How Solution Focused Hypnotherapy Can Help as We Approach the Busiest Time of the Year for Social Gatherings.

Have you ever made plans on a Monday only to find yourself desperate for an excuse to avoid going out by Saturday? Does the idea of that party you agreed to go to fill you with dread, kick off your IBS, migraine or anxious thoughts? Are you someone who has an intense worry about social situations, a fear of being judged, and an avoidance of social activities?

For many people, social situations can feel like a minefield — from meeting new people and speaking up in groups to attending work events or even answering the phone. Social anxiety isn’t just “shyness” or feeling nervous; it’s a powerful physical and emotional response that can make everyday interactions feel overwhelming.

Symptoms can range from trembling, sweating, blushing, and a racing heart, which can sometimes lead to panic attacks. These feelings are persistent, affecting daily life, and can include a fear of others noticing and drawing others’ attention to their physical symptoms.  

But the good news is that our brains are capable of change. And that’s where Solution Focused Hypnotherapy can help.

Understanding Social Anxiety

Social anxiety begins in the brain’s primitive survival system — the part responsible for fight, flight, or freeze.

When this system perceives you’re in danger (even if it’s just a conversation or a meeting), it releases the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol, which cause your heart to race, your stomach to churn, and your face to flush. You go all hot and sweaty, making you feel like you want to run away, throw up, or possibly both!

Your mind fills with self-critical thoughts:

“What if I say the wrong thing?”

“They’ll think I’m awkward.”

“Everyone’s judging me.”

“I don’t fit in here“

“Everyone’s looking at me, I’m so stupid!“

Over time, these responses become learned patterns — your brain’s automatic way of trying to “protect” you. The problem is, it can’t differentiate between real danger and social discomfort.

And if you’re someone who already experiences IBS, or other signs of anxiety, this will come into the mix and kick off too, making you even more self-conscious and not want to go out and socialise or leave the house.

How Solution Focused Hypnotherapy Helps

Unlike traditional therapies that focus on analysing past experiences, Solution Focused Hypnotherapy looks forward — helping you build confidence and calm by understanding how your brain works and gently changing the patterns that keep anxiety going.

Here’s how:

  • The brain’s fear response calms, so not everything is seen as a potential threat.
  • During the sessions, we look at the language you use when you’re thinking about yourself, so your inner dialogue becomes more positive.
  • Over time, you begin to think more clearly, feel calmer, and respond rather than react.
  • Creating a positive mental rehearsal with the way you think about your future version of yourself and your preferred future: how would you like things to go, and using your imagination to your advantage rather than against you.
  • During trance (a deeply relaxed, focused state), your brain rehearses positive behaviours and emotions. This “mental rehearsal” teaches the brain that social situations can feel safe, familiar, and even enjoyable.
  • Each session encourages you to identify what’s already working and what small steps move you forward. Building confidence, resilience, and a sense of control — the very things social anxiety takes away.
  • Reducing overall stress Levels by lowering general stress and tension, your brain becomes less reactive to triggers. You start to notice moments of calm and connection rather than threat or judgment.
  • Building solutions, rather than focusing on problems, helps you feel calmer and more in control, even when you are out of your comfort zone.
  • Reducing stress hormones not only calms your mind but also your body, allowing you to feel more comfortable mentally and physically.

The Ripple Effect of Change

Clients often describe a gentle but powerful shift:

  • They feel more comfortable meeting new people.
  • Speaking up in meetings without overthinking.
  • Enjoying time with friends again — without the mental exhaustion of constant self-doubt.
  • Don’t feel the need to rely on drinking alcohol or other substances to get through social events.

When the brain feels safe, the body follows. You smile more easily, breathe more deeply, and begin to trust yourself again.

Moving Forward

You don’t have to “fix” yourself — social anxiety isn’t a flaw, it’s simply your brain working a little too hard to keep you safe.

Through Solution Focused Hypnotherapy, you can help it relax, recalibrate, and rediscover the confidence that has always been within you.

If you’re ready to feel calmer, more connected, comfortable and confident in your own skin, you can start that journey today.

If you’d like to feel more confident and comfortable in social settings or life in general, get in touch!