Guest article provided by: Brigitte E Lifschitz, LCSW
There are many things that occur in the world and in our daily lives that can cause stress, depression and anxiety in ordinary times. This past year however, has been one of the most challenging years because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The isolation we have had to experience, the anxiety around contracting the virus, the loss of every day interactions has created great changes in the way we have had to live from day to day. This experience has increased the experience of loneliness, anxiety and depression. But there are a number of things that can help to reduce these feelings and create a sense of empowerment. Ericksonian hypnosis is one of them.
What is Ericksonian hypnosis? It is a gentle way of communicating ideas and understandings from one person to another so that you have a meeting of two minds for a single purpose, and that is for the benefit of the client. People go in and out of trance all the time without thinking about it. This happens when driving down a familiar road and before you know it, you have arrived at your destination. You may have been thinking about different things on the way, but were able to drive at the same time. Trance also occurs when daydreaming or becoming very involved in reading, painting or any other creative endeavor.
How can Ericksonian hypnosis be helpful in reducing anxiety and depression? Chronic and persistent anxiety can affect a person’s life style and activities, so it is important to be able to reduce the intensity of the feelings and the persistent nature of this condition. Ericksonian hypnotherapy can help people experience a calming and quieting of their thoughts as well as greater physical relaxation. Even people who believe that they cannot be hypnotized, begin to experience the sensation of deep relaxation, to their great surprise and pleasure. Once they have the experience of calming, they realize that it is possible to feel better. They want to get back to that feeling over and over again. Most people can learn how to do self-hypnosis in order to reduce their anxiety and stress in many different situations. Of course, there are relaxation CDs as well as hypnosis recordings on YouTube. They can be helpful but they do not respond to the specific needs of the individual. It is better to work with a practitioner who can respond to your individual needs. Hypnosis can help people to move away from negative thoughts and expectations. The experience can help people see their future in a more positive way which can then lead to a feeling of empowerment and success.
by Brigitte E Lifschitz, LCSW Past President and Past Co-Director of Training at NYSEPH www.ericksonianhypnosisny.com
January 20, 2021
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