Results of a study carried out by the University of Bath asked participants to take a week long break from social media find positive effects for wellbeing, depression and anxiety.

Asking people to stop using social media for just one week could lead to significant improvements in their wellbeing, depression and anxiety and could, in the future, be recommended as a way to help people manage their mental health say the authors of a new study. Read original article.

The study, carried out by a team of researchers at the University of Bath (UK), studied the mental health effects of a week-long social media break. For some participants in the study, this meant freeing-up around nine hours of their week which would otherwise have been spent scrolling Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok.

Their results – published today (Friday 6 May 2022) in the US journal Cyberpsychology, Behaviour and Social Networking – suggest that just one week off social media improved individuals’ overall level of well-being, as well as reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety.

How I Treat Stress

At Behavioural Freedom, I use a skills-based model for treating stress. During our sessions, I will teach you relaxation techniques and helpful ways in which you can fundamentally and positively change the way you behave, think, act and react. It’s also important to note here that you can’t be stressed when you are in a relaxed state. The skills you’ll learn during your time with me will be vital to both your on-going treatment and perhaps more so as you leave my care.

A combination of Applied Relaxation and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is considered by the British Medical Journal to be one of the most effective therapies to combat stress and put you on a path to having a positive mind-set and being able to live life to the fullest, free of worries. By combining both and adding in the element of hypnosis, I believe this is the most effective, pragmatic and relevant approach to the treatment of stress.

Please contact me today to start the journey back to behavioural freedom.

The Process

At Behavioural Freedom, the process by which I plan your sessions is as individual as you and the issues you come to me about but here is an idea of what you can expect during your time with me –

Initial Consultation – Duration 75 Minutes

The first time you come and see me is a chance for us to get to know each other. I will ask you the right questions so I can clearly understand what your particular issues are, we will discuss your relevant medical history and most importantly what you’d like to get out of our time together.

That information allows me to put together a relevant, coherent plan of action that suits you and will set you on your path to behavioural freedom.

I find that a lot of my clients, after the consultation, feel like a weight has been lifted. It’s unlikely your issue will be resolved so early but you will know that you have started on a path towards being able to picture social interactions and dramatically improved personal and professional relationships free of the worries that have blighted your life up to now.

Your Sessions – Duration 50 Minutes

During your initial consultation session, I’ll have an idea of how many sessions I think it will take to free you from your unwanted behaviour. Please bear in mind that there are a number of factors that will influence how many sessions you’ll need including the nature and severity of your issue, the external factors affecting your life and how ready you are to embrace change.

Most issues can be completely resolved after 4-6 sessions, some take longer and some will be quicker but I will review where you are at regular intervals.

In order to keep momentum up, weekly sessions are most common but I will fit the sessions around your lifestyle. All I ask of you is a commitment to attend your appointments and for the motivation and desire to change.

At the point where you feel you have your issues under control and I have taught you how to manage what was once controlling your life, you stop coming to your sessions but I remain available to you for as long as you need me.