Hypnotherapy for Anxiety?

[98elise]

My daughter (15) started getting full blown anxiety attacks about 6 months ago. as part of that we've found out she really has trouble communicating with anyone outside her comfort zone. She can't even speak to a shop assistant or waitress. This is more of a full time anxiety in her life rather then an attack.

We're on the waiting list to see a mental health specialist through the school, however I was wondering if anyone has tried hypnotherapy. On Radio 2 this morning one of Chris Evans team had a snake phobia and today was able to touch a snake (after a week of treatment). The therapist was telling him to think of deep blue, so it seemed to be about calming thoughts to keep the anxiety down.

Have you or anyone you know tried this approach, and how long does it take?

[NorthDave]

I had hypnotherapy for claustrophobia and found it to be good. I can generally calm myself down by focusing on my breathing when in a position I am not comfortable with.

I also found the whole process fascinating. It doesn't cost a huge amount in the scheme of things so I would say to give it a go.

[CubanPete]

Don't know about hypnotherapy, but have had success with CBT.

There are various organisations that are pretty easy to access without long waiting lists. (Positive Step in Somerset).

[CubanPete]

As posted above, it was genuinely interesting too (I did a 6 weeks course, I think each session was a couple of hours long), learning about why the body behaves in certain ways, and how start to address the effects. It was free if that matters.

[98elise]

Thanks for the replies. I think I may give it a go as the we've been on the waiting list for ages.

I think the main thing is to get her over her general anxiety first. She does a lot of performing arts so has the confidence to be on stage singing dancing and acting, so it was really odd when she admitted she couldn't talk to strangers.

[Willy Nilly]

It would probably be a good idea to get to the bottom of what is causing the anxiety and get some coping strategies to help her cope in stressful situations. As she's a teenager, how open is she to talking to you or her mum about it and listening to suggestions for counselling or hypnotherapy? She'll do well to nip this fker in the bud before it ends up holding her back any more.

Which ever you and her choose, she'll probably always be a worrier, but hopefully will learn how to manage it and use it to her advantage, rather than letting it rule her life and stop her doing what she wants to do.

[AMLK]

If you can afford it then I would say anything is worth trying.
My daughter suffers from major anxieties, but a lot of this is relating to her autism. She under went a group CBT course last year through CAMHS. Unfortunately this hasn't seemed to help her, but I think that is more due to how the course was run as none of they children seem to improve (we met up 3 months after).
I am attending a course today called 'generalised anxiety and panic attacks'. I will report back if I learn anything worth while.

[Spuffington]

I've had hypnotherapy for anxiety (general) as well as for fear of heights and claustrophobia (both pretty much linked).

Within a few sessions I was able to calm myself down. After about 8 I have been pretty much fully cured. There's a tiny bit of my brain which sometimes feels like it's trying to trigger something but there's nothing there anxiety wise which responds. Best way I can describe is like pulling the trigger with an empty gun barrel. You expect a response but the issue (the bullet) isn't there anymore.

I saw a fella near the Lee Valley - very happy to recommend if you're close by. I go back every now and again if I have an issue which is getting to me and I'm struggling to process and he pretty much solves it in a session or two.

[98elise]

Willy Nilly said:

It would probably be a good idea to get to the bottom of what is causing the anxiety and get some coping strategies to help her cope in stressful situations. As she's a teenager, how open is she to talking to you or her mum about it and listening to suggestions for counselling or hypnotherapy? She'll do well to nip this fker in the bud before it ends up holding her back any more.

Which ever you and her choose, she'll probably always be a worrier, but hopefully will learn how to manage it and use it to her advantage, rather than letting it rule her life and stop her doing what she wants to do.

The full blown attacked (breathing problems etc) have been triggered by her O Levels.

The underlying fear of talking to "strangers" just seems to be that's she's never developed the ability to talk to people outside her comfort zone.

We only realise as she got older and would freeze when put on the spot like being asked if she wanted a refill in a restaurant.

[98elise]

Spuffington said:

I've had hypnotherapy for anxiety (general) as well as for fear of heights and claustrophobia (both pretty much linked).

Within a few sessions I was able to calm myself down. After about 8 I have been pretty much fully cured. There's a tiny bit of my brain which sometimes feels like it's trying to trigger something but there's nothing there anxiety wise which responds. Best way I can describe is like pulling the trigger with an empty gun barrel. You expect a response but the issue (the bullet) isn't there anymore.

I saw a fella near the Lee Valley - very happy to recommend if you're close by. I go back every now and again if I have an issue which is getting to me and I'm struggling to process and he pretty much solves it in a session or two.

Thsnks, I wanted to hear that other people had success with hypnotherapy. I think it's worth at least investing is a couple of sessions and we how it goes.

We're in Kent and there are a couple of therapists nearby.

[HybridAero]

Try Niacin 500 mg, works wonders for my anxiety.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUDIhevOmg4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnaQtvqYCok

https://www.healthmonthly.co.uk/swanson_niacin_1

[Willy Nilly]

Just had thought OP, when men that are no good at pulling women on here ask for help, it's been suggested to them to read this https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/cka/Game-Neil-Strauss/1... . Now, obviously you're isn't getting anxious about going on the pull, but the basic jist of the book is to get people out of their comfort zone. One little snippet I liked was simply getting used to talking to people by talking to everyone and anyone, the checkout lady, the postman etc and being the first one to smile and talk.

[PositronicRay]

It helped me, I came back from my 1st session in a very relaxed ethereal state. I was taught relaxation techniques which I practised after work, and helped with a decent nights sleep.

[Dgr90]

OP, feel free to pm me if you want a chat about it, I have experiene with anxiety. For me, it spread to all aspects of my life until I didnt leave the house for 7 months. I had a brilliant CBT therapist that came to me once a week, starting gently and progressing to standing on the doorstep, on to the end of the road, to the shops etc. I had terrible panic attacks, being sick and fainting, at some points I was sure it had progressed to a heart attack as the pressure and pain in my chest was immense. I still struggle with leaving the town that I live in but I am confident that as time passes I will get past that. I have gone from complete shut in to having a job (2nd shift is tonight) so it can be beaten, no matter how all encompassing it seems at the time.

[OMNIO]

HybridAero said:

Try Niacin 500 mg, works wonders for my anxiety.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUDIhevOmg4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnaQtvqYCok

https://www.healthmonthly.co.uk/swanson_niacin_1

I have nothing to add about hypnotherapy but thank you for this suggestion. Thought I'd give it a go and for the last two days I have woken up and not felt sick for the first time in almost a decade. My mind also feels more "at ease".

[Downward]

OMNIO said:

HybridAero said:

Try Niacin 500 mg, works wonders for my anxiety.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUDIhevOmg4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnaQtvqYCok

https://www.healthmonthly.co.uk/swanson_niacin_1

I have nothing to add about hypnotherapy but thank you for this suggestion. Thought I'd give it a go and for the last two days I have woken up and not felt sick for the first time in almost a decade. My mind also feels more "at ease".

Can this be used with prescription ssri's ?

Is it just like vitamin b supplements ?

[mr_spock]

Look into NLP. It seems great for these kind of phobias, also very fast to get results. A good NLP practitioner will use a kind of hypnosis as a way to make it more effective.