Hypnotherapy is increasingly being recognised as an effective way to help people suffering from anxiety disorders, according to Michael McGuinness of the Mayo Hypnosis Clinic.
Anxiety is the body and mind’s natural reaction to threat or danger.
In the appropriate situation, a high level of anxiety is considered normal and helpful if it prompts us to escape from danger.
Anxiety in performance situations, such as interviews and exams, can help us perform to the best of our ability.
The problems arise when people’s response is out of proportion to the actual danger of the situation, or when anxiety is generated when there is no danger present.
Anxiety presents itself in the form of social anxiety, phobias, general anxiety disorder, panic attacks, PTSD, and obsessive compulsive disorder.
The following is a testimonial from one of Mr McGuinness’s clients at the Mayo Hypnosis Clinic, who successfully overcame social anxiety disorder.
“My social anxiety was seriously limiting what I did in life and also my enjoyment of life. Being in a room with a group of people would send me almost into panic, I didn’t have a social life. l didn’t know that anything could be done to make it better. I thought that this was my personality make-up, it was just the way I was.
“This was my life for over 30 years until one day, I read an article online about how hypnotherapy changed the life of someone just like me. His name was Ron and it was as though he was telling my life-story.
“I looked on Google to find a local hypnotherapist and Michael came up first on the list. I saw that he was very experienced and decided to call his clinic. That call changed my life.
“I had a short number of sessions with Michael and such a transformation took place. Gradually, my fear was lifting and I continued to improve until finally I left the fear in my past.
“Subsequently, I changed jobs. This job involved working with a team. Part of my job is making presentations on aspects of my work. I would never have imagined six years ago that I could do this. Even the thought would have sent me into panic. It goes to show how we can change. If you suffer from anxiety, you don’t have to live with it. Ron’s experience helped to change my life and I want my experience to help others change their lives.”