Stress and Hypnotherapy
Christopher Morgan-Locke explains what stress is and reports on a
brand new, dynamic and safe combined therapy to help combat stress
There are many definitions of stress and to understand what it is can help us understand
how to deal with it. One definition is that it is the physical and mental ‘wear and tear’
we experience as we attempt to cope with the pressures in our lives. Another definition
of stress is that it is a physical and mental response to too much or too little pressure.
Many would assume that those with too little pressure are unlikely to suffer stress but
this is not true, in fact if you look at stress in organisations it is not higher management
who suffer stress most but it is those who have less control over their environment.
A third definition is that stress can be caused when there is high demand, high restriction and
low support which means if you are expected to do too much with too little resources and
with insufficient support you may be prone to stress.
The typical physical symptoms may include palpitations, increased pulse rate, sleepiness,
chest pains, pins and needles, weakness, dilated pupils, insomnia, fainting, butterflies,
tightness in chest and an increased frequency in using the toilet. The psychological reactions
to stress can include feeling under pressure, constant fear, increased irritability, proneness to
tears, impulse to run and hide and high sensitivity to external stimuli.
Another reaction can be to develop irrational fears such as the fear of death or of social
embarrassment. Another quite important reaction can be the inability to enjoy any present
pleasures like people who go on holiday and come back more tired and stressed than before
they went.
It is estimated that about 40 million working days are lost in the UK as a result of stress-
related illnesses and the cost of this absenteeism is in the region of £1.5 billion per year. Such
illness could include migraines, digestion problems, insomnia, rashes, exhaustion and even
alcoholism.
The medical profession estimate that almost 80% of modern diseases have their
origins in stress. Many common illnesses which can be triggered or worsened by such
as asthma, diabetes, ulcers, IBS, skin complaints, headaches, PMS and depression.
Stress can also cause damage to our immune systems by affecting the thymus gland, which
manufactures white blood cells, called T cells, and also produces various immune-related
hormones. Stress plays a big part in coronary heart disease, our biggest killer, which is
responsible for over 250,000 deaths annually in the UK and is the single most common cause
of death in the developed countries.
There are many different causes of stress but broadly speaking they can be split into two basis
categories – external and internal stressors. The external stressors would include major life
events such as the death of a relative, losing your job, having a baby, dealing with a traumatic
incident or even being promoted.
Physical things around you such as noise, heat, bright lights can affect you as well as
how you interact with others e.g.: associates being bossy, rude or aggressive. Rules,
regulation, ‘red tape’ and deadlines as well as commuting, losing things or even a mechanical
breakdown all count as external stressors.
Internal stressors may include not enough sleep, too much work, caffeine, being too self-
critical, over-analysing, or being a perfectionist. Other examples would include having
unrealistic expectations, all-or-nothing-thinking, taking things personally, exaggerating, rigid
thinking or being a workaholic.
You may not think suffering from stress does not really matter but it can be more serious than
you think. Prolonged stress can lead to burnout, post traumatic stress disorder or in its worst
form it can produce biochemical changes which can burn out the nerve endings at the top of
the neck which can effect the mobility in your body.
One factor that many do not consider is that in a strange way stress can be infectious. If your
parents were stressed when you grew up or if friends or work colleagues are stressed you can
inherit their stress. If you think of stress as if it were a virus that you have to protect yourself
against then it becomes far easier to manage. However stress is not all bad, in fact we all need
a certain amount of stress to help drive us through our lives and without it could be just as
bad as having too much.
Stress can be treated and with professional help usually quite quickly. It involved sitting
down with an expert and talking through any issues you may have and making a plan.
You may also be taught techniques that will help you focus more and relax in a different
way. There are also techniques that will help you feel better about yourself and your life.
Using hypnotherapy combined with stress counselling is often the quickest approach and is
safe as it does not require drugs which may have side effects and research has shown that
people with stress or mild or medium depression should be given talking therapies before
going down the drug route.
Powerful new treatment for stress
It had been long known that there are three main way of trying to address stress – the physical
approach e.g.: the psychological approach using a talking therapy such as stress counselling
and hypnotherapy, physical approach using therapeutic massage or drug therapy. Most agree
that the drug approach is the most risky as there are risks of side-effects and drugs without a
talking therapy will not address the issues so likely to be a short term fix.
So in the past people suffering from stress might opt for stress counselling and hypnotherapy
or therapeutic massage therapy. Now a dynamic new therapy has been launched which
offers a combination of self-hypnosis and a therapeutic massage available in clinics or spas.
Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy has become very popular over the past ten years since the publication of
numerous medical studies some only possible thank to the recent development of high
powered CT scanners. Experts in the US, UK and around the world have shown that hypnosis
can help to activate different parts of the brain and the outcomes can be very positive.
A dramatic shift came about thanks to the research of Professor Peter Whorwell in the UK,
Professor David Spiegal at Stanford University in the US and other top experts around the
world who have looked a numerous uses for hypnotherapy as a safe alternative to other
medical treatments.
Its benefits in treating stress have been know for decades but in recent years research has also
shown it is very useful in treating common conditions such a IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
which as many as 1 in 5 people are believed to suffer from. Even NICE (the independent
body of experts who evaluate treatments in the UK) have been forced to amend their advice
to doctors to include hypnotherapy which suggests soon it will cease to be considered as a
complimentary treatment but mainstream.
In addition to IBS and similar stomach disorders hypnotherapy is known to be helpful in
treating a number of medical conditions and it is also used for safely reducing pain for people
with long term pain (eg: arthritis) and making childbirth less painful and reducing the need
for pain killers that may have harmful side effects.
It has been used for psychological issues for many years such as treating phobias, changing
learnt behaviours, recovering lost memories and treating insomnia. Also it has proved
very effective in safely helping deal with addictions such a smoking, alcohol and drugs.
For several years now medical schools around the UK have offered training modules
in Hypnotherapy which have been well received by young doctors and there is now
an association for medical students and doctors who are involved in medical research
using clinical hypnosis (www.msha.org.uk) which shows how times have changed.
Massage Therapy
There are a wide range of massage therapies available which for many years have been
proven to help people with a wide range if muscular or bone conditions cause by disease or
injury. It is also know that massage is enormously helpful in relieving the physical symptoms
of tension and stress. There are a wide range of therapeutic massages available which range
from more medical interventions such as physiotherapy which you can get through your GP
or hospital to some of the more relaxing treatments such as Aromatherapy (using special
healing oils) and general massage.
The Mind and Body Therapy massage has been devised by an experienced Chartered
Physiotherapist to compliment and enhance the psychological benefits of the Mind and
Body Therapy self-hypnosis protocol. When given by a MaBT trained and licensed massage
therapist the two powerful treatments will be synchronised to provide an amazing experience.
The MaBT massage treatment typically takes about 45 minutes and the massage is
very gentle. There are two stress protocols one where you lie on your back and the
other where you lie on your front most will book both treatments for maximum effect.
The Mind and Body Therapy protocol for Stress was been piloted at the Orchard Clinic near
Pangbourne in Berkshire with outstanding results. It has been developed by a top therapist
specializing in stress counselling and medical hypnotherapy and a chartered physiotherapist.
Over a six month pilot period this year all those receiving this new combined therapy have
reported a massive reduction in stress levels even after just one treatment. Many clients
saying this was the most relaxing therapy they have ever had and a truly amazing experience.
The therapy is now being rolled out around the UK and a home version of the stress
protocol is available on CD at cost of £15. Over the next 12 months new MaBT treatments
for IBS, pain reduction, insomnia and other conditions will also be available through all
MaBT appointed clinics and spas. Go to www.mindandbodytherapy.co.uk for full details.
Christopher Morgan-Locke is the founder of Mind and Body Therapy and is the Clinical
Director of The Peel Clinic which is based in London (Clapham Common – Battersea and
also operates in Surrey and Hampshire. Got to www.thepeelcinic.org.uk for full details.
