How to Stay Positive in the Long Term
We are all losing our patience with the year 2020, with no idea of knowing when we can get back to a sense of “normal.” Several people are stuck at home in quarantine, and many more have been working this whole time. No matter what situation we’re in, we are all exhausted mentally and physically.
We are all feeling confused, sad, and anxious. Being self-isolated is making us feel detached from some of the activities we used to use as coping mechanisms for our feelings and mental health. Many are finding it difficult getting to sleep, or they’re constantly worrying about all the “what if’s” of their health, family, finances, and job security, which adds to the other negative feelings of right now.
Using hypnotherapy and relaxation techniques, we can hold on to such tools in our mental health toolkit to alleviate some of the silent suffering we may be dealing with during this time.
The Power of Positivity and Regaining Balance
Here are three ways you can change your mindset from negative to positive:
- Using Positive Language:
It is as simple as changing the way you speak. Instead of saying things like “I can’t do it,” or “I’m not sure,” change to positive by saying “I could…” or “I can…”.
- Visualizing:
An effective and effortless way to achieve what you want is to visualize it in your mind. Set an image of what you want in your mind and see that as a goal. Place yourself into the image—see the colours around you, feel the temperature, notice the smells, hear the sounds.
It helps to associate the image with feeling confident and positive. You can anchor your visualization to make the association even stronger with a time or memory when you felt very happy, giving yourself that “happy” image.
- Self-hypnosis:
Meditation and relaxation techniques will allow you to induce self-hypnosis to reduce your stress levels, lower your anxiety levels, and help you sleep. Inhale for a count of four seconds, pause and hold for a moment and exhale for a count of eight seconds. This will slow your heartbeat and pulse and relax you, and enable your mind to become more receptive to accepting new thought patterns.
Regaining Balance Through Relaxation
Relaxation is the state where your muscles hold no tension and you feel calm, your stress and anxiety can be easily managed, and you can relieve other mental health conditions such as depression. Other health benefits of relaxation are:
- Lower heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing rate
- Reduce muscle tension and chronic pain
- Improve concentration and mood
- Reduce fatigue
- Reduce anger and frustration
- Boost confidence
- Improve problem solving skills
Relaxation techniques focus on muscle relaxation or breathing. For example, progressive muscle relaxation is where you tense and then relax different muscle groups. A common way is to start from the top of your head and go down the body area by area bringing awareness to that body part and with intention allowing it to soften and become relaxed.
Other techniques that can help:
- Visualization—creating a mental image of a calming place for you or a “happy” place
- Deep breathing—refocus your attention to your breathing letting thoughts float by
- Art therapy—for example, mindfulness colouring books to help focus on the present moment
- Hypnosis—can be practiced on your own or with a hypnotherapist
- Meditation – self or guided.
- Mindfulness – being present will help you stay out of the past which can trigger sadness or depressed feelings and out of the future which can trigger anxiety, worry and fear
- Exercise
- Spend time doing an activity that really brings you joy. If you don’t have one ask yourself what you loved doing as a child and start there.
Even if it is just for 5 or 10 minutes per day, find a relaxation technique that works for you and make it part of your daily routine.
If you wish to have a hypnotherapy session to further help any issues or feelings you may be dealing with, please don’t hesitate to ask. Contact me today or feel free to book a session right now.
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