Reduce Stress with Hypnosis – Proven Techniques to Calm Your Mind: Discover how five simple steps can instantly lower everyday stress. Learn practical, science‑backed tips to feel calmer today.

A common problem for us all

Something that has been coming up a lot when I’m out in the world talking to people about hypnosis  is how stressful the world is right now. It seems that no matter where you are, who you are, or what your political ideation is, we are all experiencing a higher level of stress than we were before. As a Gen Xer, I often think the 80s and the dread of nuclear war were the beginning of our high stress levels, but really, it wasn’t. There have always been stressful times throughout human history.

If this is something you can relate to, read on, because hypnosis is a great tool to help you reduce stress and change unhelpful habits that are no longer serving you.

Stress isn’t always negative

This can be hard to believe, but sometimes stress can be helpful.

Not all stress is bad. When we are in potentially harmful and dangerous situations, our stress response kicks in. This allows our minds to prepare to run away from danger, or fight if needed, so we stay safe.  This is, fundamentally, a natural ancient drive to survive.

Modern-world stress triggers us too frequently

Due to our busy lives these days, this natural response to danger is triggered frequently instead of only when truly needed to respond to real danger. In today’s world, our instinct to survive stress response is set off many times a day – from miscommunication with your boss or client, endless deadlines, being late for appointments, when we are asked to do something at work that is outside of our comfort zone like giving a speech, when we argue with our family…and so many more times each day.

Our body suffers when we are constantly in this protective mode

This constant and repetitive triggering of our stress response can cause chronic pain, illness, or overexposure to stress chemicals.

This can also have long-term effects on our overall mental and physical health. Our bodies and minds get stuck in stress-response readiness, which can overtax our decision-making functions, limit our creativity, and create brain fog, and/or other unhelpful conditions.

How to start lowering the impact of stress in 5 easy steps

Here is a tip I want to share with you that I think will help you lower the impact of stress on your mood and mindset.

We often say to ourselves “I am so stressed out”…and we leave it open-ended. By naming what is causing our stress, we start to give our mind a puzzle to solve. So when you notice that you are feeling stressed out, instead of giving up and turning to a toxic habit to try pushing through it, try this 5-step process to lower the negative impact of that stress:

Step 1. Pause. That’s right, pause what you are thinking. This works even if you are driving. No need to stop being aware of your surroundings and being the perfectly aware driver that you are, but take a break from the ruminating, scheduling, planning, or worrying.

Step 2. Breathe. Take three deep, relaxing, soothing breaths. Again, if you need to, stay aware of your surroundings and activities, but mindfully relax your shoulders as you breathe deeply three times.

Step 3. Question the source. Ask yourself, “What is causing me to feel stressed?”

Is it work? Is it family? Is it money? Is it the world? Is it uncertainty?

Step 4. Label it. By labelling the stress and turning the generic “I am stressed out” into “I am stressed about work” or “I am stressed about money” we can start to break the cycle of worry by giving our mind something to figure out instead of spinning out of control.

Then if you want, when you are in a safe place, spend some time journaling on what you can do to manage this stressful part of your life and if more than one part of life is stressful, break it down, label each part and then do Step 5.

Step 5. Ask for help. I am going to suggest that one of the key steps to managing your situational stress is asking for help. So, I will leave you with one question (no matter what is causing your stress) that will help you help yourself: “What help do I need?”

And if you want to dive deeper, ask yourself: “Who can I ask for help?” and “How can I ask them (is it in person, phone call, text, or email)?”

This is one of several coaching techniques that can help to start your stress management journey. Adding hypnotherapy to this technique through guided relaxation, positive suggestions, gentle reframing and empowering self-hypnosis training, you can develop healthier responses to the daily stress activators in your life.

"The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt." ~ Sylvia Plath

Being creative & crafty is another way to lower the impact of stress. This is why I started a new free monthly Zoom room to help us establish or re-connect with a fun crafty habit.

Set aside time to be creative with me.

Join me in an online circle for a chat every first Wednesday of the month.

Block it off on your calendars.  Protect it as your own time to be creative.

For now, I am calling this hour Craft & Connection. Previous calls have been productive and a lot of fun. I hope you can join me at one of these free and fun calls.  

Think of this as a time to do that creative project you have been wanting to start while sitting in circle catching up with new and beloved friends...only on Zoom in a virtual circle instead of my living room.

RSVP at least a day before so I know to expect company.

Bring a favorite snack or beverage. 🍵

Join me in circle at this link

Feel free to bring a friend, or two!

“Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention... It's a gift to the world and every being in it.”

~ Steven Pressfield, The War of Art

Mel Sharpe

Hypnotherapist & Coach

My story