In this week’s newsletter, I shared a metaphor that paints a clear picture of the difference between stress and anxiety…
Stress is like being caught in a crashing wave, in the moment, struggling to stay afloat. Anxiety, on the other hand, is standing on the shore, watching the wave build and anticipating the worst.
That anticipation — the fear of what might happen — is at the heart of anxiety.
When you’re in an anxious state, your mind is rehearsing disaster. You’re not in danger now, but your nervous system doesn’t know that. It responds as though you are — racing heart, tight chest, difficulty concentrating. You’re living in a future that hasn’t happened yet, but your body believes it’s already under threat.
This is where hypnotherapy comes in.
Through hypnotherapy, we access the subconscious — the part of your mind that runs your automatic responses, beliefs, and habitual thought patterns. If your subconscious has learned to associate future events with fear or failure, that programming will continue to trigger anxiety, no matter how much you try to “think” your way out of it.
In a hypnotherapy session, we gently guide the mind into a relaxed, receptive state. From here, you’re able to explore the beliefs behind the anxiety — maybe it’s a fear of not being good enough, or of losing control — and begin to reframe those thoughts. We shift the narrative. That upcoming presentation? Not a threat, but an opportunity to grow. That social event? Not a trap for judgment, but a space to connect.
And because we’re working with the subconscious, these shifts go deeper than surface-level affirmations. They begin to shape how you feel and respond in the moment, helping you create a new baseline — one that is calmer, more grounded, and more empowered.
I’ve personally experienced this shift. Back when I was doing more public speaking, I used to feel the familiar churn of nerves — that anticipatory anxiety. But over time, I trained my mind to see those nerves as a sign that I was about to do something that would 10X my personal growth, self-confidence, self-esteem and potentially bring me new and exciting opportunities. I also loved the buzz when it was all over, so that on it’s own was worth paying the ‘nervous admission fee’.
Hypnotherapy can help rewire that perception, and in turn change the feelings and emotions you experience.
Anxiety doesn’t have to rule your future. You can learn to meet the wave, not with fear, but with a surfboard in hand — ready to ride.
If you’d like to find out more about how I could help you to surf the waves of anxious anticipation, then just book in for an informal 20-minute call with me here…
Surf’s Up!
