Discovery Channel Hypnosis

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Change your Thoughts To Change Your Life With Hypnosis

Change Your Thoughts To Change Your Life by Stephanie MacLennan

Use Hypnosis to Create Emotional Wellbeing
Though it may be difficult to believe it at times, we are all responsible for our own emotions. How we view and think about ourselves, others and the world around us can have a profound effect on our mental and physical well-being. To be mentally fit it is important to use positive and encouraging self-talk. Sometimes we are unmerciful in the mental abuse of ourselves. We fire words at ourselves that we would not dream of aiming at another because they are too harsh: How often have we called ourselves "stupid idiot" "brainless twit" "complete and useless failure"!? How often have we looked in the mirror and thought, "I look gross/ hideous/ unattractive!"? How often have we blamed ourselves for something that was outside our control, or carried guilt for someone else's bad behaviour and so on? Not exactly ego-boosting stuff! We all understand that if we mistreat our bodies by unhealthy eating or excessive drinking then, most likely, we are going to end up with an unhealthy body. Sometimes we forget that the mind is not any different. If we mistreat our mind by feeding it with unhealthy negative thoughts, then we are going to end up with a mindful of unhealthy thoughts leading to emotional problems such as anxiety, poor self-image, low confidence, stress and unhappiness. In addition, emotional problems can have physical manifestations, for example, weight problems, IBS, skin disorders, bruxism (teeth grinding), headaches, lowered immune system and much more.
Our emotional wellbeing is not something that others give to us; it is something we create ourselves. We create it by using positive words (our self-talk) and by harbouring healthy thoughts. Our way of thinking determines our emotional states.
We can have healthy negative emotions and unhealthy negative emotions. Anger, for example, is an unhealthy negative emotion which can lead towards aggressiveness to self or others, whereas, its healthy counterpart, annoyance tends towards assertiveness.
We were not born to be continuously unhappy and anxious. Do not become accepting and resigned to unhappiness. We are responsible for our own emotions and therefore for our own mental wellbeing. Our emotional well-being stems from our thoughts. Shakespeare very aptly expresses the concept of how we are responsible for ourselves:
"Men at some time are masters of their fates: The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves, that we are underlings" Julius Caesar (Act 1)
The first step in controlling your emotions is to change the mindset that holds the belief that others are responsible for how we feel. Even if someone has done "something" dreadful to us, our response to that "something" is within our control. Once we understand and believe that fact then we are in the position to start discarding the unhealthy thoughts. Of course, we need to want to do that! Though it is understood and accepted that we need to discard unhealthy thoughts, it is not always easy to do so. Thoughts of hatred, jealousy, low self-worth and feeling hard-done-by thoughts can be very deeply embedded. We need to motivate ourselves to put the effort into bringing about the change. To be motivated to do anything we have to believe wholeheartedly that there is some benefit in it for us; in other words, it needs to have appeal to our survival instinct. Good physical and mental health is necessary for a long, healthy and happy life. The need to survive drives us to maintain a healthy lifestyle and is the motivation to discard unhealthy and destructive emotions.
Hypnosis can help us to develop a positive and healthy lifestyle. Hypnosis is a means to communicate with the unconscious mind. Hypnosis is a key to the door of unconscious mind. The unconscious mind knows everything about us; it is our personalised brain. Because hypnosis gives us that access, therapy under hypnosis (hypnotherapy) is enormously helpful in bringing about beneficial changes. Hypnotherapy can be much more therapeutically effective than traditional psychotherapy. In addition, hypnotherapy can be considerably less costly in both monetary and time terms.

About the Author

Stephanie MacLennan PDHyp, DHyp, BSCH, GHR a Clinical Hypnotherapist and a CBT Hypnotherapist practising In London and Berkshire, England. To find out more visit http://www.stephaniemaclennan.com

How To Use Self Hypnosis To Harness One Of Natures Most Powerful Forces For Your Own Personal Development

How To Use Self-Hypnosis To Harness One Of Natures Most Powerful Forces For Your Own Personal Development by Adam Eason

My brother and I were on a 20 mile marathon training run together this weekend just gone and I was telling him that a very momentous thing happened to me this week and I am going to tell you about that thing too. Ready? ....I threw away my big duck-down, red puffer jacket - a big winter coat that I have owned since I was 16 years old. I bought it from my Uncles shop in Nottingham as a young man and have now owned it for more of my life that I have not owned it.
My brother laughed and asked why I had done such a thing. So I explained to him that I really ought to have a new winter jacket and that someone of my resource ought to have a fine new one. He asked me why I couldn't just buy a new one (or two or three) and still keep the old jacket.
My answer to him was one word - Vacuum.
Let me explain... When I had been skiing and left footprints in any patch of snow, you can bet those footprints were covered up by wind, snow and other footprints and I wouldn't find them again. When I have been walking on the beaches outside my home or anywhere else in the world, I am sure that you have seen what happens when you leave footprints in the sand on the beach - the sea and the wind soon fills them in.
Nature does not stand for a vacuum. It does not let it go too long without being filled. I can remember the impressions I would get on my face from sucking all the air out of plastic drinks bottles or cups when I was younger. Nature rushes to fill that vacuum. Now since the inherent nature of the universe is good, a vacuum will always be filled with good. So when you need more of something that you are after - create a vacuum. You can apply this principle in so many areas of your life.
A vacuum is a natural law and learning how to create and use a vacuum is a very powerful thing to do.
If you want some new shoes, simply give some of your old ones to charity. If you feel stressed and busy, tidy up or dispose of some of the clutter in your immediate environment. Simply cleaning off your desk, sorting out all that paperwork, picking your clothes up off the floor or making your bed can bring lots more harmony into your life. Cleaning out the bathroom cabinet, a wardrobe or storage cupboard, not to mention the garage, is going to do the same thing.
This does not only apply to the physical things in life of course.
Letting go of thoughts of hate, lack, guilt or revenge creates a vacuum for hope, joy and happiness to return and flood your heart with well-being. If you are not experiencing all that you want in life, it often means that you are holding on to something that you should be released.
You can use this notion to bring more wealth, confidence, courage, motivation and inspiration into your life. Anything you like.
You know that you well and truly are surrounded by good everywhere. It is all around us and within us and the universe is poised to fill the gaps with it. The only lack is the lack in your mind. Open your mind to receive whatever you want, create a vacuum to hold it, and you are going to attract it.
To create a really powerful vacuum in your life, follow these simple steps:
Step One: Get relaxed and at ease. Breathe easily and deeply, pushing your stomach out as you breathe in. Tune in to the moment and engage with it. As I seem to say each week - get my self-hypnosis book, or use whatever form of trance induction, meditation technique or relaxation method you know and generate a nice receptive state. Enjoy it and imagine being in your favourite place in nature, whatever or wherever that might be.
Tune in to nature in this place. Create a natural, nurturing environment that is going to be really responsive to the vacuum that you are going to create. See the sights, hear the sounds, feel the feelings of being in your favourite place or a wondrous place in your mind. Once you feel nice and settled you can begin to contemplate.
Step Two: In this wonderful place, think about what you want more of in your life. Think about why you want more of that, think about how much better life is with more of that in your life.
Now think about all the things that you are holding on to that you need to let go of. What is blocking your way, or what can you release to create the space? Identify that. It may be more than one thing. Think and contemplate what you can free yourself of and let go of to create a vacuum in your life and to allow more good to fill that vacuum.
Step Three: In this place in nature, imagine that you are standing. Imagine feeling the ground beneath your feet, smelling the fragrances and the breathing the air. See the sights and hear the sounds of nature.
Then, imagine yourself surrounded by all the things that you need to let go of. They can be actual; things or symbolic representations of those things all surrounding you in a circle. Or if it is just a single thing, it can be opposite you.
Imagine that there is a cord that ties you to each thing. See the cord and feel it, maybe imagine it made of gold, silver or something natural and appealing to you.
Step Four: Now comes the fun. Cut the ties that were binding you to those things and choose to let go of them. You can have a pair of scissors or a knife, or you can zap them with your imagination or do whatever else pleases you. Just cut those ties and watch that thing getting smaller and smaller until it is gone.
Notice what it feels like to have let go of that. Be open to good coming your way from here onwards and be thankful and comfortable that you did that.
Step Five: Think and about and meditate on how good it is to have released that from your life and think about how you will know that you truly have released it. Think about what you can do this very day to show yourself and the universe that you have let go, released and zapped away that old thing and that you are now open to getting more of what you wanted in your life.
Be open and ready to receive.
Step Six: Relax, open your eyes. Now go and take some action to confirm that you have let go and released this thing. Maybe you openly forgive someone, behave differently, do a particular action that shows that you have let go of that thing for good.
This is important. You have to show the universe that you actually did create the vacuum. It needs to be there. You don't get those marks on your face unless you really suck all the air out of the bottles! You don't get a new jacket until the old one is properly gone! You have to make sure the universe has proof that you created the vacuum and then you let the laws of nature do their work!
So there you go - see how you can create a vacuum of any kind in your life and start allowing nature to fill that vacuum with more and more wonderful helpings of good and more of what you want!

About the Author

Adam Eason is a UK based, renowned consultant, speaker and best-selling author. Please visit his website for a vast range of personal development resources and to receive your amazing free, instantly downloadable hypnosis session for ultimate relaxation and the sensational free ebook 'The Happy Brain Manual' filled with techniques, tips and strategies to make more of your brain: http://www.adam-eason.com Thank you.

Improve Your Memory Recall With Hypnosis

Improve Your Memory Recall With Hypnosis by Alan Crisp

Have you ever noticed how you sometimes have trouble remembering something and the harder you try to remember it the more difficult it becomes? Then later that day, when you'd forgotten about trying to remember, the name, answer or information you wanted just popped into your head?
The information was there the whole of the time of course but you were experiencing what Emile Coue called the "Law of Reversed Effect".
And of course we all know how the mind can wander when we are feeling relaxed and all sorts of memories can flow up into conscious awareness. This will happen even more easily using hypnosis.
How memory works
The latest thinking on how memory works is that there is a three stage process:
* Accepting - a memory into your memory system and filing it away safely. * Storage - Keeping it safe and in a place where it can be found easily when wanted. * Retrieval - Finding the memory again and bringing it back into conscious awareness.
Types of memory store
There are thought to be two of memory store:
* Short term or working memory * Long-term or permanent (we hope) memory
And maybe two types of memory, 'Explicit' (which country do you live in?) and 'Implicit' (How do you tie a shoe lace?).
So, using hypnosis to improve your memory makes sense. In fact, many accelerated learning programs such as speed reading and photo-reading actually use a state of altered consciousness similar to hypnosis. They won't call it hypnosis but instead they may talk about
Alpha and Theta states
So, hypnosis can provide a lot of help with improving memory because it can help to overcome some of the problems associated with poor memory such as:
* Good perception of the object or thought you want to remember in the first place;
* Having a good route and system of storage so you can find that memory again really easily and quickly when you want or need to;
* A system of linking one memory to others that may be in the same catagorie or group (very useful for exams and tests).
. However, once in a hypnotic state of mind there are some really excellent memory techniques that can be learned, or as a hypnotherapist may say "installed". You will learn to use them far more quickly if the initial understanding is gained at both conscious and subconscious levels as in clinical hypnotherapy.

About the Author

Alan Crisp DHP is one of London's leading Hypno-Psychotherapists and has a busy practice in Beckenham on the borders of West Kent, South East London and East Surrey. http://www.hypnoseek.com

How Are You Maintaining Your Anxiety?

How Are You Maintaining Your Anxiety?

by Karen Hastings, Hertfordshire

Worries and anxieties are normal and familiar to all of us. They are necessary to our survival as they prepare us for coping with stress and danger. When we perceive danger, changes take place in our body, in how we think and also in how we behave. These changes are triggered by the release of the hormone adrenalin and are crucial as they prime us for action.
Problems arise when the stress response becomes chronic, or excessive and symptoms of long-term anxiety include the following:
Muscular discomfort - headaches - difficulty swallowing - chest pains - stomach cramps - blurred vision - ringing ears - nausea - dizziness - shortness of breath.
So what causes chronic anxiety?
The actual trigger for the stress response might be real or imagined, for example, a person with a social phobia may feel just as panicky at the thought of having to walk into a big party as actually walking into a big party. Whether the trigger is a real or imagined threat, the key to persistent anxiety is you and the cycle that you maintain. This usually takes three forms,
1. Bodily symptom cycles: worrying about the physical symptoms of anxiety so much that this worry re-triggers the stress response and the physical symptoms.
2. Biased thinking cycles: overestimating the threat of danger and underestimating your coping resources. Common thinking biases include; black and white thinking, catastrophising; exaggerating, ignoring the positive. Biased thinking can further increase distress and anxiety, which in turn enhances thinking distortions even more!
3. Behavioural response cycles: avoidance is a common response to anxiety, it is natural to want to escape to somewhere safe and comforting. The problem with this is that avoidance keeps the problem going as the you will never get to learn that you can cope.
Which of these cycles best describes how you keep your anxiety going? Once you have identified which cycle you tend to maintain you can begin to plan to break the cycle.
When clients come to see me at my practice in Aldbury, Hertfordshire. I have a range of techniques in my toolbox that are useful in breaking the anxiety cycle the person is maintaining. An example of techniques include the following:
1. Bodily symptom cycle: controlled breathing, relaxation training, expanding awareness techniques, hypnosis, psycho-education, introducing exercise as a coping strategy.
2. Biased thinking: belief change process, thought challenging, distraction, teaching use of clean language, communication model, sub-modality work, hypnosis.
3. Problem Behaviour: graded exposure, goal setting, swish process, fast phobia cure, problem-solving strategies.
I also work with clients to develop coping strategies, during NLP and hypnotherapy Herts, so that can be used in the longer term. If you are experiencing anxiety that is impacting on your functioning and well-being it may be useful to see a cognitive therapist. Therapies that focus of changing negative patterns of thought are now considered key methods in overcoming anxiety, phobias and depression.

About the Author

Karen has a degree in Psychology and is also a professionally qualified mental-health occupational therapist, with NHS experience. Karen is registered with the HPC and is a member of the BAOT. Karen practices privately and offers NLP and Hypnotherapy, Herts. Visit http://www.karenhastings.co.uk

Irritable Bowel Syndrome and the Mind

Irritable Bowel Syndrome and the Mind.

by Dr Phil Hariram

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is a common chronic condition with symptoms of abdominal pain, altered bowel habit and form, and bloating. Even though up to 20% of people globally suffer from IBS, no one knows the true cause, there is no physical abnormality, no treatment works for a large group of patients and there is no cure.
The mind connection begins with the potential causes. There is a higher incidence of childhood abuse in IBS group. Talley et al said that 50% of IBS sufferers reported abuse in childhood. Drossman said the more severe the IBS, the more severe the abuse.
All new IBS books dedicate at least one chapter on the Body Mind aspect of IBS. The suggestion is that the Brain-Gut Axis is faulty in patients with IBS.
In addition treatment with cognitive behavioural therapy, psychotherapy, biofeedback and hypnotherapy are producing surprisingly encouraging results.
Technology has isolated areas of the brain that trigger specific effects on the gut. A highly developed Scanner has shown during emotional distress, a part of the brain, the mid-cingulate cortex being stimulated. When this area is over stimulated, abdominal pain and/ or diarrhoea develops.
Studies have shown that hypnotherapy works extremely well. Some cases of refractory (nothing works) IBS, following hypnotherapy are able to lead normal lives and eat food that were previously triggers. Hypnotherapy adjusts information in the subconscious mind.
If a person with severe IBS suddenly decides that she can control her IBS symptoms, specific sequence of activity will follow. Surrounding the subconscious mind is the Critical Factor. It permits information to go pass if it is in line with stored information and refuse entry to contrary information.
The information "I can control my IBS" reaches the Critical Factor. The Critical Factor will now do a search just like Google. It will search the vast information highway of your subconscious mind. The search result: There is no info that you can control your IBS in your subconscious Mind. You have been Googled. This information will be blocked. It will reside only in the conscious mind. In other words the control will not be forthcoming.
During hypnotherapy, you are put into a deep altered sleep. During this trance state, the Critical Factor relaxes and allows the hypnotist to plant and remove information. After several sessions all the negative messages about IBS is removed and replaced by positive ones. These patients are now able too lead normal lives.
Some hypnotists plant images in case symptoms such as pain develop. If this patient developed gut pain, and she puts her hand on her tummy, she can create a picture of her gut as a smooth lazy river slowly flowing along with no kinks or white water rapids. Through the mind, these patients are programmed to control their symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Your mind and IBS are closely interconnected. Your symptoms and specific triggers depend on information in your subconscious mind, and this information is gathered from past event and knowledge. In time this becomes a conditioned reflex and your IBS will react like before because the body remembers. This reaction will be specific to you and different from other IBS sufferers because of different stored Information.
Remember you are not alone. There are millions of Irritable Bowel Syndrome sufferers globally. Take a positive attitude and create positive expectation for your IBS. Surround yourself with people that inspire you. Talk freely about your IBS. This could be your important step towards gaining control of your IBS.

About the Author

Dr. Phil Hariram is retired General Practitioner. He believes that Irritable Bowel Syndrome and the Mind are strongly interconnected and control is possible by harnessing the power of the Mind. Learn more at http://www.healingibs.com

Hypnosis

Hypnosis

Control stress hypnosis by John Hartley

It is important to understand that we don't always "feel" emotions in the way we may think that we do. Our efforts to protect ourselves from being hurt emotionally can cause lots of trouble since our mind and body find other ways or expressing the suppressed emotions. Hypnosis can unlock these secrets and re-program the mind in positivism. Hence, control stress hypnosis by weeding out the bad and suppressed hurt feeling that is deeply buried in the sub-conscious.
Hypnosis is the process by which an altered state of mental consciousness is induced that allows constructive suggestions directly to the subconscious mind. By giving constructive suggestions to the subconscious mind, control stress hypnosis helps.
Disorder due to stress is characterized by insomnia, irritability, impatience, restlessness, hyperactivity-sweating, increased palpitations, light-headedness, high resting pulse and respiratory rate, fatigue, stomach upset, lump in the throat, pervasive, persistent anxiety, worry, thoughts, or anticipation of misfortune to self or others. You can use control stress hypnosis, to root out the underlying factors behind its symptoms.
Anxiety is different from that of panic and fear, in that anxiety is a chronic state of arousal, where panic and fear is sudden, and an acute state. If you suffer from anxiety you will mostly complain of not being able to concentrate or poor memory. Here hypnosis is utilized to significantly reduce anxiety disorders through the use of relaxation, and using visualization techniques to overcome exaggerated fearful thought processes. You will need a referral by a physician for this therapy.
Hypnosis to reduce anxiety
Control stress hypnosis is a very powerful tool for curing anxiety. Through hypnosis, your subconscious mind can be trained to respond more to rational judgment than to imaginary fear. Hypnosis anxiety treatment treats the cause of anxiety and not the symptoms.
Stress results from a psychological and biological reaction to a perceived threat. A stress response includes an increase in blood pressure, pulse rate, energy levels, mental activity, and muscle strength. If stress is not dealt with while it is at a low level, the symptoms of stress can escalate to cause other problems such as anxiety and depression.
The control stress hypnosis process teaches you how to bring the body into a relaxed state. By experiencing the deep relaxation of a hypnotic state, the body learns to relax. You will feel more rested, energetic, and you will find the sleep becoming deeper and more peaceful. As you begin to feel better physically, your thinking will become clearer, and your reactions to stressful situations will be calmer. As you learn to control, the response to stress triggers, your emotions will be more controlled as well, and you will begin to experience a greater sense of peace and serenity no matter what circumstances in which you may find yourself. Hypnosis helps reduce anxiety and stress by teaching your body and mind to cope, change and adapt to whatever situation may arise in your life. This, by itself, is the key to successful stress management.
Rex Truman is a writer who has studied hypnosis, and shares his findings with people who want to know more about this therapy at www.hypnosis-selfhypnosis.com
About the Author
Self Hypnosis