Fear and even panic can rise for many reasons and with many expressions, from a mild uneasiness to full blown bodily experience like sweating, high pulse rates and difficulty breathing. The roots of our fears can be complex and vague. Our reactions can range from “escape” to anger.  These strong feelings can tempt us to use substances to soothe ourselves. We drift away from those who care for us.

Anxiety can be highly specific like a phobia, or can be generalized and non-specific such as social anxiety. It can range from mild uneasiness to excessive panic and physical discomfort. An excellent strategy for addressing anxiety is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. It is a conversational technique that seeks identify distorted thinking and maladaptive patterns of behavior that may have originated as early as childhood. Hypnosis has also been effective in helping clients lower their overall emotional reactivity to stimuli, gain a greater sense of confidence and raise their level of comfort in their own bodies.