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