All in the Mind - A Space for Conscious Thought

Halloween is becoming more and more popular each year with nearly ever organisation wanting to take part, whether it is the local optician dressing their window or restaurants offering spicy pumpkin soup on the menu. However, it is not always a ‘trick or treat’ fun night for everyone. For those who have a serious phobia of spiders, real or plastic (they can seem life like enough) they have to endure this anxiety every year. So what is a phobia? It is an irrational fear triggered when faced with the feared object and as a result the person may sweat, shake, experience dizziness or palpitations as a physical response. Or they may try to avoid the trigger all together which can sometimes be difficult to do. I walked into my local charity shop and there was a plastic spider on the counter as part of their Halloween display. So not as easy as it may seem, and every time the trigger is avoided it actually reinforces the phobia. Why can’t phobias be rationalised by use of simple logic?  T...

A New Perspective on the Fear of Flying A fear of flying is far more common than most people realise. Many people experience waves of worry, tension, or panic around air travel, sometimes only when they’re tired, stressed, or going through a demanding period of life. For others, the anxiety is stronger and shows up long before the flight is even booked. For some, the fear comes from an internal sense of losing control - the worry that emotions might overwhelm them mid‑flight or that they’ll feel embarrassed in front of others. For others, it’s linked to external triggers like turbulence, weather, or the idea that something might go wrong with the aircraft. Some people feel fine at the airport but notice their symptoms rising just before boarding. Others feel the anxiety as soon as they start planning a holiday. This anticipatory anxiety is incredibly common and can make even the idea of travelling feel overwhelming. A fear of flying can develop for many reasons:- a difficult fl...

No relationship is perfect and there are many things that can affect your home life such as separation, forming a new family, bereavement, or relocation; to name a few and this is where counselling can help. Whatever the difficulty you are experiencing; hypnotherapy can help you to come to terms with things and find a way through your difficulties. You are not alone in feeling that way especially if you need some extra support particularly during key life moments such as ·          Starting a new relationship ·          Getting married or entering a civil partnership ·          Having children ·          Coping with an affair or major conflict ·          Divorce or separation ·          Living as a step family ·  ...

1.        Back to basics – Having a healthy diet that provides us with vitamins and minerals (especially vitamin B complex which protects the nervous system), and early nights to get good quality sleep. Drink plenty of water to be properly hydrated.      2.        Get Real – The fear of the fear can be worse than the actual anxiety. Because something awful has happened we can live in fear of it happening again when in reality there is no foundation for that. FEAR is a False Expectation Appearing Real.     3.        Take Time Out – If you feel overwhelmed with the physical or emotional effects of the anxiety or panic, take time out to calm down. It is impossible to think clearly when your heart is racing or your palms sweating. Take yourself away from the situation, for example if in a meeting excuse yourself to go to the bathroom or if driving park up safely. ...

Reiki is a Japanese word meaning Universal Life Energy and it is the vital life energy which flows through all living things and which can be activated for the purpose of healing.  When used in healing, it acts holistically affecting the energies which comprise the human body. As human beings we are comprised of electro-magnetic ener gy, and every cell in the body is vibrating at different rates depending upon their biochemical make-up. The levels of this life force in our bodies has an impact on our inherent healing ability, as Ki (life energy) helps to nourish the structure, organs and systems of the body, supporting them in their vital functions and contributing to the healthy growth and renewal of cells. Our ability to absorb this life energy is not constant, and over time our body can become depleted. When this happens we become weaker and more susceptible to illness, the ageing process and even physical death. This life force (Ki) is what defines us  as living be...

You may smoke for all sorts of reasons such as the enjoyment of smoking, for weight control, to act mature, to look and be cool, due to peer pressure or because you think you are addicted.  But did you know there are approximately 4,000 poisons in ONE cigarette and these are added during the growing, harvesting, processing of the cigarette and manufacturing of the paper. S moking is bad for your health especially your lungs, your heart and your immune system. The benefits of stopping smoking are:  Reduces breathlessness Sense of taste will improve Skin will look clearer Your breath, clothes and hair will smell better Reduces the risk of lung and heart disease Reduces the risk of cancer You are more likely to live longer  Save money Ten top tips to help you stop smoking 1.  Make a list of reasons to stop 2.  Identify when you crave cigarettes  3.  Make a plan to quit smoking 4.  Think positive 5.  Get some support (a bud...