I tried hypnosis to help with my heart anxiety

For years, I have been working hard to manage my anxiety using CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) and exposure techniques. Both approaches had, and still do help me to make significant progress—challenging fears, breaking avoidance patterns, and regaining confidence. However, one challenge remained deeply ingrained: my relationship with ectopic heartbeats.

These skipped or irregular beats had become a central focus of my anxiety. Even though I logically understood they were harmless and had received reassurance from doctors, my immediate reaction was fear. It felt as though, no matter how much progress I made or evidence I gathered, a part of me deep down still believed they were dangerous. That subconscious fear kept me from fully accepting them, and I wondered if anything could address it.

When hypnotherapist Emma Draycott reached out, offering me sessions to help with my anxiety, I was excited to take her up on the offer. I’d been curious about hypnosis for years. I’d spent time watching self-hypnosis videos, reading about it online, and even trying to hypnotize friends at school when I was younger. While I wasn’t expecting hypnotherapy to be a magic fix, I was eager to experience it firsthand and see if it could make a difference.

What Hypnotherapy Actually Feels Like

Before our first session, I had the same questions many people do: “What if I can’t be hypnotized? What if it doesn’t work for me?” Emma quickly reassured me that hypnotherapy isn’t about surrendering control—it’s about creating a safe and relaxed space for your mind to explore.

When the session began, I was surprised by how natural it felt. I wasn’t “out of it” or unaware. Instead, it felt like a deeply calming, guided journey where I remained fully conscious and in control, albeit VERY relaxed. If I’d wanted to, I could have opened my eyes or stood up at any time, but I absolutely did not want to, because I was feeling so calm and relaxed. What stood out most was how tailored the session was. Emma had asked detailed questions beforehand about my experiences with anxiety and ectopic beats, and she used that information to make the session specific to me.

How Long Until You See Results?

The day after my first session, I went for a walk—something I hated doing because the ectopic beats I would feel after getting my heart rate up were a guaranteed trigger in spiking my anxiety levels. But this time, when I felt a skipped heartbeat, I noticed something different: my reaction had changed. Where I used to feel a jolt of fear, I now felt... nothing. It was as if the intensity of my subconscious reaction had been dialed down. I still noticed the physical sensation, but it no longer triggered the mental spiral I’d grown so used to.

This wasn’t an instant transformation, and there were times when I still reacted in fear, but it is my belief and experience that it was noticeably less, and over time it continued to decrease. Over time, I built on that progress, finding it easier to relax and approach situations that had once felt overwhelming. I wasn’t thinking about “fixing” my fear in those moments—hypnotherapy seemed to help my subconscious mind align with what I already knew logically: that I was safe. For the first time, that knowledge felt real, not just theoretical.

Why Hypnotherapy Stands Out

One of the things I appreciated most about hypnotherapy was how it complemented the work I’d already done with CBT and exposure. While those approaches helped me challenge my conscious thoughts, hypnotherapy seemed to address the deeper, instinctual reactions I struggled to shift. Emma explained that anxiety often lives in the subconscious, and hypnotherapy provides a way to communicate with that part of the mind.

The recordings Emma provided after each session were another key component. Listening to them reinforced the relaxation and calm I’d experienced during the sessions. Over time, they became an anchor, making it easier for me to relax even outside of hypnotherapy.

A Balanced Perspective

Hypnotherapy isn’t a magic wand, and I wouldn’t describe it as a one-size-fits-all solution. For me, it made a meaningful difference, but it worked alongside—not instead of—the progress I’d already made with other tools like CBT. If you’re curious about hypnotherapy, I’d encourage you to approach it as one part of a broader toolkit for mental health.

In my experience, hypnotherapy was a deeply calming and empowering process. It didn’t erase my fears overnight, but it gave me a powerful sense of relief and control. It was one of the tools that helped me reclaim parts of my life I’d been avoiding for too long.

My Advice for Anyone Considering Hypnotherapy

If you’re considering hypnotherapy, here are a few things to keep in mind:

It’s not mind control. You remain fully aware and in control. Hypnotherapy can’t make you do anything that you would not want to do, and you definitely won’t turn into a chicken.

It’s a personal experience. Emma’s sessions were tailored specifically to my needs, which made them much more effective than the generic self-hypnosis videos I’d tried in the past.

It can work online. All of my sessions with Emma were virtual, and being in the comfort of my own home made it even easier to relax.

Moving Forward

Hypnotherapy was a valuable tool that helped me make significant progress with a fear I’d been carrying for years. It complemented everything I’d already done, allowing me to approach my anxiety from a new angle. Today, I feel lighter, freer, and more confident—and I’m grateful for the role hypnotherapy played in that journey.

Curious About Hypnotherapy?

If Hypnotherapy sounds like something you would be interested in trying or looking into, I would highly recommend reaching out to Emma. Emma specializes in anxiety and burnout and you can find her on Instagram at @emmadraycott_therapy.

As mentioned, I had a really positive experience with Emma and felt safe and supported throughout, and I am very happy with the results.

If you’d like a free taster session, Emma has kindly created a free recording for the Anxiety Fitness community here. It’s a great way to get a feel for what hypnotherapy might be like for you!

I also had the pleasure of speaking to Emma about my experience with hypnotherapy in a video for my YouTube channel. Emma shares a lot of great insight, and you’ll even get to see what it’s like for me immediately after a hypnotherapy session!

As always, thank you for reading and I wish you all the best!