This page is dedicated to your well being!! Enjoy various articles, blogs by yours truly and self hypnosis exercises, all from reliable sources . Looking forward to your continued growth, happiness, and prosperity!
Dedicated to your well being,
Gabrielle Abitol C.Ht
Comparing Psychotherapy, Behavior Modification and Hypnotherapy:
Clients of qualified Hypnotherapists: required an average of only 6 sessions before
93% reach their goals.
Behavior Modification: 22 sessions lead to 72% of clients reaching their goals.
Psychotherapy: 600 sessions help 38% of people to reach their goals.
Published by American Health Magazine
Approximately 88% of Behavior is Unconscious
Are you consciously beating your heart, or making your blood flow through your veins, firing off brain synapses, or even aware of your body language? These and many more are functions of the subconscious mind which is ruled by desire and motivation. So to keep things simple, when a person who hates exercise and is trying to will themselves to the gym, about 90% of the time, they'll be unsuccessful. But if they change those conscious and subconscious associations, like how uncomfortable, painful and maybe embarrassing it is for them to joyful associations about exercise while they're in hypnosis, they'll be constantly surprised at how all of a sudden they're motivated to go to the gym.
I hear this and similar statements all the time. "I can't believe from just one session, I'm eating so much healthier, I had a banana instead of ice cream. And ice cream is my favorite thing in the whole world! But it was so easy!" It's so rewarding to see how at times, change is effected so easily. Exercise and weight loss are obvious uses of Hypnotherapy but its true scope is limitless in nature. For nothing is outside the subconscious mind.
Looking forward to sharing and creating continued stories of success,
Gabrielle Abitol C.Ht
Certified Hypnotherapist, Subconscious Behaviorist
HERE'S A LITTLE SELF HYPNOSIS EXERCISE FOR YOU TO ENJOY!
Using the Tool:
First, decide if you want to use affirmations as part of your self-hypnosis session (you will still be able to relax deeply if you do not use them). If you do, then prepare the affirmations you want to use before you start the session, as you will not want to think about them once you have reached a state of deep relaxation!
Next, find somewhere comfortable and quiet, and sit down.
Now, relax your body. A good way of doing this is to close your eyes and imagine waves of light, relaxing as it runs down your body from your scalp downwards, washing out stress. Let the light waves run in time with your breathing, first washing and lighting its way down over your head, then your neck, then your torso, then arms, and finally your legs. Feel the muscles in your body relaxing as the waves of relaxation wash over them and fill them with light.
The next step is to use suggestion to deepen the state of relaxation. This can be as simple as saying something like: “I am feeling relaxed and comfortable to yourself. With every breath I am becoming more relaxed and more comfortable, the more comfortable I become, the deeper I go, the deeper I go, the more comfortable I become…" Alternatively, use the traditional approach of suggesting sleepiness: "I am tired and sleepy. I can feel the heaviness in my arms and legs. I am more and more tired, more relaxed…"
Once you feel completely relaxed, use the affirmations you have prepared. Mix these in with the relaxation suggestions.
Typical self-hypnosis sessions can last between 15 and 25 minutes; however, they can last for as long or as little as you like. When you are ready to come out of it, stretch, and tell yourself, "Eyes Open, Wide Awake, feeling alert and refreshed." You can even make that one of your affirmations during the relaxation process; "When I open my eyes, I'll be wide awake, feeling alert and refreshed."
SOME SAMPLE AFFIRMATIONS FOR YOU
Affirmations for Health
Every Cell in my body vibrates with energy and health
Loving myself heals my life. I nourish my mind, body and soul
My body heals quickly and easily
Affirmations for Abundance
I prosper wherever I turn and I know that I deserve prosperity of all kinds
The more grateful I am, the more reasons I find to be grateful
I pay my bills with love as I know abundance flows freely through me.
ANOTHER GREAT ARTICLE DEMYSTIFYING HYPNOSIS FROM PHOBIAS.ABOUT.COM
Hypnotherapy, or therapy utilizing hypnosis, is often used as part of a treatment plan for phobias and other anxiety disorders. It is also used throughout the medical field for pain management, weight loss and a variety of other applications. Yet hypnotherapy is still considered controversial, as many mental health professionals dispute its effectiveness and many clients are afraid to try it.
Whether or not to try hypnotherapy for your phobia is a personal decision that should only be made in tandem with your mental health care provider. Nonetheless, it is important to understand the facts behind the hype in order to make a reasoned decision.
What Is Hypnotherapy?
It may be best to begin with what hypnotherapy is not. Hypnotherapy is not stage hypnosis. Stage hypnotists are performers who are excellent at reading people. They seek extroverts who will put on a great show for the crowd. Whether or not their subjects are truly hypnotized is debatable, but they are willing to go along with the sometimes outrageous suggestions of the stage hypnotist.
Hypnotherapy, by contrast, utilizes the heightened awareness of the hypnotic state to help you explore your phobia more deeply. You will be guided by the hypnotherapist to visualize yourself in a state of peacefulness and relaxation, even when confronting the object of your fears.
During hypnotherapy, you remain in control. It is not possible for anyone to force you to do anything against your will, even under hypnosis. You will be tuned in to the work at hand, and so may not pay attention to your surroundings, but you will always be in charge of your own actions, behaviors and statements.
Hypnotherapy is not the same as being “knocked out.”You will remember the things that occur during your hypnotic state, you will not be asleep or unconscious and you will be able to break the hypnotic trance at any time.
How Does Hypnotherapy Help?
Most of the time, we are distracted by our surroundings. Whether the TV is blaring, your kids are demanding attention or your spouse wants to talk, it can be difficult to fully focus on yourself. In addition, our conscious minds are cluttered. You may be worried about paying a bill, concerned about an upcoming project or planning tonight’s dinner. Even during a therapy session, these day-to-day concerns tend to distract us from focusing on our problems.
In the hypnotic state, you are deeply relaxed. Your conscious mind is quieted, allowing your unconscious mind to deeply focus on your issue (in this case, your phobia). You are also calmer, and therefore more receptive to facing your fear. Most hypnotherapists utilize a series of calming messages, such as “you are safe” and “no one can harm you” to reassure their clients that during hypnosis they can objectively face their phobias without having a panicked reaction.
Your hypnotherapist may make gentle suggestions for behavior changes that can help you conquer your phobia. For example, you may be taught to see yourself as a supportive advisor during your phobic reactions, thus learning to trust yourself and your ability to get through the situation. You may be taught certain cognitive-behavioral coping skills, such as guided imagery and the STOP! Technique, that you can use when confronting your fear. You may even be encouraged to talk about the first time you experienced the phobia and how you felt in that moment.
Finding a Hypnotherapist
Your mental health practitioner may be licensed to perform hypnotherapy. If not, he or she may know of someone trusted who can perform hypnotherapy for you. If this is not the case, however, there are several ways to find a reputable hypnotherapist.
Word of mouth is always a great way to find any practitioner. If you know someone who has undergone this type of therapy, ask about his or her experiences. Keep in mind, however, that some hypnotherapists only focus on certain issues, so a friend’s therapist may not be right for you.
You can also search online for a hypnotherapist in the United States, Great Britain or parts of Europe in the National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists database. This organization is responsible for the certification of hypnotherapists and is careful to keep the database up to date.
Should I Try Hypnotherapy?
This is a question that only you and your mental health practitioner can answer. Although results tend to be controversial, many experts believe that hypnotherapy works in some cases. Be sure to check with your insurance company before proceeding, however, as not all insurers will pay for what is sometimes deemed an “experimental treatment.”
If your mental health professional approves, and your insurance is willing to pay, you may want to consider giving hypnotherapy a try. Many people feel that this type of therapy has brought relief from their phobias.
Source:
National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists: Consumer Information FactSheet. Retrieved September 30, 2008
See what WebMD has to say about Hypnotherapy
Mental Health and Hypnosis
Hypnosis -- or hypnotherapy -- uses guided relaxation, intense concentration, and focused attention to achieve a heightened state of awareness that is sometimes called a trance. The person's attention is so focused while in this state that anything going on around the person is temporarily blocked out or ignored. In this naturally occurring state, a person may focus his or her attention -- with the help of a trained therapist -- on specific thoughts or tasks.
How Does Hypnosis Work?
Hypnosis is usually considered an aid to psychotherapy (counseling or therapy), because the hypnotic state allows people to explore painful thoughts, feelings, and memories they might have hidden from their conscious minds. In addition, hypnosis enables people to perceive some things differently, such as blocking an awareness of pain.
Hypnosis can be used in two ways, as suggestion therapy or for patient analysis.
Suggestion therapy: The hypnotic state makes the person better able to respond to suggestions. Therefore, hypnotherapy can help some people change certain behaviors, such as stopping smoking or nail biting. It can also help people change perceptions and sensations, and is particularly useful in treating pain.
Analysis: This approach uses the relaxed state to find the root cause of a disorder or symptom, such as a traumatic past event that a person has hidden in his or her unconscious memory. Once the trauma is revealed, it can be addressed in psychotherapy.
What Are the Benefits of Hypnosis?
The hypnotic state allows a person to be more open to discussion and suggestion. It can improve the success of other treatments for many conditions, including:
Phobias, fears, and anxiety
Sleep disorders
Depression
Stress
Post-trauma anxiety
Grief and loss
Hypnosis also might be used to help with pain control and to overcome habits, such as smoking or overeating. It also might be helpful for people whose symptoms are severe or who need crisis management.
What Are the Drawbacks of Hypnosis?
Hypnosis might not be appropriate for a person who has psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions, or for someone who is using drugs or alcohol. It should be used for pain control only after a doctor has evaluated the person for any physical disorder that might require medical or surgical treatment. Hypnosis also may be a less effective form of therapy than other more traditional treatments, such as medication, for psychiatric disorders.
Some therapists use hypnosis to recover possibly repressed memories they believe are linked to the person's mental disorder. However, hypnosis also poses a risk of creating false memories -- usually as a result of unintended suggestions by the therapist. For this reason, the use of hypnosis for certain mental disorders, such as dissociative disorders, remains controversial.
Is Hypnosis Dangerous?
Hypnosis is not a dangerous procedure. It is not mind control or brainwashing. A therapist cannot make a person do something embarrassing or that the person doesn't want to do. The greatest risk, as discussed above, is that false memories can potentially be created and that it may be less effective than pursuing other, more established and traditional psychiatric treatments.
Who Performs Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is performed by a licensed or certified mental health professional who is specially trained in this technique.
WebMD Medical Reference
Reviewed by Joseph Goldberg, MD on June 05, 2012
© 2012 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
Hypnotherapy for IBS, who knew?
Hypnotherapy helps fight irritable bowel syndrome symptoms
Hypnotherapy helps fight IBS symptoms. These are the findings of a thesis from Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden which proposes implementing this treatment method into the care of severe sufferers of this common disease.
Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is an very common stomach disease that manifests as abdominal pain and discomfort, disturbed bowel movements, abdominal swelling and bloating. Recent studies indicate that 10-15 percent of all Swedes suffer from IBS to varying degrees.
Yet researchers still do not know what causes the condition and no effective treatment is available for those suffering from most severe symptoms.
Studies at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, show that psychological treatment using hypnosis may offer effective, lasting relief. The studies are part of a thesis which concludes that hypnotherapy should be used in clinical care of patients with severe IBS.
"We have four different studies showing that hypnotherapy helps treat IBS, even when the treatment is not provided by highly specialized hypnotherapy centers. The treatment improves gastrointestinal symptoms and quality of life, and patient satisfaction is very high. The method also makes efficient use of health care resources," says Perjohan Lindfors, doctoral student at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.
Source: University of Gothenburg, Sweden
