Nail biting, or onychophagia, is a type of body-focused repetitive behaviour. For many people who bite their nails, it is an ingrained habit which makes it harder to stop. Fortunately, hypnotherapy can be an effective way to break this habit. Here, cognitive behavioural hypnotherapist, Morag Stevenson, answers your questions on hypnotherapy for nail biting. Why might people bite their nails? There probably isn’t just one reason you nail-bite. When you take a step back and observe when you chew your nails, several reasons may emerge. It’s your way of dealing with nervous tension when anxious th ..read more

Before I became a counsellor, hypnotherapist and Hypno4ChildrenTM practitioner, I was a teacher. With a career spanning 20 years, I have seen my fair share of angry children and anxious parents. And from my observations, children’s anger can be seen on a scale – from never being angry before and suddenly displaying angry outbursts, to being unsettled and angry as a baby and these behaviours worsening as they grow older. But it doesn’t matter where your child sits on this scale, if their anger is having an impact on their day-to-day life, then it may be time to seek support. What is anger? Ange ..read more

Conscious, subconscious, unconscious… have you ever heard these terms being bandied about but not been entirely sure what they mean? If you’re nodding, you’re not alone. Learning more about these parts of ourselves can help us understand our mind better and what influences it. To find out what these terms mean and how hypnotherapy interacts with them, we sit down with cognitive hypnotherapist Adrian Jackson. What is the subconscious? To start with, can you tell us what the conscious mind is? The conscious mind is the analytical, logical and rational part of the human brain. It helps us make de ..read more

Stage fright, or performance anxiety, describes the highly unpleasant emotional and physical state someone may experience when faced with performing in front of an audience — live or behind the camera.  Whether you are a singer, dancer, actor, comedian or public performer/speaker of any kind, stepping onto a stage and into the spotlight can trigger a fear response, and in some cases, result in performance anxiety. How can someone who performs on stage for a living get so nervous, you might ask? Well, it’s more common than you think and has affected a number of famous performers including ..read more

Social anxiety disorder is an overwhelming fear of social situations. For some people, their social phobia gets better over time, as they get older, but for others, treatment may be required to help people manage it.  Hypnotherapy is thought to be an effective way to help people manage their social anxiety. We’ll explore this further, looking into why hypnosis works and where you can find a hypnotherapist.   What is social anxiety? Social anxiety disorder is a long-term, intense fear of social situations. It includes excessive self-consciousness and a heightened psychological re ..read more

A phobia is an intense fear of something, whether that’s an animal, an object or just an act of ‘doing’. They’re characertised by extreme anxiety and distress when someone is confronted with the thing they’re most scared of.  We’ve probably all heard of claustrophobia – the fear of small spaces, and arachnophobia – the fear of spiders. But did you know that there are names given to a fear of just about anything and everything, and some might take you by surprise. Dental phobia  The fear of the dentist is actually pretty common and is unlikely to come as much of a surprise for many pe ..read more

Weight management is a complex topic filled with nuance and, for those wanting to make a change, it can be difficult to know where to turn. There seems to be advice and opinions abound when it comes to getting an ‘ideal’ body, but the truth is, all bodies are worthy. The problems come when our weight is affecting our health, whether physical or mental. In these cases, some people may decide they want to either lose or gain weight. Typically there is a host of information and resources available for those who want to lose weight, but what about those looking to gain weight? Why would someone wa ..read more

Feeling nervous in the run-up to exams is a completely normal reaction. But knowing that doesn’t make it feel any better. We share 10 tips to help reduce exam stress and promote calmness ahead of the big day. Exams are a huge cause of stress and anxiety. An overwhelming 82% of teachers agree that exams and tests have the single biggest impact on students’ mental health. It’s no wonder so many feel nervous when studying for their exams. An important part of hypnotherapy for exam stress is knowing how to remain calm and relaxed, even when the pressure is building. While a little bit of stress is ..read more

Months of studying, preparation, sleepless nights and practice tests. We all feel a bit nervous when it comes to sitting an exam. But what about when we’re waiting for our results? How can we overcome exam result anxiety? Exams. Does anybody really enjoy them? Research shows around 40% of us experience some form of test anxiety. Whether you go into them feeling confident or wracked with exam nerves, anxiety and stress, you know that once they are over and done with, that’s it. There’s nothing more you can do but wait. But what if you feel just as nervous after your exams are over? What if, in ..read more

While writing this article, I am enjoying the relaxing tones of some Disney piano music – I am humming along and feel content – despite having to work, I feel at ease. These tunes are my go-to for when I need to get my head down, conquer some work or even some uninspiring life admin.  This style of music somehow spurs me on and keeps me focused on the task at hand. How does it do this? Well, it has something to do with the tinkling, twinkling sound of the piano keys which puts my mind in a form of trance, thus allowing my mind to remain focused on what I need to achieve. I hear you – does ..read more