A survey carried out by the Health and Safety Executive indicated that over half a million individuals in Britain believed that they were experiencing work-related stress at a level that was making them ill. The Stress and Health at Work Study (SHAW) indicated that nearly 1 in 5 of all working individuals thought their job was very or extremely stressful. It is estimated that work related stress, depression or anxiety accounts for an estimated thirteen and a half million reported lost working days per year in Britain.
What is Stress?
Stress can be defined as:
The emotional, physiological and psychological effects caused by a build up of either internally or externally generated mental pressure.
Are you stressed?
Everyone responds differently to stress, some may experience anxiety, panic attacks, aggressive behaviour while others find it affects their digestive system or makes them feel tired or run down. Think back over the last few months, then look through the list below, if you find that you have been suffering from several of these symptoms on a frequent basis then it is highly likely that you are suffering from stress.
Some symptoms of stress:
– Sudden feelings of fear or panic | – Feeling tense or wound up | |
– Waking up early in the morning | – Difficulty sleeping | |
– Feeling edgy or bad tempered | – Irregular eating patterns | |
– Upset stomach, diarrhoea or constipation | – Smoke or drink to excess | |
– Poor concentration | – Poor memory | |
– Constantly feeling exhausted | – Feel apathetic | |
– Fear you will loose control | – Feel short of breath | |
– Tightness in your neck, shoulders or back | – Avoid worrisome situations | |
– Palpitations or butterflies in your stomach | – Lack of confidence | |
– Headaches or migraines | – Pessimistic about the future | |
– Feel under pressure | – Aches and pains | |
– Emotional | – Feel physically run down | |
– Feel distant, dizzy, unreal or remote | – Worry about the future | |
– Lack of interest | ||
PLEASE NOTE: If you are suffering from any of the above symptoms then get them checked out by a doctor before booking an appointment.
Long term symptoms of stress can include:
– Heart problems | – Ulcers |
– Cancers | – Strokes |
– Complete mental or physical breakdown | – Death |
Learn to Take Control
If you are stressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself but to your own interpretation of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any time.
Marcus Aurelius
It is not the situation that causes stress, it is how you react to it. People are stressed by many different things, someone may be stressed by the thought of meeting people they don’t know, for others it may be being late for an appointment or having to give a presentation. The situation itself does not cause the stress, otherwise everybody would be stressed by the same situation.
The key lies in how we react to the stressful situation. When stress occurs it is because we have reacted in a negative way to the perceived stressful event, which in turn causes us to feel stressed.
Event —> Reaction to the event (thoughts) —> Feelings about the event
By changing the reaction to a positive one, the resulting feelings about the event also become more positive.
For example if you are stressed about an upcoming presentation, perhaps worried that you will look stupid in front of a group of important people. The thought that you will look stupid is your reaction to the perceived stressful event. By changing that reaction to a more positive thought, for example, curiosity, you are more likely to find yourself looking forward to and enjoying the presentation.
A few of the ways you can take control of stress
- Learn Self Hypnosis
- Learn Relaxation techniques
- Use a Biofeedback device/Use a Light and Sound Mind Machine (brainwave entrainment)
- Learn Meditation
- Mindfulness
- Learn Breathing Exercises
- Attend one of my stress management workshops
- Visit a psychotherapist, counsellor or NLP practitioner who can help you change your reactions to the stressors in your life.
How can you help me deal with stress?
Stress In Business
In any team, business or sport, it only takes one stress suffering member to harm the performance of the whole team. If several team members or staff are having problems it does not bode well. Productivity falls and sickness rates rise.
The end result is a loss of money!
If a workable stress reduction plan is in place the majority of problems are nipped in the bud before they get chance to cause problems. It is not necessary to wait for problems before taking action – choose prevention in favour of reaction.
I can teach Stress Management techniques to both individuals and small groups that will help reduce stress and improve productivity.
My services can be tailored to your companies needs, from corporate training in Stress Management Techniques through to working on a one to one basis with an individual employees issues (EAP).
Corporate training can be held on-site or at an external venue. For further details of the Stress Management Techniques Course which is suitable for groups and individuals Click here for details
If you would like to discuss your needs further, then please Click here to email me or phone me on 0161 881 4333.
Stress In Your Personal Life
If you simply want to quickly deal with the current causes of stress in your life, then I can help you to identify your stress triggers and change how you react to them, using a variety of processes which can include psychotherapy, counselling, NLP, hypnotherapy or Life Coaching.
Alternatively, if you would rather learn more about stress and its effects, and how to identify and take control of it for yourself, then why not take my short Stress Management Techniques course. The benefits of which allow you to identify and take control of both your current stressors and any future stressors that may arise during your life. Click here for details
Stress Management using Hypnotherapy, NLP and Life Coaching
Hypnotherapy, NLP and Life Coaching can be used to help you to more effectively find and explore the reasons behind why you react in certain ways in certain situations. Once we know how the stress is caused we can develop ways to change your reactions to it, help you build coping strategies and ways of either controlling, minimising or even avoiding your stressors.
Hypnotherapy
During hypnosis you are in an extremely relaxed state which allows you to experience the stressful situations while remaining calm. This has the effect of altering the associations between the stressful event and your reactions to it. When you re-experience the stressful event in real life, your reaction to it will be different.
You are able to re-access positive states from times when you have felt calm, relaxed, confident and in control. These positive states can then be associated with the stressful event, which allows you to react more positively to it in future.
Hypnosis is also an ideal state in which to learn new ways to cope more effectively. Such as breathing techniques, positive thinking and assertiveness which can help you to deal with the stressful situation.
Self hypnosis techniques are effective at reducing your daily background stress levels and also allows you to continue to alter your reactions to stressful events in your life.
If you would like to make an appointment, then please Click here to email me or phone me on 0161 881 4333.
Life Coaching
NLP and life coaching when used for stress management, allows us to build a model of how you as an individual structures your own unique experiences in life. We can step into your view of the world to discover, patterns of thought, beliefs and values that are causing you to feel stressed. By using this information help you to alter your reactions to the stressors, set compelling goals, build motivation, and change your life for the better.
NLP and life coaching have been proven to be very quick and effective ways of creating personal change. It means that by knowing how your brain works you can change it and control it, so that it is always working for you and improving your life and the lives of those around you.
Life coaching for stress management can take place either face to face or over the phone at pre-arranged times. Email support is also available between sessions.
The life coaching package is tailored to your needs, so depending on your requirements, the number of sessions and length of sessions may vary. For example you may initially have two 1 hour sessions to change your stress responses, set goals and build motivation. Then several weekly 30 minute sessions over the phone to keep you motivated, on track and deal with additional issues that may come up.
In general you will usually pay for a months worth of Life Coaching in advance. However if you have a very specific issue, a couple of individual sessions might be all that you need.
If you would like to make an appointment or find out more, then please Click here to email me or phone me on 0161 881 4333.
Stress Management Techniques Course
The aim of the course is to teach you to identify your own stress symptoms and causes, then to develop the personal strategies most suitable for controlling and dealing with your stress. Allowing you to take control of both your current and future stressors.
Course Objectives:
- Accept stress as a fact in life.
- Understand that stress need not be an enemy.
- To understand the effects that stress has on the body.
- To understand the effects that stress has on the mind.
- Be able to identify the symptoms of stress.
- Identify personal ways to deal with stress.
- Have a greater self awareness.
- Be able to truly relax.
- Understand the relationship between relaxation and stress.
- Be able to develop the ability to self induce deep relaxation.
Course fee:
Individual rate – £200 which includes 4 one-to-one training sessions, relaxation CD’s and comprehensive course notes.
Group and corporate rate – £ Please contact me for prices.
A days training, including relaxation CD’s and comprehensive course notes for each attendee. For groups of up to 8 people.
If you would like to make an appointment, then please Click here to email me or phone me on 0161 881 4333.
Nigel Magowan
Nigel Magowan BSc(Hons) UKCP Reg. DABCH MCAHyp GHR SQHP MHA AMPM
UKCP Registered Psychotherapist, Life Coach, Licensed NLP Master Practitioner, Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapist, Ecotherapist, Accredited Supervisorand Natural Awareness Therapist
Areas Covered Include:
Greater Manchester: Chorlton, Didsbury, Fallowfield, Flixton, Eccles, Irlam, Salford, Swinton, Pendlebury, Worsley, Walkden, Cadishead, Bury, Bolton, Farnworth, Little Lever, Kearsley, Wardley, Monton, Orrel, Barton, Boothstown, Dumplington, Baguley, Benchill, Burnage, Blackley, Beswick, Clayton, Crumpsall, Levenshulme, Longsight, Northenden, Rusholme, Sharston, Withington, Woodhouse Park, Wythenshawe, Westhoughton, Blackrod, Kearsley, Horwich, Prestwich, Ramsbottom, Radcliffe, Tottington, Whitefield, Whalley Range, Carrington, Victoria Park, Old Trafford, Cheetham Hill, Tamesdie, Ashton under Lyme, Denton, Reddish, Stalybridge, Hyde, Oldham, Royton, Saddleworth, Rochdale, Heywood, Littleborough, Castleton, Milnrow, Middleton, Wardle, Wigan, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Golborne, Billinge, Winstanley, Leigh, Standish.
North Trafford: Davyhulme, Firswood, Flixton, Gorse Hill, Lostock, Old Trafford, Stretford, Trafford Park, Urmston.
South Trafford: Altrincham, Ashton-on-Mersey, Bowdon, Broadheath, Brooklands, Carrington, Dunham Massey, Hale, Hale Barns, Oldfield Brow, Partington, Sale, Sale Moor, Timperley, Warburton, West Timperley.
Stockport: Adswood, Bramhall, Bredbury, Brinnington, Cheadle, Cheadle Hulme, Compstall, Davenport, Edgeley, Gatley, Heaton Moor, Heaton Norris, Heaton Chapel, Heaton Mersey, Hazel Grove, Heald Green, Heavily, High Lane, Marple, Offerton, Poynton, Reddish, Romiley.
Cheshire: Alderley Edge, Adlington, Ashley, Bucklow Hill, Handforth Dean, High Legh, Knutsford, Mere, Mobberley, Ollerton, Plumley, Tatton, Pickmere, Wilmslow, Warburton, Woodford, Lymm, Dunham, Massey, Chester, Crewe, Northwich, Daresbury, Warington, Winsford, Widnes, Wirral, Nantwich, Sandbach, Middlewich, Congleton, Alsager, Macclesfield, Prestbury, Goostrey, Pickmere, Mottram St.Andrew, Mobberley, Chelford, Tytherington, Bollington, Alsager, Tarporley, Davenham, Great Appleton Thorn, Budworth, Little Budworth, Frodsham, Holmes Chape, High Legh, Disley, Grappenhall, Appleton, Croft, Thelwall, Penketh, Glazebury, Winwick, Culcheth, Saint Helens, Over Peover, Lower Peover, Church Lawton, Cranage, Stockton Heath.
Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Peak District, North Wales.
Stress management manchester