Everyone can experience stress and anxiety from time to time, as we all deal with the ups and downs of everyday life. It’s perfectly normal and usually passes in a short period of time.
However, for teenagers and young people, coping with the pressures of school, their peer group, social media or the future, can lead to longer-term feelings of anxiety.
These emotions can have a profoundly negative impact on their lives, influencing everything from exam results to their wider behaviour.
An NHS study revealed that between 5% and 19% of all children and adolescents in the UK experienced some form of anxiety. Hypnotherapy can ease those feelings and provide effective ways for you to overcome that stress.
Anxiety disorders in younger children
The three most common forms of anxiety seen in children are separation anxiety, social anxiety, and generalised anxiety.
They can all happen separately and at the same time, and are most often triggered by events at home or at school, such as family tensions or bullying.
Children can also feel anxious if they are being asked to take on responsibilities that are beyond their years, such as caring for a family member.
Teenagers and anxiety disorder
As younger children enter puberty, the focus of their anxiety can shift from external issues to themselves, particularly on how they look as their bodies change and develop.
Additional pressure from spending lots of time on social media can also negatively influence their self-image, increasing their feelings of anxiety, sometimes leaving them feeling isolated and depressed.
Teenagers and young people can also feel under increased pressure to succeed as they move from education to finding a career, while the thought of simply stepping out into the world can be overwhelmingly frightening.
Symptoms of anxiety disorder include:
- irritability
- Issues with concentration
- extreme sensitivity to criticism
- withdrawal from social activity
- avoidance of difficult or new situations
- chronic complaints about stomach or headaches
- sleep problems
In some cases, teenagers and young people end up turning to alcohol or drugs to cope with their anxiety, creating a whole new set of problems that can be even more destructive.
But there is another way.
Hypnotherapy and teenage mental health
Hypnotherapy can be used to treat a wide range of conditions and unwanted behaviours, including stress and anxiety, as well as the panic attacks, anger issues and depression that are sometimes associated with them.
I offer Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy which, as the name suggests, seeks to identify solutions rather than just targeting the problems themselves.
It involves placing patients under hypnosis: a safe, natural and relaxed state where the mind can focus on thoughts and suggestions that will help bring about long-lasting, positive change.
A safe and effective treatment for teenage anxiety
Several studies have demonstrated that hypnotherapy is a safe and effective way to help children, teenagers and young people deal with anxiety and stress.
That is because hypnotherapy places them in a state of relaxation, calm and safety, allowing them to work through any issues without incurring any additional trauma or upset.
A few hypnosis facts
There are lots of myths about hypnotherapy. Teenagers or young people may have read lots of ‘facts’ on social media about the treatment that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Let’s examine a few of the most commonly circulated myths.
No matter what TikTok or Facebook tells you, hypnotherapy is not a form of mind control. The hypnotic or trance state feels a bit like daydreaming, and patients can emerge from it whenever they wish.
Anyone who believes they 100% can’t be hypnotised should remember the last time they let their mind wander. The trance or hypnotic state is very similar, and is perfectly natural and normal.
Hypnosis will not wipe your memory. It is experienced differently by each patient, so it will vary from person to person whether they remember anything about the session or not. Whatever happens is completely normal and unique to you.
Case studies
I often receive positive feedback from parents whose children I have helped. Here’s some of my recent testimonials.
I brought my teenager to see Sevarin because she was struggling with anxiety and panic attacks, in particular around her next step in education. The hypnotherapy sessions have helped her immensely and we noticed an improvement straight away. My daughter has now started sixth form college happily, without any of her previous concerns and to me the difference in her seems almost miraculous. Sevarin is calm, knowledgeable and professional and has given my daughter tools that she will be able to use for the rest of her life. Thank you Sevarin!
And
Sevarin has been fantastic! My daughter diagnosed with depression was visibly improving as the sessions progressed. She became more relaxed, optimistic and happier.
She was always looking forward to see Sevarin. I can honestly recommend the treatment.
Hypnotherapy and me
I am a DBS-checked clinical hypnotherapist with a passion for yoga, mediation and the benefits of working with the subconscious mind and sound healing.
I hold an Enhanced DBS Certificate, and can help teenagers and young people overcome their anxieties and create positive change in their lives, working in a compassionate and non-judgmental way.
It all starts with a free initial consultation, during which I find out about you, including your goals and what you want to achieve from hypnotherapy.
From there, we’ll schedule regular hypnotherapy sessions deploying my solution-focused approach to bring about lasting, positive change in your life.
Contact me
You can find me at two Cambridge locations: Salus Wellness Clinics on Thursdays and Coach House Health Care on Fridays.
For a chat about your teenager or young person’s needs, or book your free initial consultation, email me at sevarin@lifeflowhypnotherapy.co.uk, or fill in this contact form and I’ll get back to you straight away.
