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A lovely lady, we’ll call her Sarah, rang me recently for help to overcome holiday anxiety. She was ‘trying’ to get ready to go on holidays with her family — something many people look forward to with excitement.

You know the feeling, right?
The fun of planning, shopping for holiday clothes, getting organised so everything runs smoothly while you’re away and when you return.

But for Sarah, this wasn’t the case at all…

When Holidays Feel Like a Nightmare

Sarah was dreading the trip.
Not just a little bit — she was in tears at the thought of leaving home.

She told me things like:

• “I don’t want to go away.”
• “It upsets me just thinking about it.”
• “Everyone else is so excited, and I feel broken.”

She found herself counting the nights, wishing the holiday wasn’t happening. Then she’d get annoyed with herself for not being excited.
The worst part? She felt ashamed. She believed something was wrong with her.

While others were chatting about swimsuits and sightseeing, she was overwhelmed inside. Her stomach would turn, she’d feel nauseous, and sometimes she’d even vomit from the stress.

Pretending to Be Fine… But Feeling So Unwell

Sarah said she’d try her best to act happy for her family. But as the departure day came closer, she couldn’t hold it together.
She would cry. She’d feel physically sick. Her body was shouting, “I don’t want to go!”

Even once she arrived at beautiful destinations, she couldn’t relax. She paced, felt trapped, and longed to get back home.

Her inner voice was relentless:

• “Why did I agree to this?”
• “I shouldn’t be here.”
• “There’s something wrong with me.”

She once dreamt of being home and woke up feeling devastated that she was still away.

She wanted to be excited. She knew she should be.
But no matter how hard she tried, her body and mind just wouldn’t let her.

Carrying the Weight of Guilt

Sarah felt deeply guilty.
She believed she was ruining her family’s time away. All she wanted was to get back to the comfort and safety of home.

So, she reached out. And we began working together.

She booked three sessions to explore her emotional and physical responses around going on holiday — and everything began to change.

Session One: Grounding and Calming the Body

In our first session, I guided Sarah through a gentle breathwork process to anchor her in the present moment. She immediately felt more grounded.

We followed with a deep hypnotic relaxation to help calm her nervous system and ease the heavy thoughts and feelings that had been stealing her joy.

Before we ended, we reinforced the anchor — something simple and powerful she could practise at home.

Her homework? Just five minutes a day of breathwork to help settle her system and build that inner safety.

Session Two: Uncovering the Root of the Guilt

Sarah returned a week later and was already feeling a bit lighter.
But the guilt? Still there.

We went deeper.

That session revealed something powerful — a memory that had been quietly living in her system for years.

When Sarah was 12, she had gone on a charity-organised holiday to the countryside with friends. She was from the city and had travelled before, but her friends hadn’t. She joined them to be part of the group.

But once there, homesickness hit her hard. So much so that she had to be sent home early.

That young version of Sarah internalised a belief:….“There’s something wrong with me because I couldn’t cope.”

That belief stayed with her.
And every time a new holiday approached, her body reacted in the same way — sadness, anxiety, sickness. Her mind tried to protect her with one clear message:….Stay at home where it’s safe.

Rewriting the Story with a New Memory

In that same session, we used deep relaxation and therapeutic techniques to revisit a different, much earlier memory.

Sarah remembered being seven, staying in her Granny’s house, feeling completely safe and loved. She could even describe the mattress print — a little Chinese lady with a parasol!

Her whole face lit up when she talked about it.

Together, we anchored that memory — full of safety, comfort, and care — as her new emotional reference point for travelling.

Her body finally had a new message:….“It’s safe to enjoy being away.”

Session Three: A Whole New Feeling

By the time Sarah came in for her final session, things had shifted.

She had been shopping. She was packing.
And — most importantly — she was excited.

She was looking forward to making memories with her daughters, just as her parents had once done for her. She could finally feel the joy that had always been out of reach before.

We made sense of everything together.

As a child, she couldn’t understand why she missed her parents so much. She had interpreted normal homesickness as a flaw in herself — and that guilt had lived in her system for years.

Now, as an adult, she could offer that 12-year-old version of herself compassion and reassurance. She no longer needed to carry that shame.

Anchoring the New Belief

To consolidate everything, we connected her new belief to something she loves — rugby matches!

We talked through the journey — packing the bag, heading out, showing the ticket, finding your seat — and how that’s just like going on holiday.

Now, wherever Sarah goes, she knows: ….She is safe, secure, and minded.

She can relax, enjoy her surroundings, and most of all — make beautiful memories with her family.

You Deserve to Enjoy Your Holiday Too

Holidays are meant to be a time to recharge — for your body, your mind, and your heart.

If holiday anxiety is holding you back, you’re not alone.
And help is available.

With the right support, you can:

• Uncover what’s really behind your anxiety
• Learn to calm your body and mind
• Feel confident and excited about travelling again

Call me today on 087 2279906

I’d be delighted to help you feel safe, secure and ready to enjoy your next holiday — just like Sarah did.

To learn more about overcoming anxiety click here

The post Overcoming Holiday Anxiety: Sarah’s Journey to Peaceful Travel appeared first on Helen Doyle Therapy.

Anxiety

In today’s fast-paced world, anxiety is a common struggle for many. The constant pressure of work, social media and personal responsibilities can lead to overwhelming feelings of stress and unease. However, there’s a powerful and often overlooked tool that can help you regain control and find tranquillity: That is Hypnotherapy. As a therapeutic approach, hypnotherapy uses relaxation and focused attention to create a state of inner calm and deep relaxation. This meditative state allows you to begin to explore and resolve the root causes of your anxiety. At Helen Doyle Therapy, I specialize in techniques that help you relax and feel calm within yourself so that you can begin your journey and go from… Stress to Success.

Your Breathe as your Anchor

One of the foundational techniques in hypnotherapy is using your breath as an anchor to feel more present in the here and now. Through focusing on your breath, you can ground yourself in the present moment, thus reducing any feelings of anxiety and panic. Consequently the resulting deep, slow breaths send signals to your brain that it’s safe to relax. This ultimately results in counteracting the body’s natural fight-or-flight response.

During a hypnotherapy session, you’ll be guided through breathing exercises that promote relaxation and mindfulness. This technique helps you stay centred and calm, even in situations that would normally trigger anxiety. With progressive practice, you’ll find that you can use your breath as a reliable anchor to steady yourself whenever you feel anxious.

Accessing Your Secure Inner Space

Another powerful aspect of hypnotherapy is the ability to access your secure inner space. This is a mental sanctuary where you feel completely safe and at peace. By visualizing this space, you can create a sense of security and comfort that counterbalances anxiety.

At Helen Doyle Therapy, I can help you build and strengthen this inner space, making it a reliable retreat that you can access anytime you need to escape from stress. Whether it’s a serene beach, a cosy cabin, or a lush forest, this space is unique to you, and is a powerful tool for the mind in managing anxiety.

Clearing Mental Clutter

Anxiety often stems from mental clutter—those persistent, negative thoughts that clutter your mind and prevent you from feeling calm. Hypnotherapy helps you clear this clutter; instead making room for positive, empowering thoughts. As you address the underlying issues contributing to your anxiety, hypnotherapy can help you achieve a clearer, more focused mind.

Through guided sessions, you’ll learn how to identify and let go of these negative thoughts. Through careful programming in hypnotherapy you can replace them with positive and constructive thought patterns. This mental decluttering process is crucial for reducing anxiety and improving overall mental health.

The Joy of Relaxation

Imagine being able to approach every situation with a sense of calm and confidence. Whether that involves meeting new people, giving a presentation at work, or running errands, hypnotherapy can certainly help you. Through hypnosis you can achieve this confidence in yourself while you continue to feel relaxed and at ease.

As you continue to practice the techniques learned in hypnotherapy, you’ll notice a significant reduction in your anxiety levels. Consequently you’ll feel more relaxed and in control, able to enjoy life without the constant burden of worry. This newfound sense of calm will enhance your interactions with others and improve your performance at work, thus making everyday activities more enjoyable and less stressful.

With personalized hypnotherapy sessions, you’ll learn how to manage your anxiety, allowing your true self to shine. You’ll feel more confident, relaxed, and empowered. You will feel ready to take on whatever challenges come your way.

Remember, through Hypnotherapy, you can go from Stress to Success and access your calm, confident, comfortable self again.

If you’re ready to overcome the grip of anxiety, Helen Doyle Therapy is here to help.

Book a Free Consultation today to learn more about how hypnotherapy can transform your life and help you become the best version of yourself.

The post Unlocking Calm: How Hypnotherapy Can Help Alleviate Anxiety appeared first on Helen Doyle Therapy.