17+ Hypnosis Audios for Anxiety

Browse our Anxiety Treatment sessions

What Are Anxiety Disorders?

Anxiety disorders are the most common type of emotional disorder in the U.S., affecting about 20% of adults and 7% of children. Pretty much everyone experiences anxiety from time to time, but individuals with anxiety disorders regularly deal with overwhelming feelings of fear and distress that keep them from enjoying everyday activities.

The term "anxiety disorder" encompasses an entire group of related conditions. Each of these conditions has a distinct set of symptoms, but they all share certain notable traits, including excessive worry and feelings of, fear, dread, and uneasiness. Other symptoms of an anxiety disorder may include:

• Difficulty concentrating;
• Irritability;
• Nausea and/or indigestion;
• Heart palpitations;
• Sweating, trembling, or shaking;
• Sense of impending doom.

One of the most common anxiety disorders is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), which is characterized by daily worry, headaches, fatigue, nausea, sleep disturbances, and waking up with an anxious feeling in the stomach. Managing Generalized Anxiety Disorder involves minimizing the root cause of your stress and dealing with the physical symptoms of fear.

How Are Anxiety Disorders Treated?

Treatment for anxiety can vary depending on the severity of the condition. Self-care for anxiety symptoms may involve exercise and more careful management of diet and sleep habits. Anxiety disorders like GAD, panic disorder, and social anxiety are generally treated using psychotherapy, or a combination of psychotherapy and medication.

Medications used to treat anxiety disorders may include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac and Zoloft, benzodiazepines like Xanax and Valium, and beta blockers like Propranolol. Medications can be effective for treating anxiety in many cases, though they can cause serious side effects and may not work for everyone.

Fortunately, there are a variety of natural remedies for anxiety that you can try in place of, or in combination with, medications, including talk therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), dietary changes, exercise, and meditation.

Does Hypnosis Therapy Work for Anxiety?

If you're dealing with anxiety but don't want to resort to medications, hypnosis may be worth considering. While it may not work for everyone, research has shown that hypnotherapy can be an effective substitute for medication in the treatment of anxiety disorders.

In studies, routine hypnotherapy was shown to reduce anxiety symptoms like palpitations, cold sweats, and abdominal pains in patients who weren't taking drugs. While not everyone has the means to access professional hypnotherapy, self-hypnosis is a low-risk, low-cost alternative that can be highly effective for some people.

There are several important things to consider when preparing for self-hypnosis, including the environment where you practice and your personal goal for the process. Ultimately, the ideal breathing and visualization techniques for you will vary depending on the type of anxiety you're dealing with.

Browse our Anxiety Treatment sessions