As the Coronavirus pandemic continues, and daily stress levels rise to new heights, one Dorset hypnotherapist is playing his part to help people cope.

Hypnotherapist and business psychologist Kristian Lees-Bell has released a free download on his website to help people cope with the stress and uncertainty of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Studies have shown that facing uncertainty is often scarier than facing physical pain.

Over millennia, the human brain has developed an aversion to uncertainty. It is a carry-over from our inbuilt “fight-or-flight” reaction to threat. In our constant quest for certainty in our lives, we are wired to “catastrophise” - to view a given situation as worse than it actually is.

And this leads to worry, which in turn leads to anxiety.

The current situation is unprecedented. Most of us have never experienced such a huge disruption to our daily lives and the very uncertainty will trigger unconscious fears and the classic ‘fight or flight’ response.

“People suffering from low-level anxiety may have found their symptoms have increased recently," says Kristian, who is based in Bournemouth.

"Other people might be feeling new physical and psychological strains for the first time.”

Since the lock-down, reports of stress and depression have risen significantly and it is this uncertainty and the lack of answers to the many ‘What if’ questions that we all have, which is reinforcing our collective fears.

“To some degree it’s natural to worry, and we all do it – it’s how our brain mobilises itself and prepares for potential problems,” Kristian explains.

“But it stops being useful if we become stuck in a loop of negative thoughts about things that are out of our control.

"It’s better to focus on the things we can control, and how we choose to respond to them.”

Unfortunately this need to exercise a sense of control has been expressed in less than healthy ways through the practice of ‘panic-buying’ goods, such as hand sanitiser and toilet roll. Kristian puts this down to an overload of the ‘fight-or-flight’ response that’s hardwired into our DNA and is being further fuelled by images of empty shelves in the media, and on social media.

Kristian suggests that we can mitigate these feelings of uncertainty and fear by taking the following actions: Accept the uncertainty - and stop trying to panic and struggle against it.

Be kind to yourself and don’t beat yourself up for not always feeling positive – the first few weeks of a situation like this are going to be hard for even the most resilient amongst us.

Focus on breathing – try 7/11 breathing. Breathe in deeply to the count of 7 and out to the count of 11. Focus on your stomach muscles moving up and down as you do this.

Try visualising yourself managing more effectively with the uncertainty and stress. Make a ‘mental movie’ of yourself staying calm and composed during periods of stress.

Kristian says: “The hypnotherapeutic techniques I teach my clients, whatever the trigger for their condition, can also be applied successfully in the current pandemic.

"I’d encourage anyone who is feeling stressed or anxious, whether they are directly affected by Covid-19 or are just generally worried about it, to download my hypnosis audio session and see if it helps.”

The audio recording can be accessed from any computer or device, and requires the listener to be settled in a safe, quiet space, where they won’t be disturbed.

“Even just taking 20 minutes out of your day to focus on yourself, rather than the latest news updates, can help you relax and regain a sense of balance. It’s all about relaxing your mind, deflecting negative thoughts and feelings, and replacing them with calm, positive ones.

“Of course it’s natural to worry, and we all do it – it’s how our brain mobilises itself and prepares for potential problems,” Kristian explains, “but worrying stops being useful if we become stuck in a loop of negative thoughts about things that are out of our control. It’s better to focus the things we can control, and how we choose to respond to them.”

One way people have been trying to exercise control to reduce their worries is through the practice of ‘panic-buying’ goods, such as hand sanitiser and toilet roll. Kristian puts this down to an overload of the ‘fight-or-flight’ response that’s hardwired into our DNA and is being further fuelled by images of empty shelves in the media, and on social media.

He adds: “In many ways it’s an exaggeration of a natural reaction – we think we’re fighting for our survival.

“Coronavirus has many repercussions beyond physical health. One is the potential impact on mental health and wellbeing as people try to manage an increasingly stressful situation.

“If I can help ease this stress and help people feel a little more comfortable during these difficult times. I’ll know my efforts have been worthwhile.

To access Kristian’s download, visit: https://www.naturalmindhypnotherapy.co.uk/anxiety-release/