The recent horrific terrorist attack on holiday makers in Tunisia is yet another frightening example of the growth of Islamic State (IS) extremist activities which is having a far-reaching affect on innocent people. 
Just this week police officers, soldiers, emergency services and intelligence officials took part in London’s largest counter-terrorism exercise to date. The BBC said the simulation of a terror attack has been six months in the planning.
But while the government in the UK is offering help to those involved, endeavouring to prevent IS attacks within the country’s borders, and leaders are roundly condemning such attacks, there is little that these authorities can do to help people cope with the trauma, stress and pain of the loss of a loved one during such attacks.
Counselling can help those who experienced and survived the trauma of the gunman’s sudden attack on a crowded holiday beach.
However, some of us may not adequately deal with the loss of a loved one and this, in turn, can impair healing and lead to deep-seated feelings of heartache and depression.
Simply ignoring the pain or keeping it buried does not lessen the grief or sense of loss. It takes some time to work through the grieving process.
Hypnotherapy is one option people can consider and the National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH), with 1800 qualified and highly-trained therapists on its directory across the UK, is well placed to help.
For some people, time is enough to help them come to terms with their loss. However, this does not always happen. Counselling for grief which leads to depression can help heal the scars that losing someone close to you can cause.
Talking to a professional therapist can help someone to cope with the loss in their own way – to laugh or cry or shout – without feeling that others may misinterpret or judge.
Hypnotherapy sessions can help the bereaved to find a way to understand the loss, and to deal with those emotions arising out of it.
Many people might feel guilt at things they did or did not say or do. Feelings of anger and blame are also common, as is increased anxiety and stress.
Some might suffer anxiety about how they will cope without the person they have lost, about their own health, about dying, about financial insecurity, or about the loss of their place in the world.
Others might suffer a subsequent loss of confidence and self esteem, or develop a fear of loneliness. Some bereaved experience physical symptoms of grief including loss of appetite, weight loss or weight gain, sickness, fatigue or sleeplessness.
But hypnotherapy can give the bereaved positive suggestions to help them cope with anxiety, insomnia, deep sadness and depression, and other symptoms of grieving; it can reduce feelings of guilt and blame, and help them find ways of coping in the future.
The NCH has a national directory of therapists and if you are struggling to come to terms with bereavement or know someone who is, clicking here will help find a therapist nearby who can offer much-needed help.
