Did you know that the NHS estimates that around 10% of the UK population struggle with claustrophobia at some point in their lives? That’s not a small number! So, if this is your fight at the moment, it’s important to know that you’re not alone and there is a way out. Hypnotherapy for claustrophobia can help many feel significant relief and even heal completely. But what is claustrophobia exactly? Claustrophobia is an intense fear of enclosed spaces and getting stuck in them without a way out. It can be mild or severe, from you feeling uncomfortable in tight spaces to directly plunging into a panic attack. As it progresses, claustrophobia can become increasingly limiting to one’s everyday life – some may not be able to leave their house, or even room!  That’s why it’s best to start treating it as early as possible. Symptoms of Claustrophobia Claustrophobia is one of the more famous phobias – irrational feelings of dread when the chances of something bad happening to us is extremely unlikely. People with phobias often go out of their way to avoid their triggers. Those suffering from claustrophobia will tend to avoid confined spaces like lifts, trains, planes, public toilets, revolving doors and so on. Such behaviour often leads to a lower quality of life because it becomes hard to enjoy everyday life. And it makes it almost impossible to travel! Claustrophobia symptoms can range in severity and may include:   Sweating Trembling Difficulty breathing High blood pressure Tightness in the chest or chest pain Feeling sick or needing to go to the bathroom Feeling faint and dizzy Ringing in your ears Fear of dying Panic attacks If you’re thinking about how all that sounds a lot like anxiety, you’re right. People who suffer from claustrophobia often experience mild to severe anxiety, sometimes when even just thinking about certain triggers. And panic attacks aren’t that uncommon. It’s the kind of phobia that can easily escalate. If you don’t start treating it soon enough, it becomes so damn easy to just avoid the places that make you feel uncomfortable. And before you know it, your radius of movement becomes smaller and smaller as the world seems more dangerous. Claustrophobia limits not only your life, but also the lives of your loved ones as you become increasingly dependent on them. This puts a strain on personal relationships. So, let the people you care about become, besides your own happiness, yet another reason worth fighting for. Common Causes Traumatic events in childhood can cause claustrophobia later on in life. If you were ever abused, bullied, trapped or kept in a confined space, that may be what’s causing your phobia to flare up today. People whose parents have suffered from claustrophobia are also more likely to experience it in their lives because they might associate confined spaces with their parent’s intense emotional reactions. Sometimes, though, claustrophobia doesn’t stem from your childhood, but from a bad experience. Getting stuck on a train, locked up in a garage or going through some major turbulence while on a plane can all be strong negative emotional experiences. Especially if you’re already going through a very stressful period. Such events can send you in a downward spiral of anxiety, fear and avoidance. The sooner you manage to break away from the vicious circle, the better odds you’ll have in healing. But even if you can’t remember the last time you went out of the house, you can get better! It just might take more work. How Can Hypnotherapy for Claustrophobia Help you? So far, we’ve learned that claustrophobia can cause intense physical and psychological symptoms that push you into a fight or flight response. Also, it’s often caused by childhood trauma or bad experiences in enclosed spaces. Hypnotherapy can be an effective solution because it uses relaxation techniques to help your body come down from the fight-or-flight overdrive. Your hypnotherapist will try to create a safe space where you can feel comfortable and guide you to relax your muscles and slow your breathing down. You can also ask them to teach you some techniques that you can use on your own to intentionally relax in challenging situations. Learning how to self-soothe will help you gain more control over your body! Relaxation of the body opens up the path to the subconscious mind. This is where your hypnotherapist can guide you to observe and work through your past experiences and face your phobia at its core. It’s not easy work, though, and it may take you some time to get there. And that’s okay! Exposure therapy is important for treating any phobia and sometimes, a great starting point is in your head! Hypnotherapy can help you practice facing your triggers in your mind. Your hypnotherapist will encourage you and help you see how you can craft a new, mindful response to a dreadful situation. For example, hypnotherapy for claustrophobia can help you visualise calling an elevator. Standing at its open door. And then maybe even entering and taking a ride. Whatever it is, you can practice in your mind before doing it in real life. It’s especially useful if your claustrophobia is severe. It’s important to note that during a hypnotherapy session, you are not a passive participant, and the hypnotherapist is not a wizard that will just make your fears disappear. You have to actively work through your fear. Your hypnotherapist is there to support and guide you, so you’re not left alone when the going gets tough. If you feel like this approach might help you, I’d encourage you to give it a chance. Try hypnotherapy for claustrophobia in London and get your life back!   Book a FREE consultation with me.  

Do you dread the arrival of summer? Shorts, bikinis, tank tops…The thought of having to wear any of that makes you feel anxious. Or maybe you go into overload with dieting and too much exercise, trying to look just perfect for the beach. If you struggle with body image, you know what I’m talking about. And I feel where you’re coming from because, honestly, social media does not make it easy for us to feel confident in our bodies. It’s a real struggle. Plus, if people in your life, body shame you (or bodies like yours), well, it’s no wonder it’s difficult for you to love your body. And yet, our body is our home. When we start treating it with the love and care that any home deserves, everything changes. Life becomes more colourful. But, how can we do that? Let’s dive deeper into it! Effects of low self-esteem Self-esteem is how we view ourselves. All the opinions, beliefs and judgements we have about ourselves can make or break our confidence. When we have low self-esteem, we think negatively about our bodies, hearts and minds. We feel less capable. So, we shy away from new opportunities and challenges. This makes us feel safe in the beginning, but the longer we avoid things, the more our insecurities grow. Our every mistake stops us in our tracks because we immediately see it as proof of our unworthiness. Hating your body can make it difficult to trust potential romantic partners. Your relationships may suffer, and you may even experience bouts of jealousy. People with low self-esteem often choose unsuitable partners because they believe they don’t deserve any better. And let’s not even mention all the beach parties you missed because you were ashamed of your body. It can be so easy to conclude that your confidence depends on how you look. But that’s not true! Confidence is not a matter of looks. The truth is that our self-esteem was heavily influenced by how people around us treated us as we grew up. And that might not have anything to do with your looks. This includes our family, friends, teachers and so on. So, if you grew up in a surrounding that was very critical of you, it was more difficult for you to develop confidence. Luckily, as adults, we can take the reins back. We can create a new narrative for ourselves and rewire our brains. We can learn to love ourselves and our bodies even if they are imperfect. Now, let me tell you a secret…all bodies are imperfect! Why would IG models need filters and photoshop if they weren’t? How to improve low self-esteem with hypnotherapy in London Photo by Alena Shekhovtcova – Pexels Now, London is a highly competitive city. It’s so easy to fall into the trap of comparison. Especially when you see all those successful-looking beautiful people strolling down Oxford street. But, the upside of living in such a big city is that there are so many professionals that can help you build your confidence. Hypnotherapy is a very gentle practise that leads you into a relaxed state. In it, you can safely explore your problems, allow yourself to feel difficult emotions and even take a stroll down memory lane in search of the root cause. All the while, your hypnotherapist will be your guide. They can support you and give advice on how to handle challenging emotions. Also, they can help you be more mindful of your thoughts and reactions. You’ll also be able to learn some useful tools to use in everyday situations. No matter your body type, hypnotherapy can help you develop self-esteem. One approach is by resolving damaging beliefs and past trauma. The other is by helping you change the habits that keep you treating your body badly. Be it’s bingeing, dieting, over-exercising, poor sleep, addictions or something else, hypnotherapy can help you break free from them. And it gives you all the tools to put new, loving habits in place. You know, the ones that will make you feel loved, energised and at peace. So, take advantage of living in a big city and try hypnotherapy in London. I’ve seen my clients achieve such wonderful results, and I know you can too! Contact me to learn more about how I can help you improve low self-esteem. I’m looking forward to talking to you!