Covid: the aftermath
A recent article in the Evening Standard examined how hypnotherapy had helped the writer to overcome their ‘binge drinking’ tendencies.
The story noted how the lockdowns had seen an increase in the number of people who sought solace in alcohol.
It’s perhaps not surprising that the primitive part of the brain will try to deal with the issues it faces with a quick fix of dopamine.
As the world emerges from the hiatus created by Covid then we would expect our members to notice an increase in the number of people who might be seeking our help in trying to fix issues caused by the pandemic.
There are, of course, fluctuations in client numbers throughout the year. There will be downtimes whereby people don’t require our help.
Summer is often seen as a season where we notice a drop in client engagement as people head outdoors, or overseas, to gain their dollop of serotonin.
As such, summer is a good time to catch up with ourselves and to focus on our CPD portfolio so we can enhance our skillset and keep up to date with all of the latest practices and developments in the world of hypnotherapy.
You can readily access your own portfolio record via the NBMP portal so you can keep it updated with course attendance, reading and completion of any online modules which are useful for your business.
The lockdowns saw behaviours alter and change, including people sadly entering a grieving state following the loss of family members and friends. Many of them weren’t able to find face to face support to help the processing of their emotions.
For lots of people, lockdowns caused frustration as they were stuck at home. People weren’t able to see loved ones. There was the loss of work and income. Members of society seeking refuge in drinking and smoking.
All of these results arise from the pandemic and it could take some people a long time to process its’ aftermath. In other words, for some clients, their ‘stress buckets’ could well have been overflowing before the pandemic.
The lockdowns merely added more stress into their lives which have created substantial long-term issues. Anxiety, is, perhaps, one of the ongoing mental wellbeing impacts which relate to Covid – 19.
Staying at home meant a lot of people were unable to manage anxiety in the same way as they normally would do: going for a daily walk, singing in a choir, going to the gym.
These all became ‘off limit’ activities which can still present an issue for people today as we enter a post Covid world.
Hypnotherapist’s can make all the difference for clients as we encourage people to focus on positive interaction with us during the course of our meetings with them.
That all important flow of ‘positive neurons,’ alongside a focus on positive steps forward, can really help someone move away from the past so they can embrace a positive future.
The use of the ‘Miracle Question’ means we can create a step by step plan to allow someone to generate a steady flow of serotonin so they’re not reliant on a ‘quick fix’ of dopamine to try to improve their mood.
And, of course, we recognise that the ‘quick dopamine fixes’ tend to result in cravings for more of the same and a decrease in energy levels.
Unfortunately, these negative effects run alongside a spiralling addiction to whatever it is which is providing false comfort to a client (such as smoking or drinking).
Our therapy rooms allow a way forward to reduce stress bucket levels to a point whereby the intellectual brain can take full control over the primitive brain’s responses to perceived stress.
When the ‘transfer of power’ happens between the two parts of the brain then the person can really start to notice positive improvements to their lives and, crucially, in their ability to reject the things which used to provide them with false comfort.
It’s worthwhile remembering to highlight your success stories with visitors to your website.
If someone takes the trouble to thank you for your help then perhaps you could ask for a testimony? Including snippets of their comments on your website can really help to encourage someone else to get in touch with you.
It goes without saying that you should have their permission to use their remarks and also to remember to anonymise them so no one can identify the originator.
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