The last year has been a difficult one. Isolation, loss of control, job insecurity, retrenchment, and unhealthy lockdown habits have eroded everyone’s self-image and personal confidence.
So if you are feeling apprehensive about returning to work or going back to college, it is perfectly natural.
Sharing how you feel with someone you trust can help you to work through your emotions and feel more connected. People worry that talking about their issues is a sign of weakness, but research shows this is a helpful way to process emotions and find new meaning.
It also helps to quash negative self-talk, which leads to low self-esteem. Learn to speak to yourself in a kind and loving way. If you find you cannot stop your inner critic, schedule some time with yourself to write these thoughts down. Then write down how you would prefer to think, feel or respond.
You can ask your inner voice to encourage you towards achieving these outcomes.
How clinical hypnosis can help
Rebuilding one’s confidence takes time. Clinical hypnosis can help people to release their pent-up emotions, regain a sense of inner confidence, and feel hopeful.
These are associated with one’s resilience or ability to recover quickly after a setback or trauma, coupled with the ability to adapt to stress or adversity. Studies show that resilience is one of the most important factors when it comes to emotional health.
Going into a state of clinical hypnosis even just once can refresh your emotional resilience. And learning self-hypnosis means you can reinforce the benefits at any time on your own.
The clinical hypnotherapist will spend some time getting to know you and what is important to you. They will then guide you into a state of hypnosis, which allows your physical and emotional tensions to melt away.
With the stress removed you are able to see things in their true perspective. The sessions also give you the emotional energy to cope and find new solutions to your challenges.
Anyone who can daydream can experience hypnosis, even children, who find this method extremely helpful as it allows them to realise they are not the cause of the problem they are going through.
The therapy also teaches you different ways to react to challenges. There is a very special technique called ego-strengthening, which can boost confidence and set you up for success.
Self-hypnosis and free consultation
Hypnosis is not something that is done to you; it is something you learn to do for yourself. This means self-hypnosis is a skill you can learn.
Of course, you will need a clinical hypnotherapist for complex or chronic problems, as it is extremely difficult to be both therapist and patient simultaneously.
It will take some time for life to truly return to normal. To help you through this transition period, clinical hypnotherapists at the LSCCH Therapy Centre offer one free consultation to those who would like to explore clinical hypnotherapy or learn self-hypnosis.
The sessions last about an hour and are offered through the centre’s virtual therapy platform throughout this month. It is ideal for those who are returning to work, students going back to school, and those who are feeling overwhelmed or stressed.
For more information, contact the LSCCH Therapy Centre here.
Sheila Menon is the Principal of the London College of Clinical Hypnosis (LCCH) in Asia and Australia, and the CEO of the LSCCH Therapy Centre.