Are you one of those people who hate social gatherings because they make you anxious and lack confidence? Social anxiety is more than just being shy with other people.
Lots of people tell me how their lives are so uncomfortable when they get asked out to parties and other social gatherings.
Hypnotherapy for anxiety or a combination of hypnotherapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) might be your solution.
What is social anxiety, and how can it impact your life?
Social anxiety isn’t just a one-off event. It is an anxious feeling that happens regularly over more than six months.
Social anxiety can affect people’s lives in many ways. One of the first things people with social anxiety do is to avoid the situation because they are fearful that they will be judged, say something out of place or not know what to say.
People think they won’t be interesting to others and worry that they might behave incorrectly.
Continued worries about socialising can result in avoidance strategies where there are many people or new people.
Although everyone worries a little when meeting new people or going to new places, social anxiety, also called social phobia, is an excessive and irrational fear.
According to DSM 5, social anxiety is a
Marked fear or anxiety about one or more social situations in which the individual is exposed to possible scrutiny by others.
When faced with a social anxiety situation, you may feel:
- frightened or scared
- lack confidence
- have negative thoughts
- an increased heart rate
- feeling sweaty
- get hot or blush
- get a dry mouth
- get mental blocks, so you don’t know what to say
- sit awkwardly or pace
- avoid eye contact
- start trembling
There are different types of social anxiety.
- A general fear. For example, a fear of meeting new people or going to the pub.
- Specific fears. For example, fears related to performance in public, such as public speaking at work or giving a speech at a wedding.
Whatever the type, people want stress-free socialising and social phobia treatment.
Why choose hypnotherapy for social anxiety relief?
There are many reasons why hypnotherapy can help.
- It’s a natural anxiety process that is suitable for most people.
- It can help different kinds of social anxiety.
- Hypnotherapy is generally considered to be safe with a qualified and experienced practitioner.
- There is research that supports the effectiveness of hypnotherapy for anxiety.
- It addresses the root cause of the problem.
- It doesn’t have serious side effects like some medicines.
- It can effectively be delivered online via video and virtual hypnotherapy, saving you time and money when travelling.
- Most hypnotherapists are private practitioners, so you can choose the hypnotherapist you feel most comfortable with.
- You can find practitioners who specialise in anxiety issues from anywhere in the world.
- Hypnotherapy works well with cognitive behavioural therapy(CBT).
How hypnotherapy builds confidence in social situations
After an initial consultation, when things about the process are explained, information gathered, and consent gained, specific questions will be asked about the type of fear and how it affects that person’s life.
Some hypnotherapists provide a lot of psychoeducation and CBT.
Once the outcome, number of sessions, and payments are agreed upon, the aim is to help the client feel better quickly.
Sometimes, hypnotic language conversations are used, and sometimes, more traditional methods of inducing hypnotherapy for anxiety.
Everyone is different according to their needs, but hypnosis is used to help the person suffering from social anxiety to use relaxation hypnosis, reframe the anxiety trigger and imagine a calm future. There will also be suggestions for building a mindset for confidence and self-esteem to end social anxiety and build coping mechanisms.
Some hypnotherapists may use regression techniques to find the cause of the problem, while others are solution-focused and build motivation, resistance, and goals for the future.
What other treatments might help?
There are other choices. They include:
- Counselling.
- Mindfulness
- Complementary therapies
- CBT alone.
- Medications.
- Support groups.
Is hypnotherapy right for you?
Lots of people wonder if they can be hypnotised. A lot depends on the hypnotherapist and you. Answering these questions will give you an idea.
- Do you find yourself easily absorbed in movies, books, or music?
- Can you follow guided meditations or relax with calming exercises?
- Can you visualise or imagine situations in your mind?
- Do you find it easy to focus on a task or thought when needed?
- Are you comfortable with allowing a professional to guide you through the process?
- Have you ever daydreamed or ‘zoned out’ completely?
- Are you open to new experiences and curious about trying a different approach?
- Can you remember when you did something to help yourself relax?
- Can you listen to instructions and follow them strictly?
How to interpret your results.
Mostly, yes answers suggest that you are easily hypnotisable when you want to experience the benefits of hypnotherapy for anxiety issues.
No answers mostly mean that you can still benefit from hypnosis, but you might need more guidance, explanations, and testing to know it can help.
Why choose hypnotherapy and CBT from Awaken the Change?
I’m always pleased when people have a choice. So you need to choose the right person to help you.
I’m Linda from Awaken the Change. The reasons I believe that you should choose my service are:
- You get a highly qualified and experienced practitioner
- You get a free initial consultation up to 30 minutes online to ask questions and check if I am the right person for you.
- I like to be transparent, so all my prices are displayed on my website, and I tell you what to expect so that there are no hidden charges.
- I want you to achieve your goals quickly, so four to six sessions are often required, but sometimes people need more or less.
- I am a member of counselling and hypnotherapy organisations, so my credentials have been checked.
- I work full-time, and I’m passionate about what I do.
- Most sessions are available online via Zoom.
Take the first step forward today.
If you want to find out more and book a free consultation, please visit my website, Awakenthechange.com
