Christmas is eagerly anticipated by many, yet many others dread the festive season. If your life is a far cry from the jolly family gatherings that are shown in television ads, Christmas can highlight what’s missing.

Dreading the Celebrations

Maybe this is your first Christmas without someone special. Bereavement can certainly sap all the joy out of the celebrations. The thought of being around others and putting on an act might feel worse than sitting it out alone. Either way there is a huge void which can’t be filled, even with a house full of people.

On the other hand, you may have to spend considerable time with someone who makes everything difficult. Are you forced to share your Christmas break with a grumpy aunt, a mother-in-law with exacting standards, hyperactive nieces and nephews, or an abusive partner? This situation can put you on edge, fire up the stress levels to breaking point and be a far cry from those loving, caring family at Christmas images.

There are also an increasing number of families that are just about managing to get by each month. Finances are extremely tight, but with careful budgeting, they are making ends meet. Then Christmas comes and the children hand over their letter to Santa, the extended family want to come over for a traditional roast with all the trimmings and work colleagues invite you out to the office do. If you’re worried about money, it’s hard to enjoy any of it.

Dealing with these and many other issues can put you on edge from November, when Christmas decorations and gifts appear in the shops, town centre lights are switched on and festive tunes start playing on the radio.

Reducing the Stress

If this sounds all too familiar, it is time to take action. Firstly, you need to consider what you need to get through the coming weeks. Where can you find the time and space to do things for yourself? Schedule in time to take a weekly walk in the woods or relax in the bath, the chance to read a book, listen to a favourite album or meet up with a good friend. A regular slot of ‘me time’ can really help.

If money is tight, consider other gifts that you could give. A babysitting voucher would be welcomed by most parents. You may be able to offer other services, such as ironing or fixing a bike puncture. When it comes to children, how about a voucher for a day out? You might promise a trip to the zoo or the seaside later in the year, so you can spread the costs. A city trip to see the Christmas lights and a (free) museum can provide happy memories, which last longer than a costly toy.

If Christmas has highlighted issues in your life, the best present you could invest in is counselling. Counselling offers the chance to talk in confidence, to be heard and to make steps towards change. Techniques including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy can help you to see things from a different perspective, to address what you need and to support you in implementing change.

If you would like to know more about Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Amersham based Cognisant PDC is happy to explain. We have supported hundreds of individuals to find a more positive future and we can help you too.

Since 5000 BC humans have been smoking for numerous reasons. Traditionally smoking was used within Indian and Chinese civilisations as part of religious rituals. At the time these civilisations would burn an array of different herbs. It was only centuries after these civilisations formed that the smoking of tobacco became common place as a way to hallucinate or connect with the spirit world.

Today, however, smoking is rarely used for these purposes. Instead, for many it is an addiction which was formed at a young age in an effort to socialise or gain a form of respect amongst their peers. This addiction costs millions their lives annually, with the American Cancer Society predicting that six million people die every year as a result of tobacco. Further research also showed that about 600,000 non-smokers would die annually due to their intake of second-hand smoke.

At Cognisant PDC we work hand-in-hand with smokers who are looking to kick the addition. Rather than simply providing alternative additions, such as nicotine patches, we utilise an array of different methods. It is these methods that I’ll be exploring within this article as I reveal two other ways to stop smoking.

Hypnotherapy

It is the thoughts of a smoker that continues their addiction. These thoughts include the negative habits and thinking patterns which they go through on a daily basis as they purchase their cigarettes, smoke them and ultimately desire them again. It is these thoughts that hypnotherapy aims to control and stop.

In order to carry out hypnotherapy you will be placed into a deep and relaxed state. During this state your mind is more open to suggestions and clearer of the stress it may be going through at that time. This provides the hypnotherapist with an opportunity to make suggestions to the mind that will ultimately change your thought patterns. These suggestions could include ‘I dislike the smell of a cigarette’ or simply ‘I do not want a cigarette’.

Neuro Linguistic Programming

At Amersham based Cognisant PDC we’ve been performing Neuro Linguistic Programming for a number of years. It has been used since the 1970’s to treat issues such as phobias, disorders and addictions.

In the case of quitting smoking, Neuro Linguistic Programming allows a therapist to speak to the unconscious mind and alter the way it views the world. This essentially allows them to understand when you smoke and what triggers the desire to smoke in your mind, such as work, family or friends.

It is only once we’ve answered these questions that we can begin to understand how to fight the addition. You can then be provided with self-help techniques to accelerate the progress if needed.

Ready to Quit?

Whilst self-motivation and will power is required, hypnotherapy and Neuro Linguistic Programming provide alternative and proven routes to quitting smoking. Therefore, if you’ve tried before and have been unsuccessful, please contact Amersham based Cognisant PDC for your initial consultation. Within this we’ll be able to explain the process of these methods further and make suggestions on the tailored sessions we would recommend for you.

We all need sleep in order for our bodies and minds to recharge and renew. With a regular sleeping pattern and a good chunk of undisturbed slumber, we can perform better, cope with challenges more effectively, maintain a positive mood and even look younger.

After a few sleepless nights, we can start to notice the difference in our ability to concentrate. We might become more irritable and less create and adaptable. We look and feel tired, energy levels dip and we become more prone to ill health.

For new parents, a run of sleepless nights is simply part of the process. It might seem like forever before their baby settles into a routine, but the reason why you are missing out on a full night’s kip is obvious and usually short term.

Reasons Behind a Lack of Sleep

There may be other reasons why we’re not sleeping and these can be more difficult to identify.

Unfortunately, it is only when the root cause is diagnosed the effective action to encourage sleep can be taken. People can be driven to take sleeping tablets or even drink until they pass out in order to avoid another wakeful night, but these a temporary means of masking the problem, rather than a life transforming solution.

A lack of sleep is a common symptom of anxiety, stress, ill health, hormonal changes or a guilty conscious. Equally it can result from excessive use of technology, a lack of exercise, an uncomfortable bed or external factors such as noisy neighbours or a partner who snores.

There is a wealth of techniques that can help people to sleep; these include lifestyle changes, establishing a relaxing and technology free pre-bed routine, adopting controlled breathing techniques and even changes to the bedding you use. If you’ve been trying these and still find yourself lying awake as the minutes tick by, you may benefit from counselling.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a type of counselling that focuses on the relationship between what we think and what we do. By exploring and challenging our thought processes, it has been effective in changing negative behaviours. Such negative behaviours might include fears and habits.

Fears and habits are often things that we consider to be part of our personality; we might say ‘I’ve always been afraid of heights’ or ‘I’ve never been a good sleeper’. We see them as something we’ve always had and therefore can’t change, but this is a misconception. In reality we have learnt this way of thinking; we have accepted it as part of ‘who we are’ but we can change the script.

So if you can’t face another sleepless night, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy can help to identify the underlying problem. It can help you to explore the right course of action for dealing with that issue and support you through that process. At the same time, it can alter the thought process that has led you to expect not to sleep. Together this is a comprehensive measure that could transform your nights without a reliance on medication.

If you would like to learn more about Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Amersham based Cognisant PDC is happy to explain what’s involved and whether is suitable for your requirements. You can find out more about Cognisant PDC here.

Maybe you are someone who sees things from a pessimistic perspective. Do you assume the worst, so that you can be pleasantly surprised when things turn out well? Are you cautious about taking risks in order to protect yourself from the worst case scenario? When things go wrong, does it serve to reaffirm your expectations?

A pessimistic approach to life isn’t all bad, but it can prevent you from making the most out of the opportunities that come your way. There are times when we are wise to be cautious, to minimise risks and to not get overly confident in our abilities, but if you’ve had enough of seeing the glass as half empty, you can alter your thinking in order to see things from a fresh perspective.

It’s Not All About You

Naturally pessimistic people typically blame themselves when things don’t work out. They might think ‘she was rude because she didn’t like me’, ‘I didn’t get the job because I didn’t get a degree, I’ll never get a job’, ‘I can’t find my keys because I lose everything’ or ‘my partner stayed out late because he hates being around me’.

In contrast, an optimistic person will look at a range of possibilities. They realise that they don’t have the power to determine the outcome of every situation. In the same scenarios, they might think, ‘she was rude, maybe the last customer was a nightmare or it’s time for her lunchbreak, ‘I didn’t get the job this time, maybe they had an internal candidate, better luck next time’, ‘I wonder if anyone has moved my keys’ or ‘my partner stayed out late, it has been a whilst since he caught up with those friends’.

Open Mind

If you are trying to develop a more optimistic outlook, a good starting point is to work on identifying a range of possible reasons why an event might have occurred. Other than you, what could have happened to cause that negative outcome? When you start blaming yourself, challenge these thoughts, consider other external factors that you have no control over.

Challenging yourself is far from easy. Whilst challenging someone else’s perspective can seem like a natural response, we all find it hard to question our own thoughts. This is why it can be valuable to attend counselling, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. The counsellor will listen, but when you state something that doesn’t add up, they will challenge. When you get used to this approach, it can become easier to adopt it yourself.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy will also help you to decide on a course of action and identify manageable steps that you can take to get there. As you take each small step, you will gain a sense of achievement and this can support a growing confidence in your ability to make positive changes.

If you are looking for a counsellor who offers Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Amersham based Cognisant PDC has the experience and professionalism to help you alter your thinking. With our support, you can take the steps towards the positive change that you are looking for. You can find out more about our confidential one-to-one sessions here. Could we help you to see the glass as half full?

Very few people enjoy constant change. On the whole, we get comfortable with familiar surroundings, known expectations and the people that we are used to having around us. We find ourselves completing the same routines and habits, because they are what we’ve got used to.

Life Changes

As we progress through life, we have to adapt and change. We meet new people that impact on our lives, we take on new responsibilities and we age.

Life events such as having a child result in huge changes to your financial situation, career, independence and future plans. We may have always wanted children and feel delighted to have a new member of our family, yet struggle with returning to work after maternity leave or with the loss of a social life.

Thousands of others are dealing with the same scenario, but at times of change you can feel isolated, guilty for your true feelings and unsure about where to go for support.

A Desire to Change

Sometimes we seek out change. We recognise that it is time to stir things up a bit because we’re bored with undertaking the same things day in day out. We may decide that it is time to apply for a new job, to move house, to take time out to study or travel, to end an unhappy relationship. We see the grass is greener elsewhere and we want to move to pastures new.

Even when we have actively made a decision to change, we can experience moments of doubt. We can spend time questioning whether we’ve made the right decision and our fears can be compounded by the opinions of others. At times we need a positive influence who can help us dispel our inner voice, so that we can have the self-belief to follow our chosen path.

It certainly takes bravery and courage to follow through with our plans, yet after initial wobbles, we are often rewarded with the sense of achievement and opportunities to develop and grow.

Enforced Change

If it is a challenge to adapt to change when we have made the decision for ourselves, it is no surprise that enforced change can be viewed in a very negative light. An accident that has left us unable to do what we were previously capable of, the death of a loved one, the need to move in order to find work are all examples of change that can be incredibly difficult to accept.

If we are fearful of where change will lead us, if we resent the disruption and feel a sense of loss about what we are leaving behind, the process of change can be incredibly stressful. It can be difficult to look at the positives when you are unsure what will be expected of you and whether you can cope.

Managing Change

Adapting to change is a necessary life skill and whether it is part of our natural development, a desire to change or something imposed on us, we can make the transition if we have the right support.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is an effective form of counselling that helps people to come to terms with change. It encourages people to challenge and question their thoughts, to see things from different perspectives, to recognise their ability to cope and to improve their self-belief.

If you are struggling with change and feel that you could benefit from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Amersham based Cognisant PDC is here to help.