Page 14 - Oundle Life March 2025

ANXIETY
…it’s not all in your head
Fourteen years ago, I was overwhelmed,
exhausted, and feeling completely stuck.
But then I was stopped in my tracks with a
diagnosis of post viral chronic fatigue syndrome
(similar to Long Covid). I had a choice to
change things, or get stuck here for the rest of
my life.
I remember the day I realised that, what was
going on inside my head was as much a part of
my condition as what was going on in my body.
A friend who was a hypnotherapist sat me down
and explained what anxiety was from a brain
science perspective, and how it was impacting
me physically.
I was resistant to start with, believing that all
the overthinking and worrying was normal. It
was all I’d ever known. I didn’t realise that wasn’t
how it was supposed to be inside my head!
But what goes on in our heads can impact us
physically due to the chemicals we release into
our systems when we are stressed or anxious.
Figures from the Mental Health Foundation
show I was not alone in how I felt. 60% of
people in the UK say that anxiety interferes with
their daily life and, on average, it takes someone
ten years to seek help.
Often, it’s only when problems show up in
physical ways that we start to take it seriously.
Headaches, fatigue, upset tummy/IBS, muscle
tension, heart palpitations, excess sweating and
many more. These are all symptoms that can be
caused by ongoing stress and anxiety.
So, back to school I went to learn about this
properly and to understand the science. To
develop techniques, and learn how to pass this
knowledge on to others. To help people like me
get back on track with their lives again.
For the last 12 years I have been using my
experiences to help others. Using my training
in neuroscience, hypnotherapy, and coaching,
I support people in taking back control from
anxiety. My clients are often pleasantly surprised
by how many of their physical symptoms
disappear when we start reducing their stress
and anxiety.
If anxiety has become your normal or if you
are feeling stuck, there is another way.
Caroline Prout practices from her home
therapy room in Islip. Get in touch to book in
for her free initial consultation.
Tel: 07729 801 247
Email: caroline@inspiredtochange.biz
www.inspiredtochange.biz/
hypnotherapist/thrapston-hypnotherapy/
14