How To Erase Feelings Of Worry Using Hypnosis - written by Alan B. Densky, CH

Many people tend to use the terms "stress" and "anxiety" interchangeably, but they are actually two separate conditions. Stress is a response to a stimulus, either internal or external. You may experience stress because you are frustrated with something (like waiting in line behind a slow person) or when you are worried that you won't meet expectations (such as missing a deadline).

Anxiety, on the other hand, is a feeling of nervousness and fear or even dread. It can be caused by negative expectations and thoughts, or as a response to stress. You may experience feelings of anxiety all of the time and not know why, or your worry may be a response to something you are nervous about, like an upcoming exam.

Abnormal levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain may cause generalized anxiety. Some studies show that anxiety can be brought on by genetics. In addition, anxiety can stem from environmental conditions, as when a child whose mother or father is often anxious becomes an anxious person by observing the parent. But frequently, the core cause of anxiety is simply the thoughts that a person is thinking!

Anxiety and stress are subjective conditions. Different people may feel stressed about different situations, and different people may respond to their anxiousness in very different ways. Symptoms of anxiety can range from the mild, such as sweaty hands and tense muscles, to the severe, such as irregular heartbeat, anxiety attacks, and vomiting.

Everyone experiences feelings of anxiety once in awhile. We have all experienced the dry mouth and vague sense of dread before an exam or public speaking engagement. But when does it become damaging to your health? Research has shown that chronic anxiety can lead to sleep disorders, relationship problems, depression, and high blood pressure

For sufferers of long-term untreated anxiety, there can be detrimental health consequences that have yet to be fully explored. Many studies have found a link between generalized anxiety disorder and a variety of serious health conditions including cancer, arthritis, respiratory illness, thyroid disease, and heart disease. Chronically anxious people may even be more likely to suffer a fatal cardiac attack.

If you suffer from what seems like a disproportionately high amount of anxiety relative to the situation, or if you feel anxious nearly every day, you may actually have an anxiety disorder. Anxiety disorders are chronic conditions characterized by one's inability to function normally because of frequent anxiety. Anxiety disorders are serious conditions that should be treated to lower the risk of long-term negative health effects.

Anxiety treatment has long been the subject of much debate in the medical community. Some medical professionals believe that medication is the best treatment for chronic anxiety. However, anti-anxiety medications often produce undesirable side effects that are just as bad as or even worse than the initial affliction.

There are plenty of safe and non-invasive ways to handle negative emotional reactions. Exercise is one that is often overlooked by anxious people, but it is very effective. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which are natural mood-boosting and pain-killing chemicals. With regular exercise, you may begin to experience a dramatic decrease in negative emotional responses to situations that would have previously made you very anxious.

The most effective way to deal with worry and tension is to control it from within. Stress management and stress relief techniques are very valuable tools in handling day to day stress. These techniques can teach you to calm yourself and relieve your tension. You make a conscious effort to slow your breathing rate, release the tension, and maintain a calm state of mind. Meditation is a fantastic form of tension relief in which you focus on thoughtful relaxation and deep, calming breathing.

However, if you are searching for a proactive solution to relieve yourself of anxiety, hypnotherapy is by far the most effective form of treatment. When a person undergoes hypnotherapy, their reactions and emotional responses to events are changed at their core. This gives them the opportunity to handle anxiety-inducing triggers without the usual nervousness and fear.

Hypnosis is often performed by a licensed hypnotist in a series of regular treatments. More commonly today, hypnotherapy can be learned from self hypnosis programs which are available in the form of DVDs, CDs, or MP3s for individual home use. No special skills are needed to perform self hypnosis. All you need is a way to play the hypnotherapy program and a quiet place where you can relax and listen.

Another successful method of anxiety treatment is Neuro-Linguistic Programming, or NLP. NLP is a type of therapy that helps you condition your mind and body to naturally respond to situations in a more positive manner. You can consciously decide to stay calm instead of feeling anxious, meaning that you are always in control of your own feelings.

It is evident that it is important to control our negative emotional responses in order to stay healthy. Mastering techniques to deal with nervousness and fear can even add precious years onto your life. To treat long term anxiety, the best course of action is to use hypnosis to change your attitudes and reactions at the core. Then, it becomes easy to use stress management techniques as necessary to stay calm in everyday situations.