Articles

The Secret and Weight Loss

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:30:19 GMT

The movie “The Secret” has been out for a couple of years now and people still struggle to apply the principles of “The Law Of Attraction” in their life. The unfortunate thing about the movie is that it is very skewed toward Money. The producers of the movie felt that the US market would be more attracted to the movie if it was.

The fact is that it can be used to all aspects of your life. It is especially true of Weight Loss.

The Basics of The Law Of Attraction

The basics of The Law Of Attraction work very well for weight loss. The basics are to make the decision fully in your mind and then visualizing yourself at your goal weight. Weight loss experts will tell you that to be successful you need to keep positive thoughts in your mind.

It is important to visualize yourself at your ideal weight and feel how you will feel when you get there. Truly experience the positive feelings you will derive from knowing that you have succeeded.

It is very important to see yourself as if it has already happened. So many people have a hard time with this concept because they question it, but many others have used it and it works.

Once you have visualized yourself at your ideal weight, you can let go of any worry and concern you have about it and just let it happen. It will unfold before you as if it was a miracle, just as the movie tells us.

Applying The Law Of Attraction to Weight Loss

It is important that you utilize the techniques above to create those positive feelings and determination within your mind. There are many other things you can do once you have created that commitment in your mind to further advance your desire and progress.

You can begin planning the things you will do when you reach or ideal weight. You can also go shopping and find the kinds of cloths you want to wear when you get there.

As you continue to visualize and experience the positive feeling you might find that certain foods just do not appeal to you any longer, or that you eat smaller portions. You might also notice that you begin to make healthier choices all around. Just keep visualizing yourself at your ideal weight.

We work with a lot of people in our Vernal Office on weight loss and and the principles of The Law Of Attraction. We offer clients a free initial consultation.

Oprah, the Economy and Hypnosis

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 19:56:13 GMT

Oprah.com has a new article about ways to cope with money related stress. With the current state of the economy many people have some stress around finances. This article provides a few tips for dealing with money stress.

What is the top thing suggested? Well of course it is Hypnosis of course. People have known for many years that Hypnotherapy assists in relieving stress and anxiety of any kind. Financial stress can have a huge impact on people, greater than other forms.

Here is what you will read in the article on Oprah.com

You can find plenty of advice from financial experts on how to cope. But what about the pervasive sense of panic, which can take a serious toll on health, putting you at higher risk for a host of ailments from high blood pressure to heart disease. Science has shown that exercise and meditation are two of the most effective ways to reduce stress—but you probably already know that, and likely feel too pressured to try either. So we asked a few experts for other strategies you might not have considered.

Get Hypnotized For years people have turned to hypnosis for help quitting smoking and losing weight, but the technique is also becoming popular among business types desperate to overcome financial stress, according to a November report in The Wall Street Journal. Generally, in hypnosis, a therapist uses verbal cues to put clients into a deeply relaxed state, where they become absorbed in their inner thoughts, then offers suggestions to shift an attitude so they can better tackle a problem. In this case, the suggestions might be "Money is energy that comes and goes" or "Your net worth doesn't equal your personal worth," to deflect the paralysis and insecurity that financial panic can cause. Ideally, clients learn the process on their own.

We see a lot of clients in our Vernal Office to discuss our programs and understand what Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy are. Your first consultation is Free!

Did you know? Facts about hypnosis from current research findings.

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:42:03 GMT

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As of December, 2004 there are more than 5,000 clinical research studies having to do with hypnosis and its benefits currently being conducted worldwide?

(According to: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/)

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As of December 15, 2004 results from more than 3,000 clinical research studies are available showing positive benefits from hypnosis?

(According to: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/)

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According to studies done at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, suggestions given in a hypnotic state, even once, can produce actions in human

beings that are the same type of actions that would have resulted from more long-term conditioning and practice.

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In a research study on Self-hypnosis for relapse prevention training with chronic drug/alcohol users, (Am J Clin Hypn. 2004 Apr;46(4):281-97), individuals who played self-hypnosis audiotapes "at least 3 to 5 times a week," at 7-week follow-up, reported the highest levels of self-esteem and serenity, and the least anger/impulsivity, in comparison to the minimal-practice and control groups.

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In a research study done with 60 college student volunteers (Spring of 2004 at Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona), using hypnosis with ego-enhancement suggestions showed "significantly dramatic effects" in brain-wave patterns, subjective sense of self-confidence, and test scores.

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As reported by NewScientist.com news service:

"Hypnosis is more than just a party trick; it measurably changes how the brain works," says John Gruzelier, a research psychologist at Imperial College in London. "Hypnosis significantly affects the activity in a part of the brain responsible for detecting and responding to errors, an area that controls higher level executive functions." The finding is one of the first to indicate a biological mechanism underpinning the experience

of hypnosis. “This explains why, under hypnosis, people can do outrageous things that ordinarily they wouldn’t dream of doing,” says Gruzelier, who presented his study at the British Association for the Advancement of Science Festival in Exeter, UK. Gruzelier hopes it will also benefit emerging research showing, for example, that hypnosis can help cancer patients deal with painful treatments.

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Research using positron emission tomography (PET) scans, shows that hypnosis might alleviate pain by decreasing the activity of brain areas involved in the experience of suffering. Scientists have found that hypnosis reduced the activity of the anterior

cingulate cortex, an area known to be involved in pain, but did not affect the activity of

the somatosensory cortex, where the sensations of pain are processed.

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Clinical trials of therapeutic hypnosis confirm its potential benefits. Christina Liossi, a psychologist at the University of Wales in Swansea, recently conducted a study of 80 cancer patients aged 6 to 16. She found that those under hypnosis experienced far less pain during treatments than control children, who simply talked to the researchers normally.

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According to published results of clinical studies (Am J Clin Hypn. 2004 Apr), the use of hypnosis facilitates a more uncomplicated birth process. In a separate research study done by University of Florida counseling psychologist Paul Schauble, it was also found that women who learn hypnosis before delivering babies suffer fewer complications, need less medication and are more likely to have healthier babies than are women without hypnosis. Schauble's first study involved adolescents getting prenatal care at a public health clinic. A group of 20 patients who received hypnosis preparation were compared with 20 who were given supportive counseling and 20 patients in a control group who received only the standard prenatal care. None of the women who received hypnosis required surgical intervention in their deliveries, compared with 12 in the supportive counseling group and eight in the control group, he said. "Patients who are prepared for labor and delivery in hypnosis are more likely to absorb and benefit from information because they are in a relaxed, highly focused state," he said.

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In an ongoing pilot study being done by University of Florida counseling psychologist Paul Schauble, preliminary results show hypnotized patients with hypertension are more easily able to make lifestyle improvements that can lower blood pressure.

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A study being done by a team of University of Florida researchers is finding that learning self-hypnosis gives a patient greater control over the stress, anxiety and pain of medical operations and childbirth, overall. "Training patients in hypnosis prior to undergoing surgery is a way of helping them develop a sense of control over their stress, discomfort and anxiety," says Dr. Paul Schauble, psychologist. "It also helps them better understand what they can do to bring about a more satisfying and rapid recovery." He also said, "We've found, in working with individual patients, that they often feel literally stripped of control when they go into the hospital. The surgeon may do a good job of explaining the surgery, but patients' anxiety may make it difficult for them to absorb or comprehend. This can result in undue apprehension that can create complications or prolonged recovery."

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"Children make excellent subjects for hypnosis because they spend more time using their

imaginations," says Florida counseling psychologist Paul Schauble. "But with practice most adults can learn how to enter into a therapeutic hypnotic state quite easily as well."

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In 1998 Henry Szechtman of McMaster University in Ontario and his co-workers used PET to image the brain activity of hypnotized subjects who were invited to imagine a scenario in which they were listening to someone speaking to them, and who then actually experienced a scenario in which they were listening to someone speaking to them. The researchers noted that the act of imagining a sound, called hallucinating a sound, was experienced exactly the same as real hearing, both being experienced as coming from an external source.

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18 separate studies found that patients who received cognitive behavioral therapy plus hypnosis for disorders such as obesity, insomnia, anxiety and hypertension showed greater improvement than 70 percent of the patients who received psychotherapy

alone.

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Disclaimer:

Hypnosis cannot, and should not, stand alone as the sole medical or psychological

intervention for any disorder. Hypnosis should not be used instead of appropriate medical, dental, or psychological treatment, and any individual with a medical or psychological problem should first consult a qualified health care provider for diagnosis and professional advice. Hypnosis should only be practiced by those who have been appropriately trained, who practice appropriately, and within the scope of their training.

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Information compiled by Gwyneth McNeil, Certified Hypnotist and Certified Instructor with the National Guild of Hypnotists and Managing Director of Academy of Life Management in Salt Lake City, Utah. 3098 Highland Drive Suite #317 - Salt Lake City, Utah 84117

Provided by www.WorldHypnotismDay.com

Powerful Achievements of Hypnotherapy

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:40:31 GMT

Recently a hypnotherapist received a call from the wife of a friend he had not seen for more than two years. He knew that the friend had been treated surgically for cancer of the kidney, but he had heard that the operation had proved successful and all was well. Unfortunately, this was not the case.

The wife asked the hypnotherapist if he would see the husband and try to relieve the intense pain which was being suffered. The therapist requested medical authority to enter into the case and was advised that the situation was terminal, and that everything possible had been done--any help in pain relief was more than welcome. The prognosis was for about six months of life.

The situation was such that the patient could not visit the office, so the hypnotherapist offered to make a house call. He had some concern about the hypnotizability of the patient, since hypnosis usually requires an ability to focus attention as directed by the hypnotherapist in the fixation phase of the induction. It was possible that the sheer intensity of the pain was so great that the diversion of attention from it would be difficult or impossible.

Anticipating that repeat visits would be difficult in view of the medical and family situations, the therapist made a tape dealing with relaxation, rest and pain reduction, taking it with him on the call. On arriving he learned that he was ill-prepared to face the situation confronting him. His friend was in bed, face contorted with agony with a tube in the arm connected to a button which released morphine on demand. The morphine now provided minimal relief.
The Power Of The Mind

The hypnotherapist called the family into the room, together with the patient, to acquaint them with the plan and procedures. After the family was informed, members left and the therapist talked for some time with the patient, discussing hypnosis, the powers of the mind and pain. An induction was then begun, and while it was slow going at the beginning, the patient did slip into hypnotic trance and responded very well once relaxation was achieved. He was programmed for alleviation of pain, control of emotions, ability to take nourishment and response to treatment. He was given a special cue to use for pain relief when discomfort became particularly intense. He was given the tape and advised it paralleled the hypnotic session and would provide similar relief when used. On awakening the patient commented that he had not rested so well in months.

In six weeks the patient died. At the funeral services the wife told the hypnotherapist the final six weeks had been bearable for both the patient and the family due to the tape. She commented that when pain became intense the patient would ask for the tape, and when it was begun the time required to move from deep pain to total relaxation was approximately thirty seconds.

Applications and Techniques

Hypnotherapeutic methods for achieving pain relief are numerous. Effectiveness can vary and the choice may depend on the condition and personality of the patient. Suggestions may be direct or indirect, interspersed, or may utilize anesthesia, guided imagery, hypnoanalysis or other procedures.

As is so important in hypnosis, attitude is a major factor It is important that the patient accept that relief is possible. Constant pain needs to be approached on a different basis from interim pain. Constant pain is not to be relinquished completely even for a few minutes, since it is identified with the life force. The patient likes to feel it is there, however reduced, even during periods of sleep.

Physical pain is seldom constant. The therapist will determine if the patient has experienced periods, however briefly, which were free of pain. If the patient claims the pain is constant, it is more likely to be psychological in origin and may indicate a constant pain syndrome. Treatment will likely involve the establishment of rapport with empathy and appreciation of the value of pain. Hypnotic regression to the cause of the problem can lead to understanding and relief.

A reasonable hypnotherapist usually will not work with physical pain without being in communication with an appropriate physician, for the simple reason that pain is more of a symptom than a condition. Pain indicates that something is wrong, somewhere, and that is true whether the pain is physical or mental. It would be the height of folly to treat a migraine headache only to have it turn out to have been a brain cancer.

It is important to remember that some patients value their pains highly, just as a hypochondriac can be said to "enjoy poor health." Through hypnosis patients frequently can be shown that they can control their pains, and being able to do so they also can diminish pain to tolerable levels or turn it off completely at will.

Seemingly endless periods of tests which prove inconclusive, often accompanied by conflicting diagnoses, can instill levels of fear which may be dealt with through hypnotherapy. Guilt, anger or other emotional problems often enter into the picture when accidents are involved as source conditions.

Negative attitudes must be dealt with, and again the capability of hypnosis to modify trends of thought becomes important. In difficult cases the power to cope can be programmed into the patient's mind, possibly together with cues to make the process more or less automatic.

In dealing with pain situations, teaching the patient the use of self-hypnosis techniques can be highly beneficial, reinforcing the programming that has been done in the case.

This information was researched by the NGH educational facility and is distributed as a public information service by its members.

Mountaintop Hypnotherapy
Roosevelt and Vernal, Utah
435-722-4451

Avoid Burnout

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:27:54 GMT

The human brain receives messages from several sources, each dealing with separate types of information. Input dealing with everyday matters such as news, music, jobs, relationships, weather, etc., comes from the external environment. Our own bodies provide data concerning movement, digestion, tension, pain, etc., all in the form of messages, sent to the brain.

The conscious mind deals with reasoning and logic, decisions, goals planning and conscious activity. The unconscious mind, which includes both the subconscious and the superconscious, wields the greatest influence. It receives all the messages from our social, spiritual and genetic backgrounds and all the conflicts and disturbances which enter our consciousness each day. The unconscious mind receives and holds its information, neither accepting nor rejecting the messages. It does not evaluate. That procedure is reserved for the conscious mind.

From primitive times the human animal has possessed an escape mechanism that even today, under severely threatening conditions, can cause regression to primitive behavior. The fight/flight syndrome, always a means of dealing with fears, threats, attacks and other disturbances, has gained tolerance through evolution with the addition or reaction vs. action and repression vs. depression. Without these, when the message input volume reached overload conditions, the escape would be toward the denial of reality. However, the desire for social acceptance provides motivation to cope with and adapt to reality.

Nevertheless, when the conscious mind can no longer handle the message units overloading the brain, the subconscious prepares us for fight or flight--the heart pumps harder, blood pressure rises, super-strength can be generated. But sometimes there is nothing to fight. We can't fight the environment. We can't fight a job, an accident, a bad decision. What now?

Enter Stress/Anxiety

Unable to fight, the reaction turns to the alternative of flight, which in present day life can prove impossible. Often a state of apathy, depression and/or hypersuggestiblity ensues. Negative input finds acceptance. Futility and melancholy develop and an overreaction to the senses develops together with a loss of tolerance. The road turns downhill.

Imagine a group of musicians playing together. Imagine the trumpet player getting a measure or two ahead of the rest. Imagine the saxophone player, trying to figure out what the trumpeter is doing, dropping a measure behind. Imagine the drummer, becoming confused, missing his beats so that the whole group gets off beat. Imagine the conductor waving his arms desperately trying to orient the players. Imagine the cacophony as the musicians collapse, give up and quit playing.

A person experiencing continuing stress may well become subject to such a frenzy, in the process developing any or several forms of stress-related illness. While certain types of stress are even desirable (romantic stress, job promotions, winning a lottery), stresses that produce debilitation, depression, excessive smoking, overeating, anger, grief, and similar reactions need attention and usually professional help.

The first recognition of a therapist dealing with stress is likely to be that while the world, or the past if it is a factor in the condition, cannot be changed, it is possible to alter the client's perception of and reaction to them.

Again, causal factors need to be investigated. And not infrequently regression can be helpful in this process. Stress may be a reaction to people, places, events, or things. The threats may be real or imagined. Remember, the subconscious mind does not analyze, and usually by the time depression appears the conscious mind had lost its ability to do so. However, there are several common basic causes of stress which can be recognized, defined and often eliminated.

What's Behind It All

Why me? Stress victims ask the question quite often. Many factors enter into the picture of possibilities. Overachievers, typical Type A personalities, are hyper-competitive. They can be addicted to stress. They can enjoy it, until it gets out of control. Victims can learn stress early in life from parents, teachers, relatives and others. Through early experience they simply consider stress a normal part of life; they see it all the time.

Fears, valid or otherwise, can lead to the development of symptoms of stress. They can expand into full grown phobias and psychiatric disorders. Unrelenting pain or worries over health situations are factors, as are repressed emotions such as hurt, anger, grief, etc. Specific incidents are frequently involved, such as the necessity to speak to a group in the course of job performance when such activity is uncomfortable.

Medical conditions, including dietary deficiencies, can lead to stress, as can such female experiences as PMS. External factors, such as continuous or intermittent bothersome noise levels, can create or add to stress level.

Every individual is different in tolerance levels, coping abilities, reaction and therapeutic needs. Dealing with stress is best accomplished through a trained, experienced and sensitive professional who can determine causes and evaluate reactions. Sheer willpower is not the remedy in stress cases. Effective and permanent relief responds to desensitization, which can be brought about through hypnotherapy.

It is important to analyze the stress stimuli and the physical and/or emotional responses which they bring about. Through hypnosis positive new responses can be created to replace the devastating reactions of the past. Buried feelings can be brought to the surface and released. Outside pressures can be relieved. And finally, new responses to old disturbances can be induced with major changes in attitudes and reactions.

This information was researched by the NGH educational facility and is distributed as a public information service by its members.

Mountaintop Hypnotherapy
Roosevelt and Vernal, Utah
435-722-4451