War Stress, Anxiety and Hypnosis
Devin Hastings
June 03, 2007
War Stress, Anxiety and Hypnosis
Covered In This Article:
Important Notice
Introduction
It's Not Anxiety
Non-Anxiety Related Causes
Anxiety Symptoms
Types Anxiety
Anxiety's Companions
Anxiety Solutions Overview
Hypnotic Anxiety Solutions
Conclusion
Important Notice:
If you think you have an anxiety disorder, see your doctor immediately. Also, be sure to follow your doctor's advice first and foremost. Should you decide to change your treatment in any way based on this or any other information you receive, you are strongly urged to consult with your doctor first.
Introduction:
Anxiety rules and ruins so many lives. Sometimes it does so overtly and sometimes quietly and insidiously.
Given that our world is changing so quickly and sometimes in dramatic and terrifying ways, the purpose of this article is to assist by providing a self-help outline for anxiety reduction.
Now, although the following information can help anyone, this article is specifically directed at our brave soldiers and their families because the stress they are under can very easily create anxiety which will only make their lives harder.
Bear in mind that many people do not know the signs of anxiety so be sure to read this article carefully because the sooner an anxiety condition is caught, the sooner and the easier it can be eliminated.
It's Not Anxiety:
Before we cover symptoms it must be noted that frequently, there are underlying issues that can create anxiety-like symptoms. So, if you suspect you have an anxiety disorder or, are being treated for anxiety, please make sure you have had other possible causes ruled out.
Non-Anxiety Related Causes:
Some causes of anxiety symptoms that are not specific to anxiety causes include but are not limited to:
Coronary Conditions
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
Hypotension (blood pressure too low)
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Anemia
Respiratory Conditions
Caffeinism (too much coffee)
Drug Abuse. Specifically Cocaine, Meth and related drugs.
Now, assuming that you or someone you know are not an anemic, coffee abusing, cocaine/meth addict with heart and/or respiratory problems, then, the following symptoms can indicate an anxiety disorder though your doctor is the one to make a diagnosis.
Anxiety Symptoms:
Nausea or abdominal distress
Feeling dizzy, lightheaded or faint
Paresthesias which means numbness, tingling, and hyperesthesia (increased sensitivity to touch) or in general any abnormality of sensation.
Chills or hot flashes
Trembling or shaking
Sensations of shortness of breath
Chest pain or discomfort
Derealization = feelings of unreality
Extreme shyness and/or fear of others
Fear of losing control or going crazy
So, now that we know what may be possible signs of anxiety, the question then is, what kind of anxiety might a person have?
Types of Anxiety:
Anxiety symptoms such as chills, hot flashes, chest pain etc..are not usually specific to a type of anxiety. What typically identifies the type of anxiety are the behaviors an over-anxious person exhibits.
So, here are the types of anxieties and some identifying characteristics:
Generalized anxiety disorder(GAD):
As its name implies, this anxiety disorder is characterized by a general sense of excessive worry and tension. It often begins in childhood or early adulthood. It is chronic, or ongoing, and highly treatable.
Panic disorder:
Key symptom is a paroxysm of sudden fear together with physiological symptoms that may seem to resemble a heart attack (palpitations, chest pain, choking, vertigo, trembling, shaking); distorted perceptions in light/sound intensity are also common. Panic attacks, as they are called, usually last only a few seconds or a few minutes. They may lead to agoraphobia (see below).
Agoraphobia:
Fear associated with being away from a safe person or safe place, such as home. It is frequently seen in those with panic disorder as they seek to avoid having a panic attack in public. It often occurs in people who experience panic attacks because they come to fear leaving the house lest they have a panic attack and embarrass themselves.
Posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD):
Anxiety that results from severe stress. It is characterized by unwanted and recurring flashbacks to the traumatic event. Battlefield experiences, rape and childhood sexual abuse are often implicated.
Phobia(s):
Distinguished by a person's avoidance of specific objects or places (such as avoiding snakes or bridges) because they arouse intense fear or panic; common phobias are fear of animals and heights. The more famous phobias are listed below.
Social phobia:
Profound shyness, including a fear of humiliation or embarrassment producing avoidance of social situations.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD):
OCD is an intense anxiety disorder and it is characterized by repetitive intrusive, unwanted and disturbing thoughts (obsessions), such as thinking one's hands are dirty or that one's home will catch on fire. These obsession may be combined with rituals and behaviors such as compulsively needing to return home to check the stove or washing one's hands hundreds of times a day to reduce the anxiety provoked by the obsessions. There are many variations, including eating disorders and compulsive shopping.
What makes life very hard for those with any of the anxiety disorders listed above is that their anxiety attacks are usually working in tandem with other issues as described below.
Anxiety's Companions:
Anxiety tends to have several close companions that are also known as comorbid disorders. These companions include but are not limited to:
Depression
Eating Disorders
Alcoholism
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Chronic Headaches
Migraines
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Anger Problems
What is very important to get from this brief section is that many times these disorders may need to be treated concurrently with the anxiety.
The good news is that because anxieties and the above disorders go hand-in-hand, a reduction of symptoms in one problem area tends to have a sympathetic effect in another problem area.
Anxiety Solutions Overview:
There are 3 points to cover here. First, is that there is a lot of good news here for the anxiety sufferer. Hypnosis has often proven very useful for helping a person to resolve the cause of their anxieties. However, please understand that though hypnosis can at times offer quick and dramatic relief, more often the answer takes time and commitment.
The second point to understand is that using hypnosis with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a powerful tool combination that I personally use for my clients who suffer from anxiety and related issues.
Third and finally, anti-anxiety medications are very useful in those cases where a person's life is seriously impaired due to anxiety. Medications can make it possible for an anxiety ridden person to begin making cognitive and emotional progress on reducing and eliminating anxiety.
Hypnotic Anxiety Solutions:
In and of itself, hypnosis can safely help an anxiety sufferer in many ways.
One very useful application of hypnosis is deep mind coaching for general stress relief. This is an essential skill that must be learned because anxiety-provoking situations will continue to confront a person throughout their life and they need to be able to handle them.
Anxiety attacks can not only be precipitated by stress but also by poor sleep or a lack of sleep. Hypnosis has a well-established history of helping people to sleep better and deeper.
In fact, improvement in this one area (sleep) has sometimes enabled my clients to make dramatic changes in their lives. Sleep is one contributing factor that absolutely must be addressed by anyone with an anxiety disorder.
Confidence and/or motivation enhancement is an obvious but often overlooked area where hypnosis can help those who suffer from social anxiety as well as other anxiety disorders. Sometimes all it takes is just a little boost in motivation to get the healing ball rolling. One thing is for sure: It is a rare person who has too much healthy confidence.
Another way to reduce anxiety is to exercise. Funny how that one little word can make so many people feel so anxious and yet, it is one thing that can boost a person's natural anti-anxiety forces more than just about anything else. And yes, hypnosis has helped many people to safely begin and continue an exercise program.
Another overlooked contributor to anxiety attacks is chronic pain. Pain exacerbates anxieties because it can add to a person's sense of vulnerability. Hypnosis is respected for its pain reduction capabilities and it truly can help.
However, before seeing a hypnotist for pain relief, inform your doctor because that pain can be a sign of something else.
Hypnosis can also help those who suffer from anxiety attacks by helping them to deeply imagine future positive, more resourceful responses to whatever situation would cause the anxiety attack.
Hypnosis can also defuse anxiety attacks by helping a person to remember whatever event caused them in the first place. Of course, just remembering the event can trigger an anxiety attack. The point is to remember and review from another perspective the event that created the fear based belief.
By the way, a fear based belief may worded something like "If I see a snake, I'll feel just I felt when I was 5 and saw that huge snake." This is actually a post-hypnotic suggestion.
Knowing that you are capable of creating a long-ago post-hypnotic suggestion is good news because post-hypnotic suggestions can be used quite effectively to help you remember to realistically and successfully challenge the erroneous or false assumptions that underlie many anxiety disorders.
Also, post-hypnotic suggestions can be used in amazing manner to produce physical relaxation responses just as powerful as the physical fear sensations.
Conclusion:
If you suffer from an anxiety disorder, take heart. There really is an effective and long-lasting answer (without harmful side effects) and you really can change your life. Just make sure that the anxiety is not serving a purpose that is somehow useful to you.
I know this sounds odd but I have had many clients who found that the benefits of their problem far out-weighed the benefits of the solution to their problem. And, if they were not willing to let go of those benefits, then I could not coach them because it would have been ineffective.
Interestingly, sometimes just realizing that there are benefits to a problem is enough to start the process to resolving the problem.
Again, be sure to work with your doctor and, for those of who may be 'tough guys that don't need medications', think again. I used to believe I could go it without medications but, the problem eventually got so out of hand that I relented.
And, as much as I initially didn't want to admit it, the medications did help. They enabled me to get past the worst symptoms so that I could use self-hypnosis to get to a place where I didn't have the problem and then I no longer needed the medications.
Finally, as I said before, this article is ultimately dedicated to our soldiers and their families who face huge challenges and demands everyday.
And, because you are under such enormous stress, please be aware that you are at a much higher risk of anxiety disorders. The good news is that it is fairly simple to dramatically reduce and even eliminate anxiety once you know it’s there.
Covered In This Article:
Important Notice
Introduction
It's Not Anxiety
Non-Anxiety Related Causes
Anxiety Symptoms
Types Anxiety
Anxiety's Companions
Anxiety Solutions Overview
Hypnotic Anxiety Solutions
Conclusion
Important Notice:
If you think you have an anxiety disorder, see your doctor immediately. Also, be sure to follow your doctor's advice first and foremost. Should you decide to change your treatment in any way based on this or any other information you receive, you are strongly urged to consult with your doctor first.
Introduction:
Anxiety rules and ruins so many lives. Sometimes it does so overtly and sometimes quietly and insidiously.
Given that our world is changing so quickly and sometimes in dramatic and terrifying ways, the purpose of this article is to assist by providing a self-help outline for anxiety reduction.
Now, although the following information can help anyone, this article is specifically directed at our brave soldiers and their families because the stress they are under can very easily create anxiety which will only make their lives harder.
Bear in mind that many people do not know the signs of anxiety so be sure to read this article carefully because the sooner an anxiety condition is caught, the sooner and the easier it can be eliminated.
It's Not Anxiety:
Before we cover symptoms it must be noted that frequently, there are underlying issues that can create anxiety-like symptoms. So, if you suspect you have an anxiety disorder or, are being treated for anxiety, please make sure you have had other possible causes ruled out.
Non-Anxiety Related Causes:
Some causes of anxiety symptoms that are not specific to anxiety causes include but are not limited to:
Coronary Conditions
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
Hypotension (blood pressure too low)
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Anemia
Respiratory Conditions
Caffeinism (too much coffee)
Drug Abuse. Specifically Cocaine, Meth and related drugs.
Now, assuming that you or someone you know are not an anemic, coffee abusing, cocaine/meth addict with heart and/or respiratory problems, then, the following symptoms can indicate an anxiety disorder though your doctor is the one to make a diagnosis.
Anxiety Symptoms:
Nausea or abdominal distress
Feeling dizzy, lightheaded or faint
Paresthesias which means numbness, tingling, and hyperesthesia (increased sensitivity to touch) or in general any abnormality of sensation.
Chills or hot flashes
Trembling or shaking
Sensations of shortness of breath
Chest pain or discomfort
Derealization = feelings of unreality
Extreme shyness and/or fear of others
Fear of losing control or going crazy
So, now that we know what may be possible signs of anxiety, the question then is, what kind of anxiety might a person have?
Types of Anxiety:
Anxiety symptoms such as chills, hot flashes, chest pain etc..are not usually specific to a type of anxiety. What typically identifies the type of anxiety are the behaviors an over-anxious person exhibits.
So, here are the types of anxieties and some identifying characteristics:
Generalized anxiety disorder(GAD):
As its name implies, this anxiety disorder is characterized by a general sense of excessive worry and tension. It often begins in childhood or early adulthood. It is chronic, or ongoing, and highly treatable.
Panic disorder:
Key symptom is a paroxysm of sudden fear together with physiological symptoms that may seem to resemble a heart attack (palpitations, chest pain, choking, vertigo, trembling, shaking); distorted perceptions in light/sound intensity are also common. Panic attacks, as they are called, usually last only a few seconds or a few minutes. They may lead to agoraphobia (see below).
Agoraphobia:
Fear associated with being away from a safe person or safe place, such as home. It is frequently seen in those with panic disorder as they seek to avoid having a panic attack in public. It often occurs in people who experience panic attacks because they come to fear leaving the house lest they have a panic attack and embarrass themselves.
Posttraumatic stress disorder(PTSD):
Anxiety that results from severe stress. It is characterized by unwanted and recurring flashbacks to the traumatic event. Battlefield experiences, rape and childhood sexual abuse are often implicated.
Phobia(s):
Distinguished by a person's avoidance of specific objects or places (such as avoiding snakes or bridges) because they arouse intense fear or panic; common phobias are fear of animals and heights. The more famous phobias are listed below.
Social phobia:
Profound shyness, including a fear of humiliation or embarrassment producing avoidance of social situations.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD):
OCD is an intense anxiety disorder and it is characterized by repetitive intrusive, unwanted and disturbing thoughts (obsessions), such as thinking one's hands are dirty or that one's home will catch on fire. These obsession may be combined with rituals and behaviors such as compulsively needing to return home to check the stove or washing one's hands hundreds of times a day to reduce the anxiety provoked by the obsessions. There are many variations, including eating disorders and compulsive shopping.
What makes life very hard for those with any of the anxiety disorders listed above is that their anxiety attacks are usually working in tandem with other issues as described below.
Anxiety's Companions:
Anxiety tends to have several close companions that are also known as comorbid disorders. These companions include but are not limited to:
Depression
Eating Disorders
Alcoholism
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Chronic Headaches
Migraines
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Anger Problems
What is very important to get from this brief section is that many times these disorders may need to be treated concurrently with the anxiety.
The good news is that because anxieties and the above disorders go hand-in-hand, a reduction of symptoms in one problem area tends to have a sympathetic effect in another problem area.
Anxiety Solutions Overview:
There are 3 points to cover here. First, is that there is a lot of good news here for the anxiety sufferer. Hypnosis has often proven very useful for helping a person to resolve the cause of their anxieties. However, please understand that though hypnosis can at times offer quick and dramatic relief, more often the answer takes time and commitment.
The second point to understand is that using hypnosis with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a powerful tool combination that I personally use for my clients who suffer from anxiety and related issues.
Third and finally, anti-anxiety medications are very useful in those cases where a person's life is seriously impaired due to anxiety. Medications can make it possible for an anxiety ridden person to begin making cognitive and emotional progress on reducing and eliminating anxiety.
Hypnotic Anxiety Solutions:
In and of itself, hypnosis can safely help an anxiety sufferer in many ways.
One very useful application of hypnosis is deep mind coaching for general stress relief. This is an essential skill that must be learned because anxiety-provoking situations will continue to confront a person throughout their life and they need to be able to handle them.
Anxiety attacks can not only be precipitated by stress but also by poor sleep or a lack of sleep. Hypnosis has a well-established history of helping people to sleep better and deeper.
In fact, improvement in this one area (sleep) has sometimes enabled my clients to make dramatic changes in their lives. Sleep is one contributing factor that absolutely must be addressed by anyone with an anxiety disorder.
Confidence and/or motivation enhancement is an obvious but often overlooked area where hypnosis can help those who suffer from social anxiety as well as other anxiety disorders. Sometimes all it takes is just a little boost in motivation to get the healing ball rolling. One thing is for sure: It is a rare person who has too much healthy confidence.
Another way to reduce anxiety is to exercise. Funny how that one little word can make so many people feel so anxious and yet, it is one thing that can boost a person's natural anti-anxiety forces more than just about anything else. And yes, hypnosis has helped many people to safely begin and continue an exercise program.
Another overlooked contributor to anxiety attacks is chronic pain. Pain exacerbates anxieties because it can add to a person's sense of vulnerability. Hypnosis is respected for its pain reduction capabilities and it truly can help.
However, before seeing a hypnotist for pain relief, inform your doctor because that pain can be a sign of something else.
Hypnosis can also help those who suffer from anxiety attacks by helping them to deeply imagine future positive, more resourceful responses to whatever situation would cause the anxiety attack.
Hypnosis can also defuse anxiety attacks by helping a person to remember whatever event caused them in the first place. Of course, just remembering the event can trigger an anxiety attack. The point is to remember and review from another perspective the event that created the fear based belief.
By the way, a fear based belief may worded something like "If I see a snake, I'll feel just I felt when I was 5 and saw that huge snake." This is actually a post-hypnotic suggestion.
Knowing that you are capable of creating a long-ago post-hypnotic suggestion is good news because post-hypnotic suggestions can be used quite effectively to help you remember to realistically and successfully challenge the erroneous or false assumptions that underlie many anxiety disorders.
Also, post-hypnotic suggestions can be used in amazing manner to produce physical relaxation responses just as powerful as the physical fear sensations.
Conclusion:
If you suffer from an anxiety disorder, take heart. There really is an effective and long-lasting answer (without harmful side effects) and you really can change your life. Just make sure that the anxiety is not serving a purpose that is somehow useful to you.
I know this sounds odd but I have had many clients who found that the benefits of their problem far out-weighed the benefits of the solution to their problem. And, if they were not willing to let go of those benefits, then I could not coach them because it would have been ineffective.
Interestingly, sometimes just realizing that there are benefits to a problem is enough to start the process to resolving the problem.
Again, be sure to work with your doctor and, for those of who may be 'tough guys that don't need medications', think again. I used to believe I could go it without medications but, the problem eventually got so out of hand that I relented.
And, as much as I initially didn't want to admit it, the medications did help. They enabled me to get past the worst symptoms so that I could use self-hypnosis to get to a place where I didn't have the problem and then I no longer needed the medications.
Finally, as I said before, this article is ultimately dedicated to our soldiers and their families who face huge challenges and demands everyday.
And, because you are under such enormous stress, please be aware that you are at a much higher risk of anxiety disorders. The good news is that it is fairly simple to dramatically reduce and even eliminate anxiety once you know it’s there.