How Hypnosis Gives You Back Control Over Stress
Stress has a way of creeping up slowly, then all at once you’re bombarded. It starts as a steady pressure – manageable at first – until the weight of unspoken expectations, last-minute obstacles, and mounting tasks become too much.
You might experience the frustration of feeling unseen. When asking for support is met with resistance, and the overwhelm turns into something physical – tight chest, shallow breath. A mix of anger and exhaustion that makes everything feel impossible.
You feel desperate for relief, for someone to step in and lighten the load, but instead you’re alone. And then breaking point hits. The moment when words stop landing, when emotions spill over, when everything you need to do is still there, tangled with exhaustion and resentment. Underneath it all, you know, no matter what, you’ll meet the deadline, everything will be OK. But at what cost?
In moments like this, it feels like stress happens to you, you have no control – like you’re squashed into a box with nowhere to turn. But what if stress is something you can take control of?
The effect of External Locus of Control and Overwhelm on Stress
Julian Rotter’s Social Learning Theory of personality includes the locus of control concept. At the top of the scale is the external locus of control. Those nearer the top believe their actions or behaviours are unlikely to influence the course of events. While at the bottom of the scale is the internal locus of control. People closer to the bottom believe their actions influence the outcome of events. If you tend towards the external end of the scale, you’re more likely to experience learned helplessness – a state in which you believe you cannot control or change a situation, so do not try, even when opportunities for change are available.
Stress may come more regularly for those with an external locus of control, because you feel completely out of control. However, even those with an internal locus of control experience stress at times. When you feel overwhelmed by a situation, it is difficult to see the wood for the trees. Stress is your body’s response to a threat to its life. Of course, real threats to life are minimal in our society – but your brain isn’t aware of this and will react accordingly. You can read more here about what goes on in that situation. One main thing is your rational thinking goes a little offline. Regardless of how in control you usually feel – extreme stress and overwhelm can send everything wacky. Hypnotherapy can help you regain control when you lose it to stress.
How Hypnosis Helps You Manage Stress
Hypnosis alone, without any therapeutic intervention, can help you move your body back into the calmer state. This will help your human thinking brain function optimally again, so you can put plans into action. Hypnotherapy can help you move from being reactive to proactive. You can use the following tips to regain control, so you can approach challenges with clarity and confidence.
Small Achievable Goals
If you sit somewhere near the top of the locus of control scale with little control over your life, start with small achievable goals. Recruit some team members, you might choose a friend or family member for your personal life or a mentor at work. Sit down together and construct the smaller stepping stones that will take you forward. As you start achieving your goals, you’ll cement the learning that you have control over some things in your life. This transition will help you feel in control of larger things in life.
Keep Track of Beliefs and Expectations
Keep note of the times you choose not to act, because you believe any result is out of your control. Pick one thing and challenge yourself to behave as if you have control. Keep track of what happens, and if you notice any of your behaviours, make a difference.
Hypnotherapy for Stress
Hypnotherapy can help you regulate emotions, so you can face challenges with a calm mindset. Over time, your resilience to stressors will increase, so you feel calmness and control even in high pressure situations. Hypnotherapy will help you work through current high stress situations in life, so they feel manageable. Hypnosis is a tool that helps you take back control, so stress no longer dictates your life.
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