Andrea Aro Hypnotherapy

13/06/2026

https://theconversation.com/do-you-lose-your-whole-day-to-one-appointment-waiting-mode-may-be-why-280608?utm_medium=article_native_share&utm_source=theconversation.com

A growing term for a familiar feeling: how ‘waiting mode’ captures the difficulty of time and anticipation.

12/06/2026

📅 Did You Know Your Menstrual Cycle Can Change How Alcohol Affects You?

Hormones don't just influence your mood and energy—they can also affect how your body processes alcohol.

During the first half of your cycle, oestrogen levels rise. This can:

• Increase alcohol's effects on the brain
• Mean you feel intoxicated more quickly
• Slow the breakdown of alcohol, causing it to stay in your system longer

In the second half of your cycle, rising progesterone levels can change the way alcohol feels, often making some women feel more sedated, tired, or emotionally affected.

The result? The same amount of alcohol can have very different effects depending on where you are in your cycle.

Understanding these hormonal shifts can help you make sense of why some nights feel completely different from others—even when you're drinking exactly the same amount.

Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to understanding your body.

Have you ever noticed that alcohol affects you differently at different times of the month?

If you're interested in changing your relationship with alcohol or improving your overall wellbeing, I'd be delighted to help.

10/06/2026

🔥 Why Alcohol Can Make Menopause Symptoms Worse 🔥

Many women don't realise that alcohol can actually intensify some of the most frustrating symptoms of menopause.

Here's why:

• Hot flushes – Alcohol causes blood vessels to widen, which can make hot flushes feel more intense and occur more frequently.

• Poor sleep – While a drink may help you fall asleep faster, alcohol often disrupts the deep, restorative sleep your body needs.

• Increased anxiety – Hormonal changes already affect the brain's calming chemicals. Alcohol can further contribute to feelings of anxiety and overwhelm.

• Bone health – After menopause, declining oestrogen levels can increase the risk of osteoporosis. Alcohol may also interfere with the body's ability to absorb calcium and vitamin D, both essential for strong bones.

Many women find that reducing alcohol, even slightly, can improve sleep quality, mood, energy levels, and overall wellbeing.

If you're navigating menopause and wondering why you're not feeling your best, it may be worth looking at the role alcohol is playing.

Small changes can make a big difference.

08/06/2026

Have you noticed that alcohol affects you differently now than it did a few years ago?

Many women are surprised to discover that hormonal changes can significantly alter the way alcohol affects both body and mind.

As we move through perimenopause, menopause, and beyond, alcohol can have a much stronger impact on sleep, mood, anxiety levels, hot flushes, and even next-day recovery.

What once felt like a relaxing glass of wine can sometimes leave you feeling exhausted, anxious, overheated, or struggling to concentrate the next day.

The good news is that understanding the connection between hormones and alcohol can help you make informed choices that support your wellbeing rather than work against it.

If you've been wondering why alcohol seems to affect you differently these days, you're certainly not imagining it.

Awareness is the first step towards making changes that help you feel healthier, happier, and more in control.

Have you noticed a difference in how alcohol affects you as you've got older? If so, how?

05/06/2026

As a rule, I check-in with my clients around a month after their last session with me.

I had some wonderful feedback from a lady who I saw (3 sessions) for sleep issues.

She hadn't slept well for at least 5 years and it was taking a drastic toll on her life.

She had good sleep hygine and was doing all the correct things in order that she should sleep well, but she still was unable to get good quality, consistent sleep.

As it turns out her friend happened to see me for an entirely different matter, but suggested she contact me to find out if I could help.

In just 3 sessions everything had changed for the better, as you can read in the image!

Sleep is fundamental and when you don’t experience good sleep for a long period of time, the results can be significant.

I'm pleased to say that in Alison's case, she can now sleep well and that in turn means that her life is opening up again! 🥰

04/06/2026

Why Alcohol Makes Depression Feel Worse

Many people reach for a drink when they're feeling low, stressed, lonely, or overwhelmed. In the moment, alcohol can seem to help. It may create a temporary sense of relaxation, numb emotional pain, or provide a brief escape from difficult thoughts and feelings.

The problem is that alcohol is actually a depressant, meaning it slows down activity in the brain and nervous system. While the initial effects can feel soothing, the longer-term impact is often the exact opposite of what people are seeking.

The Brain's Chemical Rollercoaster

Alcohol temporarily increases the activity of certain brain chemicals that create feelings of relaxation and pleasure. However, as the alcohol leaves the system, the brain works hard to restore balance. This often results in a rebound effect, where mood drops, anxiety increases, and feelings of sadness become more intense.

For someone who is already low or experiencing depression, this chemical shift can deepen existing symptoms. Thoughts may become darker, motivation can decrease further, and feelings of hopelessness may seem stronger than they did before drinking.

Sleep Suffers Too

Many people believe alcohol helps them sleep. While it may make it easier to fall asleep initially, alcohol disrupts the quality of sleep throughout the night.
Deep, restorative sleep is essential for emotional wellbeing. When alcohol interferes with this process, people often wake feeling tired, emotionally fragile, and less able to cope with life's challenges. Poor sleep and depression are closely linked, creating a cycle that can be difficult to break.

Reduced Resilience

When depression is present, everyday tasks can already feel exhausting. Alcohol further reduces mental and emotional resilience.

After drinking, people may experience:
- Lower energy levels
- Reduced motivation
- Increased irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
- Greater emotional sensitivity

Challenges that felt manageable before drinking can suddenly feel overwhelming.

Increased Negative Thinking

Alcohol affects the areas of the brain responsible for judgement, perspective, and emotional regulation. As a result, people are more likely to focus on negative thoughts and less likely to challenge them rationally.

Someone who is already depressed may find themselves dwelling on regrets, worries, perceived failures, or fears about the future. Thoughts that might have passed through the mind briefly can become amplified and feel far more convincing.

The Vicious Cycle

One of the most difficult aspects of alcohol and depression is how easily they can feed each other.

A person feels low, so they drink to feel better.

The alcohol temporarily numbs the discomfort.

As the alcohol wears off, depression feels worse.

To escape those feelings, they drink again.

Over time, this cycle can strengthen both the dependence on alcohol and the symptoms of depression.

The Impact on Self-Esteem

Many people notice feelings of guilt, shame, or self-criticism after drinking, particularly if they drink more than intended. For someone already struggling with depression, these emotions can reinforce negative beliefs about themselves and further lower self-worth.

Hope for Recovery

The encouraging news is that many people notice significant improvements in mood when they reduce or stop drinking alcohol. Within days or weeks, sleep often improves, energy begins to return, thinking becomes clearer, and emotional stability increases.

This doesn't mean alcohol is the sole cause of depression, but it can be a powerful factor in maintaining or worsening it.

When people give their brain and body a chance to function without alcohol, they often discover that they are far more capable of managing life's challenges than they realised.

A Different Way Forward

Rather than masking emotional pain with alcohol, addressing the underlying causes of low mood can create lasting change. Supportive approaches such as hypnotherapy, counselling, mindfulness, exercise, social connection, and healthy coping strategies can help individuals develop healthier ways to manage difficult emotions.

Alcohol may promise relief, but for someone already feeling low or experiencing depression, it often adds weight to a burden they are already carrying. The temporary comfort comes at the cost of a deeper emotional low later on.

Understanding this connection is often the first step towards breaking the cycle and rebuilding emotional wellbeing.

04/06/2026

Realistically, if you want to do something about your drinking, where do you go to get help?

GP for medication or CBT referral?

Rehab?

Alcoholics Anonymous?

Is the thought of going down these treatment paths putting you off doing something about cutting down or going sober?

The good news is, there is another way, but it’s not well publicised.

My 3 session Rethink Your Drinking Program, offers an effective, unique combination of practical tools that work together with clinical hypnotherapy to make the transition to either cutting down or going sober, easier to accomplish.

Those who have taken part in the Program often comment that they sleep better, feel less anxious, wake with more energy and enjoy a clear head.

If you’d like to learn more about how my course can help you reset your relationship with alcohol, then get in touch.

This short course could change your life for the better!

03/06/2026

A recent report revealed that women in the UK are among the angriest and saddest in Europe, with many experiencing increasing levels of stress, frustration, anxiety and poor health. The UK's ranking for women's health has also continued to decline.

While headlines often focus on the statistics, behind every number is a woman who is trying to juggle work, family, relationships, caring responsibilities, changing hormones, and the daily pressures of life.

For many women, particularly during perimenopause and menopause, feelings of overwhelm, irritability, low mood, anxiety and emotional exhaustion can become an unwelcome part of everyday life.

The good news is that these feelings don't have to define your future.

Hypnotherapy can help calm an overactive mind, reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep, build emotional resilience, and help you feel more in control again. When the mind and body are constantly stuck in "survival mode", it's difficult to feel your best. By working with the subconscious mind, lasting positive change becomes possible.

If you've been feeling more emotional, reactive, exhausted or simply not like yourself lately, it may be time to give yourself the same care and attention you give everyone else.

You deserve to feel calm, confident and emotionally balanced. ❤️

01/06/2026

From Awareness to Action: The Missing Step in Mental Wellbeing

Many of us are aware of what affects our mental health. We know that stress, poor sleep, overwhelm, unhealthy habits, and constant pressure can leave us feeling drained.

Awareness is important—but awareness alone doesn't create change.

Real transformation begins when we take action.

That action doesn't have to be dramatic. In fact, the most powerful changes are often the smallest:

✨ Taking 10 minutes to step outside and breathe fresh air.

✨ Setting a boundary without feeling guilty.

✨ Turning off your phone an hour before bed.

✨ Asking for support instead of struggling alone.

✨ Taking the first step towards addressing a habit that no longer serves you.

As a hypnotherapist, I often meet people who know exactly what's contributing to their stress, anxiety, emotional eating, drinking habits, or lack of confidence. The challenge isn't knowing—it's finding a way to make lasting change.

The gap between awareness and action is where many people become stuck.

The good news? You don't have to change everything at once. One small action taken consistently is far more effective than waiting for the perfect moment to make a big change.

Today, ask yourself:

"What's one small action I can take today that my future self will thank me for?"

Then do it.

Small steps lead to significant change.

28/05/2026

https://scitechdaily.com/massive-study-warns-marijuana-use-in-teens-is-linked-to-serious-mental-illness/

Adolescent cannabis use was linked to higher risks of later psychotic, bipolar, depressive, and anxiety disorders.