Small steps big changes
Small steps big changes
Anxiety is a natural response to stress, characterised by feelings of worry, nervousness, overwhelm or fear. When these feelings become excessive and persistent, they may develop into an anxiety disorder, significantly impacting a person’s daily life. Anxiety disorders can give rise to other issues such as depression, sleep disturbances, irritability and phobias, as well as physical health issues. Managing anxiety effectively is crucial to preventing these issues and improving overall health and wellbeing.
Anxiety involves complex processes in the brain that affect how we perceive and respond to threats. Several brain regions become highly active, one key player being the amygdala, often referred to as the fight, flight, freeze area of the brain. In people experiencing anxiety, the amygdala becomes overactive, interpreting even harmless situations as threatening. This triggers the body’s fight-or-flight response, releasing stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, which in turn cause physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, sweating, and muscle tension.
At the same time, the prefrontal cortex, which normally helps regulate emotions and promotes rational thinking, may not work effectively to calm down the amygdala’s alarm signals. This imbalance between the emotional, protective part of the brain and the rational, intellectual part of the brain contributes to persistent anxiety.
The role of neuroscience education in helping anxiety
Educating clients about how the brain functions in relation to anxiety is a fundamental part of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy. Understanding what’s happening inside the brain helps demystify the experience of anxiety and empowers you to engage actively in your healing journey. When you learn that anxiety arises from overactivity in the amygdala and underperformance of the prefrontal cortex, you begin to realise that it is not a personal weakness. This knowledge reduces feelings of shame and frustration, creating a foundation of self-compassion and hope.
Moreover, learning how hypnosis influences the workings of the brain by targeting the subconscious mind, where deep-seated thought patterns and emotional responses are stored, helps you to trust the process. This trust is essential as effective hypnotherapy relies on a foundation of trust and active participation.
Learning about the plasticity of the brain and its ability to change and rewire itself through new experiences and therapeutic techniques also supports the healing process. Knowing about this concept, called neuroplasticity, reinforces the idea that your anxiety symptoms can improve or even resolve with consistent work.
Finally, when clients grasp how stress hormones and neurotransmitters influence their mood and physical sensations, they can better understand the importance of relaxation, breathing exercises, and techniques that promote calming brain chemistry. This awareness encourages self-care practices outside of sessions, supporting longer-lasting healing.
The role of solution focused questions in helping anxiety
Solution-focused questions are a powerful tool in managing anxiety as they shift the attention to your strengths, resources, and future possibilities. When working with anxiety, these questions help you imagine a life where anxiety symptoms are reduced or non-existent. Focusing on solutions and exceptions to the problem creates a mental environment conducive to change. It helps reprogram anxious thought patterns so you are able to regain a sense of control and empowerment and you can begin to recognise your ability to influence your anxiety rather than feeling trapped by it.
The role of hypnosis or trance in managing anxiety
Hypnosis is a naturally occurring altered state of consciousness that engages specific brain regions and neural networks, affecting how the brain processes thoughts, emotions, and self-awareness. When someone enters a hypnotic or trance-like state, certain changes happen in the brain and body that help lower anxiety, both mentally and physically.
The Default Mode Network, associated with rumination, worry and overthinking becomes less active in hypnosis. This quietening of internal chatter helps you disengage from anxious thought cycles and “what if” scenarios.
The amygdala, responsible for detecting threats and triggering the fight-or-flight response, shows decreased activity in hypnosis and less amygdala activation means lower emotional reactivity, less hypervigilance, and decreased physiological arousal (e.g., tension, rapid heart rate and breathing). Cortisol and adrenaline production also decreases, which supports longer-term anxiety reduction.
Hypnosis also activates the parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system, particularly via the vagus nerve, which results in lower heart rate, slower and deeper breathing, reduced muscle tension and increased digestive activity. The body shifts from survival mode to safety mode, signalling to the brain that you are safe. Over time, repeated activation of this state helps reset the anxiety baseline to a new lower norm.
Hypnosis also helps the conscious part of the brain (the prefrontal cortex) communicate better with areas that handle focus and emotional control (like the anterior cingulate cortex). This stronger connection helps people manage their emotions, stay focused, and resist anxious thoughts or reactions. When hypnosis is used after setting clear goals and asking solution-focused questions, it supports the brain in continuing to build helpful solutions.
Take the first step towards regaining control and reducing anxiety with a free 15 minute consultation to discuss your goals and explore how this approach can benefit you.
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