Most people, when they feel unwell, will visit their local doctor for a diagnosis.  We all know the procedure – if we have a broken bone, we might need an x-ray or perhaps antibiotics or other medications, in order to feel better.  To have these free resources in this country is wonderful and it’s a service we often take for granted.  When the NHS was created back in 1948 it was to give everyone, rich or poor, the chance of having a good standard of healthcare.  Prior to that, in the early 1900’s we didn’t have this luxury  and most people were too poor to even consider sending for the doctor.  Local women would act as midwives and herbalists, administering to the sick and the needy.  

Fast forward  to today, and we hear constantly how the NHS is struggling to cope under an ever-increasing burden – the fact is, it was never designed to operate in the way that it does now.  Back in 1948 the population in England was around 50 million. By 2017 it had increased to over 66 million.   This means that resources are ever more limited and doctors simply do not have the time to look after all of their patients.  

Waiting room delays become longer and longer, as do waiting lists for operations or other interventions.  Sometimes it feels that much hassle just to get through to the doctor’s receptionists that we can often feel like giving up.

What’s more, how can the doctors help us when our problems are not physical but relate to the way that we are feeling?  Doctors have limited scope when it comes to problems that are considered psychosomatic or psychological. Serious psychological conditions, such as schizophrenia or bipolar, for instance, will need medical guidance and the doctor may refer to psychiatric services.  But, more common ailments such as depressive low moods, anxiety, insomnia, lack of confidence, and stress may all be helped with the use of hypnotherapy.

Some of my clients have faced just these types of scenarios and decided to become more pro-active about their healthcare.  Maybe some of them didn’t want to be taking drugs like anti-depressants, beta blockers or sleeping pills for the foreseeable future.  Others believe the medications are not effective and they want to have more control over their lives. It can also be the case that doctors can’t supply any further help within the boundaries of their scope of practice.

This is where it is worth looking further afield for help and support.  Complementary therapies, such as hypnotherapy, can work alongside your medical practitioners to give you a more holistic approach to your health. 

Working with a complementary therapist can give you much more scope, allowing you to make further choices and decisions about your own welfare.

Your mental health is vital to your wellbeing and happiness, it’s therefore only right that you find the solutions you need in order to feel better.

People become tired of waiting, living each day in torment or anguish.  And when we remember that, ultimately, our personal health is our own responsibility, then we can start to empower ourselves.

Some reasons we might like to choose our own professional complementary healthcare practitioner are listed below:

• When we seek therapy we are taking responsibility for our own health.
• We can enjoy dedicated time with our therapist, who can give us undivided attention for the period of our session.
• We can recognise that drugs such as anti-depressants do not solve our problems, only mask the symptoms.
• Working consistently with a therapist towards a strong mental attitude empowers us.
• Therapists can usually be flexible about when they can see us – appointments that fit in with us, not the other way around.
• Opportunity to improve by using our own inner strengths and resources.
• Changing the way we see things so that the whole of our lives can improve.

Your mental health affects your enjoyment of everything else in your life.  So, if you feel as if the doctor’s door is firmly closing without a successful outcome, then hypnotherapy may offer the outcome that you are looking for.