Stress

Overview:

Stress isn’t always bad for you.

There are two types of Stress: Eustress which is motivating and Distress which is damaging. 

Most of the time, when we’re talking about Stress we’re referring to the type that feels overwhelming, unmanageable and “too much”.

Stress can be characterised as a reaction to external pressure like a deadline at work, coping with an illness, or moving house. Stress is normally temporary and situation specific. It usually eases off once the external pressure has passed.

If the body's stress response (the sympathetic nervous system) remains constantly activated without the counterbalancing relaxation response (the parasympathetic nervous system) this can lead to serious physical and mental health problems. This imbalance prevents the body from reaching homeostasis, the state of equilibrium, and can develop into Chronic Stress.

Facts:

  • 1 in 9 adults in the UK feel stressed every day.

  • 74% of UK adults have felt so stressed at some point in the past year that they have felt unable to cope.

  • 32% of UK adults have experienced suicidal thoughts due to Stress. 

Symptoms:

Mostly, Stress and Anxiety share the same symptoms. 

For Stress specifically, the most common symptoms include: irritability, anger, fatigue, muscle tension, sleep problems and digestive issues.

There are many more symptoms and the list below is not exhaustive. Symptoms can be present but they do not necessarily indicate Stress. The most important thing is to note any changes in your usual attitude and behaviour.

Physical

Chest pain, tightness, shortness of breath, hyperventilation, heart palpitations, fast breathing, panic attacks

Trembling or shaking

Feeling hot or sweaty

Headaches, feeling dizzy or faint 

Muscle tension

Dry mouth

Increased or decreased appetite

Weight loss or weight gain 

Skin issues including psoriasis

Nausea or vomiting

Upset stomach or digestive issues

Needing the toilet more or less often

Tiredness or fatigue

Changes in sex drive or sexual problems

Insomnia or disturbed sleep 

Disrupted or loss of menstrual cycle

Ulcers

Emotional

Overwhelmed

Frightened 

Dread

Panic

Low mood

Tired 

Withdrawn

Unsociable

Mood swings

Impatient

Unreasonable

Anger outbursts

Low self-esteem or confidence

Tearful

Hopeless

Behavioural

Struggling to look after yourself

Struggling with work

Struggling with relationships

Struggling to try new things

Not enjoying your leisure time

Psychological

Excessive worry

Catastrophising

Feeling on edge or restless

Difficulty concentrating

Difficulty making decisions

Intrusive thoughts

Negative thoughts

Poor concentration

Unable to switch off

Imagining the worst

Looped thoughts

Racing thoughts

Suicidal thoughts

Book a FREE Discovery Call

Book a FREE Discovery Call

How hypnotherapy can help:

  • When you enter the state of hypnosis, your sympathetic nervous system switches off and your parasympathetic nervous system switches on. This enables you to reach homeostasis, the state of equilibrium.

  • You will experience deep relaxation reducing your cortisol levels.

  • You will reframe your stress narrative.

  • You will identify your specific stress triggers, learning how to manage and eliminate them.

  • You will tackle the root cause of your stress.

  • You will complete practical exercises including creating a stress inventory.

  • You will learn reframing, affirmations and positive thinking, replacing stressful thoughts with more constructive ones.

  • You will learn about stress inside and out, putting you in a better position to spot stress warning signs more quickly. 

  • You will be taught relaxation and release techniques.

  • You will learn coping mechanisms including anchoring, colour breathing and self-hypnosis to equip you with in-the-moment stress relief.

  • You will experience ego-strengthening to lift your mood and build a positive sense of self.

  • You will review and revisit stressful memories enabling you to re-code a new stress response. 

  • You will experience age progression and future mapping enabling you to consolidate your new stress response. 

  • You will receive direct suggestions, leveraging your neuroplasticity and encouraging the formation of new neural pathways which is vital for long-lasting change.

Book a FREE Discovery Call

Book a FREE Discovery Call

Transformation in 3 Simple Steps

  1. Discovery Call

20 minutes - Free

2. Initial Consultation

60 minutes - £25

3. Hypnotherapy Session

60 minutes - £85

  • I'd never tried hypnotherapy before and now wish I'd started it sooner. The way Gemma set up and held the space made the whole process feel really safe and relaxed. I have a noisy brain and was sceptical this would work for me but it gave me a proper

    "I'd never tried hypnotherapy before and now wish I'd started it sooner. The way Gemma set up and held the space made the whole process feel really safe and relaxed. I have a noisy brain and was sceptical this would work for me but it gave me a proper break from it in a way that felt truly restorative. Highly recommend."

  • “Working with Gemma has been a truly transformative experience. When I first started therapy, I was overwhelmed by stress and struggling to cope. Through your compassionate and insightful approach, you helped me understand the roots of my stress and gave me practical tools to manage it effectively.”

  • "Gemma was brilliant, from the moment I stepped into the room she made me feel calm and at ease. Any questions I had were answered clearly and she listened carefully and compassionately to me throughout our work together. I can safely say that if you put your all into therapy, you get a whole lot more out of it than you will ever have expected. Thank you Gemma."

  • “Managing and running my own business results in me having a lot of stress and coping with a huge amount of other people’s stresses too. I contacted Gemma about hypnotherapy and whether she thought that may help. I was really impressed with her personal and professional manner throughout our first meeting, instantly grasping what industry I worked in and showing empathy for the areas of life that I found most stressful. Even now in times of stress I still mentally use the green shiny pebble in my pocket creating space and allowing me to breath and realign my thoughts. I would highly recommend Gemma for any hypnotherapy sessions that you may be thinking about.”

  • “I had the privilege of participating in hypnotherapy sessions with Gemma to help me manage stress and the experience truly exceeded my expectations.”

  • “I had a Hypnotherapy session with Gemma to quit smoking. I have been smoke and vape free since the session and haven't felt the need to do so. Gemma did a great job and I'd highly recommend her.”

  • "It was a pleasurable and relaxing experience having hypnotherapy. Gemma is very attentive, professional and engaging."