In this case study, we explore how Ash, who had been struggling with long-term anxiety and depression, found relief and renewed purpose through anxiety and depression hypnotherapy. After years of feeling isolated and overwhelmed, Ash sought help to rebuild social connections and rediscover a sense of fulfilment through anxiety and depression hypnotherapy.
Ash approached hypnotherapy with feelings of depression and anxiety “always there in the background.” Whilst not suffering from any attacks of panic or rapid or sudden onset of anxiety, the negative hum of these unwanted and continuous feelings made Ash feel like every task was, as they put it, “like an Olympian exercise.”
Their lack of timekeeping continued to affect them considerably, and, as a parent, this was always a concerning issue. This led Ash to retreat from making important appointments, decline social events, and distance themselves from family and friends. Ash felt increasingly isolated, reclusive, and deeply depressed, leaving them with an “omnipresent feeling of anxiety” which had been existing for over 15 years.
Over several sessions, Ash began to take small, sometimes micro steps towards regaining social connections—by text at first, then through calls, and eventually meeting up for coffee or walks in the local park with a trusted, close friend. Slowly venturing out at a manageable pace, Ash understood the need to move at a rate that was right for them depending on the day and noticed that this rate of effort would change due to circumstances in other areas of life.
We worked through how things could look moving forward, and Ash began to create and engage in some new challenges. Now, with grown children, they began to contemplate the option of returning to work. This newfound engagement in wanting to experience more fulfilment, coupled with a gentle, manageable effort in trying new things, offered Ash a greater sense of value and purpose. Through this gradual change, they left saying, “Every day just gets a little bit easier.”
