Do you have a habit of assuming the worst when it comes to your health?
Do you want to develop a calmer, more balanced view of your body?
All you need to do is to eliminate those harmful thought patterns and learn to view your health more objectively.
We all have a responsibility to look after our bodies, and it's good to get into the habit of examining your body occasionally for any abnormalities. It’s normal to worry about the signs and symptoms of illness. We are only human, after all we’re not indestructible. Worry is a natural emotion that evolved to help us identify and deal with problems. But like all human emotions, there is a dark side to worry.
If you suffer from hypochondria, also known as somatic symptom disorder, you'll know firsthand just how this feels. Some days the fear of disease or illness can be so powerful that you just can't focus on anything else. You find yourself bouncing back and forth between endless catastrophic what-ifs. Then, just when you're sure you've found the worst-case scenario, Google turns up another horrific possibility.
Something as simple as a headache or a runny nose can feel like a death sentence, and simply getting through the day can feel like an insurmountable challenge. Even after getting the all-clear from the doctor, the fear persists. When you're stuck in the throes of hypochondria it can certainly feel as if there's no way out. But the human brain is a remarkable and highly malleable organ. We are all capable of changing our thought patterns and finding new and effective coping strategies.
There are generally 2 types of hypochondriacs:
The first can lead to a cycle of behavior where constant reassurance is sought and this constant worry and need for information leads to anxiety and can lead to panic attacks and depression.
The second as listed above can lead to avoidance of situations such as playing sports. Avoidance of visiting the doctor when needed can make the situation worse if genuine medical help is required.
Hypochondria can be caused by an overactive imagination; the sufferer may imagine the smallest thing escalating in to a serious illness.
Since hypochondria results from a deep, subconscious fear of health problems, it makes sense to use an approach that targets the subconscious mind directly, reprogramming those neural pathways that guide you to believe the worst (even when cognitively you might know it is probably not the case).
(“Parts” hypnotherapy is an effective tool that can assist this change of perspective and deal with the subconscious emotional blocks hindering your progression).
(Your avoidance behavior is a temporary fix for your health anxiety. Hypnotherapy can help you challenge your avoidance behavior by visualizing your confidence in those situations. Hypnotic techniques will enable you to break down the emotional structures that are keeping you in fear).
(Hypnotherapy can help you concentrate your attention into these sensations, changing how you perceive them. During hypnosis, you will appreciate that you have control over these bodily sensations. Visualization work can be done to calm the alertness from these sensations and fade into the background of your mind).
(Using regression techniques selectively, hypnotherapy can help you release the fear learned from the past traumas that are still influencing your negative emotions and behavior. Only the most relevant traumas are reframed for you to feel the emotional benefit from this approach).
(Hypnotherapy can help you increase your tolerance of uncertainty by helping you rehearse resisting your compulsive urges. You can learn to be comfortable “in uncertainty” without trying to excessively control it).
(Like avoidance behavior, safety behaviors are (overt or covert) diversions that are carried out in order to prevent feared outcomes. Hypnotherapy can help you to identify and reduce your safety behaviors so that you can confront the fear behind your health anxiety). Being a hypochondriac can be a debilitating condition. Hypochondriacs often receive a lack of support and understanding from people close to them. This hypnosis can help you relax and overcome hypochondria with ease and by yourself. Take the first step and don’t hesitate to get in touch. I could help you to lay this anxiety to rest and leave you able to enjoy your life.
