What makes you happy

At the start of every day how do you feel when you wake up? I know for me personally i am half asleep, wanting a coffee, and feeling optimistic thinking about what the day is going to bring. It's not always been this way for me. There was a time in my life when i dreaded waking up every day, as i battled with depression. But even when i was going through my darkest times, looking back now i know there was always moments in my day when i would smile, or sometimes laugh.

The point i am trying to make in this blog, is that no matter how low you feel there is always something that will bring on a smile. Whether that's a funny moment you have seen whilst watching the TV, or someone saying something that makes you laugh, maybe just being out in the fresh air with the sun shining can bring on that all important smile.

So, what makes you happy, I mean truly happy?. My happiness comes when i sing, i absolutely love belting out a tune. My family make me happy, they can drive me mad at times, but they also make me laugh really hard. whatever it is that brings about your smile, do it more often. And if you really want to help yourself, keep a journal of all the things that have either made you smile or laugh in your day.

As a society we have got used to so much doom and gloom that we automatically focus on what is negative in our lives. So let's flip that on it's head, and start focussing on the good stuff.

The roof over your head

The body that carry's you from a to b

Your family

And most important your health

Now is the time to start being truly happy, and appreciate the little things in life

New Year Resolution Taking you in a new direction

As we move into 2023 we start to think about the changes that can be made to our lives

Maybe you want to lose weight

Stop Smoking

Become more confident

Beat a fear or phobia

Get rid of the anxiety that has been holding you back in 2022

Beat an addiction

Cut down on your alcohol intake

All of the above intentions are real, but why is it that most of our intentions are gone

by January or February?

Well, humans are creatures of habit, and when the going get's tough

our resolutions are harder to maintain, and so we revert to our old and trusted ways

because that is where our comfort zone is

But it does not have to be like this in 2023, because therapy can give you the focus you need to stick to your goals, and help you to stay on track no matter what your resolutions are.

So this New Year, forget sitting back and only thinking about those changes and resolutions, but take that first step to becoming the best you in 2023

Helping you cool down as the temperature rises

Temperatures are rising in the UK, and all over the world due to climate change

I have seen a spike in clients struggling more with sleep ,and stress since the hot weather kicked in. i noticed even in myself my mood had changed, i have been feeling really agitated, and my clients have been mentioning the same thing.

We are aware of seasonal affective disorder, this is when peoples moods change in the winter due to a lack in serotonin, once the sun comes out your serotonin rises, and our mood gets better. But what about how are moods are affected in the summer? In the summer months our cortisol hormone rises, and in turn causes us to become angry, grumpy, and agitated, and on top of this effects our sleep”.

I started wondering how i could help everyone to cool down in this heat, as a hypnotherapist i know that using your imagination, whilst in a state of induced relaxation by focusing your attention works wonders, so i have introduced a technique to cool everyone down, It is so easy that anyone can do it.

Not only will the recording cool you down in this heat, but it will reduce your stress levels, and help you have a better nights sleep.

To access my free summer cool down recording got to: www.essex-hypnosis.co.uk/downloads

Free Recording

Essex-Hypnosis Blog

An ongoing series of informative entries

Our Latest Blog Entry

5 May 2021

Fixing Sleep Issues with the Power of Hypnosis

As we come out of the other side of the pandemic

It has affected many of our daily routines, and one of its biggest reported impacts has been that on sleep - sleep becomes more elusive when we are anxious.

Many people are suffering sleep issues for the first time in their lives:

• awake for long periods

• unable to fall asleep at all

• wake up several times during the night

• more intense and emotional dreams

• tired and groggy the next morning

• find it difficult to concentrate or function properly

• feel irritable

But good sleep stratagems will help you sleep well and can limit the negative effects of poor sleep.

Try these FIVE hints for calmer and better sleep.

1 Limit news intake and avoid your mobiles and tablets for at least an hour before bed

Do something to boost your mood before bed - a humorous television programme or an uplifting podcast can help you sleep

2 Have structure to your day

Our brains and bodies love structure. Wake, exercise, eat and sleep at similar times each day

3 Focus on your breathing

Think about resting rather than sleeping. Follow your breathing by silently whispering the words ‘in’ and ‘out’ to induce sleep.

4 Learn to relax

Relaxation can switch off the stress response, physically and mentally. Find something that works for you - mindfulness meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing or a long hot bath.

5. If you can’t sleep - get out of bed

Your bed should not be a battleground. Instead, try to enjoy the sensation of merely resting.

Hypnosis can help many forms of sleep issues.

If you are not sleeping well, and traditional treatments are not working, hypnosis may be able to help you sleep the way you deserve.

It uses different approaches to induce relaxation, such as focused attention, symptom control and guided imagery.

And, unlike sleep medications, it has no side effects, so it can be an aid for those who can’t or don’t want to take sleeping pills.

It can help overcome bedtime restlessness - ease the worry, tension and anxiety that prevent sleep - and can show the way to the deep, restorative sleep that we all need.

To get started, download this complimentary hypnosis recording. And take the first steps on the road to better sleep!

Click on the link below for your free sleep recording

Press for free recording

novalewis6

Feb 295 min read

My Mental Health Story! And how hypnotherapy can help you with yours.

Whether it's Anxiety, Depression, OCD, PTSD, or Stress (Yes, i lived that life, then i found hypnotherapy).

I am Nova Lewis of Essex-Hypnosis, and i thought i would share my mental health story with you, so that you have an understanding that i have walked in those shoes before ever becoming a therapist.

I am going to be very honest in telling my story, and there will be some things that may be hard to read, but i am doing this as i want to let you know that if i can get through what i have been through, plus going through the therapy journey myself then i know you can.

My story really began at the age of Ten when on a school journey i was being bullied, which culminated in an incident that took place the night before i went home by my so called best friend at that time, i was locked in a room with a number of boys and girls and made to take my clothes off whilst at knife point. (Yes i know it's not nice, but it happened). After this i continued to be bullied which carried on throughout my life on an off by different individuals.

At the age of Sixteen i met a partner who was older than me, of course at that time i thought it was great, until he started to physically abuse me, not just hitting me, not just mentally, but also sexually. I went through a Three year relationship, "if you can call it that" with him, i didn't tell anyone it was going on as i was ashamed. I know you hear people all the time say "why didn't you just leave him", if like me you are either in this situation, or you have been you know it is the hardest thing to do, because slowly but surely that person will break you down until you are terrified. And yes i did get out of that relationship after Three years, then i went straight in to my next relationship that was mentally abusive, it's almost as if people like that can smell your vulnerabilities, and take advantage of it. I was with him for Six years, but eventually again i broke free.

There had been lot's of other stuff in between all those years, but if i spoke about all that i would be writing all day. I finally had my first mental break down in 2011 after going through a traumatic birth, i was eventually diagnosed with PTSD, Depression, and Anxiety, i did also have OCD but i never spoke about that because i never knew at the time that it was a mental health disorder. Back then i had a few different therapies, namely counselling, and cognitive behavioural therapy, to be honest they didn't really work for me, that's not to say they don't work because for some people they do, but i just didn't get on with it, plus there was a lot to pick through in my life that they just didn't do, so i just carried on in life getting on with things, probably pretending everything was okay.

Jumping forwards to 2015 when i had my second break down, this time it was far worse and i became suicidal, i had planned my demise, i was at breaking point and didn't know what to do, so i thought i would try hypnotherapy, i was having therapy for a long time but it actually worked for me, and i had thought there was no helping me. That's when i decided that i too wanted to become a hypnotherapist, so that is exactly what i did, and they say the rest is history

I have faced lot's of challenges in life, not just what you have already read about, i have been homeless, i was told i would never have children due to medical issues, but i have Two beautiful boys who both have autism, but again these challenges i deal with every day and take in my stride as i love the job i do, there is nothing more rewarding than seeing my clients change in front of my very eyes to become the best people they can be, no mater what their challenges are. And if you are wondering, i do see neuro diverse individuals in my practice, both ADHD, and ASD.

If you are considering seeing a hypnotherapist like myself i would say don't think about it, just do it because you won't look back, for me as a therapist i not only specialise in hypnotherapy, i do many different therapies, all of which are on my website. I am known as the therapists therapist because i also work with other therapists to help them deal with any issues they may have, see a review from a therapist below.

My Top Five Tips to help you deal with Stress and Anxiety

1. Notice in your body where you feel your tension, close your eyes focus on that area of your body, take a deep breathe in, and in your mind tell that part of your body to relax, then take a deep breathe out. If you do this for a few minutes you will find yourself feeling calmer, and more relaxed.

2. Whatever you are feeling, whether it's anxiety or stress turn that feeling into a colour, once you have that colour in mind, breathe that colour out, exhale it, then breathe back in each time, inhaling a calm or your favourite colour, again do this for a few minutes and notice that feeling leave your body.

3. Close your eyes and think about your favourite place, it could be a beach somewhere, or a room at home, maybe even somewhere you make up in your mind. When you have that place to mind, use your visualisation skills to see what you can see when you are there, hear what you can hear, smell what you can smell, and feel whatever you can feel when you are in that place. This is your happy place so when you are there it will take your attention away from any negative feelings or thoughts.

4. Start writing down the good stuff, the things that make you smile, make you laugh, make you happy in your day. Rather than focussing on the negatives.

5. The next time you have any of those negative thoughts or feelings, take that thought from your mind and imagine getting rid of it. You could imagine throwing the thought in to a bin, burying it, or burning it, whatever is the best way for you. You could take it one step further and write down the thought or feeling and physically get rid of it.

For a little extra help, listen to my free MP3 recording to help you feel a bit more calmer

Free Stress and Anxiety relief recording

If you are considering taking the next step in to therapy with me watch the video below to find out how hypnotherapy can help you with your mental health struggles.

Remember, i know how it feels to be at this point, i know how it feels to take that step into therapy, i have suffered with my mental health over the years, so if you, like i was ready to take that next step and move forwards get in touch now, and never look back.

Contact Me