Anxiety

Anxiety is one of the most common reasons people seek Hypnotherapy - and it doesn’t always look the way you expect.

For some, it’s a constant background hum of worry. For others, it’s a racing heart before a presentation.

It can show up as overthinking at 2am, avoiding certain places, feeling on edge for no clear reason, or suddenly being hit with intense physical symptoms that feel frightening and overwhelming.

Under the umbrella of anxiety sit many different experiences - from mild but persistent stress, fears and phobias, through to diagnosable anxiety disorders.

However it presents for you, it’s important to know: anxiety is a response and with the right support, you can reduce or eliminate the symptoms.

What Is Anxiety?

At its core, anxiety is your brain's way of trying to protect you.

When your mind perceives a threat (real or imagined), the the 'fight, flight or freeze' system activates. Stress hormones are released, your heart rate increases, breathing changes and your focus narrows. This response is incredibly useful if you’re in danger.

The difficulty comes when that alarm system becomes over-sensitive. In today's world this could be when the brain start reacting to emails, social situations, deadlines, health worries or even intrusive thoughts as though they are life-threatening.

Over time, this can feel exhausting and hard to control.

Common Symptoms of Anxiety

Anxiety can affect you mentally, emotionally and physically.

You might experience:

Constant overthinking or 'what if thoughts
Restlessness or feeling on edge
Muscle tension or jaw clenching
Racing heart or tight chest
Sleep issues
Digestive issues
Avoidance of certain situations
Irritability or emotional overwhelm

For some people, anxiety presents in specific forms, such as:

Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Panic Disorder
Social Anxiety
Health Anxiety
Specific Phobias such as Emetophobia, Claustrophobia, Agoraphobia
OCD-related anxiety patterns
PTSD or CPTSD

When Anxiety Overlaps with Other Conditions

Anxiety doesn't always exist in isolation.

It often sits alongside low mood or depression, and can be closely connected with post-traumatic stress responses or obsessive-compulsive patterns. When these experiences overlap, symptoms can feel more intense, confusing, or harder to untangle alone.

Physical health also plays a role. Chronic pain, long-term medical conditions, hormonal changes such as menopause), and ongoing stress within the body can heighten the nervous system’s sensitivity, making anxiety symptoms stronger or more persistent.

This doesn’t mean things are 'more severe' or unmanageable - it simply means your nervous system may need a more thoughtful, tailored approach. Solution Focused Hypnotherapy works by calming the threat response and strengthening regulation skills, regardless of the combination of factors involved.

Anxiety and Neurodiversity

For adults with ADHD or autism, anxiety can show up in slightly different ways.

Sensory overwhelm, executive functioning challenges, social fatigue, or years of masking can keep the nervous system on high alert. What may look like 'overthinking' or 'avoidance' is often a brain that has been working extremely hard for a very long time.

Neurodiversity is not something to be fixed. Instead, therapy focuses on reducing unnecessary stress within the nervous system and building strategies that work with your brain - not against it.

While the overall Solution Focused Hypnotherapy process remains consistent, I adapt the pace, language and structure of sessions to suit each individual.

How Hypnotherapy helps anxiety

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy works by helping you understand how your brain responds to stress, and more importantly, how to gently retrain it.

Rather than analysing problems repeatedly, we focus on:

How you want to feel instead
What’s already working in your life
Small, realistic shifts that calm the nervous system
Strengthening the rational, thinking part of the brain

Through a combination of practical neuroscience education, solution-focused conversation and guided hypnosis, we help reduce the overactivity in the threat system and build resilience.

Hypnosis itself is a natural, relaxed state that allows the mind to absorb helpful suggestions and create new patterns of response. You remain aware and in control throughout - it simply allows the brain to step out of survival mode and into a calmer state.

Over time, many clients notice:

Reduced physical symptoms
Fewer intrusive thoughts
Improved sleep
Greater emotional balance
Increased confidence in situations that previously felt overwhelming

Medication & Working Alongside Other Support

Some people choose to take medication for anxiety. Others prefer not to. Many combine approaches.

I am not a medical doctor and I do not diagnose conditions or advise on medication. Any decisions regarding prescriptions should always be discussed with your GP or healthcare professional.

However, I regularly work alongside clients who are taking medication, and Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can complement medical treatments beautifully. My role is to support you in strengthening coping strategies, calming the nervous system and building long-term resilience - regardless of the path you choose.

Helpful Blog Articles

If you’d like to understand more about how the brain responds to stress, you may find these helpful:

Ready to Take the First Step?

If anxiety is beginning to limit your life - or even just quietly chip away at your confidence - you don’t have to manage it alone.

I offer a complimentary 20-minute consultation so you can ask questions, understand how Solution Focused Hypnotherapy works, and decide whether it feels like the right fit for you.

You can get in touch here to arrange a call.