; we have processed them. Processing means understanding. We understand something about the circumstances and ourselves. Something happens, and we have to understand what happened and the effect it did or did not have on us. When a person has experienced a significant event, particularly a life change, they will have to process what happened or is still happening...

The demands of the situation are greater than our perceived ability to cope   What does this tell us? Stress is not simply about the demands of the circumstances it's about whether we believe we can cope with those demands. This helps to explain why one person may find it difficult to deal with stressful events while another copes with the same circumstances comparatively easy. They perceive their ability to cope differently. How we think about stressful events influences how we cope. The way we think about stress is influenced by several factors: 1: Our previous experience dealing with stress - If you are used to dealing with stress and have found it easy to manage the psychological and physical effects in the past, you are more likely to have a positive expectation of your ability to cope with current stress. 2: The stressful situation is predictable - If you expected that stressful events were imminent, you are more able to prepare both psychologically and practically to d...

To stop smoking is the easiest thing you can do in the world - as soon as you are in the right frame of mind.  That's why Hypnotherapy can make it so easy to stop smoking. Whenever someone consults me about wanting to stop smoking I always ask myself two questions:  Why Hypnotherapy? Why now?  These are the two most important questions to ask yourself because stopping smoking comes down to belief. Your belief in being a natural non-smoker for good! Most people have tried lots of different ways to stop smoking, from nicotine patches and gum to willpower alone. Each time most people find it difficult to succeed because with each of these methods you have to keep thinking about the very thing they don’t want to do in order to not do it! Why Willpower Alone is likely to fail... Take the example of using willpower alone. In order for it to work, you keep thinking: “I won’t smoke. I’m not smoking.” You are thinking about cigarettes, they seem to always be on your mind. The rea...

  What’s the difference between feeling stressed and feeling anxious? It can be easy to confuse the two, especially when they become muddled together. Think of stress as a normal response to the pressures of the circumstances. It usually occurs when we perceive the demands of the situation are more significant than we are able to cope with. The important thing is stress is logical (while unpleasant) given the situation.  Ask yourself: is it logical that I should feel the pressure given these particular circumstances? Stress is usually short-term if we have the correct coping experience to know how to deal with the demand placed upon us. We adapt and reassess the situation and the stress response reduces because we have changed our perception of our ability to cope. Where our experience of coping is limited or our natural resilience has waned, the stress response can continue. If this is left unchecked, it can lead to burnout. Anxiety is a very similar physical and psychologica...

  Do you know the difference between feeling stressed and feeling anxious? It can be so easy to get the two confused, especially when they can become muddled together. Think of stress as a normal response to the pressures of the circumstances. It usually occurs when we perceive the demands of the situation are greater than we are able to cope with. The important thing is stress is logical (while unpleasant) given the circumstances. Ask yourself: is it logical that I should feel the pressure given these particular circumstances, right now? Stress is usually short-term if we have the correct coping experiencing to know how to deal with the demands of the circumstances. We adapt, reassess the situation and the stress response reduces because we have changed our perception of our ability to cope. Where our experience of coping is limited or our natural resilience has waned, the stress response can continue. If this is left unchecked, it can lead to burnout. Anxiety is a very similar...

  Ever wondered why one person develops an anxiety condition and another doesn’t? Some people have phobias while other’s don’t. One person may suffer terribly from depression, and the next person never has to fight against the same emotional numbness. In years gone by, we might have described this as having trouble with their nerves or being highly strung, but that's a description of how they are, not WHY they are so. A description of symptoms is not an explanation. If you were to ask the person suffering from anxiety WHY they had that problem, they might shrug their shoulders and say: “That’s just the way I am.” Others might explain: “I know where it all began. I was trapped in the cupboard under the stairs as a child and I was terrified." If you were to ask why they think that caused the claustrophobia, they might look puzzled as if you hadn’t understood their explanation. Lots of people get stuck in cupboards or enclosed spaces when they are playing as children, do they all...