Solent-hypnotherapy your hampshire hypnotherapist serving Botley, Locks Heath, Whiteley, Hedge End, Southampton, Portsmouth, Winchester and South Hampshire

Your South Hampshire Professional Hypnotherapy Service:- GHR and NRH Registered Hypnotherapist

 
 

Duncan Murray, Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapist
B.Sc. (Hons), DCHyp, A.Cert.CSHyp, DipSCT, GQHP, GHR reg



1, Woodview Cottages, Botley Road, Curbridge, Nr Botley,
Southampton, Hampshire SO30 2HB
Tel: 01489 787312        Mob: 07989 343802

New Clinic in Portsmouth!

Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy Articles:

 

Choosing The Right Hypnotherapist In Hampshire Or Portsmouth

By: Mira Williams

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Provided you have found the right Hypnotherapist in Hampshire or Portsmouth, he can sure help you by using my uniquely designed programs which will help you get your lost self-esteem back and build it if you had none to begin with, he will help to improve your confidence, well-being, health and fitness in a warm and relaxed environment. 
The right Hypnotherapist in Hampshire or
Portsmouth area will offer excellent service and have good reputation. He will answer or return all telephone calls, so give you complete undivided attention while you are taking sessions.
The right Hypnotherapist in Hampshire or Portsmouth is specialized in helping people get over problems like smoking, alcoholism, drugs, sexual problems, problems of over or under weight, plus fears and phobias. All this can be treated by a learned Hypnotherapist.
The right Hypnotherapist in Hampshire or
Portsmouth area will also be a Nutritional specialist. All his/her sessions are done on a 1 to 1 private basis and results will be kept confidential. One good and fruitful session with a hypnotherapist is all that it takes to change your life!
The hypnotherapist in Hampshire or
Portsmouth provides a professional approach to their hypnotherapy sessions and part of this is the initial consultation. Hypnotherapists are also likely to vary the length of time for the initial consultation so you will need to check with your hypnotherapist to find out how their practices operate. Hypnotherapists in Hampshire or Portsmouth realize that not everyone is able to take an appointment in the day time and so they often give evening appointments. Some will also be available over the weekend.
Hampshire or
Portsmouth hypnotherapists are all qualified and highly trained individuals. They have all undergone training from recognized UK national training hypnosis schools and colleges. The hypnotherapists are also members of a hypnotherapy national association and follow their code of conduct and ethics. So when you decide to go with one, be sure you will get the best services, the hypnotherapists session will put you at ease and the results will be there to see. A good hypnotherapist can do wonders and change the way you lived life and will help you take it to a much better and higher level.

 

Article Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com

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About the Author:
Your South Hampshire Professional Hypnotherapy Service:-GHR and NRH Registered Hypnotherapist. Your Hampshire hypnotherapist, explains the role of perception in hypnosis, Solent-hypnotherapy Duncan Murray DCHyp, providing a clinical hypnosis therapy service in Hampshire, Botley, Whiteley, Southampton, Portsmouth and Weybridge.

Read more: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Choosing-The-Right-Hypnotherapist-In-Hampshire-Or-Portsmouth/541812#ixzz1IMxQauXz 
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution No Derivatives

 

Facts About Portsmouth Hypnotherapy and Hypnosis

By: Mira Williams

Hypnotherapy is considered a brief form of therapy. Instead of spending years in therapy often most issues can actually be helped by an experienced hypnotherapist in less than 10 sessions and quite often within 2 to 4 sessions. Some smaller issues have also been reported to have been sorted out in just one session. 
In this article we will discuss some aspects of hypnosis and hypnotherapy. 
The first one being that hypnosis or hypnotherapy is totally safe.
Suppose you live in
Southampton and are checking out options to see a qualified and experienced person to apply hypnosis on you, be assured that you remain safe and relaxed as hypnosis is a naturally occurring state that you have already experienced. A hypnotherapist from Southampton or anywhere else in the world can not force you to go into hypnosis against your wish.
Some readers wrote and
Southampton residents wanted to know if they paid a visit to hypnotherapist would they would remember what happened during hypnosis. The answer to this is both - Yes and No. You will not remember everything but will remember some things certainly. This is the way our memory works normally in our day today healthy life also. Some scientists claim that human beings retain about 30% of what we hear unless we take written notes to aid our memory.
One
Southampton resident was curious to know if he will lose control over himself once the session began. The answer is a straight no. No. the patient remains in control of himself and what is happening around him at all times. The person performing hypnosis or hypnotherapy does not have control over you. So much so that if you decide to get up and walk out, then you can and will. 
Hypnosis is an ordinary experience. Don?t be surprised when I tell you that daydreaming is also a hypnosis condition. When you are reading a book on a train or bus, while on the move, oblivious of the chaos or noises around is also again nothing but hypnosis. We experience hypnosis throughout our day whether we are aware of it or not.
 
If you live in Southampton and are looking for a center or institute offering hypno therapy or hypnosis do make a little research before joining one. Talk to people who were members of the same institute earlier and benefited form it. Also look for a qualified and experienced team of people in
Southampton who will perform hypnosis on you to get results. There are many centers and institutes offering hypnotherapy or hypnosis in Southampton. If you haven?t been able to find one, take a closer second look. You are sure to find one for yourself.

   

My Gut Is Like A Stream

  © Duncan Murray 2011

“…And you will find that the increasing smoothness of flow and the clarity of the water in your stream reflect the increasing health of your gut…”

If I said that to you out of the blue, as an IBS sufferer, you would probably suggest (politely or otherwise) that I underwent some urgent psychological or psychiatric testing; however it is true, and medically proven, as you will discover as this article progresses.

I do also apologise as throughout this article I am going to be talking about that most unfortunate subject – bowels and their movements. However as a former sufferer of IBS (diarrhoea based) of about 17 years I can actually say that hypnotherapy really does work in its control/management. If I suffer slightly from the symptoms about once a month or so it is probably because I have ‘pigged-out’ on too many vegetables (such as sweetcorn) or had a very hot chilli with red kidney beans in it. My fault and I should know better.

But why specialise in IBS? Well my GPs had basically told me that I should put up with it and just learn to live with it, make some dietary adjustments and take Imodium to control the diarrhoea. I had had the symptoms of IBS for 10 years or so before I had a proper diagnosis made. This ‘learning to live with it’ I felt wasn’t actually good enough and I had recently decided to re-qualify and had started to study Hypnotherapy. Amazingly I began to notice that my IBS was getting better every time I had been for a days’ training in London; after being dropped in and out of hypnosis several times during the practical sessions every study day.

I changed from rushing to the loo up to 15 times a day and needing the loo within 30 seconds of waking up in the morning to something that was getting more towards ‘normal’. A fellow student, who had co-authored a published paper with his father (a Hypnotherapist and Consultant Psychiatrist) on IBS talked to me about the ‘Manchester Model’ and I started practicing it. The effects were truly amazing and quick as my bowel habit changed, the diarrhoea disappeared, my stools normalised and that has remained the case for a few years now.

The effectiveness of hypnotherapy as a treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome has been rigorously tested in published medical research - especially that of the 'Manchester Model'. As the audit of hypnotherapy as an intervention in the treatment of IBS, Whorwell (et al) 2002 concluded that the benefits of treatment by drugs were lost shortly after the treatment stopped which contrasted sharply to hypnotherapy where they were found to be long-lasting. This study was of the treatment of a statistically important 250 patients. The therapeutic gains were shown in the same study to have lasted for 5 years (measurement date). The success rate for hypnotherapeutic interventions is about 80% of people gaining an 80% improvement in their bowel habit, reduction of pain, occurrence of diarrhoea. The gains are slightly higher for women than men although there doesn’t appear to be a rational reason for this.

It is the work of Whorwell and others that influenced NICE (National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence) to include hypnotherapy in the clinical guidelines for the treatment of IBS under psychological approaches; so that, if there was any money, you could get hypnotherapy for IBS on the NHS.

Testing in IBS was historically based on the exclusion of other potential causes through colonoscopy, or other mildly invasive tests, of the symptoms and according to the 'Rome Criteria' that there should have been 12 or more symptomatic weeks in the last 12 months that are related to an alteration to the patients normal bowel habit.

The testing of IBS as a diagnosis by colonoscopy was an expensive process and used to account for approximately 50% of a consultant gastroenterologist’s workload, so the move to GP testing in Primary Care (following NICE guidance) was both cost effective and also better for the patient. This also removed the fasting and purging for the sufferer the day before and then the discomfort of the procedure, let alone the financial loss of two working days.

The move to GP testing to give a diagnosis of IBS is now usually done through the positive identification of symptoms of IBS (that are known as the Rome II (or III) Criteria) with blood tests where necessary, thus the required clinical diagnosis before hypnotherapy should be used. This approach to diagnosis is also at least 90% accurate. Colonoscopy is only undertaken if there is a need for further investigation.

Putting it simply - What is IBS?

A formal definition was given by Thompson et al (1992) that IBS is ‘a functional bowel disorder in which abdominal pain is associated with defecation or change in bowel habit, and with the features of disordered defecation and with distension.’ A functional disorder is a disorder showing symptoms for which no physiological or anatomical cause can be identified. For comparison an organic disease is any health condition in which there is an observable and measurable disease process, e.g. inflammation or tissue damage.

So despite what many might advertise there is no cure for IBS as it is not a disease – it is basically the malfunction of signalling in the control of your gut; behaviour that needs to be reset/managed in a way to give back control to the individual suffering from IBS.

Miller, Vivien and Whorwell in 2006 made the point that originally IBS was considered to be caused by a disruption or disturbance of gut motility but now it is recognised that the syndrome is multifactorial (i.e. has multiple factors) and that the sensitivity of the organs of the gut are disturbed along with some genetic and psychological factors too.

The primary symptoms of IBS are:-

·         constipation,

·         diarrhoea (or an alternating bowel habit between the two) and

·         abdominal pain.

Other symptoms can include:-

·         abnormal passage of stool

·         abnormal form of stool (soft, watery, stringy, hard or pellet-like)

·         increased amount of mucus in stool (and rectum)

·         feeling of bowel not empty after opening

·         feeling of bloating (abdominal distension)

Displaying only the symptoms of nausea, dyspepsia, flatulence etc without the alteration of bowel habit is not indicative of IBS.

People with IBS experience a number of symptoms such as bloating, abdominal cramps, spasms, diarrhoea and constipation. Symptoms affect people in different ways and can be changeable and highly unpredictable; symptoms can rapidly change from being mild to severe.

Types of IBS.

There are two main types of Irritable Bowel Syndrome:

·         IBS-C (IBS with Constipation) and

·         IBS-D (IBS with Diarrhoea).

However the syndrome can also alternate between the two (IBS-A) or primarily just present pain (IBS-P).

What are the symptoms? (The science bit.)

People with IBS may also experience many other symptoms which can include:-

·         Stabbing, churning or griping abdominal pain

·         Bloating/swelling of the abdomen (perception and actual distension respectively)

·         Constipation and/or (or alternating) diarrhoea

·         Excessive wind (flatulence or belching)

·         Urgent need to empty their bowels/incontinence

·         Sharp internal pains felt in the bowel

·         Anxiety and depression, and

·         Dizziness, tiredness, headaches, backache, muscle/joint pains, indigestion and nausea.

Certain food types also can be common triggers for 'attacks' of IBS; however this is another area in which people’s experiences vary significantly. These can include:-

·         Fats and oils

·         Red meat

·         Dairy produce and eggs

·         Coffee, tea and cola (caffeine containing drinks)

·         Frozen/very cold foods and drinks

·         Fermenting vegetables (sprouts, cabbage, carrots etc), citrus fruits and raw vegetables.

 

IBS usually expresses its symptoms in the area of the colon, although the sufferer can experience effects along the whole of the gastro-intestinal tract, from the oesophagus and stomach with symptoms including reflux, belching and nausea (which is functional dyspepsia and of a similar nature and treatment approach). The colon is the large intestine that rises from the small intestine on the right hand side of the body and descends on the left hand side to the rectum and then anus. The bowel’s habit is in terms of the volume of material it can accommodate before sending signals denoting a need to empty is also affected. It is in the colon that the majority of the water from digested food is absorbed back into the body.

The complications of functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract are relatively limited. Since symptoms are most often provoked by eating, patients who alter their diets and reduce their intake of calories may lose weight. Symptoms that awaken patients from sleep also are more likely to be due to organic than functional disorders.

Most commonly, functional disorders interfere with the individuals' comfort and their daily activities. For example, sufferers who have morning diarrhoea may not leave the house until the diarrhoea stops. If it is constant, they may go only to places where they know that a toilet is readily available. Sufferers of IBS who develop pain after eating may avoid lunch. Very commonly, sufferers associate symptoms with specific foods, such as milk, fat, vegetables, etc. Whether or not these associations are physiological in origin, these sufferers will restrict their diets accordingly. Milk is commonly eliminated, often unnecessarily and to the obvious detriment of calcium intake with significant health risks resulting. The interference with daily activities also can lead to problems with interpersonal relationships, including pain with intercourse (females) and a lack of sex drive. However, most sufferers with functional disorders tend to just live with their symptoms and infrequently visit clinicians for diagnosis and treatment.

The sufferer’s symptoms of IBS are defined by subjective symptoms, such as abdominal pain or improvement in abdominal pain. By the very nature of subjective experience these are the individual’s perceptions and not particularly reliable scales. Traditional Western medical treatment is usually directed at the symptoms, which are primarily constipation, diarrhoea, abdominal distension and abdominal pain (which is often caused by excess gas). Sufferers can experience any or all of the symptoms of IBS.

How our nervous system is involved.

Firstly there is the significant involvement in the expression of symptoms of IBS of the part of the nervous system that is responsible for all the unconsciously regulated activities in our bodies that keep us functioning (the autonomic nervous system) with both of its branches, known as the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches. These two branches effectively express stress or relaxed reactions respectively. So the ‘sympathetic’ nervous system really doesn’t live up to what you might expect from its name as it is more closely related to the expression of anxiety and fear and has been found to be overactive in IBS.

There is also another nervous system that is involved which is embedded in the gastrointestinal tract, it is so large that is sometimes referred to as the ‘Second Brain’ and is called the enteric nervous system. The enteric system can function independently of the rest of the autonomic system but usually interacts with it and is influenced by it. This influence on the enteric nervous system by the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches is an underlying reason why hypnotherapy/guided imagery are a most effective treatment for IBS.

The theory behind clinical hypnotherapy is that by entering hypnosis the control of the autonomic nervous system switches from the sympathetic to parasympathetic branches automatically so behaviour symptomatic of relaxation, comfort and ease is expressed rather than tension and anxiety. Further that if you are experiencing a sensation of comfort and ease you cannot at the same time express symptoms of discomfort and anxiety. Our minds cannot hold two opposing beliefs in them at the same time.

Therefore with medical research supporting the involvement of the sympathetic nervous system in expression of the symptoms of IBS, if control of the enteric nervous system can be switched to the parasympathetic nervous system then the symptoms will naturally reduce.

Secondly, in IBS with this evidence for the sympathetic nervous system to be overactive there is a change to the behaviour of the gut in the mechanism of peristalsis, which is the name given to the waves of contraction and relaxation that progress digested food through the gut. Research demonstrates that this peristalsis is replaced by the colon occasionally going into spasm and potentially increasing/decreasing the speed of transit of the digested food through the gut; thus the diarrhoea/constipation and importantly the abdominal pains.

Thirdly there is also the sensitivity of the bowel. Over-sensitivity (hypersensitivity) of the bowel to sending a signal to the brain of a first urgency of the need to empty the bowel will result in IBS-D. Thus with hypersensitivity the bowel cannot contain much faecal matter before it needs to empty and giving a heightened sense of urgency to empty, as the contents are still quite liquid, thus the rushing to the loo and the bowel not feeling empty after being opened as the hypersensitivity can be so highly developed that you can be aware of any content in the bowel.

With under-sensitivity (hyposensitivity) IBS-C is the result with the sufferer not feeling the need to empty the bowels for several days at a time and then passing large, solid, painful stools or pellets. Some people’s bowel habit switches between the two almost randomly (IBS-A).

The spasms/urgency can be triggered by stress, anxiety, caffeine, nicotine, movement /exercise or even just eating something.

One of the most distressing aspects of IBS is the fear of incontinence and therefore, from the perception of some individuals, having the need to know that a toilet is available nearby should an attack suddenly occur. This can also be regarded as a ‘self-fulfilling prophecy’, i.e. one where what we believe will happen does happen, to reinforce our model of the world we live in.

To give an example:-

If you think about it for a moment, you are going on a long journey to somewhere, say by motorway and there are 50 miles or so between services on your route and you get anxious about your IBS-D and whether you will be able to cope with that distance between potential loo stops without having an accident. This concern will increase your anxiety levels. You will as a result increase the dominance of the sympathetic nervous system on the control of your body. This can then increase the discomfort/unease you feel in your gut and so the IBS plays up more than usual and you have a bad time before you start out on the journey. Going to the loo several times, wanting to make sure your bowel was empty before you set out. Importantly this is what happened before or what you feared would happen last time and it is happening again – just as you thought it would…so you abandon the journey before you even set out on it – just as you did last time.

But please don’t get me wrong about the sympathetic nervous system, as its job is to protect you from the fearful things in life, to help you avoid them, to help you avoid danger. It is something the sympathetic nervous system does very well; its intentions are always positive, working to ensure your wellbeing. It is just that sometimes the message gets a bit confused and it overreacts and needs to have part of its behaviour ‘reset’.

The intention then is to reduce your levels of anxiety and dampen down the role of the sympathetic nervous system. A role that good hypnotherapy can easily fulfil.

What is Hypnosis/Hypnotherapy?

The induction and use of trance states has been around for thousands of years with mentions being made in the surviving artefacts of ancient civilisations form Africa to Australia and South America, where incidentally psychotropic drugs were often used in shamanistic rituals. However it was only in 1843 that James Braid gave the term 'Hypnosis' (more accurately neuro-hypnotism) which was given to it from the Greek God of sleep - Hypnos. This followed on from the experiments into trance states by Anton Mesmer and his followers into the theory and practice of magnetism; thus ‘modern’ hypnotism was created.

In the 20th century much scientific research was done by Freud, Weitzenhoffer, Hilgard, Rossi and, of course, Erickson which has led to the its current understanding as an altered states of awareness and schools of thought/ practice in hypnotherapy such as Traditional, semi-traditional and Ericksonian (Naturalistic).

The hypnotherapist is a skilled guide to the process who enables the subject to relax as deeply as possible and listen as the subject in hypnosis mentally drifts in a safe, comfortable, state of altered, or rather heightened, awareness where new learning experiences and suggestions can easily be assimilated and accepted. If the subject doesn't choose to go into hypnosis, or they don't feel comfortable or safe then a trance state will not be induced; it is a partnership agreement between the hypnotherapist and the client.

Hypnotherapy is therefore simply the use of hypnosis in a therapeutic setting to bring about beneficial, wanted changes.

Hypnosis is not a state of sleep as in the sleep we have at night, but more like the states of going to sleep (hypnogogic) or awakening from sleep (hypnopompic) and day-dreaming. An individual in hypnosis is aware of their surroundings at all times and can hear everything that is said by the hypnotherapist. All hypnosis is effectively 'Self-Hypnosis' that is guided by the hypnotherapist.

Hypnosis is a naturally occurring state that spontaneously occurs many times during our waking day. It is a state in which the nervous system switches from an anxious to more relaxed state of operation and the unconscious mind is more open to new learning or suggestions that are made to help change old, restricting, habits and beliefs to newer, desired ones without interference from the conscious mind's 'editing' process.

The most important factor about hypnosis is that the subject is always in control, he/she can come out of hypnosis at any time they want, the hypnotherapist has no power over them and can only create guided experiences or make suggestions. The subject in hypnosis cannot be made to do anything/behave in a way that is in conflict with their own moral code; neither can they 'get stuck' in hypnosis, they would awaken naturally the same way that you do from sleep.

When the subject is in hypnosis - be it a light, medium or deep trance-like state things naturally become slightly slower, breathing, heart rate etc as control moves more to the parasympathetic nervous system and movements are reduced or virtually absent as everything becomes a 'bit too much of an effort'

It is very different to the perception of hypnosis and post-hypnotic suggestion that is portrayed by stage hypnotists - exhibitionism, role playing and peer pressure have more to do with that that the near motionlessness of therapeutic, clinical hypnosis.

How Hypnosis relates to guided imagery.

Considering the above explanation of hypnosis, the use of guided imagery can be viewed quite simplistically, outside of the context of the obvious necessary skills of the practitioner, as being very closely related to hypnosis. The client is asked to focus inwardly, as in hypnosis, and open their mind to the images in their ‘Mind’s Eye’ that can be created by the words being spoken by the therapist. It is really a form of informal hypnosis without any induction, just the eyes being closed to shut of extraneous distractions, a prime example of self-hypnosis on the part of the client.

Some people might be a little concerned about the use of guided imagery if they find it difficult to visualise things. There are other ways to experience scenarios in your imagination other than pictures. These are also sounds, tastes, smell and feel/touch, or maybe a combination of these senses, that hypnotherapists and others call modalities. It is a matter of experiencing the session in whatever way makes sense to you.

Also it is useful to remember how your imagination was when a child. When children are playing games of make-believe it can become so real in their mind’s-eye. It is as if they imagine, then experience and finally believe. It becomes ‘real’. As adults we can learn from allowing ourselves to remember this, imagining, experiencing and then believing, journey of thinking.

Also the hypnotherapist will often use a metaphor, that is to say a story about visiting a garden, or something similar, as the therapeutic approach. There is a certain ‘magic’ about metaphors in therapy as they seem to bypass the ‘critical mind’ more easily than a straightforward suggestion and give a learning experience that has a more fundamental impact on our behaviour. This critical mind is the part of our thinking that literally criticises, tests and then validates or dismisses what has been said to us.

With storytelling, guided imagery sessions, the conscious mind concentrates on the story and whether or not that makes sense. It is the subconscious mind that has the insight and correlates the story with the therapeutic gain intended.

It is the subconscious mind that changes our habits and beliefs; which is a good thing as it is the subconscious mind that has an effect on the sympathetic/parasympathetic nervous systems’ dominance in our body’s functioning. In fact it could be purely due to the metaphor bypassing the critical mind that with the Manchester Model has been demonstrated to have beneficial effects even if the level of hypnosis achieved by the client is very light.

A guide to treatment.

This article has primarily concentrated on the use of guided imagery as a management tool for individuals suffering from IBS; because it is a disorder, not a disease. So there is nothing to cure, only symptoms to be managed.

In fact Hypnotherapy cannot cure a disease although it has been demonstrated to be highly beneficial in an area known as psycho-neuro-immunology (Mind-Body healing) where it appears to help the mind and the body work together to increase the efficiency of the body’s own immune system giving beneficial gains.

Although this is a relatively new area of study it is well worth keeping an eye on for the future as we gain more and more of an insight into how our expectations and beliefs can affect both our perception of, and experience of, our own health.

A suitably trained hypnotherapist will always measure your experience of your symptoms and how they affect you in your daily life, before starting your treatment. This measure at the beginning of any treatment is important as it is a subjective measure of your symptoms. There is no precise measure that can be taken other than how you perceive yourself and your bowel habit to be.

Pain is purely subjective too and your perception of discomfort depends entirely on you. We all know people who have high pain thresholds and others who have minimal tolerances to pain. So your subjective measure is the only valid one that can be taken, how uncomfortable you feel. All these measures will therefore be different for every individual.

Some of the questions about your bowel habit and what you pass when you open your bowels might seem slightly intrusive, but they are essential questions as over the period of treatment the form of your stools will normally change significantly for the better. Without this initial measure it would be impossible to have any reliable method of determining the extent of improvement for an individual.

Quite frequently I find that individuals forget, even in a period of about 5 weeks, how badly their symptoms used to affect their daily lives and are quite amazed and the improvement in their bowel habit and their increased happiness with it in this short period of time.

There are of course different approached within hypnotherapy for the treatment of IBS. These include: specific audio programmes, the use of general well-being recordings to induce trance and boost self-esteem, and some individuals suggest ‘age regression to cause’.

From a personal viewpoint and having studied many of these systems/approaches I have to show preference for the metaphorical approach. Let me explain why. The audio programmes tend to be complex and a combination of recordings that are listened to in a certain order, a ‘system’ and they are hardly gut-orientated at all; the ‘age regression to cause’ is flawed as there doesn’t have to be a specific cause for IBS so you could be potentially setting an individual up for ‘failure’ in their treatment if they can’t identify a non-existent ‘cause’ for their IBS; and general well being recordings can have a good benefit, but it is only suggestion therapy and does not sort out the expression of the symptoms.

However no approach has been as well documented and researched as the work of Professor Peter Whorwell of the South Manchester Functional Bowel Unit.

Peter Whorwell and his team developed an approach that has become known as the ‘Manchester Model’. An important aspect of the approach of the model is its simplicity.

The model is an approach that is based on visualising the gut as a stream and using the flow and clarity of the water as an indication of your gut’s health. The model also uses the experience of warmth being felt by the gut to create a feeling of comfort and ease. Some therapists, including myself, also introduce a further metaphor of a tree into the story to encourage an awareness of strength, resilience and flexibility.

When combined these aspects are very powerful and the therapeutic gains can be very fast and long-lasting. In fact there is no reason why the gains should not be life-long with regular maintenance.

In therapy simplicity is good and often the simplest approach is often the best as it can be adapted to any individual and can be taught so that the client is actually empowered rather than making them dependent on a long-term input from the therapist. This is known as Self-Hypnosis.

How do I hypnotise myself? That is a question that almost every single client asks me; it is a skill that is easily learned but is does require practice and the development of self-confidence. As you progress through the sessions you should be asked to, as you become more familiar with the approach, practice going down into the garden, or whatever metaphor is being used, and experiencing it; then coming back from the garden and fully awake, out of hypnosis again. Once you have become comfortable and confident with that shortened version you will be encouraged to increase the imagery to include the stream and maintaining it.

This maintenance of the stream is important because life throws curve-balls at us that put us off-balance and cause stress/anxiety factors that can impact on our normal functioning and can increase our symptoms of IBS again.

Conclusions.
As a sufferer from IBS your gut has basically been expressing the stress and anxiety present in your life. There is a very significant amount of scientific/medical research that supports the positive impacts of hypnotherapy as an intervention for IBS. There is also significant information that supports the critical role of the nervous system in IBS, and that IBS has many factors to its presentation.

Guided imagery and the use of metaphor as a treatment approach is supported by the work of Whorwell and his team, amongst others, and this evidence helped NICE to include hypnotherapy in their guidance as a treatment option. The guided imagery also has a major advantage – it is a simple protocol and can be easily learned by the sufferer to empower them in having a life-long management system for their own symptoms.

Once you have learned how to remove that build up of stress/anxiety and felt the benefits from being free from its symptoms, taking 20-30 minutes out of your week to maintain your stream’s health and therefore the health of your gut is a tiny thing to do.

Being kind to yourself and having a happy bowel – seems a win-win situation to me.

Hypnosis advocated for breast cancer patients
New Britain Herald 
19 October 2010 
   
 
Mother, daughter, sister, friend, along with oneself, breast cancer affects us all and it is the No. 2 killer of women in today’s society. Hypnotists have the knowledge needed to assist clients in making their journey of breast cancer a voyage to inner-strength and growth through guided imagery and self-hypnosis.
 

Although breast cancer is a horrific experience, women following breast cancer surgery can re-establish an accepting self-concept of their body image. Working with breast cancer survivors, emphasis is placed on the total woman, mind, body, and spirit, allowing the clients to see themselves with new found courage.

In preparing the client for breast-cancer treatment, the hypnotist needs to discuss any fears or concerns the client has regarding surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. At this point in the journey, teaching self-hypnosis is vital. When assisting a newly diagnosed client, practicing self-hypnosis and guided imagery begins the empowerment process acknowledging that breast cancer does not have to control all aspects of life. The client now has tools to use for decreasing anxiety and stress.


The loss of one’s hair can be traumatic. The Looking Glass Experience has the client perhaps for the first time truly see the beauty of her face. The hypnotist will have the client close her eyes and visualize a beautiful golden mirror. As she gazes into the mirror, she is asked to look at her amazing eyes, cheekbones, nose, and mouth, encouraging her to see the beauty that comes from within and radiates through sparkling eyes and a warm smile. With guided imagery, the client can see herself as she wants to be. By empowering the client with a positive body image, she can work through the events of breast cancer surgery and reconstruction.

Hypnotherapy has long been used for cancer sufferers to relieve the pain and suffering and in refocusing their outlook. Hypnosis is very effective in enabling patients to accept their condition and to become more positive about their cancer.  Hypnotherapists at the
Harley Street Hypnotherapy Clinic in London are very sympathetic when dealing with all clients but especially those that have cancer.  Hypnotherapy has been used for a long time for cancer patients.  Book an appointment at the London Hypnotherapy Clinic with one of our hypnotherapists for hypnosis for cancer pain relief.


Newest way to lose weight: Hypnosis to make you think you have a gastric band             
Daily Mail - 11 October 2010


Fern Britton’s rapidly diminishing form is testament to the growing popularity and effectiveness of obesity surgery, but it takes great bravery — and a degree of desperation to go under the knife to lose weight.


For the thousands who undergo gastric band surgery every year, the operation is only part of the story. To lose weight, they must adhere to strict portion control, slow eating and repetitive chewing to accommodate their dramatically reduced stomach capacity.


'Gastric mind band': The treatment combines hypnotism with a programme of education, which allows patients to successfully lose weight just as effectively as if they really had had surgery 'Gastric mind band': The treatment combines hypnotism with a programme of education, which allows patients to successfully lose weight just as effectively.
It’s a very different way of eating, but one which even without the band offers the promise of steady, safe and long-term weight loss. So when a patient asked ¬hypnotherapists to hypnotise her into thinking she’d had a gastric band operation, they realised they’d hit on something.


For the past three years they have been running a successful clinic in Spain ¬offering a programme of what they call ‘gastric mind band’, combining hypnotism with a programme of education, which allows patients to successfully lose weight just as effectively as if they really had had surgery.


Gastric band operations have shot up ten-fold since 2000 - they now cost the NHS £32million a year Now they have released a book packed with tricks and tips, as well as a clever self-hypnosis technique to convince you that your stomach has shrunk. Here, Martin and Marion explain how it works.


The key to making your gastric mind band work really effectively is to eat small portions, very slowly as if you really did have a gastric band. After surgery, the banded stomach is reduced in capacity from around one litre to just 20ml. The most you can eat in any meal is six tablespoons of food compared to the average meal the size of two clenched fists that would fill a ¬normal capacity stomach.


With gastric mind band you don’t have to be so restricted but, from now on, no portion of meat should be bigger than a pack of playing cards (around 3oz) and a healthy portion of fish should not be bigger than a cheque book (4-5oz). Your portion of pasta, when cooked, should not be bigger than your fist.


Take smaller bites, chew it properly, eat more slowly and concentrate on what you’re eating. If you eat quickly, you’ll eat more because, by the time your brain gets the message that you’re full, you will have swallowed more than you need. Try using chopsticks or swapping cutlery hands to slow yourself down.


Gastric band patients are encouraged to eat their meals in a certain order (meat first, because it hangs around in your tiny new stomach for the longest time). If you find you’re feeling full before you get to the potatoes ... STOP. After real surgery, no fork-full of meat can be bigger than the nail on your little finger and must be chewed ten times to ensure it is properly digested.


You are not so restricted, but make every mouthful count. Study the colour and texture of your food. Analyse the taste — your taste buds are in your mouth, not your stomach, so the longer the food stays in your mouth, the more pleasure you’ll obtain from it. Eat slow, best bits first, and be happy about leaving some on your plate. And stop worrying about ¬wasting food. Excess food is wasted whether it passes through your body first or goes directly in the bin. Don’t treat your body like a bin. You deserve better.


People who have had ¬gastric band surgery lose weight slowly, a few pounds a week. By eating sensibly as they do, you can do the same. To lose 1lb a week, you need to cut back by 500 calories a day — by ¬making a few small adjustments the calorie deficit can soon mount. It’s that glass of wine or handful of crisps before dinner. Say no once, and you’ve got 500 calories in hand.
TYPES OF MEALS There are are only two types of meals — the ones that matter (a meal with friends, or with a partner, perhaps on a Friday or Saturday night) and the ones that don’t (the rest of the week). Enjoy a bottle of wine or a desert occasionally but, five nights a week, your meals don’t have to be gourmet. Think scrambled egg or beans on toast. Spread butter on your toast, but be aware that a teaspoon of ¬butter (enough for a thin layer) is 37 ¬calories, but a ¬tablespoon (a ¬generous covering) is three times as much (111 calories).
Put dressing on your salad, but learn to weight the vinegar in favour of the oil. A teaspoon of oil may be 45 ¬calories, but a tablespoon is 135. That one extra tablespoon of oil every day amounts to a stone weight gain over a year. Switch to sweetener in your tea or ¬coffee. Cutting out two spoons of sugar in your tea three times a day creates an annual calorie deficit of 37,000 calories, which could be enough to shed more than 11lb.


Have ice cream occasionally, but just one scoop (about 150 calories) and never eat it straight from the tub. Enjoy a few nuts with a drink, but stop at one or two (a small 4oz bag will set you back 600 calories). Food and sweet drinks are so much a part of our everyday lives, few overweight people remember what true hunger feels like, but it is ¬important — for the gastric mind band to work — that you eat only when hungry.When hunger strikes, try drinking a glass of water.


Hypnotherapy Can Cure IBS - Research Shows
Manchester News - 9 October 2010

Doctors have shown that hypnotherapy can cure IBS in 70 per cent of cases. More than 60 patients with irritable bowel syndrome, which can include pain, cramps, nausea, diarrhoea and constipation, are being treated by a hypnotherapist each week.

IBS affects up to 15 per cent of the population and the team at Wythenshawe Hospital now has people from across the country wanting to join the 18-month waiting list for a course of 12 hypnotherapy sessions.

Claire Brunton, 22, from Offerton, suffered cramps from IBS so badly that she stopped wanting to eat and was on the verge of anorexia. She also had panic attacks with worrying about becoming ill. But during the hypnotherapy she learnt techniques to stop the panics and cope with the pain. Now a year after finishing the treatment, she found it helped her cope with final university exams and gave her the confidence to started working as a recruitment consultant.

Claire said: "Hypnotherapy is a very strange thing to try to describe, your therapist helps you to relax slowly but you are awake and conscious throughout - it feels like the last few moments before you go to sleep when you still know what is happening around you.

"IBS was taking over my life. I had started to worry I would not be able to hold down a job and I didn't want to eat because I felt like everything I ate made me sick, so I'd tried all kinds of herbal remedies and acupuncture before the hypnotherapy."

As well as having hypnotherapy, Claire had blood tests which showed she was allergic to dairy and wheat products and she now avoids them. Pamela Cruickshanks, one of three clinical hypnotherapists at Wythenshawe, said: "We provide patients with 12 sessions of `gut-directed hypnotherapy', which teach patients to take control over their bowel.

"Due to the success of this treatment, patients are coming from all over the country to access our services, and hypnosis is now considered to be the treatment of choice for moderate to severe IBS."

Studies at Wythenshawe Hospital have shown that the quality of life for sufferers with severe forms of IBS can be worse than for those with heart disease, diabetes or renal failure.

Finding Relief for Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Hypnosis
IBS News -
13 June 2010

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) also known as spastic colon or colitis affects 15 – 20% of the population – predominantly women. The severity of IBS symptoms changes from person to person and from time to time. For some people it restricts their movements to such a degree that they have trouble making travel plans. For others, it’s a sporadic situation where the symptoms come and go, with no discernable reason, and for others, it’s a low lying, ongoing manageable but painful situation.

Whichever category you fall into, the basic result is the same. You live with pain and uncertainty, always being aware that at any time you may need to fine a toilet or washroom in a hurry. Never mind what else is going on around you. The need to get to a washroom is urgent and immediate.

Interestingly enough, the causes of IBS are unknown, and the diagnosis is usually a diagnosis of exclusion, everything else is ruled out. While it’s not clear exactly what causes it, we do know that there are anatomical changes in the lining of the colon and to the nervous system of the colon. You’ve probably tried diet management, which to some extent works for many people. You may have tried medication – but sometimes the side effects are worse than the IBS. But there is another way to manage or in some cases, eliminate the IBS altogether, and that’s with hypnosis.

The evidence is overwhelming that IBS symptoms respond dramatically to a series of hypnosis treatments. Hypnosis has been approved by the American Medical Association as a valid medical treatment since 1958 and over 20 years of solid scientific research has demonstrated hypnosis to be an effective, safe and inexpensive choice for IBS alleviation for 80-95% of clients.

Dr. Diane Fugh Berman chair of the National Women’s Health Network in Washington DC has said that hypnosis should be the treatment of choice for IBS. “It totally makes sense” explains Georgina Cannon, Director of the Ontario Hypnosis Centre, “all body sensations are managed and recorded in the subconscious mind, so if you want to make change in the body, one of the best ways is through the subconscious mind with hypnosis.”

Cannon went on to explain – “There are absolutely no side effects – except that you get better! The treatment is relaxing and enjoyable. And best of all, treatment often leads to improvement of other stress related problems – like teeth grinding or sleeplessness.”

“We only work with a client on pain management with the approval of their doctor” Cannon explains. The number of sessions needed ranges from 7 to 10 “this enables our clients to develop their imagery skills, which will help them for the rest of their life. We start the process with a very thorough intake so that we understand how IBS affects that particular client. Then the mind-body training begins.”

Finding Relief for Irritable Bowel Syndrome With Hypnosis
IBS News  -
13 June 2010

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) also known as spastic colon or colitis affects 15 – 20% of the population – predominantly women. The severity of IBS symptoms changes from person to person and from time to time. For some people it restricts their movements to such a degree that they have trouble making travel plans. For others, it’s a sporadic situation where the symptoms come and go, with no discernable reason, and for others, it’s a low lying, ongoing manageable but painful situation.

Whichever category you fall into, the basic result is the same. You live with pain and uncertainty, always being aware that at any time you may need to fine a toilet or washroom in a hurry. Never mind what else is going on around you. The need to get to a washroom is urgent and immediate.

Interestingly enough, the causes of IBS are unknown, and the diagnosis is usually a diagnosis of exclusion, everything else is ruled out. While it’s not clear exactly what causes it, we do know that there are anatomical changes in the lining of the colon and to the nervous system of the colon. You’ve probably tried diet management, which to some extent works for many people. You may have tried medication – but sometimes the side effects are worse than the IBS. But there is another way to manage or in some cases, eliminate the IBS altogether, and that’s with hypnosis.

The evidence is overwhelming that IBS symptoms respond dramatically to a series of hypnosis treatments. Hypnosis has been approved by the American Medical Association as a valid medical treatment since 1958 and over 20 years of solid scientific research has demonstrated hypnosis to be an effective, safe and inexpensive choice for IBS alleviation for 80-95% of clients.

Dr. Diane Fugh Berman chair of the National Women’s Health Network in Washington DC has said that hypnosis should be the treatment of choice for IBS. “It totally makes sense” explains Georgina Cannon, Director of the Ontario Hypnosis Centre, “all body sensations are managed and recorded in the subconscious mind, so if you want to make change in the body, one of the best ways is through the subconscious mind with hypnosis.”

Cannon went on to explain – “There are absolutely no side effects – except that you get better! The treatment is relaxing and enjoyable. And best of all, treatment often leads to improvement of other stress related problems – like teeth grinding or sleeplessness.”

“We only work with a client on pain management with the approval of their doctor” Cannon explains. The number of sessions needed ranges from 7 to 10 “this enables our clients to develop their imagery skills, which will help them for the rest of their life. We start the process with a very thorough intake so that we understand how IBS affects that particular client. Then the mind-body training begins.”

Forget Spiders, Flying and Heights, My Greatest Fear is... Kneecaps
Daily Mail -
18 September 2009

While most people's knees start knocking at the sight of a spider, for council worker Sarah Lister kneecaps themselves hold the greatest fear. The merest sight or the gentlest touch of anyone's kneecaps sends normally fun-loving Sarah into a dizzying panic, leaving her flustered, angry and sweating profusely.

Sarah's fear, known medically as Genuphobia, has made trips to the beach, nights out with friends or watching her fianci Chris Bayliss playing football an ordeal. Sarah Lister confronts her greatest fear - being surrounded by other people's knees Sarah, 25, from Gosport, Hants, said: 'In the summer it is worse because I don't feel like I can go to the beach or go to the pub. 'I worry that if I saw someone in a bathing costume or a short skirt I would just freak out. 'I quiver in fear if anybody tries to touch my knees, or accidentally bumps into them. 'I am fine with my fiancee, my immediate family and a select group of friends, but strangers' knees still hold a lot of fear for me. 'Even the thought of other people's knees makes me feel very uneasy.' Sarah's dread of knees began as an 11-year-old schoolgirl when she saw her father dislocate his knee after a freak fall at their home.

Since the traumatic incident, Sarah has tried a cocktail of quirky treatments, including hypnotherapy, to help ease her panic. Her condition has eased over the years and bubbly Sarah believes she can kick her distinctive fear ahead of wedding in May next year. Council worker Sarah hopes to get her fear under control by next May so she can enjoy her wedding to the fullest 'I went for my wedding dress fitting and I couldn't enjoy what should have been a happy moment for me because I was worried about my knees being touched. 'I want to be able to enjoy every aspect of my wedding day. 'It would be a dream to be able to sit on the beach on my honeymoon and have no fear.'

Charity Anxiety UK, which deals with phobias and other disorders, said: 'An estimated 13 per cent of the population will develop a phobia at some point in their lives. 'One of the most effective ways to deal with anxiety disorders or phobias is to understand it. 'There are a number of ways forward in terms of treatment of anxiety disorders and getting help including; services through the NHS, psychological interventions, medication and self-help groups. 'Always consult your GP to obtain a diagnosis if you suspect you are suffering from an anxiety disorder. 'Self-diagnosis is not an effective way as misdiagnosis could lead to the wrong treatment being administered which can set the sufferer back even further.'

Smoking risk for middle aged men
Channel 4 News  - 18 September 2009


Middle aged men who smoke, have high blood pressure and raised cholesterol levels may shorten their lives by up to 15 years.

Research published by the British Medical Journal showed improvements in blood pressure and cholesterol levels proportionate with giving up smoking.

The study of 19,000 men aged between 40 and 69 showed their average levels of blood pressure and cholesterol fell by two-thirds when two thirds of those studied gave up smoking.

Those men who smoked and had high blood pressure and raised cholesterol at the age of 50, had their life expectancy cut by ten years compared with men who had none of those risk factors.

When taking into account other risk factors such as diabetes and employment grade, the research showed the 5 per cent of men with lowest scores had their life expectancy cut by 15 years.

The research suggested the government should fund more activities that promote improved heart health to increase life expectancy.

How women in their 40s are drinking more than ever
Daily Mail -
5 September 2009

Women in their 40s are drinking far more alcohol than previous generations and regularly turn to a glass of wine to help them cope with the stress of modern life. According to a survey, half of middle-aged women believe they drink more than their mothers did at their age and some are so worried about the amount they drink they are constantly trying to cut down.

Alcohol consumption has doubled since the 1950s, largely because drinking among women has become much more socially acceptable, and the cost of buying alcohol is 65 per cent cheaper than 30 years ago. However, the survey revealed that it is not just the 'ladette' generation of British women who are regularly indulging in alcohol.

Women in their 40s and 50s admit to regularly opening a bottle of wine to consume with dinner at home during the week. Woman & Home magazine questioned around 3,000 women - aged between 35 and 60 - to try to establish how their drinking habits have changed compared with the previous generation. Almost half revealed that their mothers rarely drank, save for special occasions, with a quarter admitting that their mother never drank at all at their age.

In comparison, one in ten of the women questioned admitted having a drink every day and a third said they enjoyed alcohol a few times a week. Most - nearly 80 per cent - drank wine at home, with almost half - 46 per cent - admitting to drinking on their own.

Earlier this week the Daily Mail revealed that drinking too much alcohol, coupled with indulging in an inactive lifestyle, can be a factor in the development of breast cancer. Experts at the World Cancer Research Fund said cutting down on drinking, coupled with maintaining a healthy weight, could help reduce the diagnosis of the disease among middle-aged women by as much as 40 per cent.

Alcohol consumption is also blamed for a dramatic rise in cases of cancer of the mouth, tongue, lip and throat which have also increased by a quarter among women in their 40s in the past decade. The survey revealed that around a third of women said they didn't feel they needed a reason to have a drink, but most said they turned to alcohol to help them relax after a stressful day or to celebrate a special occasion.

Researchers point to the fact that single mothers or divorced women are more likely than in the past to open a bottle of wine at the end of a busy day at work or with the children. One in four women said they had been so concerned about one of their female friends' drinking habits they had confronted them about their intake, while a fifth admitted they sometimes worried about their own drinking and were constantly trying to cut down.

Sue James, editorial director of Woman & Home, said: 'Much has been said about teenagers and the "ladette" culture for binge-drinking alcohol, but the amount of drinking done by the core of the female population - the 40-something woman - has rather been overlooked. 'Our survey shows that these women are aware that they are drinking far more than their own mother's generation ever did and that they are concerned about the impact it will have, not only on their health, but on that of their friends and family as well.

Professor Ian Gilmore, who is president of the Royal College of Physicians and chairs the UK Alcohol Health Alliance, said: 'This survey further demonstrates that it is not just youngsters binge-drinking who are having problems with alcohol - the biggest rise in drinking is among middle-aged people.'

I was hypnotised into thinking I had gastric band op and lost 4st
The Mirror - 5 July 2009

                                 
Losing weight is almost always down to mind over matter, but never more so than in Joh Smith's case.

Joh, 37, was hypnotised into thinking she had been fitted with a gastric band - and lost an incredible FOUR STONE within months of the treatment.

The 5ft 4ins mum-of-one has never felt better after dropping three dress sizes without going anywhere near the surgeon's knife.

Legal assistant Joh has slimmed down from 13st to 9st 4lb, and from size 18 to a slinky size 12.
She says: "I was really sceptical this would work but the results have been truly amazing.

"I had tried every diet under the sun and nothing worked. But I felt actual surgery was just too risky so this seemed like the perfect alternative."

In a real gastric band op, the size of the stomach is reduced with an adjustable band so the patient can only eat small meals before feeling full.

Instead Joh, from Twickenham, South-West London, but now living in Malaga, Spain, had hypnotherapy at the Elite Clinic in Fuengirola - which claims to be the only place offering the pioneering £800 treatment.

"Before I had the hypnotherapy my problem was always overeating and snacking on sugary junk food," says Joh, who had four one-hour sessions.

"Now that I think I have a band I've cut my portion size in half. My mind thinks my stomach is tiny so I feel full much quicker. It's also caused me to stop snacking on junk as I simply don't feel like eating it anymore."

At Joh's first session with the hypnotherapist, she was asked to talk about her bad relationship with food.

But by the fourth session she was being talked through a gastric band op as though she was really going through the surgery.

To help with the illusion, special equipment pumped out the smells of an operating theatre and a recording of surgical tools being picked up and put down was played. Joh says: "When they actually come round to the final session and the therapist convinces you you're having the op, it's so realistic you actually believe you are lying in that operating theatre.

"Obviously there's no pain whatsoever as you are so relaxed. But the fact you can smell anaesthetic and hear sounds like a surgical tool makes it completely believeable.

"So when you go to eat something you can only have a small portion or healthy food as your subconscious has been tricked into believing you have a band fitted." After the treatment Joh's weight quickly began to fall.

But if she starts losing too much weight she can have the "operation" reversed and the band "removed" with another hypnotherapy session.

Delighted Joh adds: "My husband Fernando loves the way I am. I know I look good when I'm going out with him now. I can go swimming with my fiveyear-old Bertie, which I couldn't before, and I have a whole new wardrobe.

"The only problem now is how to pay for all my new clothes!"

Is Sports Hypnosis Only For Professionals?
Peak Performance -
17 April 2009
                                 
Do you think that sports hypnosis is mostly associated with elite performers? That’s not true as it is relevant to child athletes and amateurs too. Irrespective of gender or level of performance, visualization technique helps even coaches, officials and parents to help players perform better. The best cited example is Tiger Woods, who took sports hypnosis sessions quite early in his life. He started these sessions when he was only 13 years old.

How Sports Hypnosis Benefits Amateur Player?

Sports hypnosis involves a variety of techniques that are beneficial for amateur and professional players. The techniques can be implemented to gain that extra edge. Through techniques like visualization, even those who may seem weak will be able to gain confidence. Sports hypnosis helps players to eliminate mental clutter and tackle mind games played by opponents with confidence and ease even during critical situations. Children and amateurs attain the focus of attention and conserve energy which they can utilize during critical moments.

Various visualization techniques enable players to take the game to the next level through mental imagery. This helps players rehearse their stock of game strategies and tactics in the mind itself. Flexibility is one of the best outcomes of such guided imagery. Players become less vulnerable to injury and learn to anticipate sudden, unexpected twists and be ready to deal with pain.


Use the Benefits of Hypnotherapy to Lose Weight and Keep it Off
Natural News -
12 July 2009                                 

Being at your ideal weight for your height and bone structure is very important for your overall health and well-being. Being overweight or obese can have detrimental effects on your physical health, mental health, and lifestyle. As important as losing weight is for your health, it is one of the most difficult things to accomplish. The healthiest methods for losing weight involve natural methods such as diet and exercise. Research has shown that hypnosis is an effective tool to use in order to lose weight and continue to lose weight and keep it off in the long-term.

Carrying extra pounds has a negative effect on your health and can to lead to life-threatening problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, and diabetes. Losing weight can also help improve joint health, reduce your risk of getting certain kinds of cancer, and improve your ability to sleep (Life Clinic).

Many studies have been conducted to study the effect that hypnotherapy has on a person's ability to lose weight and their ability to keep it off in the long-term. In 1998, a study involved 60 obese participants. The patients were randomly divided into one of three groups. One group received hypnosis that focused on stress reduction; another group received hypnosis that focused on energy intake reduction, and the third group received only dietary advice.

Researchers studied the percent of body weight lost at 7 different follow-ups from 1-month to 18-months after the treatment. At the 3-month follow-up, all participants in the three groups had lost 2-3% of their baseline body weight. However, at the 18-month follow-up, the group that had received hypnotherapy and stress reduction reported continued significant weight loss compared to no change in the other two groups. This study shows that when hypnotherapy is used in combination with stress relief suggestions, weight loss is significant in the long-term (Stradling, Roberts, Wilson, & Lovelock, 1998).

In a meta-analysis of two studies involving hypnotherapy and weight loss, Kirsch (1996) found a significant difference in amount of pounds lost comparing participants who received hypnosis and those who did not receive hypnosis. The initial follow-up showed the average weight loss to be 6.00 pounds in the non-hypnosis group and 11.83 pounds in the hypnosis group. The last follow-up conducted with the studies showed that the non-hypnosis group lost an average of 6.03 pounds and the hypnosis group lost an average of 14.88 pounds. This meta-analysis showed that use of hypnotherapy greatly increased amount of weight lost over time.

These studies show that hypnotherapy is a valid form of weight loss treatment and has lasting effects in the long-term. Hypnosis takes only a few sessions and has a long-term effect that helps patients continue to lose weight. This is an effective and natural method of losing weight and keeping it off.

From 40-a-day to fag-free. How one Time Outer quit in Dubai
Time Out
Dubai - 25 February 2009

Dubai is not an easy place to quit smoking, and I should know. I arrived here three-years-ago having packed in four-months previously and had no plans to start again.

I had what you might call an “enthusiastic” habit. I’d plough through 20 fags a day, easily, sometimes up to 40 on a bad one.

I’d wake up wanting a cigarette and the cravings would continue throughout the day as work coffee breaks allowed me to pursue my habit with gusto.

At the end of last year, a pain in my chest and, I have to admit it, a bit of nagging from friends, pushed me to try to quit. I say “try” because I genuinely never thought it would work.

To be honest, I didn’t really want to stop, but I agreed to give it a go. Knowing that cold turkey might not cut it, I took a friend’s advice and reluctantly agreed to see Alla Tchemodanova, a Dubai-based hypnotherapist.

I trooped up to Alla’s office in Media City hoping for a miracle. To be honest, I have always thought of hypnotherapy as more entertaining than a practical solution. Would I suddenly want to take my clothes off or experience an unbelievable desire to quack like a duck? Who knows?

Well, Alla seemed to. She was all too used to clients turning up with little faith in hypnotherapy as a cure for smoking, overeating, anxiety, and much more.

The science bit…

First, Alla sat me down and enquired about my “relationship” with smoking. When did I start? Why did I start? Did my parents’ smoke? I had to admit to a few links with smoking and delve a little into my relationship with my dad, who, coincidentally was a smoker until a couple of years ago.

Next, came the hypnotherapy bit. It’s a cliché, but I did have to look into Alla’s eyes before she snapped me into a “deep” sleep. Well, that’s what she said, and I pretended to be “under”, but more of that later.

I felt like a bit of a fraud but I lay there, pretending that I was under, for about 20 minutes. I answered all of her questions before she counted me back.

I “awoke” feeling refreshed and a bit hazy. I even pretended that I was never going to smoke again, while fully intending to spark up the minute I got outside. But then, something weird happened. I got back to my car, called my friends to tell them what a load of rubbish this hypnotherapy lark was, but I didn’t light up a fag. In fact I chucked the packet I had in the car away. I figured I may as well try now that I’d been through the session.

That was four-months ago. I haven’t smoked a cigarette since. I have wanted too. In the first few weeks, I was madly inhaling other people’s passive fumes but I’ve even got over that now - just.

I won’t lie, I loved smoking. I would still be smoking now if I hadn’t had a wake-up call.

Mel B is getting hypnosis
Western Daily Press -
10 March 2009

Mel B has revealed she is getting hypnosis to battle her nerves over her new stage show.

Mel is set to appear in Peepshow, her new Vegas act, but has said she's having hypnosis to help overcome her stage fright.

The former Spice Girl told Closer magazine: "I'm getting hypnosis. I'm seeing a guy called Anthony Cool, who performs a show at Vegas too. I'm doing this just in case I get any last-minute nerves - you know, in case I can't remember the lyrics or the moves. He's going to hypnotise me as soon as I get there."

Mel always has her husband Stephen Belafonte on hand to lend her support and handle the business side of things. She said: "With everything I do, I make sure I understand the contracts. In the old days in the Spice Girls, Victoria was the businesswoman. She explained it to us all. And now I have my husband who does all that and makes sure everything's sorted.

"I love him being involved in my work life. Why would I want a manager that I'd have to give 20 per cent of everything I earn to? I don't have to give Stephen anything - he gets me!"

Could hypnotherapy work for you? Dr Miriam Stoppard
The Mirror  -
2 February 2009
                                 
There’s been a lot of talk lately about people using hypnotherapy to lose weight.

Its practitioners say they can make a difference because many people’s weight problems are caused by emotional factors.

That could mean they are doing it to combat stress or low self-esteem, or even to please others (mum has made your favourite chocolate cake again!).

Hypnotherapy aims to replace negative thoughts and beliefs that encourage unhealthy or destructive behaviour with positive ones so you make healthy food choices effortlessly.

It’s been used to treat sleeplessness, help pregnant women, aid quitting smoking and many other things.

While there’s no hard evidence I’ve come across that suggests hypnotherapy can help you lose weight, it wouldn’t surprise me if one day it’s proven to work.

I used to be a sceptic, then years ago I took part in a TV programme where pregnant women were taught self-hypnosis to help them sleep.

Determined to prove it didn’t work, I tried it out myself at home – and promptly dropped off. Now I use it every night.

Since then I’ve been interested in its various uses and I’ve seen it help women combat pain – and stay in control – during childbirth.

While much more research needs to be done, it does seem to show promise for certain conditions. Power of the mind

Hypnosis is a powerful, natural and safe state of relaxation where we’re fully awake and in control.

And, believe it or not, we all enter into it several times a day – for instance, you may have got up, eaten breakfast and made your way to work without thinking about everything you did consciously.

You’re on autopilot but still fully aware of what’s going on.

We also have to go through state of hypnosis when we fall asleep every night – in fact, it’s impossible to drop off without it.

As you enter this state, your conscious mind moves into the background, while your subconscious comes forward. This is when your mind is at its most suggestible and the hypnotherapist can get to work, helping to allay your fears and anxieties.

It’s also possible to do this yourself, either by listening to a CD or going through a script in your mind. But it doesn’t work for everyone. What happens in a session

First the therapist will talk to you about the background to your problem or situation, how you feel about it and your desired outcome.

Then they’ll put you into a state of relaxation, making positive statements and suggestions. During the session, you’ll remember everything and the hypnotherapist can’t make you do anything against your will.

The number of sessions needed varies. Ways we can feel the benefit Despite claims, there’s no reliable research that hypnotherapy can work for stopping smoking, phobias, headaches and back pain. But it’s looking good in these areas…

HypnoBirthing
Hypnotherapy is proven to be effective in controlling pain during childbirth. Several studies show it can shorten labour time and reduce pain, complications and need for medication significantly, compared with normal breathing and relaxation techniques. Some studies even suggest it can reduce the risk of postnatal depression.

IBS
There’s good evidence that hypnotherapy works in the long term for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In a study on 200 patients in
Manchester, more than 70 per cent said the treatment reduced the severity of their symptoms for up to five years. They were given one-hour sessions of hypnotherapy over 12 weeks. The treatment also reduced levels of anxiety and depression but for a shorter time. It’s not clear what causes IBS but the researchers believe hypnotherapy may alter the way the brain responds to pain messages.

Insomnia
A 2006
US study on 84 school-age children found just a couple of hypnotherapy sessions were effective in combating insomnia. Among those who took more than half an hour to get to sleep, 90 per cent reported improvements after the sessions, as did half those who’d complained about waking up during the night. As far back as 1999, a British Medical Journal review of reports on hypnosis and relaxation therapies concluded that hypnosis is of value in treating insomnia.

Cancer-related symptoms
Some research shows hypnotherapy can help cancer patients, especially children, to combat nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy.

How to get it
Some psychologists, counsellors and doctors practise hypnotherapy. Ask your GP’s opinion on whether it may work for your problem and he or she may even recommend a practitioner. It’s unlikely, though not impossible, to get it on the NHS. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay.

                                 
Think Thin Through Hypnosis
Philadelphia Health - 26 January 2009

Can you really lose weight through hypnosis? This woman thinks so.
Mary Jo Klejna is hoping hypnosis will help her think thin.
If you're lookin' to lose some weight, a local psychologist says he can help. But not through pills or medicine, he’s using hypnosis.

"I was watching TV with my husband, we were doing things and all the sudden I looked at my watch and said it's 10 o’clock. Usually by 10 I would have been in the fridge 100 times,” Klejna said.

She turned to hypnosis because of her preoccupation with food. Klenga says even a couple of sessions have helped reduce her “constant craving.”

"Hypnosis can allow us to get right to the nitty gritty, find out why we are doing what we are doing and then discover better ways to do it better," said hypnosis doc Bruce Eimer.

Dr. Eimer is a psychologist trained in hypnosis, but he is the first to say it isn't for everyone.

"Nothing works for everyone. Hypnosis works in most cases with most people as long they are willing as long as they are moderately intelligent.” Dr Eimer said.

Klejna says the sessions are relaxing but powerful.

"If I had to, I couldn't lift my hands up...I couldn't move my arms,” said Klejna.

Joan Cope says she's willing to go under Dr. Eimers spell because her clothes are getting tighter and tighter.

After one session but says she saw a slight change.

"I pass up chocolate chip cookies and that's just not like me," said Cope.

Dr. Eimer charges $200 a session. In addition, he encourages his patients to listen to self-hypnosis tapes at home. One researcher says expect at least 8 sessions before you see progress.

After following the two women for about 9 months, Mary Jo tells us she's lost about 10 pounds, but admits she hasn't been listening to the tapes at home.

Joan has dropped about 20 pounds, according to the doctor.

Weight Loss Hypnosis Program: Change Bad Habits Into Good Habits
Time Management -
15 October 2008
                                 
Today, more and more people are not exercising enough and have begun to eat poorly; leading to overweight frames and out of shape bodies. Once ingrained in you, these bad habits become hard to break free from. However, many people have also tried out different weight loss hypnosis programs with varying degrees of success, and how well a weight loss hypnosis programs work for you depends on your own will power and your ability to make a conscious effort to succeed.

Tap The Subconscious Mind

An interesting fact that is well known to most people is that humans only use between ten and twelve percent of their brain power with the remaining eighty-eight to ninety percent being used by the mind – subconsciously. It is easy to figure out that in order to achieve things in life you will have to tap your subconscious a bit more. If you want to change things in life, you need to act subconsciously and this holds true even when using a weight loss hypnosis program.

It is believed that if you try out a weight loss hypnosis program you will get to use up all of the power of the mind – and it holds good even if you are not trying to lose weight – you can use your mind in this way to attain any kind of personal goal.

Weight loss hypnosis programs work by allowing you to speak to your own subconscious mind and suggest that it stop doing and/or cancel unhelpful actions. The brain will act in a way so that your negative actions begin to fade and disappear and these are then replaced by positive actions such as remembering to eat healthy foods and doing regular exercises, once you are able to suggest to your subconscious that certain actions are not desirable and should be desisted.

Another positive to trying weight loss hypnosis program is that you will be able to use that eighty-eight to ninety percent of your subconscious mind which otherwise would have been lying dormant and unused. Chances are very bright that you will be able to stay off overeating for good, once you see results from your weight loss hypnosis program, these will become permanent.

A good solution to being overweight is weight loss through hypnosis. You need to only ensure that you use only those weight loss hypnosis programs that have been created by legitimate and genuine hypnotherapists.

How well a weight loss hypnosis programs work for you depends on your own will power and your ability to make a conscious effort to succeed, as many people have also tried out different programs with varying degrees of success…

Unlocked memory helps to cure a long-standing fear of needles
Gazette Extra - 15 September 2008

I have to admit skepticism about hypnosis.

Even so, Charlene Ackerman was happy to work with me on that, and I offered my son as a test.

That's not as cold-blooded as it sounds because, hey, I could have used a weight-loss session.

Dan, 18, gradually had developed a phobia surrounding needles.

He didn't know the root of the fear, but starting at age 8 or 9, he'd get anxious days before shots were scheduled. The anxiety would ramp into dread as the appointment neared.

The last time a nurse drew blood, he turned white, and I was afraid he'd bolt from the office.

When I proposed the hypnosis session, Dan was happy to give it a try.

Ackerman said hypnosis gets to the root of an anxiety.

During Dan's session, he sat in a large recliner. He said he remembers feeling relaxed as he listened to Ackerman's voice telling him to take deep breaths.

He couldn't tell how long he sat there and was surprised to hear later that the session lasted almost an hour. He described the feeling as "weird" but said he believes he remained aware of what was going on.

As Ackerman talked with him, Dan initially didn't remember any relevant incidents.

Then, "It just kind of popped up," he said.

He remembers thinking, "This is all I got, so I'm going to run with it. I hadn't thought of that forever. I just remembered it. It was kind of random."

Dan remembered being 5 or 6 and playing on the third floor of our home. He stepped on a stuffed animal that apparently had a pin in it. The pin stuck in his foot. We think it was a pin because he described it as a needle with a big head.

His dad pulled the pin out, but neither my husband nor myself remember the incident.

Later, Dan said he hadn't thought of the incident for a long time. But when he remembered it, he remembered it in vivid detail.

Two weeks later, he calmly laid down his arm for two shots he needed for college. He didn't squirm. Dan later said he didn't feel at all like he had in the past when he got shots, and specifically mentioned the lack of any nausea.

We both were a bit amazed and hope his phobia is over. Dan wasn't up for scheduling another shot just to check it out, though.

Now, about that weight loss session...

Sister's death led to food fear
Liverpool Echo  - 24 September 2008

                                 
Susan Lee talks to a mum who used hypnotherapy to trace the roots of her eating disorder
“I FEEL like I’ve lived under a shadow for a long time; now it’s time to move into the light.”
Lindsay Watterson smiles as she recalls her journey of the past few months – a journey which has seen her confront a tragedy from long ago and, in the process, beat an eating disorder.
And it all began with a story in the
Liverpool ECHO.


“I read about a hypnotherapist who had helped a woman with eating problems. I’ve been sceptical in the past about hypnotherapy, but she was from Kensington like me and I thought: ‘If she can have a go, so can I’,” says the 30-year-old mum-of-one.
But even Lindsay couldn’t have expected the revelation about the cause of her problem – and the subsequent turnaround in her life.


Lindsay admits she has had issues with eating for as long as she can remember.
“As a kid, I just would not eat. My mum and dad would tell me I couldn’t go out if I didn’t have my tea, but nothing would persuade me or I’d just scrape it into a tissue when no-one was looking.


“Food just didn’t bother me.”


Worried, her parents consulted doctors but Lindsay says she always felt fobbed off.
“I think they thought it I’d grow out of it. I was given vitamin tablets but no-one ever mentioned an eating disorder then.”


She says it never affected her health, but the problem continued into her adulthood.
“Even having a daughter didn’t make any difference. I always made sure she ate well and had all the right nutrition – she loves her food – but couldn’t relate that back to me.


“I’d never have breakfast but wait until mid afternoon to have something, maybe a sandwich and I was very choosy about what I had for the rest of the day.


“I’d make tea but end up giving mine to the dog. To be honest, it even used to cause arguments between me and my partner.”


At her lightest, she weighed just six stones and although a dress size six, still had to have clothes altered to fit.


It was then that Lindsay saw the article in the ECHO, sought help from Kate Davies – and discovered the root of her problem.


“When I was about nine, my little sister Jenny, who was two at the time, became poorly.
“We called the GP, who thought it was a 24-hour bug and my mum nipped to the chemist, leaving me in the room with her.


“The next thing I remember is her having some kind of convulsion. I called my dad who was in the next room and we got her to hospital, but she died soon after.”


It was a tragedy which devastated the family but only with the help of Kate did Lindsay see how adversely it affected her.


“There was no such thing as grief counselling back then, so I suppose I just got on with it, we all did. When I discussed it with Kate, though, it was like a light going on.


“I realised all this unresolved grief had just not gone away. When I first met her, I said: ‘I don’t really eat’ and that was the first time I’d been able to say that.”


Within just a few sessions, Lindsay had begun to want to eat breakfast and began to put on weight. She has since gained 18lbs.


“When I told my family, they were really supportive. In fact, my sister told me she thought I had never been the same since Jenny’s death.


“Everybody has noticed a difference in me, even my little girl.


“I look better and feel better. I’ve even given up smoking.”


She urges anyone considering hypnotherapy to give it a go.


“There is so much stuff about people wanting to lose weight, yet very little about those who want to gain it, but who knows what has happened in people’s pasts which affects how they feel today?


“After all this time, this is the real me.”


According to clinical hypnotherapist Kate, based in Rodney Street, Lindsay’s story is typical of many eating disorder sufferers she has helped.
“I find there is almost always a cause, no matter how deeply buried in the subconscious,” she says.


“It transpired that Lindsay felt she had no right to take up space after her sister’s death.”
Kate subsequently focused on issues of self-esteem and confidence-building.


“Uncovering the source enables the person to make sense of why the problem exists and provides a valuable tool in the healing process,” she adds.


“Now Lindsay has achieved her target weight and for the first time she can remember she actually likes her body.”

Quit Smoking with Hypnotherapy
Gulf
News  - 18 September 2008
                                 
Mark Biggs had been a heavy smoker for 10 years, often lighting up to 30 cigarettes a day.

Today, the 37-year-old human resources director is smoke-free and has been so for the past five years after undergoing two sessions of hypnotherapy.

"I was shocked with the result. The first few weeks were tough. But, over a period of time, I had no problem being in the same room with smokers," Biggs said.

Beryl Comar, a Dubai-based hypnotherapist, has the solution to kicking this bad habit with one or two hypnotic sessions.

"It’s all in the words," she said. Comar is a graduate of economics, geography and sociology, and also holds masters degrees in education and applied linguistics.

However, Biggs did not have a smooth ride. Eighteen months after quitting smoking, he found himself lighting a cigarette again.

"I immediately contacted Comar. I haven’t had another recurrence in the past five years after that," he said. Comar said the craving for nicotine is fuelled by a need for belonging.

This can be remedied through hypnotherapy.

"The most important factor to achieve anything is a strong resolve, a complete dedication. It’s the same with hypnosis. If you are not certain about what you want to achieve, you might as well not go in for it," she said.

She said there are two areas of information storage and thought processes in the mind: our conscious mind and the subconscious. Hypnotherapy targets the subconscious mind.

"There are two methods to get into one’s subconscious – through complete relaxation or through shock. The person will have complete control of his desires. So, any suggestions that he is not open to may be discarded by him."

DID YOU KNOW?

A study by Pfizer shows 20 per cent of the UAE’s total male population smokes, while three per cent of females are smokers. as many as 42 per cent of males aged 17 are smokers.

 

   

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