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