Why am I struggling with anxiety?

When people struggle with anxiety, they often think that there is something wrong with them; that this is not normal. Well, anxiety is normal and whilst that may not make it any easier to deal with, it is important to know that anxiety is a normal and natural function of the brain. Anxiety is the activation of the fight/flight/freeze response. This happens when the primitive part of the brain (the Limbic system) senses a threat and it reacts by preparing us to act quickly in order to ensure our survival. When this happens, stress hormones (adrenaline and cortisol) are released into our blood stream which enable us to run faster, fight with more strength and even to feel less pain and when faced with a threat, this response can literally save our lives.

However, in our 21st century lives, we are not often faced with a predator or a direct threat to our lives; so why do we still feel anxious?

That primitive part of the brain which senses threats and initiates the fear response is not really that clever. This is not to be dismissive of its potential ability to save us in times of danger, for example, imagine you’re about to cross a busy road and are not paying full attention because you’re reading a message on your phone. It’s the primitive brain (specifically the Amygdala) which has sensed the lorry whose path you are about to step into through your peripheral vision and caused you to leap back out of the way. In situations such as this, the primitive brain takes over control from the ‘intellectual brain’ – the thinking, conscious and clever part of your brain.

But why do we sometimes feel so anxious for so much of the time when there is no obvious threat? Well, when I said the primitive brain is not that clever, this is because it is unable to tell the difference between an immediate threat to our lives and a worrying or negative thought. Just by thinking about something that is troubling us, our primitive brain is activated and this has the dual effect of releasing stress hormones into our body and preventing us from being able to fully use the resources of our intellectual brain. That feeling of anxiety is experienced both in our minds and our bodies; racing thoughts, thinking the worst, racing heart, inability to settle etc.

So how can hypnotherapy help? Understanding how and why anxiety happens is an important first step; as is developing a better understanding of our brains. The model of the primitive brain and the intellectual brain is based on neuroscience. When we are able to fully access and utilise the incredible resources of the intellectual brain, we can think rationally, logically and creatively and we tend to be able to have a more positive and problem-solving approach to life and its many challenges.

Conversely, when the primitive brain is in control, we are in the clutches of its negative bias and we feel overwhelmed and less able to face challenges or deal with the things we need to deal with.

Solution focused hypnotherapy helps us to access the intellectual brain and therefore utilise our natural ability to rationally assess situations and find the solutions that will, step-by-step, help us to move forward. It also teaches a variety of strategies that can be used to calm anxiety down and to be able to step back from it and regain the intellectual control.

Lots of my clients have struggled with anxiety to varying extents, and many have found that hypnotherapy has helped them make sense of what’s going on beneath the surface. By learning practical techniques to calm the mind, gently step back from anxious thoughts, and create new, more positive responses, they’ve been able to move towards a calmer, more balanced way of living. If you’re ready to break the cycle of worry and give yourself the space to breathe again, hypnotherapy can offer a safe, effective path forward — and you don’t have to take that first step alone.

If you’re curious about how hypnotherapy could support you, or you’d simply like to talk things through, you’re very welcome to get in touch. I’m always happy to answer questions and help you explore whether this approach feels right for you. Reaching out can sometimes feel like a big step, but it can be the start of real, positive change — and I’m here to help whenever you’re ready. Why not get in touch through the contact page either for an informal chat or to book your free initial consultation.