How to deal with anxiety

We've all experienced anxiety in our lives to varying degrees - going somewhere for the first, meeting new people, starting a new school or job - things that take us out of our comfort zones. Then there are the times when we are being tested - school exams, spelling tests, essay writing, sports events, acting, singing, dancing, interviews, appraisals - these can all be stressful times and the build up to them can be the most stressful part of all because we are facing the unknown and may not be confident enough in ourselves to feel that we will succeed.

Clare is a successful business woman working for a finance company, but for some unknown reason she suffered from anxiety that manifested itself by a feeling of intense tension in her jaws - during the day she clenched them when she felt stressed and at night she ground her teeth, much to the annoyance of her husband.

During the initial consultation it transpired that Clare felt under pressure to achieve at a high level and she attributed this to the high expectations of her parents from a very early age. She had done well at school and then university, but found the combination of being a good mother and successful business woman quite stressful.

Through hypnosis she has managed to feel much more generally relaxed, is calmer and her sleep has improved. She practises self-hypnosis regularly and leads a more balanced life, enjoying her family and getting a sense of satisfaction from her work.