When you wake up in the morning, do you feel dread?
Have you spent the night tossing and turning – unable to switch your mind off?
Are you always glad it’s Friday, yet Sundays fill you with anxiety?
Well you’re not alone, 75% of the working population wish they could have a different job*(stress management org) That’s over 500,000 of us in the UK feeling trapped, so it’s no wonder that the health of the population depends on how stressed we are.
While it’s an employers responsibility to create and maintain a stress free work culture and to make sure everyone is treated fairly and in a safe environment, we often don’t realise that it is us – ourselves, that have to keep good physical shape and get the work-life balance right.
More and more, we are put under extra stress because of the recession and constant bombardment from the media about how much unemployment there is.
So where does that leave us?
What’s stopping us achieving what we want and need?
What constitutes a stress free career?
Why are you doing your job?
Is it something you fell into by chance because you didn’t know what to do? Do you think you couldn’t earn a living from what you would like to do? Do you think you’re not clever enough or lack experience? All these are questions we ask ourselves but the answers we give back are not necessarily true.
A job that involves a favourite activity or passion
Many people give up a high paid stressful job to go on to become gardeners. Some give up safe but boring jobs to become policemen because they feel it’s serving the community. What is it about your current job you actually enjoy?
If you choose work, which is engaging, and enjoyable you thrive, sometimes it can be the actual work or the environment. If the job is mundane and unfulfilling then boredom is likely to set in and this can cause frustration and anxiety.
A healthy career has the right balance of pressure – not too much to spend all your time trying to sort out and not too little so you get bored.
Find the right style.
Many large companies have procedures in place to make sure there is no discrimination and safety. Is adhered to – however some people find this rather anonymous – they do not thrive because the constraints keep them from being creative, yet others may enjoy the security these jobs provide.
Pace of work
Some work is at a very slow pace where you may see results over a very long time span, other jobs may have a fast turnover or lots of deadlines.
Company structure
Some will want to climb up through the ranks of a company, some organisations have plenty of scope and opportunity to do this, others may be very limited. Some people too like being told what to do and others like to be autonomous – which are you?
Earning enough for your needs.
This one is interesting as although you may need to earn a set amount each month to pay for rent/mortgage / utilities / car etc it can be surprising how much more people spend when they are in a stressful job. Often these costs are found in the extras which are purchased as treats or just because you’re too tired to be bothered – the cup of coffee and muffin in the morning, the Panini at lunch, the bars of chocolate in the afternoon, a couple of drinks to wind down with colleagues in the evening and a take away after work because you‘re way too tired to cook.
Not only are these expensive, they are only making you feel good only as a temporary measure. It’s the fat and sugar in all these foods that makes you feel better at the time but once they’ve been digested it’s back to square one and you’ve consumed way over your daily calorie intake.
Getting a balance
You may not notice it happening at first, but if your work is encroaching into your down time, then you’re not getting the balance you need. There are vital positive neurotransmitters in the brain what make us feel good, stress will deplete them and being around a relaxed atmosphere with friends and family will create more. It can also impact on your relationships with your family and friends as they never see you and too much stress will impact on your sleep making it difficult to cope.
A sense of purpose and value
There are many careers which are stressful such as teaching, nursing and policing but if it touches on the type of people we are and the values we hold, if we feel these jobs are allowing us to give something back to the community at large, then we’re much more likely to endure the stress of the job because we have a much more positive reason to do it.
Friday, 21 October 2011
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
Cynophobia - a little more knowledge can help
I have always maintained that my specialist subject is phobias, because I had so many for so many years. I even had hypnotherapy for them, but it didn’t work first time round – but that’s another story that needs analysing another time. There were two major aspects in my ‘curing’ (not a word the advertising standards like for eradicating a problematic response, but I feel cured!) my phobias 1) understanding what exactly was going on in my brain and body, at the moment of panic and 2) Having an incentive for success in a positive context – NOT – I won’t be scared of driving BUT I want my independence.
I’m particularly fascinated by odd phobias such as bananas, mushrooms, Santa Claus and a like, but the usual ones tend to be sickness, spiders, snakes, mice and dogs.
Cynophobia is a phobia of dogs. For those who love dogs – and it appears that hypnotherapists are particularly fond of dogs for some reason! – a dog is a man’s best friend and how could anyone be scared of one? When I started to see a lady from Congresbury with such a phobia we went through the usual rewind, reframe and lowering general anxiety and an extra session, but not with myself but Jo Buckingham a dog psychologist.
I later visited Jo to ask her more about dog behaviour as my client really benefited from her understanding our furry friends a bit better. Instead of just running away, the hypnotherapy had bought her enough time to interpret the dog’s demeanour and to act accordingly.
Many people misinterpret a dog bark as ‘go away’. Jo said that dogs quite often learn this from the postman! Person walks past the house or up to the door and the dog barks. Because that person then carriers on or turns away it reinforces the behaviour in the dog’s mind. Dog thinks ‘I had some influence here’ and so tries it again and it works, which reinforces it more. If the dog is out on the street or in a garden, this is when the behaviour is unhelpful. So whenever this happens, these are the kind of signs to look out for.
A relaxed jaw, tongue out; tail up is a happy dog.
If the mouth is straight, the dog is tense, if it’s licking it’s lips and yawning it’s not too keen on the situation, if it’s baring it’s teeth, it’s not best pleased. At this point you can decide what to do, but Jo pointed out not to approach the dog front on and look straight in it’s eyes. When other dogs approach they will do so side on and move round to sniff, so you need to move side on and try and make yourself less threatening. If the dog comes up, present the back of your hand to sniff and lick – they lick to see if they recognise the taste. If they get excited and start nipping, it’s not a bad thing, try and rub their chest. Dogs like to feel secure and some dog owners bandage the chests of nervous dogs, to make them feel better. Try smiling and speaking with a quiet voice, don’t shout.
Just remember if a dog barks they might just be stating they are there and may just be thinking you’ve got treats. If you ignore them, they usually go away, don’t confront them or run away – this can make them think it’s a game!
My client felt this knowledge, and taking Jo’s dogs out for a walk helped her enjoy the countryside she loved so much, but had been too afraid to walk in for many years.
I’m particularly fascinated by odd phobias such as bananas, mushrooms, Santa Claus and a like, but the usual ones tend to be sickness, spiders, snakes, mice and dogs.
Cynophobia is a phobia of dogs. For those who love dogs – and it appears that hypnotherapists are particularly fond of dogs for some reason! – a dog is a man’s best friend and how could anyone be scared of one? When I started to see a lady from Congresbury with such a phobia we went through the usual rewind, reframe and lowering general anxiety and an extra session, but not with myself but Jo Buckingham a dog psychologist.
I later visited Jo to ask her more about dog behaviour as my client really benefited from her understanding our furry friends a bit better. Instead of just running away, the hypnotherapy had bought her enough time to interpret the dog’s demeanour and to act accordingly.
Many people misinterpret a dog bark as ‘go away’. Jo said that dogs quite often learn this from the postman! Person walks past the house or up to the door and the dog barks. Because that person then carriers on or turns away it reinforces the behaviour in the dog’s mind. Dog thinks ‘I had some influence here’ and so tries it again and it works, which reinforces it more. If the dog is out on the street or in a garden, this is when the behaviour is unhelpful. So whenever this happens, these are the kind of signs to look out for.
A relaxed jaw, tongue out; tail up is a happy dog.
If the mouth is straight, the dog is tense, if it’s licking it’s lips and yawning it’s not too keen on the situation, if it’s baring it’s teeth, it’s not best pleased. At this point you can decide what to do, but Jo pointed out not to approach the dog front on and look straight in it’s eyes. When other dogs approach they will do so side on and move round to sniff, so you need to move side on and try and make yourself less threatening. If the dog comes up, present the back of your hand to sniff and lick – they lick to see if they recognise the taste. If they get excited and start nipping, it’s not a bad thing, try and rub their chest. Dogs like to feel secure and some dog owners bandage the chests of nervous dogs, to make them feel better. Try smiling and speaking with a quiet voice, don’t shout.
Just remember if a dog barks they might just be stating they are there and may just be thinking you’ve got treats. If you ignore them, they usually go away, don’t confront them or run away – this can make them think it’s a game!
My client felt this knowledge, and taking Jo’s dogs out for a walk helped her enjoy the countryside she loved so much, but had been too afraid to walk in for many years.
Monday, 4 April 2011
Local hypnotherapist meets new national standards
Local hypnotherapist meets new national standards
A Nailsea and Clevedon based hypnotherapist has become one of the first in the country to achieve a new national standard of excellence for her therapy.
Penny Ling has been registered by the Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), the UK regulator for complementary healthcare.
The recognition places her at the forefront of a national drive to provide a benchmark for standards and safety for the public. Practitioners registered with the CNHC meet national occupational standards and abide by a rigorous code of conduct, performance and ethics.
Penny said: “Achieving registration is not only great news for me and my clients, but a vital step for hypnotherapy.”
“This is the time of year when many people are struggling to keep up their new year resolutions. The most popular uses for hypnotherapy are around stress and anxiety conditions, weight control and addictive behaviours such as smoking and alcohol abuse, and my speciality - Phobias.”
Hypnotherapy is one of 11 disciplines now recognised by the CNHC. Members of the public can search the CNHC register to find practitioners in their local area. More than 40,000 searches were carried out last year.
By providing a verification of standards, the CNHC allows GPs, hospitals, private healthcare providers and insurance companies to refer patients to hypnotherapy practitioners or to make hypnotherapy more readily available in health centres, clinics, doctors’ surgeries and hospitals.
For further information, please contact Penny Ling, 01275 854354 or visit http://www.pennyling.co.uk
A Nailsea and Clevedon based hypnotherapist has become one of the first in the country to achieve a new national standard of excellence for her therapy.
Penny Ling has been registered by the Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), the UK regulator for complementary healthcare.
The recognition places her at the forefront of a national drive to provide a benchmark for standards and safety for the public. Practitioners registered with the CNHC meet national occupational standards and abide by a rigorous code of conduct, performance and ethics.
Penny said: “Achieving registration is not only great news for me and my clients, but a vital step for hypnotherapy.”
“This is the time of year when many people are struggling to keep up their new year resolutions. The most popular uses for hypnotherapy are around stress and anxiety conditions, weight control and addictive behaviours such as smoking and alcohol abuse, and my speciality - Phobias.”
Hypnotherapy is one of 11 disciplines now recognised by the CNHC. Members of the public can search the CNHC register to find practitioners in their local area. More than 40,000 searches were carried out last year.
By providing a verification of standards, the CNHC allows GPs, hospitals, private healthcare providers and insurance companies to refer patients to hypnotherapy practitioners or to make hypnotherapy more readily available in health centres, clinics, doctors’ surgeries and hospitals.
For further information, please contact Penny Ling, 01275 854354 or visit http://www.pennyling.co.uk
New Hypnotherapy Association
New Hypnotherapy Association Promotes the Benefits of Focusing on Solutions
Local Hypnotherapist Penny Ling is the latest therapist to join the AfSFH, a new association aimed at promoting the benefits of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy.
The AfSFH has been set up to make the public aware of this highly effective form of therapy and is attracting qualified Hypnotherapists who specialise in the Solution Focused approach.
There is no doubt that that illnesses caused or made worse by stress are on the increase.* Conditions such as anxiety, depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), agoraphobia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and migraines are all ways that excess or sustained stress can affect our well-being.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH) tackles these conditions by reducing anxiety and helping clients to regain a sense of perspective; once anxiety is under control many troublesome symptoms are alleviated. The therapy encourages positive thinking by helping clients to focus on solutions to problems, rather than dwelling on the problems themselves. Clients usually find their sleep patterns improve and motivation, confidence and self-esteem are all restored.
The Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapists (AfSFH) has been established to promote the benefits of the Solution Focused approach to improving mental well-being so the public are more aware of this valuable resource. It also provides Hypnotherapists who specialise in the Solution Focused psychotherapy model with a forum for maintaining professional standards.
The Association is the brainchild of David Newton, founder and senior lecturer at the nationally recognised Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Training Centre in Bristol. He explains: “Stress is a part of normal everyday life: dealing with household accounts and paperwork, traffic hold-ups, pressures at work, strains in our close relationships, health worries — if the stress is sustained or excessive it can lead to a vast array of emotional, behavioural or even physical illnesses.
SFH differs from earlier forms of therapy by encouraging clients to formulate a positive image of their problem-free future rather than analysing the cause or symptoms of the problem itself. It is a highly effective and liberating approach. The new Association will provide a valuable resource for both the public and for practising Solution Focused Hypnotherapists.”
Local Hypnotherapist Penny Ling is enthusiastic about joining the AfSFH. “I welcome the opportunity to be part of this new association. I have seen the tremendous benefits of focusing on solutions and encouraging positive thinking – clients find the approach amazingly uplifting”.
Penny Ling is a Solution Focused Hypnotherapist practising at the Oakspring Clinic Clevedon, and Birdwell Clinic Long Ashton. Call 11275 854354 to book a free initial consultation. To find out more about the new association, visit www.afsfh.com
Local Hypnotherapist Penny Ling is the latest therapist to join the AfSFH, a new association aimed at promoting the benefits of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy.
The AfSFH has been set up to make the public aware of this highly effective form of therapy and is attracting qualified Hypnotherapists who specialise in the Solution Focused approach.
There is no doubt that that illnesses caused or made worse by stress are on the increase.* Conditions such as anxiety, depression, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), agoraphobia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and migraines are all ways that excess or sustained stress can affect our well-being.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH) tackles these conditions by reducing anxiety and helping clients to regain a sense of perspective; once anxiety is under control many troublesome symptoms are alleviated. The therapy encourages positive thinking by helping clients to focus on solutions to problems, rather than dwelling on the problems themselves. Clients usually find their sleep patterns improve and motivation, confidence and self-esteem are all restored.
The Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapists (AfSFH) has been established to promote the benefits of the Solution Focused approach to improving mental well-being so the public are more aware of this valuable resource. It also provides Hypnotherapists who specialise in the Solution Focused psychotherapy model with a forum for maintaining professional standards.
The Association is the brainchild of David Newton, founder and senior lecturer at the nationally recognised Clifton Practice Hypnotherapy Training Centre in Bristol. He explains: “Stress is a part of normal everyday life: dealing with household accounts and paperwork, traffic hold-ups, pressures at work, strains in our close relationships, health worries — if the stress is sustained or excessive it can lead to a vast array of emotional, behavioural or even physical illnesses.
SFH differs from earlier forms of therapy by encouraging clients to formulate a positive image of their problem-free future rather than analysing the cause or symptoms of the problem itself. It is a highly effective and liberating approach. The new Association will provide a valuable resource for both the public and for practising Solution Focused Hypnotherapists.”
Local Hypnotherapist Penny Ling is enthusiastic about joining the AfSFH. “I welcome the opportunity to be part of this new association. I have seen the tremendous benefits of focusing on solutions and encouraging positive thinking – clients find the approach amazingly uplifting”.
Penny Ling is a Solution Focused Hypnotherapist practising at the Oakspring Clinic Clevedon, and Birdwell Clinic Long Ashton. Call 11275 854354 to book a free initial consultation. To find out more about the new association, visit www.afsfh.com
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