How Hypnotherapy Works for Anxiety Attacks

Hypnotherapy is not part of the mainstream medical treatment medication or psychotherapy. However, it’s a popular alternative treatment for people suffering from various mental conditions like phobias, stress, self-esteem issues, and anxiety attacks.  

What are anxiety attacks?

Persons who suffer from an anxiety disorder often worry excessively over imagined or unrealistic matters. Such a condition can last half a year or more. Also, they exhibit at least three of the following symptoms:

• Easily distracted
• Change in behavior (for example: becoming less social)
• Fatigue or get easily tired
• Irritability or prone to angry outbursts
• Muscle tension
• Restlessness
• Trouble sleeping

Do you suffer from anxiety? If so, you’re not alone since it’s a common mental illness. In the United States, almost 12 percent of the population suffers from some form of anxiety.  

What is hypnotherapy and how can it help?

Hypnotherapy will explore the root cause of your anxiety attacks and find solutions through a combination of: 

• Visualization
• Power of positive suggestion
• Analysis

During this process, you’re in a relaxed, trance-like state. It’s a simple form of self-healing that’s effective and safe.

Contrary to popular belief, you’re in complete control which means you can:

• Stop the session at any time
• Refuse to do anything
• Accept or decline any suggestions

People who’ve undergone hypnotherapy describe it like they've had a dream. They don’t feel "hypnotized," but many feel a sense of euphoria. In reality, you’re in a state of increased awareness. You feel aware of things like:

• Your eyelids are flickering
• Your body feels light or heavy
• You’re experiencing  warm tingling in your hand or feet
• Strange sensations that you can’t feel your body
• Unwillingness to move 
• Reluctance to come out of the relaxed state you’re in
• Time seems to move fast

You may experience some or all of these things. These feelings are normal since your conscious mind is switching to an unconscious state. Even in our daily activities, the subconscious can briefly take over. For example, you have driven and arrived at a familiar place. However, you can’t exactly recall how you got there. Since you’ve driven that route so many times, your subconscious has taken over.  

You also feel relaxed as the tension leaves your body. Such an experience is natural and pleasant. 

How hypnotherapy relieves anxiety attacks

Once you’re in a relaxed and calm state, the hypnotherapist will now bring your attention to your anxiety. They will offer words encouragement to help you deal successfully with anxiety. For example, they can offer suggestions like, "Once you feel an anxiety attack is coming, you’ll pause. Take a few deep breaths, and the anxiety will fade away."    

During the session, you may soon discover why you’re feeling anxious and how to deal with situations that can trigger such an occurrence.   

Who is qualified to provide hypnotherapy treatment? 

If you’re considering hypnotherapy as a treatment for anxiety attacks, choose a hypnotherapist who’s also:

• A psychologist, counsellor, doctor, or has a medical and healthcare background
• Registered to an organization that’s accredited by governmental agencies

The role of the hypnotherapist is to use hypnosis to guide in getting anxiety under control quickly. Also, the session will ensure that the solutions to your anxiety are both manageable and sustainable. The goal of hypnotherapy is to better equip you in handling anxiety. Since part of your treatment may include self-hypnosis, you no longer have to rush to the hypnotherapist whenever anxiety attacks come on.    

When considering anxiety attack treatments, you’ll first need to consult with your physician or healthcare provider. Hypnotherapy is effective but may prove unsuitable to some individuals. Certain mental conditions may not do well with hypnotherapy. Better to ask for a doctor’s advice to find out if you’re suitable for hypnosis treatment.   

Conclusion

Anxiety is a common disorder. Fortunately, hypnotherapy can provide a non-invasive treatment that doesn’t require the taking of expensive drugs. The hypnotherapist will use a combination of tools to find the cause of the anxiety. Afterward, you’ll receive a series of "suggestions" to counter those anxious feelings. Also, after a session or two, many people find they can also use self-hypnosis then they feel anxiety is starting to set in.