Do You Suffer with Low Self-Esteem?

Low self-esteem refers to having a generally negative overall opinion of oneself. It involves judging or evaluating oneself negatively and placing a general negative value on oneself as a person. People with low self-esteem often harbor deep-seated, basic beliefs about themselves that are unfavorable. Here are some characteristics associated with low self-esteem: Self-Perception: Individuals with low self-esteem may not like themselves very much. They might assume that others don’t like them because they perceive themselves as unlikeable or damaged. Additionally, they may think of themselves as unlovable or unworthy of love. Persistent Negativity: Unlike temporary feelings of doubt or annoyance, low self-esteem is characterized by long-term negativity about one’s self and how they show up in the world. These negative feelings can be persistent and challenging to overcome. Causes: The roots of low self-esteem often trace back to early childhood or adolescence. Negative experiences during these formative years can contribute to a poor self-opinion. Genetics may also play a role, although research on genetic causes is limited. Early Causes: Childhood and adolescent factors that can lead to low self-esteem include ongoing harsh criticism from authority figures (such as parents or teachers), emotional distance from parents or caregivers, childhood trauma (such as parental divorce or sexual abuse), academic struggles, and feeling less attractive than the idealized images portrayed in social media. Effects: Low self-esteem can hinder enjoyment of life, impact the ability to achieve goals, and adversely affect mental and physical health. It’s essential to recognize and address these feelings to improve overall well-being. Everyone experiences moments of doubt, but persistent negativity about oneself constitutes low self-esteem. Seeking support can help improve self-esteem and promote a healthier self-image. This area is one of my specialties. I am a client centered, solutions based therapist. I refer you to my website www.dragonflytherapy.co.za where you can find out more about me or contact me.

Do you feel like you are burnt out?

It’s common to feel burnt out towards the end of the year due to increased workloads, deadline pressures, and the desire to wrap up the year on a high note.

End of year burnout is fatigue that manifests itself towards the end of the year. It is as a direct result of being overworked and stressed. Some people struggle with social commitments in addition to work commitments at this time of year.

Symptoms of burnout include physical, emotional, and psychological exhaustion, irritability, low mood, lack of concentration, and withdrawal from loved ones.

Physical symptoms associated with burnout are aches, headaches, nausea, and low libido.

To cope with year-end stress, use the following strategies: –

Set realistic expectations for yourself and others. Learn to say “no” to additional commitments that may cause unnecessary stress.
Deep breathing, meditation, and mindfulness can help reduce stress and anxiety. You can also try progressive muscle relaxation, visualization, or aromatherapy.

Exercise can help reduce stress and improve your mood. You can try a brisk walk, a quick home workout, or a yoga session.

Good sound and restorative sleep is imperative. Practice sleep hygiene.

Prioritize your tasks and break them down into smaller, manageable steps. This can help you feel more in control and reduce feelings of overwhelm.

Dedicate time to activities you’re passionate about, such as painting, cooking, writing, or playing a musical instrument. These creative outlets can serve as a source of relaxation and inspiration when your batteries are running low.

Maintain a balanced diet. Eating a healthy, balanced diet can help you feel better physically and mentally.
Try to avoid overindulging in sugary or fatty foods, which can cause energy crashes and mood swings. Watch the coffee you are consuming.

These practical steps will help you manage your stress levels over this time.

If the above strategies do not assist you, contact me to set up a session on how to manage stress, work anxiety or social anxiety.

Hypnotherapy can give Pain Relief

Hypnotherapy is a natural state of mental and physical relaxation where someone’s conscious mind is bypassed and a person becomes more open to positive suggestions for change. In this highly suggestible state, it is also possible to alter perceptions of pain, create natural anesthesia, and manage chronic pain symptoms.

Hypnotherapy can be used as a stand-alone treatment or alongside other treatments and therapies, like cognitive-behavioral therapy for chronic pain.

Some of the techniques used in hypnotherapy for pain relief include:

Imagining a Pain Dial: In this technique, the person will be instructed to control the intensity of the pain by turning a dial in their mind. They will be asked to imagine that the dial is turning down, which will decrease the intensity of the pain.
Glove Anesthesia: While in the trance state, the hypnotist suggests a feeling of tingling numbness in the hand or arm. This feeling then spreads throughout the body, creating a sense of numbness that can help reduce pain ¹.
Dissociation: This technique involves imagining that the painful body part is separate from the rest of the body. The person will be instructed to focus on other parts of their body while dissociating from the painful area .

It is important to remember that pain is the body’s way of communicating that something may be wrong. Therefore, be sure to consult with a medical doctor when undiagnosed pain symptoms arise. Once the source of the pain has been identified, ask your doctor and hypnotherapist to work together to create a comprehensive pain management strategy.

Are you Carrying a Wounded Child?

Do you feel fearful, insecure, doubtful, shameful, lost, or lonely?

Do you suffer from low self-esteem, moodiness, or depression?

Are you an adult that is carrying a wounded inner child within?

As an adult, does that wounded child pop out or act out in childish ways; impulsively, impetuously, and aggressively?

Inner child work is one of the most healing and profound forms of inner work you can do.

If you are interested in welcoming home your inner child, I recommend reflecting on your own childhood and how you felt as a child.

Did you feel safe? Did you feel a sense of belonging in your family? Were you permitted to be you?

What is your current relationship like with your inner child?

All of these questions are extremely important to ask, and if you haven’t asked them yet, I hope you do. If you’d like to go deeper into this topic, I highly recommend reading John Bradshaw’s book on the inner child called Homecoming.

You can also contact me to help you heal your inner child wounds.

What is Social Anxiety

Social anxiety, also known as social phobia, is a mental health condition that causes persistent fear of social situations. Research has found that hypnosis is an effective tool that you can use to reduce your social anxiety. It can help you develop better ways of managing your fears, calming your anxieties in social situations, and improving your quality of life.

Hypnotherapy can aid in the treatment of social anxiety when used alongside other treatments, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy It works by trying to get to the root cause of your social anxiety to find the link between it and what may have triggered it.

The goal of hypnotherapy in treating social anxiety is to separate your response to anxiety from the experience you get when socializing and when in public. Simply put, hypnotherapy separates the experience from your reaction. Furthermore, you may obtain suggestions in post-hypnotherapy sessions to help you manage the condition. If you are interested in hypnotherapy, you can learn more about how it works on the brain and how it is changing healthcare.

Age Regression

Hypnotherapy is a form of therapy that uses hypnosis to assist clients recover memories that they may have forgotten or repressed.

Hypnotherapy can be used in assisting survivors of childhood abuse to restructure their memories of abuse to give them a greater sense of control, and in addressing painful feelings such as self-blame or limiting self beliefs.

I am unable to remove memories however I can lessen the emotional reactions to certain memories.

Giving Up Smoking

If you are thinking of giving up smoking, this article could be for you.

Smoking tobacco is both a physical addiction and a psychological habit. The nicotine from cigarettes provides a temporary and addictive high. Eliminating the regular fix of nicotine will cause your body to experience physical withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Because of nicotine’s “feel good” effect on the brain, you may also have become accustomed to smoking as a way of coping with stress, depression, anxiety, or even boredom.

At the same time, the act of smoking is ingrained as a daily ritual. It may be an automatic response for you to smoke a cigarette with your morning coffee, while taking a break from work or school, or during your commute home at the end of a long day. Perhaps friends, family members, and colleagues smoke, and it has become part of the way you relate with them.

Providing you follow the suggested six week program with me, it is likely you will have a 70% success compared to success rates of trying to quit on your own which is around 7% or using other aids such as Nicotine Replacement Products, 30%.

As each person is unique, it is difficult to know how many sessions may be required by a person wanting to quit however, I recommend a minimum of four sessions over a period of six weeks.

This will require a commitment upfront.

Session one – how hypnosis works, me getting to know the “unique you” and discussing why you smoke, you gaining an understanding of the physical addiction and the psychological habits. (Provided with a welcome pack, a relaxation session and a relaxation cd which must be listened to for twelve days).
Session two – Stop smoking session (two weeks later) provided you with a cd which must be listened to everyday for twelve days. This cd will keep you motivated.
Session three – progress report, facing any challenges you face and preventing a relapse (two weeks later).
Session four – progress report, any challenges you face, creating the new you, cleansing your body and finding healthy alternatives (two weeks later)

If this resonates with you then please contact me via my Get in Touch page https://www.dragonflytherapy.co.za/contact/ to discuss availability for an appointment and related costs or any further information you may require