Stress Management

The brain receives messages from several sources, each dealing with separate types of information. Input dealing with everyday matters such as news, music, jobs, relationships, weather etc., comes from the external environment. Our own bodies provide data concerning movement, digestion, tension, pain, etc, all in the form of messages, sent to the brain.

The conscious mind deals with reasoning and logic, decisions. goals , and conscious activity.
The subconscious mind, however, wields the greatest influence. It receives all the messages from our social, spiritual and genetic backgrounds and all the conflicts and disturbances which enter our consciousness each day. The subconscious mind receives and holds its information, neither accepting nor rejecting the messages. It does not evaluate. That procedure is reserved for the conscious mind.

From primitive times the human animal has possessed an escape mechanism that even today, under severely threatening conditions, can cause regression to primitive behaviour. The fight/flight syndrome, always a means of dealing with fears, threats attacks and other disturbances, has gained tolerance through evolution with the addition of reaction vs. action and repression vs. depression. Without these, when the message input volume reached overload conditions, the escape would be toward the denial of reality. However, the desire for social acceptance provides motivations to cope with and adapt to reality.

When the conscious mind can no longer handle the message units overloading the brain, the subconscious prepares us for fight or flight -- chemicals are released into the body, the heart pumps harder, blood pressure rises super-strength can be generated. But sometimes there is nothing to fight.

Stress and Anxiety

In present day life, often a state of apathy, depression and/or hypersuggestibility ensues. Negative input finds acceptance. Futility, melancholy and an overreaction to the senses develops together with a loss of tolerance. A person experiencing continuing stress may develop any or several forms of stress-related illness. While certain types of stress are even desirable (romantic stress, job promotions, winning a lottery), stresses that produce debilitation, depression, excessive smoking, overeating, anger, grief, and similar reactions need professional help.

Every individual is different in tolerance levels, coping abilities, reactions and therapeutic needs. It is important to analyze the stress stimuli and the physical and/or emotional responses which they bring about. Through hypnosis, positive new responses can be created to replace the devastating reactions of the past. Buried feelings can be brought to the surface and released. Outside pressures can be relieved. And finally new responses to old disturbances can be induced with major changes in attitudes and reactions.

This information was researched by the educational faculty of the National Guild of Hypnotists for its members.