On The Spot



A summary of  topical issue that can be helped with Hypnotherapy taking an indepth look at the many symptoms and conditions that affect our everyday life.

EMETOPHOBIA

A fear of being sick or a fear of seeing anyone else being sick.

This is an extremely disabling condition often affecting more women than men. The sufferer may avoid all places where there is a possibility of themselves or others being sick e.g. pubs, restaurants , eating in front of others etc. Pregnancy may also be avoided due to the fear of morning sickness. However irrational this fear may seem, nothing appears to help and sufferers feel extremely isolated. This condition responds extremely well to Pure Analytical Hypnotherapy as it gets to the root cause.

SHY BLADDER

Shy bladder is the inability to urinate in front of others - paruresis, stage fright, toilet anxiety, toilet phobia.

Shy Bladder usually only affects men. They have a great difficulty urinating in front of other people or in an unfamiliar place. Severity of the symptoms can vary from person to person and also depends on the persons stress level. i.e. some men find it a little difficult to urinate in a crowded toilet, some can only use their own toilet so may even have to come home from work, just to relieve themselves.

This condition responds particularly well to Pure Analytical Hypnotherapy as it gets to the root cause of the problem not just treating the symptoms. 

STRESS

The subject of stress has been prominant in the national news this week with the usual stress factors present at this time of year compounded by the additional stress caused by the current economic climate.

My personal view is that a certain level of stress is essential to everyday life and actually enhances rather than detracts from our enjoyment. However you can get too much of a good thing and high levels of stress are dangerous to our health and wellbeing.

It is therefore crucial that you recognise and manage your stress levels and I highly recommend that prevention is infinitely better than cure.

           Well

           Rounded

           People

Our aim is to be happy, healthy and enjoy life to the full but in order to do this we need to ensure that our life scales are in balance and it's easy to remember the 3 elements

          Work

          Rest

          Play

If one area of your life is neglected then you may experience stress, particularly if your work element starts to overshadow the other 2 elements.

If you think you are overloaded and need help to manage your stress then call me on 07841 451915. You may also like to visit the stress page for more information.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is thought to affect as many as one in five of the population at any one time.  Its symptoms can vary from person to person, but typically one or more of the following symptoms may be experienced:

1. Constipation

2. Diarrhoea

3. Bloating (that may subside overnight, only to return the next day, and may occur after eating a meal)

4. Flatulence

5. Abdominal pain or cramps

1. may, or may not, be reduced by passing a stool

2. may be specific to the lower right side or tucked up under the right ribs

3. tucked up under left ribs, or if the pain is particularly bad it may move into the left armpit

4. in women, left sided abdominal pain during sex

5. or more generalised pain or cramping

6. Painful swallowing

7. Noisy gurgling stomach (may be loud enough to cause social embarrassment)

8. Variable, erratic and unpredictable bowel habits

9. Severe short stabbing pains in the rectum

10. Passing urine more often

11. Fatigue

12. Loss of appetite

13. Nausea

14. Depressive symptoms

15. Anxiety and stress-related symptoms, which may interact with the gut symptoms

IBS is a condition that is often hidden by the person experiencing its symptoms.  The media is certainly trying to move us towards a point where we are more comfortable talking about bloating, stomach cramps, constipation or diarrhoea, however, if you suffer from the condition, you will know how difficult it can be to talk about what can be very embarrassing symptoms.  For example, how do you tell the person interviewing you that you are suffering with severe flatulence?  How do you explain to the coach driver that you need to stop for the toilet (again, having only been 5 minutes previously)?  How do you leave in the middle the funeral to find a toilet?  Or how do you tell your new partner that you dare not go on a trip in case you have a bout of IBS?

If you are someone who suffers with IBS, you will also know only too well that the symptoms can seriously affect and limit your ability to enjoy life to the full.  It is the severity and frequency of symptoms that can be most troublesome and intrusive for sufferers and it is a condition that can be notoriously difficult to treat successfully. 

Despite this, there are many cures and treatments recommended by the ‘experts’ and these include a large number of medications and herbal treatments (e.g. for diarrhoea, constipation, cramps and flatulence or bloating); dietary changes and restrictions; exercises – different types of exercise seem to be in vogue at different times (e.g. yoga is currently experiencing an elevated status as the exercise ‘cure’); and lifestyle changes or restrictions. 

However, the disappointing reality for IBS sufferers is that of the many treatments listed above, which are variable and often disappointing in their treatment outcomes, all aim to treat the symptoms, rather than removing or resolving the root cause of the IBS.  This will mean that the person will always likely to have a susceptibility to IBS, the symptoms of which could be moderated with treatments, but that may always return.

A course of analytical hypnotherapy may help you to fully resolve all issues relating to IBS.  It would also provide you with a greater sense of self; it will boost self-confidence and self-esteem; it will help you build on your self-belief and you will find yourself being calm, self-assured and confident in situations where previously you may have experienced your most severe symptoms.

An added bonus is that hypnosis is wonderfully relaxing and reduces stress levels. 

SOCIAL ANXIETY

As the party season gets into full swing the socialites amoungst us revel in their comfort zone of back to back parties. However for many this period before Christmas signals the start of an overwhelming fear. That fear can be summed up as SOCIAL ANXIETY.

Understanding Social Anxiety and Social Phobia
Social anxiety and social phobia affect an enormous number of us to some extent or another. It is very likely that some, if not many, of the following list will be familiar to you:

Don’t like being put ‘on the spot’

Find it very difficult to talk publicly or to give presentations

Find large groups of people intimidating

Find it difficult to make friends

Lack confidence in social settings, being shy

Find parties and small talk difficult

Suffer with pre-exam or pre-test nerves

Try and stick to the rules

Sense of being watched

Find talking on the phone difficult

Frequently blushing, stuttering or stammering

Find maintaining eye contact with people difficult

Hiding, or keep yourself below people’s level of perception

Fear of being judged, criticized, mocked or rejected

Shy bladder (not wanting/able to urinate in public urinals)

Sexual performance issues (e.g. impotence, premature ejaculation)

Feel as though people may find out that you’re a fraud

For many people social anxiety and social phobia creates significant problems in their lives, often without them knowing the root cause. The issues created via social anxiety and social phobia can seep out into every aspect of your life: perhaps you choose to live alone, or begin to avoid social interactions; you lack confidence in your abilities and your lack of confidence creates difficulties on your work; you fail to get appointed to jobs you are more than capable of doing due to your lack of faith in yourself and this leads to others questioning your abilities too; you may dress in dull or dark colours to try and hide yourself, or perhaps you over-eat as a way of avoiding unwanted attention and/or flattery; you don’t challenge others in order to avoid conflict; or you may be chronically insecure about your relationships with others which can progressively undermine even the strongest of relationships.There are few statistics about the extent to which people suffer with social anxiety and social phobia, and those that are published come with hefty health warnings about the likely inaccuracies. What we do know though is that almost everyone, at some stage in their life will experience feelings related to social anxiety.

Social-anxiety.org.uk state:

Millions of people around the world suffer from Social Anxiety Disorder (also known as Social Phobia) and related conditions. Despite being the most common type of anxiety disorder and the cause of much impairment and suffering, it is under-recognised and under-treated.

However, perhaps because by its very nature sufferers of Social Anxiety are reluctant to talk about their problems or seek help, the condition is still not widely known amongst the general public, and was only recognized as a disorder in its own right as recently as 1980.

How Hypnosis Hypnotherapy Can Help
If you feel you just need confidence to mix more easily then hypnosis, combined with suggestion therapy will enable you to reduce your anxiety and feel more in control.

It will provide you with a greater sense of self; it will boost self-confidence and self-esteem; it will help you build on your self-belief and you will have a strong visual image of yourself being calm, self-assured and successful in your upcoming event. An added bonus is that hypnosis is wonderfully relaxing and reduces stress levels.

Ongoing and Pervasive Issues with Social Anxiety or Social Phobia
Perhaps your issues are more long term or pervasive and you have found that social anxiety or social phobia is having a limiting effect upon your life? Or perhaps you would like to remove and resolve all future issues with social anxiety? In these circumstances it is likely that you would benefit most from a course of analytical hypnotherapy (pure-hypnoanalysis).

This type of therapy would provide you with all the benefits of hypnosis with suggestion therapy, whilst also helping you to fully resolve your issues with social anxiety and social phobia, leaving you free to enjoy a more fulfilled and relaxed approach social interactions in the future. IAPH therapists have found that social anxiety and social phobia can be very effectively treated using pure hypnoanalysis and issues can usually be resolved within 8 sessions. Please call to arrange a FREE initial consultation on 07841 451915

FEAR OF FLYING

This week I met an enthusiastic Independant Travel Agent who was keen to tell everyone that this week the major travel operators were releasing flights through to April 2009 and to book early for February Half Term if you wanted to get a bargain. Now to some people this would have been extremely useful and would have filled them with delight as they briefly experience flashbacks to last years holiday filled with sunshine and relaxation.........however to many it may have evoked a stomach wrenching panic as the memory that immediately springs to mind is abject fear - these people have an overwhelming FEAR of FLYING.

Many such fears are manageable and the majority of us experience them at some point in our lives with little impact. However, some people have fears or phobias that limit their opportunities in life: the person with a fear of flying may find being in a plane uncomfortable, however someone with a more serious fear, or phobia, of flying may completely avoid going on, or perhaps even seeing, an airplane.

It is when the fear or phobia reaches such proportions that it affects our enjoyment of life that the majority of people will seek help and Hypnosis, combined with suggestion therapy will enable you to reduce your fear or anxiety and to feel more in control.

It will provide you with a greater sense of self; it will boost self-confidence and self-esteem; it will help you build on your self-belief and you will have a strong visual image of yourself being calm and self-assured in your upcoming event. An added bonus is that hypnosis is wonderfully relaxing and reduces stress levels. IAPH therapists have substantial experience of helping people to reduce fears and phobias over specific events and you would need just one session a week or two before the event in question.

Call today for a FREE initial Consultation on 07841 451915

FEAR OF GOING INTO HOSPITAL

I had a lady consult me earlier this month, she was extremely anxious as she had been recently diagnosed with a tumour on her thyroid. This lady had previuosly been treated for pre cancerous cells and had been through numerous operations. The impending operation was now only days away and as the time got nearer she was experiencing high levels of anxiety as her previous experiences were poor in that she had always reacted badly to the anesthetic.

This situation is not uncommon and can be helped with Hypnosis and suggestion therapy - usually one to two session is all that is needed to give back the control to the patient . If you find yourself in this unfortunate predicament and you are experiencing these feelings of anxiety and panic then take back the control. Hypnotherapy will provide you with a greater sense of self; it will boost self-confidence and self-esteem; it will help you build on your self-belief and you will have a strong visual image of yourself being calm and self-assured in coping with the operation. An added bonus is that hypnosis is wonderfully relaxing and reduces stress levels.

The lady in question sailed through the operation and for the first time didn't have a bad reaction to the anesthetic. Her levels of anxiety whilst waiting in hospital to go down to theatre were low and she reported a feeling of calmness. Her recovery was excellent - all in all a very satisfied lady.

If you would like more inforamtion call me on 07841 451915