Research shows that Hypnosis can help slow down Dementia

8 August 2008

Researchers from Liverpool University have discovered that hypnosis can have significant benefit in helping to improve the quality of life for sufferers of dementia.

Forensic psychologist Dr Simon Duff compared the effects of hypnosis with mainstream healthcare treatments on people suffering from dementia, also investigating the impact of a form of group therapy.

Dr Duff's study was undertaken over a 9 month period with weekly sessions. The participants who attended the discussion group apparently stayed the same and the ones receiving normal treatment showed a 'small decline'.

However, according to the report, dementia sufferers receiving hypnosis therapy demonstrated improved levels of concentration, memory and socialization: relaxation and motivation were also found to have improved.

Quote from Craegmoor from Dr Duff:

"Participants given hypnosis therapy "showed real improvement across all of the areas" monitored by the research team".

The report implies that participants, on becoming aware of the onset of dementia may become anxious and depressed because of their gradual loss of cognitive ability - therefore - hypnosis - being the ideal relaxation method - can help the mind to concentrate on positive activity.

The reported figure of dementia sufferers living in the UK alone in 2008 is approximately 700,009; The Alzheimer's Society anticipate this figure to exceed one million by the year 2025. Each year 60,000 deaths are attributed to this condition which costs the UK approximately £17 billion per year.

In the journal 'Cancer' Dr Ted Gansler reported that studies have shown hypnosis and acupuncture can relieve symptoms of cancer - particularly alleviating the pain associated with this disease, yet few people actually make use of such therapies.

The report states that the majority of people surveyed by Dr Gansler turned instead to faith healing, prayer, nutritional supplements and relaxation - rather than seeking the benefits of hypnosis.

Apparently less than two per cent of cancer sufferers turn to hypnosis and acupuncture: 61.4 per cent chose spiritual practice - (according to research from the American Cancer Society)

If this is a genuine report then it warrants further research and investigation. Most hypnotherapists already know that this treatment is far superior to many others. The medical profession is now beginning to acknowledge the benefits of hypnosis - yet many people are still afraid of being hypnotized.

My thought on this is that bad publicity has helped to install fears of hypnosis with the public.

However, since practicing this wonderful form of therapy since 1994 and witnessing amazing changes in my clients' issues (and most importantly - no side effects from drugs, etc) hypnosis has to be the only way forward if we want to help,not only our clients, but ourselves.

Reference:
http://www.craegmoor.co.uk/news/industry/18719748/can_hypnosis_help_to_slow_dementia.aspx,

For download hypnosis Mp3 to help with pain control, concentration, motivation, depression and over 500 subjects, visit DownloadHypnosisMp3.Com

Antonia Harrison is the English Hypnotherapist in Belgium

Hypnosis to Prepare for Succesful Operations

No one enjoys operations and it is perfectly natural and understandable that someone will feel some fear or at least apprehension at the thought of having an operation.

I know from my own experience how hypnosis can help with preparing for an operation. I was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2001 and told that whilst it was not immediately life-threatening, if left in place it would probably kill me within 5-10 years. I would also continue to experience epileptic fits, need to have someone with me at all times and would not be allowed to drive. Alternatively, there was no guarantee of success from having the tumour removed and I could expect one of four outcomes:
1. Complete success without side-effects.
2. Speech damage.
3. Partial motor damage, even paralysis.
4. Death.

So not much of a choice. A very restricted short life with possible death looming or post-operative damage, even not surviving the operation. I still chose to have the operation.

On the morning of the operation, I was a bundle of nerves. My surgeon was very busy and had no time to reassure me. When I went down to theatre, my blood pressure was the highest it had ever been. I burst into tears because I seriously thought I would not survive.

Well I did survive but two days after the operation a sort of electrical reaction occurred in my brain leaving my speech slow and slurred and I suffered paralysis down my left side. I also had a mini-stroke five months later and shingles on my face. I did eventually recover fully but only after lots of physical therapy.

In October 2006 I had to have a new brain tumour removed from the same location but this time with a different surgeon who made time for me. On the morning of the operation, with a candula already inserted in my hand linked to a saline drip, I lay on my bed and took myself into self-hypnosis to ensure that I left for theatre in a calm and relaxed way.

I had been told I would be in ICU for four days but stayed only two and my expected hospital stay of two weeks was cut to six days. This was because of my fast recovery. My convalescence period was also short and I suffered no side-effects. I credit my quick recovery to hypnosis and the power of my own unconscious mind which prepared me for a successful operation and fast recovery.

Another hypnotherapist told us about Stan who was visibly shaking as he talked about his forthcoming operation. He was due to have a hernia operation but was totally convinced that he would not come out of it alive. Under hypnotic regression, the hypnotherapist found that Stan’s fear went right back. “Well I know exactly what it was, and I’d completely forgotten about that incident,” he went on to explain, “I was at the dentist with my mother, she was having an extraction and she suddenly started screaming and screaming. I was terrified.” Stan laughed, “to think all these years that’s what’s been bothering me. I feel so good now, I know I’ll be fine.”

The hypnotherapist had Stan project his mind into the future and see himself recovering well after his operation. Stan rang the hypnotherapist a few days later. He’d enjoyed being in hospital and getting all the attention and the operation went smoothly. He felt he’d completely overcome his fear, in just one session of hypnotherapy.

Before surgery, hypnotherapy can be used to lead the person into a deep state of mind and body relaxation in which positive suggestions are given straight to the unconscious mind to relieve anxiety, reduce bleeding during the operation, eliminate post surgical discomfort and even reduce the level of anaesthetic required. Many operations are even conducted under hypnosis without anasthesia. Many women choose for natural childbirth using hypnosis to control the pain rather than an epidural or drugs.

Fear raises adrenaline levels which means that more chemicals are needed to overcome the natural "fight or flight" reaction of the body and produce the state of anesthesia.

Hypnotherapists often use "safe place" imagery, in which the client begins by imagining him/herself in a location that feels safe and secure. Once the "safe place" is established, the feelings of safety and security are anchored in – an NLP technique – and the client watches the whole process of the surgery repeatedly but in a detached way, a bit like watching a film whilst sitting in a cinema seat. The person then rehearses successful surgery and recovery with suggestions for comfort, rapid healing and a positive attitude.

Again positive imagery aids in the rapid healing process, shortening recovery time, reducing swelling, bleeding and with a positive reduction in post-operative pain. Ideally the person would have several sessions with the hypnotherapist to maximize the beneficial effects.

How does hypnosis help control pain after surgery? Have you ever been engrossed in a conversation and bumped into a chair, felt nothing but noticed a bruise later on? The preoccupied mind does not notice the pain. The nerves send pain signals but they never registered in consciousness and that is how the unconscious treats post surgical pain.

Personalized hypnotherapy sessions for your particular operation and circumstances are always best but if not possible, you can also download a hypnosis mp3 to prepare for surgery and a hypnosis “Prepare for Surgery” script is available for professional hypnotherapists.

© Antonia Harrison 2009 is the leading English Hypnotherapist in Belgium and recommends Download Hypnosis Mp3s for immediate access to positive life-changing hypnosis sessions.

Hypnosis Can Help Male Impotence

Male impotence or impotency is the inability of a man to retain an erection through to sperm ejaculation or even to get an erection at all. Another name used medically is Erectile Dysfunction.

Of course, any potential physiological reasons should be checked by a qualified health practitioner. There may be insufficient blood flow to the penis. If a young man is experiencing problems with impotence, it is more likely to be caused by a physical reason than in an older man, say over 45 years. A temporary illness or other medications may be causing the problem.

Male impotence can be caused by psychological causes ie “It’s all in the mind”. Perhaps due to the way the man is feeling, his thoughts, his distractions mean that he is unable to concentrate and complete the sexual act. Being diagnosed as impotent may affect a man deeply further ruining his confidence in his “ability to perform”. In today’s stressful society and fast lifestyle, it is easy to see why impotence is on the increase.

Women have filed for divorce because their husbands are impotent so cannot satisfy their sexual needs.

There are over the counter medications available to treat male impotence but recent studies show that that they may cause other physical disorders eg seizures, vomiting, flushing, diarrohea, sweating, nausea and even blindness and deafness. Men who take Viagra often report a disturbing heart rate and inability to sleep. Also Viagra must be taken 20 minutes to one hour before having sex which means spontaneity is out the door. If the woman then decides not to have sex, the man is left with an erection which is hard to lose.

Diet plays an important part. Consume fresh healthy foods that are not processed, foods which include water soluble dietary fibre to control cholesterol and flush plaque out of the arteries, stay away from junk foods that can lead to overweight and cholesterol. It is important to keep those arteries clear. Also drink plenty of water, ideally at least 2 glasses of water for every 2 hours you are awake. Oysters are said to help male impotence because of their high zinc content.

Hypnosis can work wonders for impotence with psychological causes
If the male impotence or erectile dysfunction is due to a psychological problem, hypnosis has been shown to be very effective. Hypnosis is a perfectly natural state in which both the mind and body are deeply relaxed and as such the mind can receive positive new suggestions and eliminating the fear of “What if it happens again?”. This thought has three main impacts:

1) It causes stress, which is far from the ideal state for getting and maintaining an erection.
2) It causes you to rehearse things going wrong within your mind, which makes the problem worse.
3) It makes you focus consciously on getting an erection - exactly the opposite of what you want to do.

It becomes a viscious circle which hypnosis can break..

The real test for whether impotence has a psychological component for you is whether you can get an erection at other times eg on waking in the morning.

Hypnosis is such an effective cure for the psychological component of impotence because it:
1) Hands control of your sexual performance back to your unconscious mind where it belongs. (Stop trying to get an erection - it just has to happen by itself, like falling asleep.)
2) Lowers anxiety around sexual performance.
3) Reminds the mind of your former effective pattern for getting and maintaining an erection.

Hypnosis is either available therapeutically through a qualified and experienced practitioner or via a download hypnosis mp3 session. Many men have found this approach works where other treatments have failed.

You can download a hypnosis mp3 on male impotence or a professional hypnosis script on male impotence/erectile dysfunction is available for professional hypnotherapists.

© Antonia Harrison is the English Hypnotherapist in Belgium and recommends Download Hypnosis Mp3s for immediate access to positive life-changing hypnosis sessions.

Procrastination Can Rob You of Your Life's Achievements

Which is truer of you?
"Why put off till tomorrow what can be done today?"
or
"Why do today what can be left till tomorrow?"

"Procrastination . . . is the thief of our self-respect. It nags us and spoils our fun. It deprives us of the fullest realization of our ambitions and hopes."

- Thomas S. Monson

You know what happens when you keep putting things off, or leave them to the last minute? They either don't get done or something happens at the last minute to prevent you from doing whatever it is and then it becomes a problem. Like missing the deadline to submit a tax return. Or completing a report and then flu stops you from thinking straight. Or leaving home late and missing a flight.

Wouldn't you feel better in yourself if you actually did something ahead of time, leaving you without that nagging feeling?

Is one of your new year resolutions to make a positive change in some way? Have you decided to join a gym? Lose weight? Stop smoking? Clear out the clutter in the spare room? Start a new hobby? Overcome a fear? Adopt better time management skills?

Good, but where will you be one week from now...two weeks from now...a month from now...if you rely on your own willpower? Isn't that what you have always done? "If you keep doing what you've always done, you'll keep getting what you've always got."

Using hypnosis to overcome your procrastination can really make a huge difference in your life. Instead of forcing yourself to do something, you can relax deeply, both mentally and physically, and just allow the positive suggestions contained in a hypnosis session to gently re-programme your mind to wanting to achieve what has been nagging you.

Click here for a download hypnosis Mp3 to overcome procrastion. Do it now! Carpe Diem!

Do it now! is an audio hypnosis session which uses the power of hypnosis to directly access your unconscious mind.

You need to make a conscious decision to listen to Do it now! but then you can sit back and let your unconscious mind engage with what it does best - shaping your future. You don't have to work out how to change what you do, as powerful hypnotic suggestions activate the appropriate emotional triggers that will propel you into action.

Download Do it now! and don't waste another minute.

© Antonia Harrison is the English Hypnotherapist in Belgium and recommends Download Hypnosis Mp3s for immediate access to positive life-changing hypnosis sessions.

Easy Weight Management Through Hypnosis

It's the 5th of January and many people are back to work today after two weeks of excess eating and drinking. The new year resolutions often include doing something positive about those excess pounds/kilos and this is the peak time for new gym memberships. The thing is how many people keep going after the first couple of weeks if they rely on their own willpower? Did it work last year?

Losing weight or, shedding excess pounds or kilos, is a way of life, not just an activity for the new year. One of the most effective ways of losing weight is through hypnosis. Deep mental and physical relaxation in the comfort of your own home will retrain your unconscious mind to make healthy eating choices and inspire you to want to exercise.

Weight Management
(CD)

The Weight Management CD contains 4 specially selected hypnosis sessions.

First is Eat Healthy which will boost your desire for naturally healthy foods and steer you away from those diet-busters. Then, Exercise Motivation Booster will get you exercising without even thinking about it - no more arguments with yourself!

Next, Weight Loss Motivation will help you keep your weight management goals in mind, even at the toughest times, and finally Energy Booster will give you the energy you need to achieve your goals.

The low price includes free shipping worldwide.

Alternatively, click here for several download hypnosis Mp3s available for immediate download. You will absolutely love the way you feel after using one of these self hypnosis downloads. As well as enjoying complete privacy, you can record your MP3 download onto CD, MP3 player, DVD or tapes, to listen to anywhere.

© Antonia Harrison is the English Hypnotherapist in Belgium and recommends Download Hypnosis Mp3s for immediate access to positive life-changing hypnosis sessions.

Treating Restless Legs Syndrome with Hypnosis

Restless legs syndrome (RLS, Wittmaack-Ekbom's syndrome, or sometimes, but inaccurately, referred to as Nocturnal myoclonus) is a condition that is characterized by an irresistible urge to move one's body to stop uncomfortable or odd sensations. It most commonly affects the legs, but can also affect the arms or torso. Moving the affected body part modulates the sensations, providing temporary relief. RLS causes a sensation in the legs or arms that can most closely be compared to a burning, itching, or tickling sensation in the muscles.

People use words such as: uncomfortable, "antsy", electrical, creeping, painful, itching, pins and needles, pulling, creepy-crawly, ants inside the legs, and many others. Some people have little or no sensation, yet still have a strong urge to move.

Movement will usually bring immediate relief; however, this relief will often be only temporary and partial. Walking is most common, also doing stretches, yoga, biking, or other physical activity may relieve the symptoms. Constant and fast up-and-down movement of the leg, coined "sewing machine legs" by at least one RLS sufferer, is often done to keep the sensations at bay without having to walk. Sometimes a specific type of movement will help a person more than another.

Worsening of symptoms by relaxation
Any type of inactivity involving sitting or lying—reading a book, a plane ride, watching TV or a movie, taking a nap—can trigger the sensations and urge to move.

Causes of Restless Leg SyndromeThe most commonly associated medical condition is iron deficiency (specifically blood ferritin below 50µg/L, which accounts for just over 20% of all cases of RLS. Other conditions associated with RLS include pregnancy, varicose vein or venous reflux, folate deficiency, hypoglycemia, sleep apnea, uremia, diabetes, thyroid disease, peripheral neuropathy, Parkinson's disease and certain auto-immune disorders such as Sjögren's syndrome, celiac disease and rheumatoid arthritis. RLS can also worsen in pregnancy.

Certain medications may worsen RLS in those who already have it, or cause it secondarily eg anti-nausea drugs, certain antihistamines (often in over-the-counter cold medications), drugs used to treat depression (both older tricyclics and newer SSRIs), antipsychotic drugs and certain medications used to control seizures. Treatment of underlying conditions, or cessation of use of the offending drug, often eliminates the RLS.

Treatment for Restless Legs Syndrome
No proof has been found of the effectiveness of drugs therapy and the cost is high. Drugs used include dopamines, opioids, benzodiazepines and anti-convulsants. Sufferers should always have their iron levels checked.

Alcohol, caffeine and sometimes tobacco can aggravate restless legs syndrome and should be used minimally or cut out all together.

Using Hypnosis to Relieve Restless Legs SyndromeAlthough restless legs syndrome is a neurological disorder it is now beyond any scientific doubt that the mind and body are deeply interconnected. Hypnosis is nature's optimum tool for influencing physical processes through the power of the mind. Restless legs syndrome can be eased and greatly diminished by the effective and repeated use of hypnotic suggestion. A download hypnosis mp3 is available to bring relief to Restless Legs Syndrome and a script for use by professional hypnotherapists.

More information: Wikipedia - Restless Leg Syndrome
Restless Leg Syndrome Fact Sheet
Bandolier info on RLS

Click here for over 500 download hypnosis mp3s.

Antonia Harrison is the English Hypnotherapist in Belgium

How Hypnosis Can Help to Heal a Broken Heart

If you have ever been in love and that relationship has come to an end, whether you were the one who wanted to continue or yourself chose the moment to end, you will know how difficult and painful the ensuing days and weeks can be. They don't talk about a broken heart for nothing. It is literally that painful. While the sorrow can invade every part of you, your heart does feel as though it is breaking.

There are five stages of grief which have been identified and it is usually only when you have experienced all five stages that you can begin to see a brighter future, one of possibility without your ex, even though you may feel you will always love him or her in a special way. Maybe you will.

The healing can only come about with change - change of attitude, change of focus, change of belief that there will be a new future. Consciously, you will hear advice, you may even know that it is the best advice but that does not stop you longing for your ex, wishing you could turn back time.

The change has to come about at the unconscious level and that is where hypnosis can help.

It can be difficult to stop thinking about your ex-partner, and the feelings of sadness and loss can be hard to deal with. This is of course natural for a time, but if you feel it has gone on for long enough, a "Getting over a relationship" hypnosis session on MP3 can help you calm those feelings down.

The session will help you 'update' your unconscious mind so that you feel more like moving on.

Of course you will be able to remember the good things about the old relationship, but with less sense of loss, and more positive feelings about the future and the possibility of other relationships.

There is also a professional "Get Over a Relationship" hypnosis script which is free to download at the moment.

Click here to view the 5 Stages of Grief.

Visit DownloadHypnosisMp3.com for over 400 different hypnosis Mp3 and professional script downloads.