Help is at hand from Hummingbird Hypnotherapy

Help is at Hand from Hummingbird Hypnotherapy! BY NICOLE WOODCOCK, HUMMINGBIRD HYPNOTHERAPY

Ihope that this month finds

you safe and well. It is quite surreal sitting and writing my editorial whilst trying to home educate my children and create some form of normality. At the beginning of this lockdown I was, like very many people, worried, concerned for my family and business and definitely not being ‘solution focused’ in any way.

I feel very fortunate because, even though we feel like we’re on an emotional roller coaster, this situation has taught me a lot about myself. I like the slower pace in my life right now. Control within the brain is a constant, so once we feel that we are in control we usually are. This space allows us to explore and find answers to situations and, more importantly, can show us how to survive. The down side is that our primitive brain, the bit that worries and tells us all of those negative thoughts when stressed gets louder and so puts us into ‘fight/ flight state’ where we don’t do a great deal except perhaps panic, get angry or even depressed. That roller coaster of emotion I mentioned earlier, this is it … the primitive brain, the part that responds to all those negative imagined scenarios in your head as if they are real. There is no right or wrong at the moment; your emotions belong to you and sometimes, however hard it is, we just have to sit with them. But there are a few things that can help: 1 Focussing on what you

have achieved every day

is a really helpful tool to acknowledge that you have done something and write it down too, so you have a visual record of it. 2 Keep to a routine - get up, get dressed and eat well. There may not be anywhere to go, but you got up and looked after yourself as soon as you got up - that’s the best start you can get. 3 Limit your screen time. I know, I know! Social media, zoom calls … it’s all gone a bit crazy, but it takes at least an hour and a half for our brain to get back to normal, once we have had screen time, so ensure regular breaks and definitely ‘down time’ before bed.

4Remember that “to-do

list” that never gets done?

Now is a great time to tick off some of those things, which will give you a sense of achievement and a hit of those positive brain chemicals, serotonin and dopamine, that we all need right now. 5 Exercise. Take that walk, bike ride, jog around the block - your body and mind will thank you for it. 6 Be mindful of just working day by day and don’t think too far ahead (which can create too much anxiety into the unknown). Look at what you can control and focus on those things. Remember … this won’t last forever!

I am currently giving FREE guided relaxation sessions on my Facebook page at 9pm - “Mindful Monday” and “Wisdom Wednesday.”

And, for a bit of fun, “Face Pack Friday” - just find me @ hummingbirdhypnotherapy on Facebook and you can hop on.

FREE Initial consultations are available for children and adults online during this time.

Stay Safe, Stay Positive,

Stay Well! Nicole

Room 23 | Wake House | Bourne | PE10 9AE Phone: 07540 873928 Email: info@hummingbirdhypnotherapy.co.uk Website: www.hummingbirdhypnotherapy.co.uk