​Now, more than ever, we must make sure we look after ourselves.
Only go out if absolutely necessary, when out make sure to stick to social distancing, wash those hands and take care of your mental health. 
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Your mental health is especially important, not just right now but always.

If you are not coping, you can't help those around you.

Being strong mentally isn't about being positive all the time. It's about recognising when things are bad, and then looking at what you can do to reduce the chances of things getting worse.

It’s natural to be negative, it’s the brain’s default mode for safety reasons. It’s better to expect the worst-case scenario and be prepared for it rather than be too optimistic and get caught out. The thing is to recognise when it’s right to be negative and when it’s not.
Once you’ve recognised the threat it’s important to engage the intellectual part of the brain to be able to deal with the threat and begin to improve things.

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is great for this as it teaches you how to recognise what part of the brain you are in, and then how to help yourself move to your intellectual brain so you can start helping yourself.

Hypnotherapy not for you? I can still help you with talk therapy (Psychotherapy). It gives you the chance to share your worries and fears knowing that you will not be judged whilst doing so. You will be helped, given reasons why the brain works that way and taught methods to help you deal with things in the future.

Due to the restrictions right now, I am unable to offer any Face-to-Face appointments, but I am still able to help via Video Link or by talking on the phone.

Need to know more? Click here to browse my website or here to read an article on the benefits of Hypnotherapy.

Stay safe.

So, 2021 is coming but we can't celebrate the change in the way that we would like to. Government restrictions announced today mean we will now have to stay with our small family groups for New Year’s Eve, and for the first weeks (or longer) in the New Year.

Yet, there is some optimism if you choose to look for it. Vaccinations are already taking place and will increase as time goes on. Indeed, the approval of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is good news and the first doses are due to be given on Monday. This vaccine is easier to store and cheap to produce compared to the others so I have a good feel about 2021 already. Don’t get me wrong, it will still be tough for some whilst they wait for their turn to come and it will be too late for others  but, after a long time of anticipation, I can see a light, and it’s growing.

A lot of people have admitted that they have found this year hard, in all sorts of ways. Whilst that is understandable, I am impressed by the amount of people that have spoken out about their feelings. For years there have been campaigns targeted on Mental Health, encouraging people to speak to someone, rather than keep it in. To share their problems and ask for help. I think this year that number has grown, and I’m sure it will continue to grow. Keep talking to each other.

This year, the number of clients I have seen has grown, and I am pleased that I was able to help them all, to deal with things better. To help them understand that, we have a choice. We either give in to everything and give up, or we fight and work for what we want. That we look to help ourselves become stronger, in order that we can help others do the same. That we are not alone. There are people out there willing to help. All you must do is ask.

I will enjoy New Year’s Eve because I want to. Because the alternative won’t change anything, just make me, and those around me, miserable. So, HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all.

If you need some help with your Mental Health, and you think I may be able to help you. Please get in touch. I’ll be here.

Call me on 07718975185 and please leave a message if I'm busy, I will get back to you.
 

So, another Christmas is near and another year is soon to start. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the clients I have seen this year for coming to me for help, and for all the nice compliments they gave me. It's pleasing to know that I have helped someone have a better life despite this year being what it was. 

Next year may not be too much different to start with but I have a strong belief that it will be better than this crazy year. 

As always, stay safe, don't take risks but have a super Christmas and be determined that 2021 will be your year.

​See you on the other side.

It was announced yesterday that England was going to have another lock down.

How do you feel about that? Stressed? Anxious? Scared? Fed-up?   Angry?
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All the above?

It’s not surprising that we are going into another lock down. The government are trying to please all the people all the time, and we know that’s not possible. A lock down makes sense if we are going to stop the current trend of rising infections. What we all must do is to continue what we have all been doing, only more so. Make sure you keep your distance from others if you must go out. Wear that mask, wash those hands, and stay in as much as you can. We are lucky here in the West Country in that infections are low compared to other areas, but they are still increasing, nonetheless.
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In the mean-time, play music, dance, write stories, play with your children, explore your family tree, re-decorate (again), shop locally, look after your neighbours, play games, get your Xmas shopping done, do an online course, learn sign language and, if you think I can help you get through this, contact me to book a consultation.

We are going through uncharted seas at this moment in time. Many people have already lost their jobs due to the effects of Covid-19 and millions of others face an uncertain future because of the virus. How are we going to cope?

With the situation as it is many people are bound to be more anxious, and this is perfectly normal, so accept the fact anxiety has increased. It's a natural response and we shouldn't add the fact to our worries. Also try to avoid worrying about things we can't control. There's no point and it will only add to our anxiety. This article gives more advice and is well worth reading.

If you need help coping with uncertainty or any other issue for that matter, I can help. Feel free to get in touch and find out more.

So, at long last, the High Street is opening it's shops. We still have to social distance and be prepared to wait in queues, but it's a beginning. How many of you are waiting until the crowds die down? How many of you are still anxious about going into a shop, or even a busy High Street again?

​It's only natural if this is the case. After all, Covid-19 is still here, it's still a threat and it's still a worry. Yes, the number of affected people has reduced, as have the number of deaths, but it's still here. So, how are you going to cope?

If you think of something too much it can start to become an obsession. Then the obsession can become a fear, then the fear makes you feel restrictive and the obsession widens. Put simply, overthinking is not a good idea. Face the facts.

Rules are in place so follow them: Wash your hands. Be mindful of keeping the 2 metre distance when out. Wash you hands. Don't touch anything if you don't need to. Wash your hands. Wear a mask when shopping if you can. Wash you hands. Wipe down anything you buy with a disinfectant gel where possible. Wash your hands. One thing is for sure, when we come out of this everybody will be thinking of personal hygiene  much more than they ever did before, and that's not a bad thing.

If you need help coping with the changes forced upon you please look for help. There's no need to suffer as there is plenty of help out there. If you think I can help you then please contact me by email (alanwoollard@merryfield-hypnotherapy.co.uk) or mobile (07718975185) and please leave a message if I don't answer. I WILL get back to you, but only if you leave a message asking me to do so.

Take care (and wash those hands).

This article was originally posted on Merryfield Hypnotherapy

In this interesting report scientist say that your personality is a factor to how you age, and indeed how long you live. 





​How we interact with people is very much based on who we are as a person, so working on improving our personalities can only be good for everyone.

Please do get in touch if you would like some help for something you would like to work on. I can do sessions over the phone or on video-link. 

So, as the Coronavirus, or Covid-19 to give it's official name, continues we are witnessing panic from some members of the population. This is causing many to start stocking up on 'essential' products which only encourages more people to do the same. We are wired to copy others if they are doing something different. If a group of people run past you looking scared, automatically your fight,flight,freeze part of the brain takes over, and you join in with the panic. But you don't have to. This article helps explain why we react in a similar way in a crisis and ways you can stay calm so you don't join in. The more calm people there are around the more people will feel calm.

Feed the fear or feed the calm. you decide. 

If you are struggling to stay calm and need some help in coping, please get in touch.

This article was first posted on Merryfield Hypnotherapy.

With today's world of instant communication it's no wonder so many people are having confidence issues. Within seconds of posting a picture or a comment online a response can be given, and we always take more notice of the bad comments than we do the good. 

This article helps you understand why we act this way and suggests methods that may help you deal with it better.

But, I'd like to ask a question; Should we stop caring what people think about us? 

I don't think we should. We just need to be better at whittling out the ones that matter and the ones that don't. What I mean by that is, if someone you love or trust says something to you that you don't like, then I think we SHOULD take notice of what is said. As these are the people that are saying these things for a reason other than just because they think it's fun! They are trying to tell you something, something they think is important, and I believe this is when we should listen and discuss. All the nasty comments by people we don't know or don't care about can be put in the bin and forgotten about. It's just bullying and we don't want to encourage them by giving them a reaction they can play you with. 

Confidence is the key. If you are confident with your own self, with whom you are and what you represent then you will be able to deal with the bullying types with ease. Equally you will be able to deal with the constructive criticism from someone who has your best interest at heart. 

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy is brilliant at helping you improve your confidence. The process can help you understand why people have said what they've said, and be able to deal with it without letting it get to you. It can help you find out who the true you is, understand what you're good at, as well as finding out what you could improve on.

If you need help with your confidence please get in touch via the email or phone number above or via the contact page.

This article first posted on Merryfield Hypnotherapy.