How to stop teeth grinding

If left untreated, teeth grinding (also known as bruxism) can lead to dental damage like worn teeth, increased sensitivity and even loss of teeth. It can be painful too, causing jaw pain and headaches. Often affecting you in your sleep, the condition can be your body’s way of telling you that you have high stress and anxiety levels.

If you suspect you’re grinding your teeth in your sleep, here are the next steps you can take to help you stop.

Address the cause

The first step to stopping is to understand what’s causing you to grind your teeth. For this, you should speak to your doctor or dentist. If the problem is physical (for example, to do with the alignment of your teeth, jaw or a side-effect of medication) your doctor will advise you on solutions.

If the cause is stress and anxiety, this is your cue to look at your lifestyle and see how you can reduce stress.

Make lifestyle changes

Taking regular exercise to reduce stress, drinking less alcohol and quitting smoking can all help to prevent bruxism. Think about ways you could reduce unhealthy habits that may be making you more stressed and create new, healthy habits instead.

Reduce stress and anxiety

As we’ve mentioned, stress and anxiety are often big factors when it comes to bruxism. Try to reduce your stress levels with mindfulness and self-care. If you’re struggling with severe stress and anxiety, you may find it helpful to speak to a counsellor.

Decide on a treatment plan

Speak to your doctor about your treatment options and decide together which approach would be best for you. There are several options available, from mouth guards to behavioural therapy. For many sufferers, a combination of approaches works well.

Consider hypnotherapy

Teeth grinding is an unconscious act normally triggered by stress and tension. The aim of hypnotherapy for bruxism is to use suggestion techniques that will re-pattern the thoughts that lead to teeth grinding. Hypnotherapy can also be used to address the root cause of your teeth grinding by reducing stress, encouraging relaxation and reducing anxiety.

See your dentist regularly

To ensure your teeth are staying healthy and aren’t getting damaged, be sure to visit your dentist regularly. They will be able to look for signs of damage and can let you know if they suspect your bruxism is improving or getting worse. Seeing your dentist often will also allow them to spot any problems early, allowing them to treat them before they get worse.

Hypnotherapy – how can it help children and teenagers?

Many of us understand how hypnotherapy can support us. From easing anxiety and sleep disorders to anger management and addiction, there are lots of concerns that can be addressed with hypnotherapy.

If you’ve ever wondered how hypnotherapy can support children, you’re not alone. Here at Hypnotherapy Directory, we’re often asked about hypnotherapy for children. We decided to shed a little light on the subject with the help of Andy Cox, a hypnotherapist and fully qualified member of The International Society of Paediatric Hypnotherapists.

Just like adults, children and teenagers deal with a lot of struggles, but sometimes, Andy says, it takes us a while to notice.

“Any anxiety that a child is struggling with might go unnoticed until, not surprisingly, the child develops a behaviour that is at odds with our idea of how things should be. This is when we tend to realise that there is a problem.” Says Andy.

These behaviours can include thumb-sucking, bed-wetting, night terrors, stuttering, eating issues and nail-biting. Other issues that can affect young people include stress, exam nerves, low self-confidence, bullying, anger issues and phobias. Andy explains that addressing issues early is key.

“Early resolution of anxiety is recommended to stop these problems being adopted as normal habits and therefore affecting them for their entire life.

“A child suffering with tension and anxiety would in all probability hold beliefs at a subconscious level that would trigger various inappropriate habits. Hypnotherapy strategies can really help to target these subconscious issues. By using hypnotherapy the child can be helped to come to terms with these feelings and take care of the underlying beliefs.”

Why is hypnotherapy well suited to children?

The reason hypnotherapy is particularly helpful for children, Andy tells me, is because they are more open to it.

“They are more likely to enjoy daydreaming than grown-ups and have active imaginations. Because children are used to being in a similar state they can normally enter a state of hypnosis very quickly, whereas it might take adults considerably longer. During the hypnotherapy session, children can employ the power of their imagination freely. They utilise the hypnotic state to visualise and create imagery of their difficulties.”

While hypnotherapy for children can indeed be effective, Andy stresses that it’s essential for the child to want to take charge of their problem behaviour. If a young person is simply going along to the session to keep their parent or caregiver happy, they’re unlikely to get the best outcome.

However, being involved in the process as a parent or caregiver is important, “Throughout the process, the attendance and involvement of the parent or carer is essential as a parent’s apprehension about their child’s behaviour can often bring further anxiety to the situation.”

As a parent, if you have any questions about the hypnotherapy process, your hypnotherapist will be able to explain this to you before the session. Rather than explain in detail to the child how hypnotherapy works, Andy says children are more interested in the result than the process.

“Whenever the child asks ‘What’s going to happen?’ I simply state that they are going to just relax and be calm and that I am going to help them to use the power of their own imagination to discover ways to react differently to the issue that they have.”

Using positive affirmations, stories and even using a hero or character from TV, Andy says children accept the ideas with enthusiasm. He also explains that older children also tend to be open to working with their imagination, although the process needs to be modified to fit their more developed thinking patterns.

To help children continue their work from the session, Andy tells me he often records a relaxation session, “Often when we work together I record a relaxation session which you are able to then take away on CD or MP3 to help enhance the work we have done. In fact, quite a few parents claim that when they listen to this with their child they find themselves feeling very relaxed too!”

Introducing children and young people to hypnotherapy early can be an ideal way to help them learn tools and techniques they can use well into adulthood.

3 tips to help you handle your pre-wedding nerves

It’s supposed to be the happiest day of our lives. If you stop to think about it, that’s a lot of pressure right there. How on earth are we meant to handle not only our own expectations, but the expectations of those around us? It’s like we have this need for everything to be perfect, or else…or else what? What is it we’re afraid of happening, if something goes the slightest bit off plan?

Pre-wedding anxiety is completely normal. We all feel nervous from time to time. It’s no wonder that, after months of planning, stress, and an endless stream of decisions, you’re feeling a little on edge. Your (or your partner’s) nerves aren’t a sign that you are getting cold feet; for many of us, they are a completely natural part of the process.

We spoke with Clinical Hypnotherapist and Psychotherapist, Katie Mahey, to discover her top tips for how you can handle wedding anxiety in the run-up to your big day.

“The build-up to your wedding can be a stressful time for brides and grooms. There is so much to think about, consider, organise and of course pay for! Although it’s completely normal to have some nerves or anxious feelings before your wedding and hosting your event; sometimes anxious feelings can take over the fun of planning the wedding.

“Some brides and grooms begin to dread their big day, due to the fear of ‘what might go wrong’, the fear of ‘messing up the vows’, ‘being the centre of attention’, as well as the initial pressure of making sure everything is well organised.

“Luckily, there is something you can do to stop these pre-wedding nerves taking over your big day. Speaking with someone objective such as a therapist can help rationalise your feelings. Whilst it’s really normal to have some nerves about the biggest day of your life; feeling overly anxious can also be a hindrance to enjoying your special day!

“Hypnotherapy is amazing at reducing unwanted anxiety, building your confidence and preparing you to enjoy your day to its fullest. As hypnotherapy is a super quick working therapy, it doesn’t matter if you only have a few weeks to go until the big day. Some clients only need one or two sessions to get them feeling how they want to feel, so don’t worry if your wedding is just around the corner. Personalised recordings can also be made and sent to you, and I am helping brides and grooms get prepared from all around the country, via the fantastically helpful Skype.

“Alongside the hypnotherapy, I always give my clients a few tips with how to manage any unwanted anxiety on the lead-up and on the day itself:

1. Notice your breathing. Stop what you are doing, close your eyes if you can and breathe in for 4 seconds, and out of 6 seconds. Repeat this 3 times, this will instantly help you feel calmer! The more you physically relax, the more you can mentally relax.
2. Allocate a ‘worry window’ into your day. Give yourself 10 minutes a day to do all of your worrying. So if any unhelpful thoughts pop into your head outside of your worry window, park your thoughts and tell yourself you will do your worrying in the allocated time!
3. Get physical. Try to find time for some physical activity that is not wedding related. This is not only good for your physical well-being, but for your emotional well-being as well as boosting your confidence!

“It’s not just the couple getting married that are feeling nervous about an upcoming wedding, best men and father of the brides may have the pressure of delivering a fantastic, confident speech! The heartfelt speech you envision is possible, with a confidence boost from hypnotherapy.”

How to help someone having a panic attack

If someone you care about is experiencing panic attacks, it can be very difficult to know how to help. Especially if you are with them when they have a panic attack, you may not know what to do or what to say to help them calm down.

Here we’ll talk you through some of the ways you can support them.

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Learn more about their condition

Having a better understanding of what it is they’re going through can be immensely helpful for both you and them. Without knowing how anxiety works, it can be difficult to understand why your loved one reacts the way they do in certain situations.

The great news is, you’re in the right place! Being here and reading this shows a great commitment to helping your loved one. We have more information here on anxiety.

Help them find support

When someone is struggling with anxiety, the idea of reaching out to a professional can feel overwhelming. Offering your support here could help them make this vital step. You could show them the information you’ve found and see if they want assistance searching for a hypnotherapist, or you could help them make a doctor’s appointment.

Let them know that help is available and that there are several different approaches out there. Avoid pressuring them however and remember, it is ultimately up to them if and when they do seek help. Gentle encouragement and support is key.

What to do when they have a panic attack

If you suspect they are experiencing a panic attack, there are a few things you could try. Of course, if you are in any doubt and are worried it could be a physical problem, don’t hesitate to call for medical assistance.

• Try to stay calm yourself and remember, panic attacks cannot harm them.
• Gently remind them that this is a panic attack and that you are there for them.
• Encourage them to focus on their breathing. Try breathing with them – slowly, deeply and gently (over-breathing can make things worse). You can also count out loud or tell them to watch your arm as it moves up and down.
• Get them to engage their physical senses by stamping their feet on the ground.

After the worst part is over, encourage them to sit quietly until they feel better. It may help to play some calming music too.

Look after yourself

It can be easy to forget about yourself when someone you care for is struggling, but you know the saying “You cannot pour from an empty cup”? Well, it’s true – if you stop looking after yourself you’ll feel tired, stressed and may end up unwell yourself. Ensure you have someone to talk to, include relaxation into your routine and don’t hesitate to seek support yourself.

How to help a child having a panic attack

Children may not understand the complexities of anxiety and panic attacks, so experiencing these issues can be very distressing. If your child experiences a panic attack, there are ways you can help. Below is an article from Happiful magazine that may help:

7 ways to help a child who is having a panic attack

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Simply letting the person struggling know you’re there for them can make a huge difference. Taking the time to learn about what they’re dealing with, listening to them and gently encouraging them to get further support all goes a long way.