Hypnosis - Latest Research

"US Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York recruited 200 women who were about to undergo breast surgery for cancer. They were randomly divided into two groups. The first group had consultations with a psychologist one hour before surgery. The second group were given hyupnosis including positive suggestions about pain reduction, nausea, fatigue and relaxation.

Results showed that in the hypnosis group women experienced less pain, nausea, fatigue and distress compared to the women who didn't have hypnosis. Also, strangely, the surgery time in the hypnosis group was considerably reduced.

Dr David Spiegel of the Stanford University School of Medicine writes in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute that the mind can be a powerful tool for pain control. Not many years ago doctors would have considered hypnosis-aided surgery as a waste of time - in spite of the fact that hypnosis has been accepted as a viable therapeutic option by the NHS since its inception in 1953"
Source: The Journal of the Complementary Medical Association (Autumn 2008)

Stress

Many potential patients can see the benefit of cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy (CBT with hypnosis), psychotherapy or hypnotherapy. However, in my experience, it is often difficult for a patient to understand how a purely psychological therapy is able to treat conditions that are physical, for example eczema, excessive perspiration, blushing, high blood pressure, IBS or pain.

A good way of looking at this is to observe how stress and anxiety affect the body. Stress may be caused by purely emotional disturbances but the responses of the body are very physical. Although no physical harm has been caused to the body and no toxic substance ingested or applied, a variety of obvious symptoms may be apparent. Examples include increased heart rate, dilated pupils and airways, coupled with a decrease in gut motility and digestion.

So if the body can provoke a physical symptom as a result of a psychological disturbance, must it not also be the case that psychological intervention may also treat a physical symptom? By way of further explanation, I detail below a brief account of the body’s stress response.

Why do we experience stress?

The stress response is intricately linked to our survival and when properly controlled by the body, an enormously beneficial response. The response is incredibly complex and awesome in its ability to protect us. However, our stress response has evolved beyond that used (and required) when we lived in the wild and is not as readily switched off by our bodies. Too much stress is undoubtedly a damaging factor. This is compounded by its tendency to self-perpetuate; the more our body suffers damage from stress the more the damage in turn becomes a stressor.

Without stress, humans would have been unlikely to survive and evolve in the manner that has allowed us to hold a place of pre-eminence in the animal kingdom. A stimulus that causes stress is called a stressor and is not solely concerned with emotional states such as anxiety and fear as may be commonly believed. Modern stressors include work related issues, financial and relationships issues, bereavement or retirement. Also, the stressor could be pain, loud noise, extremes of temperature, bleeding or even infection. In essence, a stressor may be anything that interferes with the normal process of the human body.

Stress in the body

The stress response is predominantly under the control of the hypothalamus and is essentially a mechanism of the body to maintain homeostasis (this is how the body regulates its internal environment). Normally the body can cope and the internal environment will continue within usual parameters. However, if the stressor is very strong or of a long duration, the internal mechanisms may fail and the body will cease to cope with stress.
The stress response may be either acute or chronic. Acute stress occurs throughout the day as body is challenged and needs to take some kind of action in order to maintain homeostasis. However, various responses mean that the body can return to a normal state as quickly as possible. When this does not happen, one may experience chronic stress. It is only in cases of chronic stress that the body can damage itself as it fails to return an equilibrium.

One feature of the stress response, when compared to other responses of the body, is its general nature. Physiologically the body’s responses are generally specific; if hot it will sweat, if cold it will shiver. However, the stress response is the same no matter the stimulus. Although this may appear at first glance unusual, it is because when the body suffers stress it relies on the skeletal muscles to defeat the stressor. Therefore the reaction is aimed at priming them and making sure that it pumps enough oxygen rich blood to fuel them. However, as we have evolved and now suffer from emotional stress probably more than stress as a result of imminent physical danger, this is not always the most appropriate response.

In the event of either acute or chronic stress, the stress response is traditionally broken down into three stages; the fight or flight response, the resistance reaction and exhaustion, in that order. The purpose of the stress response is to allow the body to battle for its survival.

The fight or flight response

An immediate and short-lived reaction, its purpose is to protect the body from imminent danger or threat. The response provides the energy to fight or to run away from the danger.

The resistance reaction

In contrast to the fight or flight this response is a longer lasting but slower reaction and its purpose is to allow the body to continue its battle for survival after the initial fight or flight stage has passed, that is even after the initial danger has dissipated. It triggers the release of hormones which fuel the body and aids the repair of any damaged cells.

Exhaustion

The exhaustion stage does not always occur but may be in evidence if the resistance reaction has been insufficient to ward off the perceived threat. Where it does occur it is a response stemming from the body no longer having enough fuel to continue in the resistance state. In fact, if this stage continues it is indicative of chronic stress and may result in severe anxiety, depression, ulcers, diabetes, wasted muscle and an impaired immune system. Exhaustion is a dangerous stage for the body to reach.

My role

If stress is not managed appropriately then the consequences can lead to prolonged health problems and even death. Though the stress responses described are the body’s autonomic survival strategy they do have their negative side affects which need to be controlled. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy (CBH), psychotherapy and hypnotherapy can help in developing the coping strategies needed to deal with modern stressors.

I offer a discreet and effective range of therapies from my rooms in both London, Newbury and Wargrave (near Reading). All consultations are specific to the individuals and may include any of the above therapies in order to bring about a swift and lasting resolution to stress related problems.

Quit smoking with hypnosis

"More people than ever are trying to quit smoking...Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in Britain - with about 114,000 deaths annually attributed to the habit - and costs the NHS about £1.5 billion a year" -The Times May 31 2007.

Research comparing many different studies of hypnotherapy has shown that on average smokers are over five times more likely to break the habit with hypnosis than by willpower alone. Hypnotherapy in general is also proven to be more than twice as effective compared with nicotine gum. If you really want to stop smoking, then one session of hypnotherapy could be all you need.

To quit smoking you need to know YOUR reasons for quitting. It helps hugely to do some self-analysis before giving up smoking. An easy and illuminating method is to make a list with two columns. Label column one “Why I started smoking” and label column two “Why I Want To Quit Smoking”. In column one, list all the reasons you can remember as to why you started smoking in the first place. Was it to look cool? Was it to feel grown-up? To feel part of the group? Try to remember the exact reasons why you started smoking and write them all down.

Look at your list. How many of those original reasons are still valid reasons for smoking? None!

So let us move on to column two. Why do you want to quit smoking? Really think about this one. The first reason that comes to mind might be “I don’t want to die from a smoking-related disease” or “I hate waking up in the morning with a “smoker's mouth /cough”. The first reason given here is a “possibility”; however, the second is a specific state that you are experiencing. A state that you are actually experiencing is a much stronger motivator to quitting smoking. So, let column two list all the disadvantages of smoking that you are currently experiencing. These might include current health issues, financial reasons, image reasons, obvious ageing affects, your home and car smelling of stale cigarette smoke, your clothes and hair. Bad breath and stained teeth can also be added to he list. Find as many specific and tangible reasons as you can and write them down.
Look at your list and see the compelling reasons for quitting now. You know that you are definitely going to become a non-smoker at some stage so make now the time for you to become a non-smoker. Do you ever think about the time you lose by being a smoker? If you are a ten-a-day smoker you waste 51,000 mins (35 days per year)on smoking! That is the equivalent of one-tenth of a year! Use hypnosis to help you to stop smoking. Hypnosis is not a magic wand. You still have to put effort and determination into giving up smoking, however, hypnosis can just be that extra support that will make you a non-smoker. If you really want to be a non-smoker, become a non-smoker.

Weight Loss By Recognising The Hunger You Feel

Just by learning to differentiate body hunger from emotional hunger and dealing with each in the appropriate way, we are well on the way to changing our eating patterns to a way that ensures a gradual, healthy and permanent weight loss

Change Your Thoughts to Change Your Life

We were not born to be continuously anxious and unhappy. Do not become accepting of and resigned to unhappiness…Our emotional wellbeing stems from our thoughts