January, 2023 | Bruce Eimer Ph.D. LLC

Hypnotherapy to Treat Generalized Anxiety Disorder | Boca Raton, FL

Persistent anxiety associated with pervasive worrying, apprehension, and nervousness is called generalized anxiety disorder. Symptoms of this disorder also include restlessness, feelings of panic or dread, rapid breathing, trembling or muscle twitching, difficulty focusing, and an obsession or preoccupation with the inability to prevent bad things from happening.

Anyone can experience anxiety when external factors make us fearful, nervous, or tense, but it’s when we feel this way consistently that it starts to become a diagnosable issue. In fact, a generalized anxiety disorder can seriously impact our ability to work, be social, and wind down when it is appropriate to do so. Individuals with generalized anxiety disorder remain wound up most of the time. This degrades a person’s quality of life and can lead to dependence or addiction to tranquilizers, sedatives, or pain pills.

According to the Mayo Clinic, “generalized anxiety disorder includes persistent and excessive anxiety and worry about activities or events — even ordinary, routine issues. The worry is out of proportion to the actual circumstance, is difficult to control, and affects how you feel physically. It often occurs along with other anxiety disorders or depression.” In fact, untreated generalized anxiety disorder often gives rise to clinical depression as persistent feelings of helplessness eventually turn into hopelessness.

Hypnotherapy is a commonly overlooked solution to generalized anxiety. It is a powerful tool for treating the symptoms of anxiety and for finding the underlying causes and resolving them. However, as with any tool, hypnosis is effective if it is employed by a trained and experienced professional therapist. In the wrong hands, a tool can be ineffective or worse, cause damage. Therefore, in searching for a therapist to help you overcome generalized anxiety, it is important to do your homework. Your best bet is a licensed mental health professional with an appropriate graduate degree (e.g., Ph.D., Psy.D., MD, DO, LCSW, LMFT) who has the requisite education and experience. And you need to feel comfortable honestly confiding in this person for therapy to work!

In my practice, I employ an evidence-based approach that combines cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and clinical hypnosis techniques. When we work together, you will learn how to relax and reevaluate external triggers, as well as develop coping mechanisms and problem-solving skills that work for your anxiety. Over time, as we work together and you begin to apply these methods in your daily life, you will respond differently to the situations that used to trigger you. You will build your self-confidence and achieve freedom from debilitating anxiety.

If you have tried and exhausted multiple treatment options without finding relief, hypnotherapy may be the solution you have been seeking.

For 30 years, I have helped thousands of patients who struggle with generalized anxiety disorder overcome their symptoms, and begin to live a life free of anxiety. If you would like to learn more about my practice or would like to schedule a free consultation appointment, visit us online or call our office today at (561) 377-1039.

Dr. Eimer proudly serves patients in West Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Wellington, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, Parkland, Coral Springs, Hallandale, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and surrounding areas.

Hypnotherapy for PTSD | Boca Raton, FL

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder commonly associated with military veterans, but anyone who has experienced a traumatic event can struggle with symptoms of PTSD. While many people can overcome their experience through coping mechanisms, time, and self-care, sometimes symptoms can get worse and last much longer than anticipated. When symptoms last for months or years and begin to interfere with daily functioning, you may have PTSD.

According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of PTSD include but are not limited to recurrent, unwanted, and distressing memories, intrusive flashbacks of the traumatic experience, avoidance, negative thoughts or mood, physical or emotional reactions, and an increase in the intensity of symptoms over time. There are several ways individuals dealing with PTSD can begin to overcome their symptoms. Typically, it is necessary to work with a therapist who has skills and experience in helping people recover from PTSD.

A PTSD therapist should have an appropriate graduate degree (e.g., MD, DO, Ph.D., Psy.D., MSW, MSN) and be licensed in a mental health profession (e.g., psychology, clinical social work, psychiatry). Said therapist should have appropriate training, education, and skills using appropriate therapeutic modalities (e.g., psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, EMDR, medications, etc.). The therapist should have an ample amount of experience treating people with PTSD. Last and not least you should be comfortable with your potential therapist. Run from therapists with whom you feel uncomfortable, as you are unlikely to be able to develop the necessary trust in such a person.

Psychotherapy provides the individual a safe space to express himself or herself and learn coping techniques to employ when needed. Hypnotherapy helps make psychotherapy both deeper and briefer and more effective.

As a licensed clinical psychologist, psychotherapist and hypnotherapist, I can help you safely access your memories, examine and reprocess them, and better understand your feelings about the trauma you carry. I can help you identify your triggers and work with you to mitigate your reactions and feelings toward them. The work helps to reduce and prevent unhealthy disassociation and reduce anxiety as you reframe your memories and feelings surrounding past traumatic experiences. The ultimate goal is to help you recover control over your life.

Keep in mind that the motto is SAFETY FIRST. Once we establish a safe place in which to work, the first order of business is to make sure we establish stability. This is because you have to be stable to examine past traumatic memories. We help you build resources so that you have the stability and strength to do the harder work of therapy. The harder work of therapy is reprocessing the traumatic memories. In tandem with the reprocessing work, we are always staying practical and grounded. That means we are always working on maintaining stability and practicing coping skills.

For over 30 years, I have helped thousands of patients who struggled with PTSD recover so they could eventually live a more symptom-free life. If you would like to learn more about my practice or would like to schedule a free consultation appointment, visit us online or call our office today at (561) 377-1039.