When I was 20 years old, I was struggling with acute anxiety and panic attacks. A friend recommended a hypnotherapist he had been seeing with great results so I decided to give it a go.
I still vividly remember sitting on the therapist’s couch, trying to articulate what I was going through and her calm response validating that what I was feeling was completely understandable. She helped me understand that the inner critic telling me ‘you’re not good enough’, ‘you are going to fail’ was something I could take control of, with the right help, so it could not fuel my anxiety any further.
This was my first experience of understanding the power of the sub-conscious mind and how we can actually choose the rhetoric going on inside our own minds. She also taught me invaluable calming techniques that I still use today. After just 3 sessions, the panic attacks stopped, my anxiety eased and I never needed to go back.
Said Alison Scott, Cognitive Hypnotherapist near Marlow, “Preparing for exams is not just about how much cramming of information we can manage – it’s also about our state of mind. Finding ways to relax allows the entire nervous system to calm down, helping to alleviate anxiety. Self-hypnosis techniques can be taught and used when needed, even during an exam.”
And Camilla Ross, Cognitive Hypnotherapist in Beaconsfield said, “Revision and exam preparation can seem like a huge task; sleep is often disrupted yet it is key to helping them process information and feel rested and restored. Using different techniques such as anchoring and visualisation go a long way in helping students feel calm and in control.”.
TOP 5 HYPNOTHERAPY TECHNIQUES FOR EVERY TOOLKIT:
- BREATHWORK – Specific breathing techniques helps students manage their racing heart or other sensations of panic they may feel around or during an exam.
- VISUALISATION – Using this vital tool, students can rehearse the exam and imagine how calm they will feel and how focused they can remain.
- ANCHORING – This technique involves a physical action such as squeezing two fingers together in association with a positive emotion, inducing an immediate sense of calm
- POWER OF SUGGESTION – Specifically created recordings help tap into exactly what their sub-conscious mind needs to hear
- COGNITIVE REFRAMING – In gentle trance, negative thoughts about exams and learning can be reframed and replaced with more empowering ones. Building inner self-belief at this deep level can be life-changing as it affects all areas of life.
If you are seeking further information or support, find our practitioner details as follows:
Camilla Ross – Cognitive Hypnotherapy in Beaconsfield – www.seedwellness.co.uk/camillaross
Alison Scott – Cognitive Hypnotherapy in Marlow – www.seedwellness.co.uk/alisonscott
By Kate Kirrane
