At the start of Mental Health Awareness Week, Jennifer Austin Hypnotherapy shares timely advice

Despite the fact that it is 2024, there is still a lot of stigma around mental health and asking for help, which is why Mental Health Awareness week is so important.

This year it runs from today until Sunday.

There are currently more than two million people on the NHS waiting list for mental health services, just one reason why people are reaching out for private services and alternative, or complementary wellbeing practices. 

Jennifer Austin offers online Solution Focused Hypnotherapy to support adults with mental health challenges and/or chronic health conditions, such as eczema or Topical Steroid Withdrawal (TSW).

Jen explains: "It’s a relaxing, positive, forward-focused approach where we don’t discuss the issue, the past or the trauma.

"This Mental Health month I want to share with you some easy-to-apply tips and tricks that you can do at home, to support your own mental health."

The Good Things List

The first thing I would encourage everyone to do is start a "good things" journal.

This only takes up to a couple of minutes each day but is a very powerful practice.

Each night before you go to sleep, write down a list of all the things that made you smile that day.

They can be tiny. A cup of tea, a sunny walk, wearing your comfy jumper, a funny meme your friend sent you.

Your brain doesn’t know the difference between imagination and reality, so thinking back over these nice things produces more serotonin – your feel good chemical!

It starts to rewire your brain to naturally notice the good things. 

Celebrate

This is a good one for increasing motivation and self-discipline.

When you do a task, whether it’s sending an email or emptying the dishwasher, anything you felt challenged to do, but did anyway, celebrate!

Put your hands over your head and say “YES”. Do a little dance, give yourself a hug.

Over time, your brain will associate the completion of tasks, with this feeling over satisfaction and success, making it easier to do them in the future. 

Name your Fight/Flight Brain

Your overthinking, negative, fight and flight part of the brain often lies to you.

It might tell you that you’re not doing enough, or not strong or worthy.

Name it something that makes you smile. This gives us something to blame, which we like to do as humans.

It helps us separate our thoughts, from reality, or our emotions. So next time your brain tells you, "you’re not doing enough" or "you’re lazy and boring", you can literally say out loud "shut up Eric."

Interrupting the thoughts, making us question if they are true, and making us smile, because it feels silly! 

Find Resources in your Community

Such as The Feel Good Community Hub, run by Feel Good Norfolk (over 18s only).

It is a free-to-access monthly service at The Yoga Tree, Norwich, looking to support those experiencing mental health challenges such as stress, anxiety, loneliness, or lack of confidence, as well as financial hardship.

All you need to do is sign up online at https://feelgoodnorfolk.co.uk/the-feel-good-community-hub/ Each month there are various wellbeing practitioners volunteering their time.

If you want to learn more about hypnotherapy, I’ll be giving a talk and group hypnosis there on Saturday June 15 and Saturday July 20.

They also have a really useful, informative wellbeing podcast! Head to Feel Good Podcast or search Feel Good Norfolk on Spotify. 

Follow me on Instagram @jenniferaustinhypnotherapy for more mental health tips, tools, information about hypnotherapy, and monthly live trances. 

Remember, you are not alone. Sometimes asking for help or support can be the best thing you do. Don’t struggle in silence.

Website: feelgoodnorfolk.co.uk/the-feel-good-community-hub