It’s no secret that we are all in this together. There is a higher level of fear and anxiety  that has spread through the world since early last year.  

It’s not “over” yet and still life goes on. You might find that you are more depressed,  anxious, low moods, low motivation, etc. Perhaps you feel like you just aren’t operating  at full capacity. 

Pandemic brain is a real thing. Our brains are designed to keep us safe. When  uncertainty enters the picture, as in this pandemic, our amygdala, the part of the brain  with our emotional center, takes over.  

I was listening to The Knowledge Project Podcast and the guest Jim Collins said this  pandemic is like this in our brains: We are all running a race. Now, normally, you know  how the long race is, say, it’s a marathon. We are at mile 19 and we are beat — but we  know we just have 7 miles to go. So, our brains, settle a bit because we know there is an  end. This pandemic, we are running a race and we are tired, but when we ask is there 2  more miles or 10 or 100? There is no answer, so our brain — gives up.  

Uncertainty keeps our brains in an anxiety cycle. The good news is, we can change that!  

Just because a thought comes into your head, doesn’t mean it’s true. Sometimes we  forget that. Knowing that you have the power to change your internal state, which in  turn changes your body chemistry, is a powerful thing. 

Hypnosis can help. First, what is hypnosis?  

All hypnosis is self hypnosis. That means, hypnosis can’t make you do anything you  wouldn’t approve of. I can’t suggest to you that you might go punch the next man you  see — because you more than likely that is something you would never do. However, if I  suggest to you that you might be able to discover new ways to relax — that is something  you would want to do and thus, my suggestions can help guide you to something you  want to do.  

It isn’t magic. A suggestive hypnotic session cannot make you suddenly speak Chinese.  You might want to learn to speak Chinese, however you would need to take instruction  and actually practice the language to learn it. Think of it as a purposeful guided  meditation.  

What does hypnosis feel like? 

Have you ever been hyper focused on something  before? It’s kind of like that, but more relaxed. It’s something that you are actually in  and out of many times during the day. On the scale from awake to sleep, this is called  trance. It’s as if you are driving on a highway and you suddenly realize that you are  almost at your destination, but you don’t know how it happened so fast.

Your mind was in a state of trance.  

Hypnosis is very relaxing and with repeated practice, you can access this state of  relaxation more rapidly each time you do it.  

Here is how you can use hypnosis can help mitigate some of your covid related stress  and anxiety.  

Here’s a little self hypnosis that you can practice right now. Not while driving of  course! You can have someone read it to you or record this yourself and play it  back.  

If you are beginning in a not so relaxed state and you have a Fitbit or other heart  rate monitoring device — check the reading before and after. You will really be  surprised!  

Find a nice place to sit comfortably. Allow your eyes to gently close. Take a nice  deep breath in through your nose for the slow count of three and then out of  your mouth for a slow count of five.  

Pay attention to air as it goes in through your nose and out of your mouth as  you continue to breathe in and out slowly.  

Open your mouth slightly and allow your jaw relax. Allow your shoulders to  drop down just a bit. Feel the sensations in your body where you connect with  the surface you are sitting or lying down on. 

See a beautiful staircase in front of you. There is a beautiful bright light at the  bottom. Slowly, very slowly, count down from 10 to 1 as you imagine going  slowly down 10 steps.  

As you are counting from 10 to 1. Continue to breathe slowly in through your  nose and slower out of your mouth.  

When you get down to the bottom step, you can just step out into the light. Find  yourself in the most gorgeous landscape you can imagine. Really look around  and notice everything around you. Breathe in the calm fresh air. See a very  comfortable place that you can sit down and really relax and just notice the  beauty around you as you breathe slowly. 

Spend a few moments and really feel this deep sense of relaxation. Touch your  thumb to your finger and notice how you can feel a vibration – right there. 

Breathe in and out as you realize that you can access this state of relaxation any  time you want.  

All you have to do, is close your eyes and count down from 10 to 1.  

In just a few moments you are going to begin to move around in that  comfortable position and slowly move your arms and your legs as you take a  deep breath in through your nose and really let it all out of your mouth. 

Take another energetic breath into your nose and out of your mouth. Move your  head in a slow front and back motion and you can open your eyes and come  back to the present.  

How did you like that? Want more? Hypnosis is great for more than just anxiety, it can  be used to help you fall asleep, stop smoking, and even unleash creativity.  

Let’s talk about how you can use hypnosis to better your life. Call to set up a free  consultation now.  

Marina Sbrochi 

MA Professional Counseling  

Clinical Hypnosis