Hypnotherapy in the News: 'Hypnotherapy could help kick the food blues this winter'

This report was taken from an article which appeared in the newsletter of the National Hypnotherapy Society. For more information, see: http://www.nationalhypnotherapysociety.org

According to Professor Whorwell, who is professor of medicine and gastroenterology at the University Hospital of South Manchester, Hypnotherapy sessions could help provide a sense of relief to foodies experiencing food and drink intolerance's this winter. Professor Whorwell recently spoke to Lifestyle Magazine, femalefirst.co.uk about the links between food intolerances and mood. 

His comments come following research from Allergy UK that suggests the winter time could be an extremely testing time for those who suffer food intolerance but don't understand their links to their mood.

For example, allergyuk.org says that a 45 per cent of Britons suffer from a food or drink intolerance, and tests by institutions like YorkTest Laboratories have shown that diet can have a direct impact on the way someone is feeling.

These kinds of findings are backed by the fact that serotonin - the 'happy hormone' - is actually produced in the gut and not the brain, suggesting mental well-being is intrinsically linked to what goes into the stomach.

With IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) being one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders in the UK, experienced by around 10-20 per cent of the population according to the NHS, Professor Whorwell explained that hypnotherapy is one of the best treatments around.

"Of the relaxation therapies available, we find that hypnotherapy can be very helpful when it comes to treating IBS," he said. "The link between mood and gut symptoms is clear and hypnosis not only helps to reduce anxiety but also has a direct effect upon the gut, thereby reducing symptoms".

If you would like to find out more about hypnotherapy could help you with any food related issues, please contact Christy on 01252 334377 or email: Christy@christyhypnotherapy.com

What motivates you?

Have you ever taken the time to think about what motivates you? Sometimes it might be the desire to achieve something (like a reward, prize or praise)and other times it might be that you actually want to avoid something negative (such as fear of failure, or not wanting to come last place in sport). As we come to the end of another year, we might all be thinking about what we think we want to be motivated to achieve next year...

So what IS motivation? Well the dictionary definition is "the reason behind someone's actions or behaviour; desire or willingness to do something".

It seems relatively straightforward to define what it is, however what is more challenging is to define what determines or influences your motivation and why one person can be highly motivated whereas another person is not at all.

In sport, motivation to achieve one's best can make the difference between a good performance and a really great performance. Technical skill is obviously vital (you cannot become an elite athlete just by thinking positively!) however enthusiasm and determination really can make the difference that matters.

One of the most effective ways to build motivation is with goals. If we don't know what we want to achieve in life (or sport) then we will not be able to make a plan of how to achieve it. This is all very well but what happens if you feel your motivation is not going in the same direction as your goals?

There are 7 key principles of working with goals to ensure they motivate you in the right direction: 

1. Say what you want, not what you want to avoid

2. Make goals challenging, but realistic 

3. Make sure you can influence the result directly 

4. Measure your progress - check you are going in the right direction regularly 

5. Check your resources (do you have what you need to achieve your goal? If not, can you get it?) 

6. Count the cost - does the achievement of this goal mean something else does not happen? 

7. Reward yourself when you achieve your goal!

Hypnosis can also assist this process of obtaining motivation through goal setting by being able to "tap into" the emotional, right-brain functions which become more available and receptive in this state. Goals set in a state of hypnosis also tend to be far more personal, useful and motivating for an individual. In addition, hypnosis can aid the process of setting out 'memories of the future' of achieving these goals (also known as 'mental rehearsal') which acts as a powerful motivator by allowing someone to 'see' what it will be like once they have achieved their goals.

If you would like to find out more about hypnosis could help you achieve your goals in life, contact Christy today on 01252 334377 or email: christy@christyhypnotherapy.com

Exclusive Well-Being Retreat at Coworth Park Hotel: 20-22 January 2013

Do you want to optimise your energy levels?
Do you want to feel healthier?
Do you want to overcome physical pain?
Is there something holding you back from achieving your full potential?

Vitology Nutrition is running an exclusive Well-being retreat at Coworth Park Hotel in Ascot. Set in sumptuous surroundings with a fabulous spa and outdoor facilities, Coworth Park is the essence of luxury and offers the quality of service and comfort that truly define Dorchester Collection Hotels.

Do not fear, this is most certainly NOT a boot camp; our approach is totally holistic, focusing on your overall wellness and relaxation.

Why should you attend?

It’s all about you. It’s a chance for you to spend two days focusing on your needs, whether it be optimising your nutrition, managing stress, correcting posture or improved sleep and energy levels. At the end of your stay, you will depart with a blue print for your future physical and emotional well-being.

Your package includes:

• Two nights accommodation and three days activities and relaxation
• One to one personalised consultations with a Nutritional Therapist, Personal Trainer/Biomechanics Coach and Hypnotherapist/NLP Coach
• Morning `I move freely’ classes
• Pilates and Yoga Classes
• Tailor made nutrition, fitness and emotional programmes to take away
• Interactive 'healthy alternatives' Chef Master Class
• Spa treatment of your choice
• Personalised follow-up programme
• Relaxation time!

Our Executive Chef will design a healthy eating plan to keep you energised and sustained throughout your stay.

Cost: £1,400 per person
Date: 20th to 22nd January 2013

This would make the perfect Christmas present OR a treat for yourself, so book early to avoid disappointment!

In order to ensure that our Retreats remain exclusive, numbers are limited to nine people per retreat, so book early to guarantee your place.

BOOK HERE NOW!

Hypnotherapy for Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Anyone suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) may feel at times they are perhaps the only person who experiences this often distressing and embarrassing condition. However it is actually a very common disorder affecting up to 15% of the population. This fact does not of course make it any easier for the sufferer!

Whatever your symptoms of IBS, the good news is that there are many things you can do to help significantly reduce the negative symptoms and help you take back control of your life. I would always advise first consulting your GP to conduct a thorough investigation and diagnosis as some symptoms of IBS can be symptomatic of other gut-related conditions (perhaps requiring medication).

So how can hypnotherapy help?

Stress and anxiety are believed to be significant triggers for the development of IBS and therefore hypnotherapy for IBS mainly involves using relaxation exercises and using visualisations to help calm the internal and emotional responses and also help develop a greater sense of personal control.

What happens during the sessions?

At Christy Hypnotherapy I work with clients to address individual needs, as IBS can affect people in many different ways. IBS is a complex condition which requires a compassionate and confidential approach. Before the hypnotherapy begins every part of the client’s life will be assessed and a personalised treatment plan will then be discussed and put in place. The overall aim is to reduce stress and help the client to change their lives for the better.

To find out how hypnotherapy could help you manage your IBS, contact Christy today on 01252 334377 or email: christy@christyhypnotherapy.com

National Stress Awareness Day - Wednesday 7th November 2012

The International Stress Management Association (ISMA) reports that according to recent research by Insurance Company AXA, stress levels have doubled in 4 years. It would seem to be true that we all live in a much more stressful world, not only with changes in the economy, technology and work, but also in our personal lives. The day to day running of work, family and social lives all piles on  the pressure and on top of this we have to deal with everyday problems and challenges. It's true that people deal with stress in different ways and everyone has their own level of stress which is 'manageable'… in fact some people thrive and are motivated by a certain level of stress in their lives. If this level remains at an optimum, all is well. The problems occur when this level tips over the optimum and becomes unmanageable.

Very often we are not in control of the stress around us and this is more and more evident in the workplace where stress can come as a result of redundancy, relationship conflicts between colleagues and increasing pressure on individuals to do 'more with less'. Infact issues from work are now one of the main causes of stress reported by patients to their GP.

The 14th National Stress Awareness Day, which is held to celebrate helping people to beat stress, will take place on 7 November 2012. This year the theme is "Defining Outcomes for Wellbeing at Work". The ISMA offers lots of advice about how companies can get involved to help their employees, including providing information about effective relaxation treatments and how to run stress awareness workshops. Of course, you don't have to wait around until the day itself, now is the time to start taking action yourself. Hypnotherapy can provide a wonderful way to relax both physically and mentally and can also help you find space in your life to be able to resolve issues which have perhaps tipped your stress levels over the edge.

To find out how hypnotherapy could help reduce stress in your life, contact Christy today on 01252 334377 or email: christy@christyhypnotherapy.com

More information about ISMA National Stress Awareness Day can be found here: http://www.isma.org.uk/national-stress-awareness-day

Begin your New Years resolutions early - stop smoking for Christmas!

What would it be like if you could tell everyone that you began your New Years Resolutions early and stopped smoking for Christmas?!

Whilst we only have 7 full weeks until Christmas, it is entirely possible for you to stop smoking ready to enjoy a smoke-free (and cheaper!) Christmas. Think about how much money you will save in those few weeks in the run up to one of the most expensive times of the year, which you can then perhaps spend on presents for loved-ones, maybe save up for something special or even better to treat yourself?!

Christy offers an intensive stop smoking programme which includes 4 hypnotherapy sessions (conducted weekly at your convenience) and a personalised CD recording for you to use to help keep you relaxed and smoke-free into the future. Conducting hypnotherapy over a series of sessions works to ensure that the initial impact of the hypnosis to help you quit, lasts way beyond just the first session.

Contact Christy TODAY for a free 15 minute telephone consultation to discuss how hypnotherapy could help you make that resolution that changes your life forever! Call 01252 334377 or email: christy@christyhypnotherapy.com

Myth busting hypnosis

There is no natural phenomenon more misunderstood than hypnosis and hypnotherapists world over are constantly battling against the false preconceptions and misunderstandings with their clients. These myths have largely come about as a result of stage hypnosis in the media which dramatises hypnosis as a 'bizarre and magical' thing which should be viewed with scepticism and caution. I freely admit I was one of these sceptics before I decided to study hypnotherapy and now that I realise the true nature of this state, I would now like to present some of the most 'popular' myths and explain these are far from the truth.

Myth 1: You go unconscious in hypnosis
Many people who experience hypnosis for the first time wonder whether they were fully "under" or whether it worked properly as they remain fully conscious during the session and are aware of what happened. I prefer to think of hypnosis as a shift in quality of consciousness rather than a specific state of consciousness. In many cases hypnosis is sometimes actually about becoming even more conscious of something rather than a complete lack of.

Myth 2: You have to hand over control of your mind
The human mind is a complex organ and not simply a machine which someone else can 'plug' into and reprogram at will without your consent. Would you jump off a cliff if someone told you to? Of course not. The same is true in hypnosis. Anyone undergoing hypnosis remains fully in control of their own thoughts and actions at all time. Ironically, people who seem themselves as 'control freaks' are actually highly likely to benefit from hypnotherapy more than most as they will be already highly effective at controlling their own behaviour. Through the expert guidance of a professional hypnotherapist, this 'self-control' can be used to best advantage to help achieve personal goals.

Myth 3: Only vulnerable or weak-willed people can be hypnotised
This is a myth based on the same misunderstanding as the previous one. Being hypnotised is absolutely NOT about being vulnerable, gullible or submitting to the will of another person. The key skill of the hypnotherapist is actually to build rapport and then work WITH the will and motivation of the person they are working with. Dedication, strong focus, imagination and commitment are all qualities which make people "good" at hypnosis... some of the most successful clients I've worked with have been top business people and elite athletes and those who naturally have these qualities.

Myth 4: Hypnotherapy can make you do things against your will
There is no way, however skilled the hypnotherapist, that anyone can use hypnosis to make people do things against their will. It may appear in stage hypnosis shows that when the hypnotist is getting a person do something silly in order to amuse the audience that this is against the person's will, however the person is actually fully conscious of what is happening. The skill of the stage hypnotist is in the selection of people who are both extraverted and "up for a laugh" who are more likely to go along with the suggestions, rather than taking control of their mind without their consent. Hypnotherapy is about working with the person to achieve a desired positive result, whether it be in their personal life, business or with their sport.

Myth 5: Hypnosis is dangerous / bad for your health
Hypnosis has been used therapeutically for many years but unfortunately there have been cases where it has been claimed that hypnosis has been used inappropriately and/or in a way which was not helpful to the client. An example could be someone who is already underweight seeks hypnotherapy for further weight loss. Most professional hypnotherapists who are formally trained, are members of a governing body and who abide by an ethical code of conduct would of course neither endorse nor practice in such an unethical way. There are no negatives 'side-effects' of hypnotherapy which is conducted with a professional and hypnosis can even lead to many positive health improvements, such as reducing the negative symptoms of medical conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Migraine or even Fibromyalgia.

Myth 6: It is possible to get stuck in hypnosis
I once had a client ask me whether it would be possible for them to remain in hypnosis for the rest of their life if something happened to me, for example if I left the session without bringing them back or became incapacitated and could not conclude the session. The simple answer is that either they would fall asleep completely and then awake naturally or just gradually become more aware as a result of the long period of quiet and return to a full awake state.

Myth 7: Hypnosis is potentially evil and therefore contrary to many religions
As already stated, hypnosis is a completely natural phenomenon and everyone will have experienced a form of hypnosis many times in their lives...we have all been in a state of hypnosis when we are fully absorbed in something, for example listening to a favourite piece of music, painting a picture, playing sport or even driving our cars on a well-known journey when you suddenly 'wake up' and realise where you are!
When we go to sleep, we also travel through natural hypnotic states - we do not switch from a state of wide awake to deep sleep instantaneously - so hypnosis is just as natural as sleep itself and therefore presents no evil or anti-religious issues whatsoever.

Myth 8: You can remember every single thing which has happened to you in your life when in hypnosis
This is perhaps more of an exaggeration rather than a myth as it is true that hypnotherapy can make it easier for you to have access to certain memories from your past. Sometimes it can be very beneficial to help someone 'reconnect' with a certain time in their life to either work through or resolve various issues, for example to overcome a phobia or something which they previously had a negative experience with. This is not always the case however and it is not necessary to regress to childhood memories in order to achieve a positive result from hypnotherapy.

If you would like to find out more about how hypnotherapy could benefit you, please contact Christy for a free telephone consultation on 01252 334377 or email christy@christyhypnotherapy.com.

Do you suffer from Migraine or Tension Headache? Hypnotherapy could help...

Globally, more than 10% of the population is affected by migraine at some point in life. Whilst the underlying cause of migraines is unknown, they are believed to be a neurovascular disorder related to a mix of environmental and genetic factors. Of the environmental factors, some migraines are induced by triggers, which very often include elements of stress, tension and fatigue.

The symptoms of migraine / tension headaches can vary greatly from one individual to another, but whatever symptoms are experienced, one thing which is consistent is the pain element. Whilst there are many drugs on the market to help sufferers alleviate this pain, if the person is still experiencing some level of emotional stress, they may find relief from each atttack of migraine is short-lived.

New medication and alternative remedies, such as hypnotherapy - as prescribed by the National Migraine Centre charity in London (www.migraineclinic.org.uk) - have been shown in a number of cases to help reduce the frequency of migraines and even the severity. There are a variety of ways people can work on reducing physical stress and tension, for example taking breaks from computer desks, having a massage or taking exercise, however it is also vital for migraine sufferers to consider ways to reduce emotional stress. Practicing deep breathing and doing relaxation exercises can help to prevent tension headaches from developing. This is where hypnotherapy can be hugely beneficial - The National Hypnotherapy Society recently reported how Doctor Fiona Russell of Amersham, Buckinghamshire, who suffered from intense headaches, a loss of vision and sensitivity to light for eight years, used hypnotherapy to help to reduce the frequency of her migraines (www.nationalhypnotherapysociety.org).

At Christy Hypnotherapy, we focus on helping teach people their own self-hypnosis techniques for relaxation which can include a combination of breathing control and pain management techniques. One such technique is to use the power of the imagination to help create relaxing imagery which in turn causes the physical muscles of the body to relax, thus reducing build up of tension. Once learned, these techniques can then be used in the comfort of your own home as a long-term self-treatment strategy. This not only helps people feel more in control of their migraines, it also helps reduce the dependance on medication and hypnosis has none of the negative side effects of taking tablets.

If you would like to find out how hypnotherapy could help you manage migraine and tension headaches, please contact Christy today on 01252 334377 or email: christy@christyhypnotherapy.com . For more information see: www.christyhypnotherapy.com.

Triathlete, Ellie Barnes benefits from using sports hypnosis to help prepare for success in the Reading Triathlon.

Ellie Barnes is a GB Age Group Triathlete and is also a fully qualified Personal Trainer and lover of all things exercise related. Ellie is no stranger to high profile events and has a long list of sporting achievements – London Marathon, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Everest to name a few…. Like any athlete, Ellie knows the importance of competition preparation so prior to the qualifying event for the Team Great Britain Age Group for Sprint Triathlon, she decided to contact me at Christy Hypnotherapy to find out how hypnosis could help her relax and overcome pre-race nerves. After just a couple of sessions Ellie was able to put into practice the relaxation techniques to help her remain calm, reinforce her self-belief and stay focused prior to and on race day. Ellie successfully qualified for Team GB and will be competing at the World Championships in October 2012!

On Saturday 8th September 2012 Ellie was again able to use these relaxation techniques to help her prepare for the Reading Triathlon, where she achieved a fantastic 2nd place.

Ellie owns and manages ‘Barnes Fitness’ which is an independent Personal Training and Exercise Consultant business based in Reading, Berkshire. Barnes Fitness offers a range of services including personal training, running coaching, triathlon coaching and sports massage. For more information see: www.barnesfitness.co.uk

If you would like to find out how sports hypnosis might be able to help YOU, please contact Christy for a no-obligation discussion on 01252 334377 or email: christy@christyhypnotherapy.com. Go to www.christyhypnotherapy.com for more information.

Olympic Talk

As we are now well into the Olympic games, the press is full of stories and articles about both current and past athletes. Recently, Michael Johnson (200m & 400m Olympic athlete) spoke out about his experiences in the Olympic limelight. He quoted: 'For eight years I was a five-time gold medallist. Then it was four-time. It's not the same'

In this report, Michael Johnson's explores his desire for perfectionism which made him the fastest man on earth, but not necessarily the nicest. Now he says he has learned to relax - sort of! Read the full article on the Telegraph Website: Michael Johnson Interview

In relation to this, many sports men and woman are beginning to use motivational hypnotherapy to better enhance their sporting performance. 

Former British super-middle weight boxing champion; Glenn Catley stumbled across motivational hypnotherapy following his spout of working alongside Steve Collins the Boxer, who Catley noticed was 'different and more focused' during training sessions. Catley later discovered his sport mate had been engaging in pre-training hypnotherapy sessions and this intrigued Catley somewhat.

Catley has made no secret that he too then went onto to actively engage in motivational hypnotherapy throughout his boxing career, which resulted in his great success.

Catley was so taken by the power of motivational hypnotherapy that he later went onto to undertake a two-year training programme in psychology and intends to see out his working life as a hypnotherapist. Catley is reported as being keen to help sports people improve their performance using the technique.

If you would like to find out how Motivational Hypnotherapy and Performance Coaching could help you improve your sport, contact Christy Roxburgh for a consultation: christy@christyhypnotherapy.com / 07527 576245

Hypnotherapy Helped Facial Surgery Patient Find Self-confidence

The short article below was taken from the newsletter of the National Hypnotherapy Society of which Christy is a Professional Member.

A woman who had surgery on her face following an accident has described how hypnotherapy helped her regain her confidence.

Jilly Cutting, from Norfolk, told eveningnews24.co.uk that the scars "on the outside" healed after her accident and subsequent operations, but it was not until she had a series of hypnotherapy sessions that she felt like herself again.

Ms Cutting explained: "I had an accident at work which unfortunately damaged my leg and face and I had to give up my career. I had an operation on my knee and facial plastic surgery which left me feeling sorry for myself and I lost my self-confidence."

This new-found belief in herself allowed her to not only build up her self-esteem, but also try new things, including singing on stage with Norfolk musician Lee Vasey and trying her hand at oil painting - she sold her first piece in May.

A lack of self confidence is a common problem experienced by many people at some point in their lives. Hypnotherapy can provide a safe and effective way to help people regain the self-confidence they were born with. If you would like to find out how hypnotherapy could help you, call Christy on 07527 576245 or email christy@christyhypnotherapy.com

Have you got the yips?

The “yips” is a condition that can turn a promising sports career into a case of what might have been. But what is it, how does it work and can it be cured? The following report is a summary of an article which appeared in the Metro newspaper in March 2012 by Journalist Ross McGuinness.

The yips are normally associated with golfers – perhaps the most famous victim of the golfing yips when putting is Bernhard Langer, the German two-time Masters champion who first encountered the problem as a teenager. Bernhard was 18 years old when he won his first tournament on the European tour and this is when he first developed the yips. Langer continued to battle the yips throughout his career, even changing his putting grip several times to alleviate the condition.

The yips is not however exclusive to golfers. Steve Hooker is the Olympic pole-vaulting champion. The 29 year old Australian has jumped the second highest mark in the history of the sport however we will not be seeing him at the London Olympics this year. Steve has pulled out because he is struggling with an injury of the worst possible kind – the pole vault yips. Steve says “to be at your best, a pole-vaulters mind must be clear. If you have numerous calculations going through your head on the runway and through take-off, it just doesn’t happen. Sometimes I run in and I don’t take off. It’s as simple as that.”

Steve Hookers condition shows that even an Olympic and former world champion can succumb. Darts player Eric Bristow, snooker’s Stephen Hendry are just another couple of the famous names who have been affected. And it is not even just sports people who suffer with the yips – dentists, surgeons and even singers and musicians have experienced it.

The yips can manifest itself as a shake, tremor or a twitch while putting in golf or by not being able to physically let go of a ball for example in Cricket when bowling. It therefore manifests itself physically, however Dr Mike Rotherham from the Metaphorics Performance Consultants in Sheffield believes it is formed psychologically and is often caused by some kind of mental trauma associated with the action. Dr Rotherham reports that sometimes people panic or feel trapped inside the process and they then start overthinking, analysing, thinking some more and just heightening the experience. People who suffer with the yips often describe it as like a mental hesitation as they are trying to execute the skill, almost as though the brain is telling you it’s a dangerous situation. When this happens, the brain is irrationally saying that the specific process is more important than it actually is, like it is life and death; when in reality it’s not. 

So if someone has the yips, what can be done about it? What most people try to do is trick the brain to think they are doing a new skill so they’ll change aspects of their technique or change the equipment they are using. This can help initially however usually the yips will come back because the brain realises what has happened. Typically it affects people who are quite obsessive, highly perfectionist in their thinking and quite self-conscious. 

The search for a complete cure continues however experts have been very impressed with the impact of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). This is a psychological version of acupuncture which releases the energy blockages that often cause negative emotions. EFT works on an instinctive part of the brain where our unconscious thoughts and behaviours are stored. EFT has been successfully used in the UK for over 10 years now and has a rapidly growing following, particularly in the field of complementary medicine.

If you would like to find out how EFT could help you with your game of golf, then please give me a ring or drop me an email.

Christy

01252 334377 |  07527 576245
Christy@christyhypnotherapy.com
www.christyhypnotherapy.com

Hypnotherapy in the news

Hypnotherapy allows patients to manage their pain, claims psychiatrist  

Speaking to the Wall Street Journal's Health Journal, director of the Center for Health and Stress at Stanford University Dr David Spiegel explained that hypnosis allows people to become completely absorbed, much in the same way as they might do while reading a book.

The psychiatrist, who has 40 years of experience, said: "We can teach people how to manage pain and anxiety. There has been this mistake in medicine that if you have a certain amount of tissue damage, you should feel this amount of pain. But many things can alter how much pain you feel."

New York psychologist Dr Jeanne Safer told the same resource that using hypnotherapy to combat her leukaemia lets her feel more comfortable before examinations and surgery, despite starting out as a sceptic.

Among the most recent medical evidence to support this type of therapy was published by researchers in Sweden this month; a team from the Sahlgrenska Academy of the University of Gothenburg found that hypnotherapists can provide lasting relief for sufferers of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), reported Huff Post Lifestyle.

Magnus Simren, the author of the study, explained that the "deep relaxation and individually adapted hypnotic suggestions" were found to reduce people's IBS symptoms.

Hypnotherapy in the news - Hynotherapy for pain alleviation in dentistry

A growing number of organisations are promoting the use of hypnotherapy in dentistry as a means to alleviate pain, reports Worldental.org. A rising number of anecdotal cases suggest that hypnosis could replace other methods of pain relief - like injecting anaesthesia medication - when practised by trained professionals.

This is because hypnosis "can be used as a means to tell your subconscious that 'the drill will not hurt', or that 'the tooth extraction is a fast and painless process'," for example.

Some bodies, like the International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association, are so convinced in its ability to help patients that they are advocating the provision of hypnotherapy courses in complementary health care.

Similarly, the USC School of Dentistry (University of South Carolina) is teaching students hypnosis that can be used as an alternative to Novocain injections - the oldest injectable local anaesthetic still in use.

Achieving emotional freedom...

Fears and phobias, anxiety, stomach disorders, migraines and post-traumatic stress disorder… these are just a few of the things which have been treated using something called ‘Emotional Freedom Technique’ (EFT). EFT is a relatively new treatment developed in 1997 by Gary Craig who studied the work of Dr Roger Callahan in the 1970’s (Thought Field Therapy), which was rooted in ancient eastern “meridian energy” theories of acupuncture and shiatsu. These therapies claim that our bodies contain invisible energy pathways – meridians – and identified hundreds of ‘acupoints’ at junctions along these pathways. These can be disrupted by life’s traumas resulting in not only emotional but also physical problems. As a result EFT is often referred to as a cousin to acupuncture, a well-respected discipline over 5000 years old (but without the needles!).

In recent years, EFT has provided many people across the world relief from pain, disease and emotional difficulties. It has been successfully used in the UK for over 10 years now and has a rapidly growing following, particularly in the field of complementary medicine.

So what is EFT? In short, it is an emotional healing technique which is also capable of relieving many physical symptoms. When used to help physical problems, people are releasing the emotional memories associated with the symptom. Once the stress response of these memories is reduced, the body has a chance to heal. It is universally accepted that the thoughts and feelings we have make a major contribution to our physical well-being - there is a strong association between emotional stress and disease. Stress is often symptomatic of many chronic conditions such as arthritis, heart disease and IBS to name but a few. Clearly this gives further weight to the statement:

"Our unresolved negative emotions are major contributors to most physical pains and diseases."

In other words ‘we are what we think’…

So what happens in EFT? Points on the hands and face are stimulated by tapping on them with your fingertips. The process is easy to memorise and requires no special equipment so you can practice it anywhere. EFT is such a versatile therapy and so simple, it can even be done over the telephone or through Skype....you don't even have to leave the comfort of your own home.

EFT often works when nothing else will ... There are many scientific studies of EFT for depression, anxiety, and other psychological problems and they show that people who use EFT recover very quickly, often in just a few sessions. It has also been widely used to help overcome post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and it has been very successfully used with soldiers returning from war who have found their traumatic symptoms rapidly diminish after just one session of EFT (case studies can be found in the news).

EFT has also been used to help sports performance, school performance and physical performance. When the anxieties that claim a large part of someone’s attention are removed, their full capacities can be focused on the task at hand.

If you would like to find out how EFT could help you, then please give me a ring or drop me an email.

01252 334377
07527 576245
Christy@christyhypnotherapy.com
www.christyhypnotherapy.com

Hypnotherapy in the news - Darren Fletcher turns to hypnotherapy to help cure bowel problem

Manchester United star Darren Fletcher is turning to hypnotherapy in a bid to make a safe return to professional football. The Scottish international has admitted that he will be unable to play again this season after developing a rare inflammatory condition in his bowels called ulcerative colitis. However, the combative midfielder claimed that a variety of treatments including hypnotherapy will allow him to start playing football again by the start of next season.

He told The Mail Online: "It's something that will never leave me, but have to find somehow a way to manage it so that I can still play my football. I'm trying everything under the sun at the moment - diet, hypnotherapy."

Medical experts believe hypnotherapy can ease the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease by helping to relieve stress and anxiety, which has been proven to have a negative impact on such disorders.

As well as improving his psychological state, Fletcher will hope that a hypnotherapy course helps improve his physical recovery from the condition. According to The Daily Telegraph, Fletcher started to experience problems in March but was initially diagnosed by Manchester United doctors as having a virus.

The 28-year-old recently announced he would be taking an extended break from football in order to fully recover from the condition.

Inspirational poem

When things go wrong as they sometimes will;
When the road you're trudging seems all up hill;
When funds are low, and debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh;
when care is pressing you down a bit
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns
as everyone one of us sometimes learns.
And many a failure turns about
when you might have won, had you stuck it out.

Don't give up though the pace seems slow;
You may succeeed with another blow.
Success is failure turned inside out;
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.
And you never can tell how close you are;
It may be near when it seems so far.
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things go wrong that you must not quit!

Author unknown

Does hypnosis have a place in snowboarding?

Really interesting article posted on a great website all about snowboarding called "Afterbang Snowboarding" discussing how hypnosis, visualisation and mental rehearsal might be able to help snowboarders (both professional and amateur).

Synopsis: "Hypnosis. Hypnotism. Surely these things have nothing to do with snowboarding? For 99% of snowboarders that’s probably true, maybe even 99.9%. But is that because it’s irrelevant to the majority, or because people just haven’t considered it?"

Click here to read the article: http://www.afterbang.co.uk/blog/2011/12/02/does-hypnosis-have-a-place-in-your-snowboarding/

A story of two wolves...

This story originates many centuries ago, from a place where wise old Indian Chiefs would tell stories to the children of the villages to pass on their experience and help them on their journey through life.

The story begins with a wise Indian Chief sat around a camp fire with all the children of the village. He begins to tell the story which has passed from generation to generation about how each and every one of us is born with two wolves at our side. The children first gasp with fear at the thought of these wolves, but the Chief explains that each and every one of them has these wolves and their job is to guide us through life. One of these wolves represents beliefs which provide us with curiosity and an inquisitive nature and which help push us forward to achieve new things. The other wolf however represents 'limiting beliefs' and this wolf tells us things which cause us to doubt our abilities and which make us hold back from achieving our full potential.

The wise old Chief then tells the children about how, throughout our lives, these two wolves are in a constant battle for victory… sometimes one wolf will look like it is going to win the battle and then something will happen to allow the other to get an advantage. As the Chief continued to describe this ongoing battle between the wolves, one of the boys who was the youngest son of the Chief jumps up and says, “Father, father, please tell me… what is the end of this story? Which of the wolves wins the battle in the end?!”

The wise old Chief smiles at his son, pats him on the head gently and says “My son.... it all depends on which one you feed”.

Walking a new way...

This blog post is something I found which tells a brilliant autobiography in five short chapters. My advice is to notice where you are on this street and take the appropriate action!

Chapter 1

I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the pavement.
I fall in.
I am lost … I am helpless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter 2

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the pavement.
I pretend I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in the same place.
But it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter 3

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the pavement.
I see it is there.
I still fall in … it’s a habit.
My eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

Chapter 4

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the pavement.
I walk around it.

Chapter 5

I walk down another street.