People avoid hypnosis for a variety of reasons. A lack of understanding about what hypnosis actually comprises, doubts about its efficacy due to inadequate research, an worries about losing controls are common reasons. Some people don’t like to be influenced by others, while others don’t like alternative medicine.

I would like to take the opportunity to dispel some of the most common misconceptions surrounding Hypnosis.

Hypnosis causes individuals to act outrageously – Stage performances depicting hypnosis subjects acting absurdly have influenced public opinions. However, ethical hypnosis only makes suggestions that the subject feels at ease with and allows for free will on the decision to accept those suggestions.

Hypnosis is faking or self-deception – Skeptics claim that people under hypnosis either make up their actions and responses to win over the hypnotist or trick themselves into believing. Studies show that under hypnosis, actual, observable physiological changes take place that prove its veracity and many studies exist showing the benefit of hypnotherapy sessions.

Hypnosis cannot be used to retrieve repressed memories – Some say that hypnosis makes memories susceptible to influence and suggestion. While hypnosis cannot implant or manufacture memories, with the right techniques it can aid in the recovery of actual repressed memories.

For years I battled migraines and the only thing I could do was lay still in a dark room with no noise and wait it out.  Then one day during a migraine attack, I decided to use self hypnosis.  To my delight, my migraine was under my control, and was reduced drastically in sensitivity and time.  Others have also been able to benefit from this experience as well.  Pittsburgh native Heidi White says “I was expecting abracadabra,”  Trying everything she could, with zero results, it seemed the far fetch “hypnosis” technique was her last resort.  “It has really helped me,” she says. “Do I experience the start of headaches? Yes. Am I able to head them off? Yes.”  Below is the CBS televised video of Heidi’s Story.

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=10454647

It only makes sense that hypnosis would be a savior in this scenario.    If you suffer from migraines, we can teach the tools to control your migraines so that your migraines don’t control you.

All too often we subject ourselves and our loved ones that we watch over to chemicals in the form of medicines, when no medicine is needed.  Parents are quick to accept the diagnosis that kids are have this disorder, however, most often, the cases are just an under-challenged and cluttered minds.  One of the most fiercely fought areas for people is Attention Deficit Disorder, better known as ADD, and its other connotation, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD.  Instead of drugging our kids (and adults) with these foreign chemicals, the use of Hypnosis has been shown to make lasting drastic changes on people.

“Hypnosis can give a person with ADD/ADHD the feeling of being in charge of his behavior,” says Anna Baumgaertel, M.D., a developmental-behavioral pediatrician in Philadelphia.

Under Hypnosis, we can expand the neural pathways that ADD blocks and reprogram learned behaviors that have been in place enhancing the ADD.  Studies by Dr. A Barabasz found diagnosis is so rampant due to the symptoms overlapping with other common disorders.  According to Dr. A Barabasz, major research and study is needed to effectively diagnose and treat ADHD.  He also found that hypnosis is a promising treatment for ADHD.

Thats right, just like birthing through hypnosis, many activities can be accomplished with hypnosis.

While wisdom tooth removal is a common dental procedure, many people dread it due to the pain associated with it. Traditional wisdom tooth removal requires numbing injections and in some cases, general anesthesia to manage the pain. While anesthesia helps patients get through the procedure more comfortably, it does come with risks like allergic reactions, nausea, drowsiness and in rare cases, complications during recovery.

Hypnosis for pain-management for wisdom tooth extraction offers an alternative for those seeking a less invasive and more natural option.

Some of the key benefits for choosing hypnosis over anesthesia are:

• Reduced pain and discomfort: Hypnosis can help patients enter a relaxed, focused state where they are less sensitive to any pain or discomfort during the procedure. The mind becomes distracted from sensations in the body.
• Less anxiety: Hypnosis helps calm patients and reduce pre-procedure anxiety and stress. This mental anxiety can also help during the actual procedure.
• Fewer drugs needed: Since hypnosis reduces pain sensitivity and anxiety, patients may require less or no anesthesia, sedatives or pain medication for wisdom tooth extraction. This can lead to a quicker recovery.
• Faster healing: Patients who experience less pain and stress during the procedure may heal more quickly after wisdom tooth extraction. Reduced inflammation and better wound healing is possible.
• Cost savings: Using less or no anesthesia and drugs can potentially save money on the costs of wisdom tooth extraction.

For further information, visit the article below.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2622560/Woman-wisdom-tooth-extracted-using-HYPNOSIS-deal-pain.html

Positive thinking and emotions are the keys to success.   That is easy to say for most, but when the dreaded word cancer comes up, it is difficult for may to remain positive. Everyday there are breakthroughs in the study of cancer prevention and treatment, and you hear many incredible stories of people healing themselves with many alternative therapies such as hypnosis.  Positive thinking can go a long way, even in the darkest of moments.  the UK is not stranger and is actually more excepting of Hypnotherapies.  A huge charity organization, CancerCare, in Lancaster offers such therapies.

30 year old  Suzanne Cremin was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, Renal Cell Carcinoma.  As the news sunk in, she became more devastated and started losing hope for her future, even though the doctors where able to surgically remove without issue.

Suzanne stated “After my op I was expected just to get on with life and return to normal but I found that to be such a struggle.  I was finding it much harder to cope mentally with it all than I was physically.  I just kept asking myself, why me? I am young and healthy. It didn’t make sense to me.   Cancer at 30 is the last thing you expect. I just lost all my confidence in life, all my plans and hopes for the future.”

Having these negative thoughts only compounds issues and sends you into a mental downward-spiral.  Figuring out how to re-tune your mental state to an optimistic viewpoint is the hard part for most Americans, how don’t really want to look into alternative therapies.

Luckily Suzanne’s primary physician recommended CancerCare, where she was able to take a Hypnotherapy course to help get her thoughts and emotions back on the positive side.

“A lot of people think hypnotherapy is just Paul McKenna (Author,Self-Help Guru, Hypnotist) type stuff but it’s so much more than that” Suzanne said.  “I think everyone should try it! Hypnotherapy is like receiving an injection of positive thoughts.  During the session you are put into a deep state of relaxation. It really helped me deal with my anxieties.  It has also given me new mental strength, clarity, and way of coping better with everyday life.   It has also brought some stability back into my life and given me motivation to start looking forward to my future.”

“Hypnotherapy might seem a bit strange to some people but it’s really helped me in ways I didn’t think it could.”

Daily, I am confronted with people with anxiety in person and in passing.  Most of these people who come to me are over-prescribed with medications, so much so that the side effects are ruining their health and other aspects of their lives.  Hypnosis truly is a powerful tool that can help with anxiousness.

This is a section taken from Dr. Michael Craig Miller’s article in a Harvard Health Letter publication.

Q. Is hypnotherapy effective for generalized anxiety and panic disorders?

A. Hypnosis is not just a parlor trick. When taken seriously, it is an effective relaxation technique. And some people say it helps manage their anxiety.

Here’s how it works: You’re invited to relax. You focus your attention inward. You use your imagination to alter your perceptions.

The hypnotherapist may make suggestions. But he or she cannot control you. You remain alert and in control of your own thoughts and actions.

The goal of hypnosis is to divert your attention. By turning your thoughts away from what’s bothering you, you may find some relief.

Some people are more easily hypnotized than others. This trait is called “hypnotizability.” About 10 percent of people are highly hypnotizable. About 10 percent can’t be hypnotized at all. The vast majority of adults can enter at least a light hypnotic state.

Psychotherapy and anti-anxiety medications are still the most effective anxiety treatments. But hypnosis is worth trying, especially if you’re motivated and reasonably able to be hypnotized.

Hypnosis rarely gets rid of all anxiety symptoms. Sometimes hypnosis can reduce the physical discomfort of anxiety disorders (muscle tension, trembling, unsettled stomach, or rapid breathing).

By controlling physical symptoms, you prevent them from making you more anxious.

Dr. Michael Craig Miller is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

This is an interesting read.  It is in the same vein as Dr. Michael Newton, however it focuses more a single persons past life regressions as opposed to Life Between Lives.

Written by 25 year veteran Psychotherapist, Priscilla Griffin, Lifting the Veil details how a devote roman Catholic changed there perspective on reincarnation.  This of course is based on the findings that Priscilla had with a client who was going through difficult times after losing her husband and developing multiple personalities.

“Although I was the therapist and Francine was the client, I learned as much from her as she learned from me,” Griffin said. “My psychotherapy experience with Francine, and my own spiritual awakening, changed my views profoundly.”

“Lifting the Veil”
By Priscilla Griffin, LMHC
ISBN: 978-1-45258-561-1

Hypnosis for Skin

Recently there has been alot of talk about how much better hypnosis is for your skin then alot of the prescription and non-prescription chemicals used to make skin look better.

Medical doctors are using Hypnosis to treat ailments ranging from weakened immune systems to chronic pain.

Dr. Philip Shenefelt, a professor at USF College of Medicine, who uses clinical hypnosis states, “There are misperceptions based on movies about the hypnotist controlling the person being hypnotized.”   “It’s not a valid thing that happens with hypnosis. The term hypnosis has almost a pejorative scent to it.”  Shenefelt said.

A major cosmetics CEO has recently admitted to clearing up a horrible case of acne with self-hypnosis.

Once you unlock the power of Hypnosis, the world truly is your oyster.

World Hypnotism Day is a day dedicated to teach people of the truth and benefits about hypnosis.

It seems every other cartoon I see on television uses some form of hypnosis,but always for a negative reason. Scooby Doo, Phenias and Pherb, Batman, the list goes on and on.  So with this being said, there is a lot that of misnomers about hypnosis that World Hypnotism Day attempts to set straight.

The official site can be found at http://www.worldhypnotismday.com/.

Cheers!