Does hypnotherapy work for anxiety?

Treatments for anxiety can be found through the NHS but waiting lists for talk therapies are lengthy, leading many to seek out other options. Can hypnotherapy in the form of a clinical session be beneficial for people suffering from anxiety?

When I get to my appointment for hypnotherapy, which I’m attending due to anxiety, I realise I am fretting about it excessively my heart beats fast and I’m starting to sweat. This isn’t something I’m used to. My brain has a tendency to transform even the most simple of circumstances into a problem of apocalyptic scale; a myriad of ‘what ifs’, which build to a crescendo of horror in my mind.

That’s why I’m here on Harley Street. I’ve come to see the clinical hypnotherapist Fiona Lamb, hoping she can make me feel less overwhelmed and more in control, as well as stop excessive anxiety from dominating my life. I’m not quite sure what to be expecting, but I’m assuming that in the near future, I’ll be at times crowing involuntarily like a prized cockerel.

Hypnotherapy stereotypes prevail

I’m way away from my goal. Lamb greets me with kindness, compassion and a huge smile. Her office is tiny and cozy and never does she take out a pocket watch. She’s not shocked by my preconceptions though.

“People are drawn to hypnosis as stage shows on television,” she laughs. “But the reality is that there’s nothing magical, no swinging watches, or chicken noises in reality. It’s a natural state we are all able to attain and is similar to meditation. It’s about engaging your creative side.”

I am embarrassed for making assumptions however Lamb does not care. She immediately puts me at ease, asking me to explain why I’m here, and what I want to accomplish. She shares that she, too, used to suffer from severe stress and sleep disorder. Following a series of tests ranging from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to herbal remedies and hypnotherapy, she discovered that therapy with hypnotherapy was the one that proved effective for her.

“Hypnotherapy really helped me deal with my anxiety and sleep problems. It was the only thing that did the trick after trying everything. That’s why I wanted to learn the reasons and how it worked,” she explains.

How does hypnosis to treat anxiety perform?

In a nutshell: trying to identify the root of the problem according to Lamb.

“Anxiety is just the fear of being afraid. We determine the reason you aren’t feeling safe and calm, identify the root of the issue and tackle the issues. I believe it’s the most efficient and the most lasting method to change your beliefs,” she writes.

I’m still nervous even when Lamb asks me to relax in my chair, and put my feet on the pouffe. She plays some soothing music from the stereo and I am asked to close my eyes. Slowly, slowly and counting backwards, she is able to perform the meditation. I am beginning to lose consciousness however, not completely. I’m awake and aware to my surrounding. And I know I can be able to stop the hypnosis anytime if I want to.

It’s in this calm state that Lamb invites me to go back to the time in which I felt fearful. It immediately makes me feel disoriented. My anxiety isn’t connected to things that happened decades ago Is it?

A part of me wants to not engage in this activity however, I am pleasantly surprised by reliving events I’d forgot about from my youth. The events I’m sure I dismissed as irrelevant, but which seem to persist in my memory. “Where on earth did that originate?” I’m thinking.

Lamb tells me to imagine the previous version of me from each time period and reassure her, telling that I should speak the phrases out loud. This feels a little awkward and more than embarrassing, but I follow as I’m instructed. A half-heartedly awkward hour may be worth it if it improves my mental well-being. “Everything is going to be perfect. You’re safe.” I say to my inner child, trying to avoid a shriek.

When Lamb returns me to the space, I’m glad that it’s all done. I’m also anxious about the things I’ve been able to recall from the session. The hour we spent together has flown over, though. As I leave Lamb’s workplace, I notice I feel lighter and calmer than I’ve felt in many years.

It’s too early to tell if my appointment has truly assisted me. But according to Dave Smithson from Anxiety UK Clinical hypnotherapy for anxiety can be a very beneficial treatment for mild to moderate instances. Though I’d wager it probably not for everyone’s taste.

“The assessment of our services confirms this, with nearly 74% of clients who utilized hypnotherapy in 2016 and 2017 were able to recover at the conclusion of their treatment. However, it may make it not the ideal form of treatment for more complicated ailments,” he cautions.
However, does hypnotherapy for anxiety really works?

Peer-reviewed clinical evidence for hypnotherapy’s effectiveness in treating anxiety disorder and panic attacks is not available. The few studies that have been conducted suggest that it’s efficient in helping people suffering from ‘trait anxiety’ (a tendency to feel anxious as a trait of personality). But, the majority of reviews suggest that more research is needed which isn’t a sign of research that suggests it doesn’t work, rather a recognition that not enough studies have been conducted on hypnotherapy to treat anxiety to establish that it does. It is interesting to note that there are more studies showing that it is effective in the treatment of IBS.

However, at the moment, hypnotherapy for anxiety isn’t available on the NHS. That means those who want to try it need to do so privately, at an expense of up to PS50 a session. I was fortunate enough to have two complimentary sessions, but I would have been priced out of this kind of approach.

It’s also important to note that hypnotherapy isn’t suggested for those suffering from schizophrenia or a personality disorder because it could cause the disorder worse.

Other methods to treat anxiety

Before you invest in the treatment of anxiety with hypnotherapy It’s best to consult your GP first, who may prescribe appropriate treatment. And it’s also worth exploring the NHS self-referral service in your area. There’s a chance that you can receive access to talk therapies through a mental health professional (such as CBT as the gold standard in anxiety treatment) without having to see your doctor.

“In the meantime, in addition to looking into any form of talking therapy, it’s beneficial to think about other ways of addressing your anxiety. These include doing more exercise, reviewing your diet, practicing mindfulness, speaking with your GP who might also suggest medication, or using other tools like the Headspace app or becoming a member of Anxiety UK to access the numerous benefits and assistance that we provide,” says Smithson.

“Often we see that it’s not a single therapy that can help manage anxiety, but rather a mixture of interventions, which includes therapy.”

I’m going to go for the combination approach myself, but I’m not totally given up on Hypnotherapy to help with anxiety. Lamb offers me audio files that can be used for self-guided hypnosis sessions that I’m pledging to try once I’ve learned there’s more than just ‘look into my eyes’ and leather sofas.