Video Gaming and Addiction

     If you have a child in your life who plays video games, you may be concerned if that child seems out of balance - spending too much time and energy in gaming while other areas of life are neglected.  Yours is a legitimate concern. There are 45 million children between the ages of 8 and 18 in the United States and 88 percent of them play video games. A study done by researcher Douglas Gentile of Iowa State University and director of research at the nonprofit National Institute on Media and the Family reported that 8.5 percent of American youths age 8 to 18 who play video games show multiple signs of behavioral addiction.  In addition, four times as many boys as girls were considered pathological gamers.

     Gentile adapted diagnostic criteria for pathological gambling into a series of questions about video game use, which became part of a 2007 Harris Poll of 1,178 children and teens.  If the gamers reported at least six of the eleven symtoms the gamers were deemed pathological.   Several symptoms were identified.  They included:  spending increasing amounts of time and money on video games to feel the same level of excitement, escaping problems by playing video games, lying about the length of playing time, irritability or restlessness when game play is scaled back, skipping chores or homework to spend more time playing games, stealing games or money to play more and escaping problems through playing video games.

   Gentile found that children considered pathological gamers had trouble paying attention in class, did worse in school and reported feeling "addicted".   In addition, they were found to be twice as likely to report ADD (attention-deficit disorder) or ADHD (attention-deficit  hyperactivity disorder)

     Not everyone agrees with Gentile's findings.  Michael Brody of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry believes, "I think kids use this just the way kids watch television, the way kids now use their cellphones.  They do it to relieve their anxiety and depression. It's all a matter of balance."

     The key word here is "balance".  According to The American Academy of Pediatrics, all screen time, including computer and video games but also television should not exceed one to two hours  day of "quality programming."  If a child you love is exhibiting the smptoms described above or is struggling, without success, to cut back gaming time, that child may need help through therapy to lead a more balanced life.

HYPNOSIS FOR NAIL BITING

         Have you ever heard of onychophagia?  Probably not.  But almost everyone knows someone who bites their fingernails.  If you bite your nails you are not alone.  This is a dirty little secret of a large number of people. Nail biting is a universal behavior in all parts of the world and in both sexes.  It is slightly more common in males than females. Nail biting often begins in childhood with studies showing that between 23 and 33 percent of children between ages 7 and 10 are nail biters.  The number of nail biters reaches its peak with 44 percent of adolescents biting their nails.  Even 19 to 29 percent of young adults and up to 20 percent of all  adults still bite their nails.

         Noone is quite sure why people bite their nails.  Years ago, the Freudian view described nail biting as an oral fixation.  This psychological view of nail biting is no longer particularly popular.  Today experts lean to behavioral and biochemical reasons for nail biting.  Many experts believe nail biting is caused by biochemical and genetic links or is a type of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

         Although nail biting may seem like a relatively unimportant behavior, there can be problems.   My clients give me a lot of reasons they want to quit biting their nails.  They often describe it as a dirty, nasty habit. It is definitely a way to transfer germs from the hands and nails to the mouth.  It can be sore and uncomforable causing swelling and redness.  The broken skin can lead to infections.  Many clients hate that their hands are unattractive.  A trial lawyer told me he did not want to appear anxious and nervous and that unattractive chewed-on nails didn't project the image he wanted.  Others say the behavior itself with fingers in their mouths is unpleasant.

        There are several ways to stop biting your nails.  They range from putting bitter or hot liquids such as pepper sauce on their nails to using  medications commonly prescribed to treat OCD.  Hypnotherapy is a great tool  to deal with nail biting.  No meds - no burning lips - just a strong tool to stop nail biting.

TALKING IN HYPNOSIS

      When a new client comes to see me for the first time, I always do a free consultation so clients have a chance to ask their questions.  One question that is often asked:  "Will I be talking during the session?"

       The answer I give - "it depends."  I do sessions every day where clients do not talk at all during hypnosis.  I get a lot of information ahead of time in the clinical interview so people do not have to talk.  This can take a lot of pressure off the client to perform.  He is not sitting there thinking "Oh, my gosh, she's going to ask me something.  Will I know what to say?"  Instead, the client has given me the information already so they can just sit back and relax during the actual hypnosis. Most of my clients do not talk during behavioral modification sesions like quitting smoking or improving performance. 

     But there are hypnotherapy sessions, where clients will want to communicate.  I don't know where she left the $10,000 diamond ring or what trauma happened when he was ten years old.  In age regression where the client sees or experiences himself in the past or age progression where the client experiences or sees herself in the future, the client can describe to the hypnotherapist what s/he is experiencing.

     Age progression is often used to visualize behavioral changes.  The hypnotized person may picture or imagine themselves exhibiting the new behavior (swinging the club, making healthy choices at a restaurant, being a nonsmoke. Age regression helps the client to picture events in the past.  This may be to help remember what happened to to remember forgotten feeings.  Age regression can also be used to help the client recover from a traumatic event by working through the memories and emotions of the event.

    Another way clients may communciate in hypnosis is through an ideomotor response. These subtle movements that can happen when a person is visualizing.  The client may use ideomotor signals to respond to hypnotherapist questions.  Instead of saying "yes", the client may raise her index finger.  To say "no" she may raise her thumb.  Lifting her pinkie may mean "I don't know."  These responses become automatic and are the client's body answer rather than talking.

    Talking is really up to the client.  Some people like to talk in hypnosis.  Others prefer to not have to talk enjoying the "mind massage" feeling.  It's entirely up to them.

Preventing Alzheimer's

     Research by Cyrus Raji, MD, PHD, physician-scientist in the department of radiology at the University of Pittsburgh should encourage all of us to put on our walking shoes.  In a study of 426 adults with or without cognitive decline, Raji found that those who walked at least six miles weekly were half as likely to develop Alzheimer's disease over 13 years as nonwalkers.  He also found that those with cognitive impariment who were able to walk five miles a week reduced cognitive decline by more than half.

    This gives us another great reason to get walking.  To help preserve brain health, the recommendation is to walk at least three-quarters of a mile each day.  Walking keeps neurons healthy by improving blood flow to the brain.

    Start where you are.  If you haven't been active, you may only be able to walk to the mail box and back.  Then that's where you start.  Use a pedometer to keep track of steps or use your car to measure out your walking course.  Get prepared.  Buy some decent walking shoes.  Find a walking companion.  Set a time and make the time and do something that may help you prevent Alzheimer's.

Beating Worry and Anxiety

    Almost everyone has felt uneasy, nervous or jumpy at times.  If you are worried about the economy, dealing with a difficult family member or having to give a speech, you may feel anxious. For some people though,worry and anxiety can be much more intense and disabling and be catagorized as an anxiety disorder.  Approximately 40 million American adults, at some point during their lives, will experience anxiety that is so persistent and life-altering that it hinders their ability to function normally.

     According to the National Comorbidity Survey, one in four Americans may experience an anxiety disorder during their lifetime.  This may be evidenced as an acute or episodic anxiety disorder such as a phobia or as a long-term or chronic one such as generalized anxiety disorder. Besides the emotional effects associeted with anxiety, health effects include fatigue, tension headaches, diarrhea and high blood pressure.

     Because of the physical symptoms, many people begin their search for relief with their medical doctor.  Doctors typically prescribe antidepressants such as Imipramine (Tonafril) and desipramine (Norpramin, Pertofranel) or  anti-anxiety drugs, such as alprazolam (Xanax) for persistent anxiety.  Other anti-anxiety medications include clonazepam (Klonopin) and lorazepam (Ativan).  There are advantages and disadvantages to these medications.  Anti-anxiety drugs often work more rapidly than an antidepressant.  But their disadvantage is that these drugs can be addictive and create severe withdrawal symptoms. 

    Besides medications, other treatments for anxiety disorders include therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychotherapy and hypnotherapy.  Cognitive-behavioral therapies teach specific strategies for coping with anxiety.  Psychotherapy explores possible unconscious motivations behind the anxiety. Hypnotherapy can be used to encourage calmness and relaxation and give specific suggestions about coping with anxiety.

     There are also things you can do to help yourself.  Many people try to self-medicate themselves out of worry and anxiety by adopting bad habits, such as drinking too much, overeating or smoking.  Finding strong tools to battle these behaviors can help relieve anxiety.  Go to a twelve-step program, get a support system, use a tool like hypnosis to release these bad habits.  Creating new habits like releasing those old behaviors, being more assertive and stopping negative self-talk will help ease worry and anxiety. 

     Exercise is a wonderful way to relieve stress.  Think about when you were a kid.  If you liked to run and play, well get outside and take a walk, ride a bicycle, fly a kite.  If you liked to swim, go to the Y or the Rec Center.  If you liked team sports, join an adult group your own age.  Or take a class, a yoga class, a Pilates class, a dance class.  Get up and move and release the endorphins to make you feel better. 

    Check your diet, avoid sugar and salt.  Simple sugar like that found in ice cream and pastries causes your body to release too much insulin.  This imbalance can cause people to feel anxious.  Instead, eat complex carbohydrates such as fresh fruit and vegetables and unrefined grains like in cereal.  Salt causes your body to excrete potassium which you need for a healthy nervous system.  Use a natural salt substitute or herbs as a seasoning.

    People suffering from anxiety should avoid caffeine which triggers the release of the brain chemical norepinephrine increasing alertness.  Many people choose a caffeine drink in order to get that alertness.  But consuming caffeine also causes your body to release adrenaline.  Besides coffee, other drinks including, tea, cola, and cocoa contain caffeine.  Some over-the-counter meds such as Excedrin and Anancin also contain caffeine. If you are suffering from anxiety, avoiding caffeine is a simple way to stop the release of the adrenaline.  You may need to withdraw over several days to avoid discomfort and side effects.

    There are a couple of minerals that may be of value in dealing with anxiety.  The first of these is calcium. It is a natural tranquilizer and when people are calcium deficient can cause symptoms of anxiety such as insomnia, heart palpitations and nervousness.  Magnesium is the second mineral which you may find of value in dealing with anxiety.  Irritability, nervousness and weakness are often evident in people who have magnesium deficiency.  Both calcium and magnesium can be easily taken in a multimineral supplement.  In addition, calcium rich foods include eating more kale, Chinese cabbage, sardines, tofu and broccoli.  To increase your dietary intake of magnesium eat halibut, almonds and avocados.

    Diet, lifestyle changes, counseling or therapy and medical treatments are all available if you are dealing with worry and anxiety.  Don't give up.  Use these ideas to relieve anxiety and make your life better.

Go Nuts to Lose Weight

   If you are looking for an easy way to encourage weight loss consider eating more nuts and seeds.  Research shows that even those these foods are high in fact, people who eat them regularly are more likely to lose weight than people who don't.  There are a couple of reasons for this.  Seeds and nuts are high in plant sterols.  These sterols contain substances that suppress appetite and give feelings of fullness.  The recommended serving for seeds and unsalted nuts such as pumpkin and sunflower seeds is one ounce daily.

     Besides encouraging weight loss, clinical trials have indicated diets that include one or more servings of nuts a day have a 59% lower risk of developing fatal heart disease than those who don't eat nuts at all.  The trials also show that nuts can lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of developing diabetes.

     If you are trying to eat healthily or lose weight, eating nuts and seeds is an easy tool to use.  Smart people use tools.  Get the support you need from a good weight loss plan, support from a counselor or hypnotherapist and add nuts and seeds to your diet.

STOPPING TEEN SMOKING

     Did you know that ever day, nearly 4,000 American kids younger than 18 try their first cigarette?  When I ask my clients who are choosing to become nonsmokers, "when did you start smoking?", the age I hear than more than any other is "twelve".  By fifteen or sixteen they are smoking regularly.  According to the FDA and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, every day, 1,000 U.S. citizens younger than 18 become daily smokers.

     In fact in 2010 one in five high school students smoked.  On June 22, 2010, the Family Smoking Prevention and Toacco Control Act went into effect begining an era of greater tobacco restrictions.  The provisions include the prohibition of sale of cigarettes or smokeless tobacco to people under 18, the sale of clove and fruit-flavored cigarettes which were appealing to young smokers. and the sale of cigarette packages with fewer than 20 cigarettes.  Also prohibited was the sale of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco in vending machines and the sale or distribution of hats and T-shirts that have tobacco brands or logos.  Finally, tobacco brand-name sponsorship of any "athletic, musical or other social or cultural event" was banned.

     If, in spite of these efforts, you have a teenager in your life who smokes, continue to encourage stopping smoking.  Hypnotherapy is a safe and comfortable way to become a healthy, nonsmoker.

DEPRESSION IN OLDER ADULTS

      In a study at Rush University Medical Center in Oak Park, Illinois, researchers found the prevalence of depression in older adults to be as high as 49%. The causes of depression in older individuals are complex.  Some older people have a biological predisposition or history of depression that makes them particularly vulnerable.  Others have lost a partner, other loved ones or social support.  Medications including common drugs like those taken for high blood pressure can also trigger depression.  Disappointment with unfulfilled life expectations and health problems may all contribute.

     Symptoms of  depression in older adults can be hard to identify since such typical signs as fatigue, weight loss, insomnia and appetite changes may be attributed to health problems, medical interactions or old age.  Usual treatment consists of medication, psychotherapy, hypnotherapy and counseling.

   Using tools to prevent depression from occuring to start with can be valuable. Among these tools is the use of vitamins.  The Rush University Medical Center study was of 3,500 adults age 65 and older and found that those who had a higher intake of vitamins B6 and B12 were at lower risk of depression.  They found that the B vitamins could be consumed in either food or supplements.

     Kimberly A. Skarupski, Ph.D., M.P.H. at the medical center reported that for each additional 10 mg. of B6 and 10 mcg. of B12, the olds of developing symptoms dropped by two percent per year.  Foods particularly high in both B vitamins include milk seafood, liver and lean meats.  If you are concerned about depression affecting yourself or an older person in your life know that it can be warded off by consumption of B vitamins.

NUDGING A SMOKER TO QUIT SMOKING

      Thinking about quitting smoking?  Hoping to encourage someone else to quit.  Patrick Reynolds, an ex-smoker, who works with the Foundation for a Smokefree America has some suggestions for ways to nudge a smoker, or yourself, to quit.

     His first suggestion is to "Nag wisely."  Certainly, if you or a family member are being directly affected by cigarette smoke, you need to express your concerns.  Reynolds notes if secondhand smoke is constant, "you can be a pest every day."  However, if the smoker keeps his smoke to himself by going out on the deck or smoking only outside, "Advocate for no smoking three times a year."  I believe if nagging wisely seems only to create resistance, express your concerns and opinion and then drop it.  Encouragement for any positive attempts to control smoking may be much more successful than nagging. 

    Reynolds then suggests that smokers should seek support from people who are also trying to quit or people who have already stopped smoking.  He goes on to say that smokers should seek expert advice.  This may be from your doctor, a support group or a trained hypnotherapist who does a lot of work with smoking cessation.

    Did you know that using smoking cessation programs and other cessation tools triples the success rate for those trying to stop smoking?  Do your research.  Try the tools to help you become a non-smoker.

    Free resources are now available online.  Reynolds recommends 1-800 QUIT NOW where coaches will customize a program for each caller.  Reynolds, the grandson of R.J. Reynolds, the cigarette company founder, started the non-profit Foundation for Smokefree America (tobaccofree.org) in 1989.  He reminds all smoker that "Failed attempts are part of the normal journey toward becoming a non-smoker."

    Today most people understand how challenging it is to quit smoking.  But there are more tools than ever to stop smoking permanently. Hypnotherapy, support groups, over-the-counter and presciption medications are just some of those tools.  Keep encouraging the smoker in your life to be a healthy nonsmoker.

CIGARETTE SMOKING AND YOUR PETS

     Has your veterinarian told you that secondhand smoke is dangerous to your pet?  For many pet owners becoming a nonsmoker will be better not only for their own health but that of their pets as well.  If you need another reason to stop smoking, wanting your pet to have the best chance at a long, healthy life may be it.

     The toxins in secondhand smoke can cause malignant lymphoma in cats and cause lung cancer in dogs.  If your pet already has some pre-existing problem, the dangers are even greater.

     A Web-based survey done in 2009 of 3,293 adult pet owners found that 48% were either smokers or living with smokers.  Love of their animals would encourage 37% to quit or ask the people they live with to quit if there was clear evidence that smoking is harmful to their pets.  That evidence would encourage 14% of the responders to only smoke outside, away from their animals.

     Check sites like the ASPCA and the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center and the American Legacy Foudnation to learn more about the dangers of secondhand smoking to your animals.  If you are considering stopping smoking, protecting your pets is another reason to make that choice.

FINDING A PROFESSIONAL HYPNOTHERAPIST

     One of the responsibilities of a potential hypnotherapy client is to do everything you can to make sure you are working with a highly trained professional.  Do your homework.  Ask for referrals from your medical doctor, therapist or counselor.  Ask friends whose judgment you trust if they have used a hypnothrapist they could recommend.

     If you have not been able to find a trusted referral, phonebooks and the internet are just a place to start.  Call a number of professionals in your area.  Many hypnotherapists work in one person offices, so you will probably be dealing with voice mail or an answering machine.  Leave your number and ask for a call back.  Professionals return calls.

     I do not think it is inappropriate to ask for a free consultation either over the phone or in person.  I offer a free half-hour consultation in my office to every new client.  The advantage of taking the time to go to the office is to actually meet the person with whom you will be working and to see what kind of surroundings you will be in.  If you feel uncomfortable being in someone's home, you may be more comfortable in a professional office setting.  The interview itself does two things, it gives the potential client a chance to meet the hypnothrapist and make sure they feel comfortable.  It also gives that person a chance to ask any questions they might have about hypnotherapy so they understand how it work and how it could be of value to them.  My grandfather used to say , "You don't want to buy a pig in a poke."  You need to get your questions answered so you understand what you are buying when you hire a professional hypnothrapist.

    Like any other purchase you make, you want to make an educated decision about your choice of hypnotherapist.  Do your homework so you will have a great hypnotherapy experience.

HYPNOSIS FOR FEARS, PHOBIAS AND ANXIETY

     The past week in my area of Northern Virginia has been really interesting.  Last Tuesday we had a 5.8 earthquake which has been followed by several aftershocks.  Two of these were in the 4.5 range.  This may cause many people on the west coast to be amused at our shock and drama.  But earthquakes are not usually a part of our lives.  Because of the earthquake, there was a rockslide on a major traffic artery that upset thousands of commuters.  Mid-week storms came in from the west causing tornado watches and warnings.  Then over the weekend Hurricane Irene came ashore in North Carolina and swept up the east coast.  This morning the announcer on the radio said 25 people have been killed by Irene.

    The reason I mentioned all this drama is because of the number of calls I have had from people who are terrified.  Fear is a natural human emotion.  Sometimes fear is triggered by specific things which most people would consider dangerous or threatening.  In these cases fear may just be the next step up from healthy respect.  It is healthy to respect dangerous situations such as tornadoes and earthquakes.  This respect encourages a person to make appropriate responses such as taking shelter.

    When fear is irrational or becomes so debilitating that it is effecting your life, it is time to seek help.  Hypnotherapy is an excellent way to deal with fear. A persistent illogical fear of a thing or specific situation is called a phobia.  Anxiety about social interactions or performances is called social phobia.  Inexplicable terror such as that experienced in panic attacks or chronic fearful distress called generalized anxiety disorder or GAD may also be experienced.  A well-trained hypnotherapist can be very valuable in helping people to deal with their fears.

GOALS FOR JOHNSONHYPNOTHERAPY.COM

  A Personal Note: 

 Now that I have a few posts on this new blog, I would like to share my goals for johnson.hypnotherapy.com.  I am very interested in wellness-physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.  One of the joys of working as a hypnotherapist is that I work with people who are trying to improve their lives.  Whether it's getting rid of a phobia, stopping smoking, dealing with stress and anxiety, improving mental focus, losing weight or any of the many other issues I work with, the client is trying to grow.  I am researching areas of wellness all the time and hope to share what I learn with my readers.  Since hypnotherapy is the tool I use to assist clients, another goal is to help people understand how hypnosis can be a tool in their personal growth.  I truly hope you will find this blog of value.

Best regards, Jennifer 

SMOKING EXCUSES

           My clients give me many reasons they smoke.  There are some common reasons that smokers use to explain why they smoke and what they get out of smoking.  All of these must be addressed to be a successful, healthy nonsmoker.

         "I use cigarettes for relaxation." Or, "Anytime I'm stressed I need a cigarette."  In actuality, cigarettes stress your body.  Among the 200 plus known poisons in cigarettes are benzene (a cancer-causing flammable liquid) formaldelyde (a disinfectant and preservative), carbon monoxide (a poisonous oxygen blocker) and hydrogen cyanide (a poisonous rat killer).  I guarantee whenever you smoke a cigarette, it actually stresses your body because you are ingesting poison.  In addition, nicotine is a stimulant which causes the release of adrenaline, "the fight or flight" hormone which can leave you feeling stressed rather than relaxed.  Relaxation and stress relief are triggered when you take the break at work, sit outside on your deck, get away from the aggravations and the deeper breathing when you inhale that slows down your blood pressure and heart rate.  So take your break and do some deep breathing -- without a cigarette.

         "I'll gain weight if I quit."  People don't gain weight because they quit smoking.  They gain weight because they eat more and substitute eating for smoking.  When you become a nonsmoker, stay away from foods high in fat and sugar, avoid nervous snacking and get more exercise."

         "I know a smoker who lived to be 95 and never had a smoking related health problem."  That's great for that person.  Just know that person is the exception rather than the rule.  Diane Stover, chief of pulmonary medicine at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York once commented that eighty percent of the diseases she treats are related to smoking.  You don't have to believe the constant studies reported in the media, just go to any hospital and talk to the patients.  You are unlikely to be the exception.

         "I've tried to quit before.  I've never been able to quit."  Know that each person has their own path to being a nonsmoker.  Some people may try to quit more than one time.  Just know that each try increases the chance that you will succeed.  If you have tried patches and pills, hypnotherapy is another way to become a nonsmoker permanently.

LOSE BELLY FAT WITH HYPNOSIS

     If you are carrying extra weight through the midsection and dieting doesn't seem to work, it may help to understand why it's been so hard to lose your belly fat.  The problem may not stem from overeating or lack of exercise but from stress.  Stress affects you not only mentally and emotionally but physically as well.  When a person is stressed, chemicals are released by the brain to the adrenal glands.  The adrenals then created their own chemicals including the key adrenal problem behind belly fat, the steroid cortisol.

     Cortisol increases appetite and keeps blood sugar levels and insulin high which causes the storage of excess blood sugars as fat in the belly.  Unfortunately, diet changes alone do not affect belly fat and often frustrate a dieter when weight loss occurs but the belly still bulges.  In fact in many cases, fixating on diet may actually increase stress producing more cortisol and more belly fat.

     So how do you get out of this circle of frustration?  Certainly continuing to eat healthy foods and move regularly should be part of your plan to lose belly fat.  In addition, research suggests using Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin C.  Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in fish such as salmon, tuna, sardines and trout, walnuts and flax.  Supplementation can also be done with omega-3 fish oil supplements.  Be aware that fish oil has a blood thinner action.  So check with your doctor before using the supplement especially if you already take blood thinners.

     In addition, eat vitamin C rich foods which can help with stress and belly fat.  Studies have shown that adrenal glands register vitamin C deficiency as a stress problem and increase cortisol output.  Fruits such as peaches, oranges and strawberries are excellent sources of vitamin C.  Vegetables including sweet red pepper, broccoli, tomatoes and cauliflower also are rich sources of vitamin C.  Supplementing with Vitamin C is also an easy option especially if you are not good about eating your fruits and vegetables.

     Hypnotherapy can be a valuable tool in dealing with the underlying problem of stress.  By creating new tools to deal with the stress including triggering relaxation and controlling anxiety, you can stop the cycle of stress, cortisol production and belly fat.

HYPNOSIS FOR ELIMINATING FEARS IN SPORTS

        Eliminating fears, anxieties and other obstacles which can hold you back from your best athletic performance is another way to use hypnotherapy.  Over the years, I have seen many clients who had an actual physical fear of their sport.  Little-leaguers afraid of being hit by a ball, gymnasts afraid of falling off the horse or equestrians anxious after a fall are some of those issues.  But there are other fears that may stand in the way of peak athletic performance.  Sometimes the fear is of failing.  Some of the children I see have been competing in their sports for much of their life. They know that many hours and much money has been spent to get them to the competition so the pressure and fear of failing can be enormous.  Professional athletes have both their economic lives and personal identities tied up in their sports so fear of failure can be a constant pressure upon them.  Sometimes the fear is of moving up to the next level and fear of a stronger more powerful competition is causing problems for the athlete.  Hypnosis can be used to eliminate those obstacles and allow the athlete to compete and enjoy their sport without fear.

SMOKERS TO NONSMOKERS

Are you thinking of becoming a nonsmoker?   You are not alone. In 2006 Charlize Theron, a three pack a day smoker, became a nonsmoker with the help of a hypnotist.  The following is a list of some people you may know who have become nonsmokers.

Whoopi Goldberg                       2007

Jon Stewart                                 Dec 2000

Matt Damon                                2005 with the help of clinical hypnosis

Geselle Bunchen                         with hypnosis

Kelly Ripa                                    2006

TWILIGHT acresses, Ashley Greene and Nikki Reed                        2009

Courtney Cox                               2006 with hypnosis

Billy Joel                                      with hypnosis

Christy Turlington                        1995

Vince Vaughn                              2005

David Arquette                            2008 with hypnosis

Mel Gibson

Drew Barrymore                           2001 with hypnosis

HYPNOSIS FOR ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE

     A sports psychologist for a U.S. Olympic team once noted that 80 to 90 percent of an Olympic athlete's performance is in the mind.  In the 1960's in East Germany, Olympic trainers were working with athletes using hypnosis.  Today hypnotherapists work with trainers and sports psychologists at the college and professional levels as well as Olympic athletes.  Using your mind to improve physical performance can be of real value to you and hypnosis is a great way of using your mind.

     An issue for which clients come to see me is improving athletic performance.  I have had hypnotherapy clients who are professional athletes wanting to improve their performance in everything from football to golf.  Students come to see me hoping to release fears about getting hit by a ball or a tackle or improving their skills enough for a scholarship.  I have worked with Olympic hopefuls in diving, swimming and gymnastics.  All recognize that hypnosis can be a great tool to improve their skills in their chosen sport.

     There are a number of different ways that hypnosis can improve athletic performance.  Using visualization is a key part of such improvement.  Back in 1984, Mary Lou Retton competed in the Olympics.  She described her nighttime ritual of visualizing her routines, "I see myself hitting all my routines, doing everything perfectly.  I imagine all the moves and go through them with the image in my mind."   She did just that in the competition.  Note that the hypnotherapist does not need to know a great deal about your sport, you will give her a description and the words that will be used in your session.

What Will My Hypnosis Session Be Like

When people who have never worked with hypnosis are trying to understand what will happen during their session, they ask many of the same questions. What will it feel like? Will my eyes be open or closed? What will I do? Will I be talking during the session? Will I look weird while I am in hypnosis? What if I get into hypnosis and I don’t come out? One of the reasons I offer a free consultation before a client experiences hypnosis is so prospective clients have a chance to ask their questions. Perhaps I can answer some of those questions for you here.

What will it feel like? Many people describe hypnosis as just a peaceful, relaxed state. In fact, over the years, a number of my clients have described the session as “mind massage”. But the interesting thing, hypnosis doesn’t have to be a relaxed stated. In fact in hypnosis, a client can be instructed to become tense or even stiff. Most people have seen the comedy club hypnotist instruct somebody to lie stiffly between two chairs. There would be little reason for such a suggestion in a hypnotherapy session. In such a session, a client can move but usually remains still. Hypnosis is a state of high concentration. As you pay more and more attention to the voice of the hypnotherapist, distractions just seem to fade away. So, for most clients, your mind tends to be focused and mentally alert while your body feels comfortably relaxed.

Will your eyes be open or closed? A person can be in hypnosis with eyes either open or closed. I usually ask the client to close his eyes right at the beginning of the session. In this way, he is not distracted by certificates on the wall and book titles in the book case.

What do I do during hypnosis? Some people are concerned about doing something embarrassing. Over the years, several people have told me they don’t want to bark like a dog or cluck like a chicken. These images of hypnosis come from stage show hypnotists who are there to entertain an audience. In a hypnotherapy session, my job is to help you to improve your life by dealing with a personal issue or changing a behavior. Your job is to get comfortable, focus on my voice and accept the suggestions which are in your best interest.

Will I be talking during the session? Maybe – Maybe not. Most of the sessions that I do include a clinical interview in which the client has a chance to talk about their issue, how it is affecting their lives and what they want to have happen because they came to see me. Because of the clinical interview, there isn’t much reason for the person to talk during the actual hypnosis. In some hypnotherapy sessions, however, the client will talk. I don’t know where she misplaced her diamond ring or what happened when he was twelve years old.

Will I look weird while I am in hypnosis? Most people in hypnosis simply look relaxed. Some people’s lips part or their mouth may be open. Don’t worry about how you look. Hypnotherapists look at people with their eyes closed and their mouths open all day. It’s part of the job.

Finally, some people are concerned that the therapist might lead them into hypnosis and then not be able to get them out. No one has ever gotten “down there” and not been able to return to alertness. The hypnotherapist will lead you out of hypnosis and back to an alert state at the end of your session. A client once asked me “What if you keeled over while I was in hypnosis?” I replied then you will open your eyes and call 911.” You are not unconscious or asleep and you will return to alertness through the guidance of your therapist or your own choice.

My advice for anyone seeking hypnotherapy – find someone you trust. It’s not unreasonable to have some kind of free consultation to make sure you feel the person you are working with is a professional with whom you feel comfortable. Do your research about hypnosis, ask your questions of any therapist you are considering and make an informed decision to use this valuable tool to help you in making the changes you seek.

What does Hypnosis Feel Like?

Many prospective clients who have never been hypnotized will ask me "what does hypnosis feel like?"    Over the years, I have had many answers to that question.  I experience hypnosis as just a very pleasant, relaxed state.  The description that many people give is that hypnosis feels like "mind massage".  Others compare it hypnosis to how they feel when meditating. Time distortion is common in hypnosis.  Many clients are surprised to know that 45 minutes has gone by when they felt like the session had only taken a few minutes.

Hypnosis causes actual physical changes in your body.  Your muscles relax, your breathing slows and deepens, your blood pressure drops and your heart rate slows down.  In addition, even oxygen consumption and skin temperature can change.  As these physical changes take place, some people describe their body as feeling very heavy.  One client commented, "I felt like I was sinking down into the chair."  Just as likely you may feel light like you are floating or even tingly.  Some people feel warm while others begin to feel cool. I have never had anyone describe it as anything but pleasant.

Sometimes people will open their eyes at the end of the session and say "that was really nice, but I don't know if I was hypnotized or not."  For some people, the hypnosis session itself just isn't very dramatic.  As always, the proof is in the pudding.  When people lose the weight, or become nonsmokers, or deal with some other issue in their life, that's when they know they really were in hypnosis.

Often what people know about hypnosis is what they saw at the comedy club.  Stage hypnotists give silly or embarrassing suggestions for entertainment purposes.  The people who wind up on stage shows are people who want to be on stage shows.  They don't have to fake their responses.  They are exhibitionists who are extremely suggestible.  When you are hypnotized you always have the choice to reject any suggestion that is against your moral or ethical values. When you are working with a professional hypnotherapist, you are not there for entertainment or to show off.  You help to plan the suggestions so you can make the changes you want in your life.

Hypnosis is just a way of giving you a comfortable focused way to accept the suggestions you want to make the changes you want.  No one can force you to accept any suggestion. However, you experience it - feeling light or heavy, warm or cool, you are in control.  When you accept the suggestions and make the changes, you did it!