“Discuss the Relationship Between Stress, Anxiety, Habits

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Essay title: “Discuss the relationship between stress, anxiety, habits and phobias and describe how you would treat these issues with hypnotherapy” This essay considers the common debilitating and inter-related neurotic conditions of stress, anxiety, phobias and habits and provides a generalized account as to how each may be treated through the ethical use of hypnotherapy. Stress is the name given to how we feel under pressure, is a natural reaction, a normal part of everyday life and in small quantities helpful in motivating us to react in certain situations. Faced with stressful or dangerous situations, the body produces hormones to induce the “fight or flight” instinct. Feelings of stress can be experienced as anger, frustration and anxiety. Anxiety can be apprehension or fear, which causes stress. Phobias and habits are generally held to protect us from stress and anxiety. Each condition, if left untreated can become a symptom of the others. Anxiety can lead to phobia: phobia can induce stress: stress can create habits designed to relieve anxiety and so on. Stress involves external and internal stressors. External stressors are sources of stress that we are aware of around us which can include traumas, life experiences or simply daily hassles. Internal stressors are the sources of stress that are inside us, the thoughts, feelings and emotions that cause unease, unrealistic expectations, uncertainties, low self esteem and apprehensions. Symptoms of stress range from physical to psychological and behavioural conditions and people may experience these to varying degrees. Physical symptoms include increased heart rate, sweaty palms, muscle tension, sleep and sudden weight loss or gain. Psychological symptoms include anxious thoughts, low self esteem and confidence, fearfulness, difficulty making decisions, negativity, withdrawal, frustration
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