Cherie Miranda

Guest Writer - Holistic Expert Cherie Miranda

I have had too many clients to count who have asked about meditation and the benefits of meditation.

There is no better resource to answer that question about meditation than Cherie Miranda, an expert in the mind, body, and spirit connection.  Feel free to contact Cherie with any questions or comments below…you will NOT find someone more knowledgeable when it comes to the benefits of meditation.

…Holistic health means that we take the entire being into account: mind, body, and spirit. Meditation is a daily practice that brings all three parts of the self together.

What is meditation? Meditation, as one of my mentors puts it, is a tool for rediscovering your body’s own inner intelligence. It’s a process of bringing the mind, body, and spirit together in harmony. For most of us in the Western World, it’s a way to quiet the mind, to bring shorts bursts of silence to the jumble of thoughts constantly running and recycling through our brains.

Even though meditation does focus on quieting the mind, it is not a process of forcing the mind to quiet down. It’s not about force or struggle of any kind. Quite the opposite: meditation is something that comes easily, effortlessly, and naturally…even if it might require practice in the beginning (that’s why we call it a meditation “practice”). When you meditate, you learn to find the silence and stillness that already exist within you and gradually bring them into your daily life.

Meditation has quite a long history. In fact, meditation has been practiced by people from many different cultures for thousands of years. In fact, all of the major religions have their versions of meditation. But don’t think for a moment that meditation is tied to religion. It’s practiced by monks and priests, but it’s also practiced worldwide by atheists and agnostics, men and women, children and adults, and pretty much any group you can think of. Even top athletes, world-class musicians, and CEOs of Fortune 500 companies use meditation as part of their strategy for health and success.

While most people have heard of meditation, everyone has a different idea of what it is and how it’s done. And for good reason: there are many different types of meditation. What’s the best kind of meditation? The kind you will do. It’s as simple as that. There is no one-size fits all for meditation, though it is true that certain types or styles of meditation are more efficient for certain outcomes. Guided meditations, for example, are excellent for things like healing and goal setting. We will discuss different types of meditation in future posts, but for now I’m offering a simple meditation you can try anytime and anywhere. No special preparation required. If you can close your eyes, you can meditate. Here goes:

1. Sit comfortably in a quiet location where you will not be disturbed.
2. Close your eyes and take a minute or so to quiet down a bit.
3. For the next five minutes, simply notice the flow of your breath. Don’t try to control your breathing. Just notice it.
4. After the five minutes has elapsed, take another minute before slowly opening your eyes and resuming your regular activity.

If you give that a try, you can begin to get a taste for what meditation is really like. Everyone will have a different response to this exercise, but most will find that their minds race uncontrollably. The answer to that? Surprise: it’s OK. It’s normal. I’ll be writing more about meditation, and we can delve more deeply into this one point, since it can be an entire post in itself.

Why meditate? Practicing meditation on a daily basis brings an unbelievable number of benefits. There are thousands of scientific studies which prove the physical benefits of meditation, and a regular meditation practice also nourishes the mind and spirit. Again, more detail about the benefits of meditation in future posts. I could write an entire book just on the benefits of meditation!

In closing, I suggest you give my quick little meditation a try. It will take less than 10 minutes and might give you a little more clarity during a hectic day.

More About Cherie:

Cherie Miranda, founder of www.GuidedMeditationsOnline.com, is a 20 plus year
veteran of the mind body and spirit movement. She has worked with some of the greatest
wellness and spiritual leaders of our time. Cherie’s extensive list of credentials includes:

•Chopra Center Certified Instructor, Primordial Sound Meditation
•Chopra Center Certified Instructor, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga
•Chopra Center Certified Instructor, Perfect Health
•Certified Mindful Coach
•Clinical Hypnotherapist
•Oneness Deeksha Facilitator
•Reiki Master

Cherie has recently relocated to Las Vegas, NV after many years in California. She
offers individual and group classes as well as holistic health consultations. A lover of
international travel, she is passionate about art and the color purple (the actual color, not
the movie) and celebrates her left-handedness.

You can contact Cherie via her website to access her email address.

Rob Malone

I recently had the pleasure to read Rob Malone’s new blog at brainsalsa.com.

He addressed a question about coaching from of one of his readers with insight, providing useful information, based on experience…

Rob writes:

On Monday probiotic expert Neil Dhawan from www.geneflora.com asked, “How important do you think it is to have a coach?’    So that you can experience the same frustration my daughters do when they ask me a question I am going to give you a conditional answer.  It depends on the coach and how open you are to constructive, honest evaluation of your flaws.

I am a huge believer in coaches.  If you follow sports you know that skilled coaches can produce perennial winners year after year after year – at any level from high school to professional.

I personally have had numerous coaches (both my professionally and personally).  Here are some lessons learned in selecting a coach.

For coaching to work you have to remain objective when the coach is diplomatically telling you that you suck.  Your idea is crap, your execution is sub par, you are inferior to your competition, you aren’t putting in adequate effort… yadda, yadda, yadda.  Or a really great coach will tell you when you need to fire yourself if you just don’t have what it takes in a specific area.

Know specifically what you want from the coach – coaches are not mind readers and it is your responsibility to define the objectives.

Coaching relationships are not life long commitments.  All coaches have limitations which means there is a limit to high they can take you.  Be aware of this and when you hit that glass ceiling part ways and look for the coach who can break you through.

Asks specific questions to get a feel for how clearly defined the coaches vision in her model and she is going to help you; such as”

• What are the three biggest issues you see most often
• What specific tactics and strategies did you use with past clients to overcome these three issues
• Tell me your greatest success story
• Tell me your biggest failure
• Tell me about your three most recent coaching experiences
• Tell me how you benchmarked their success.
• What criteria will you use to evaluate if we are successful
• Tell me about your vision and mission statements
• Tell me what specific tactics and strategies you are using to achieve your vision and mission
• What criteria do you use to evaluate if you are achieving you vision and mission

And my favorite question, “What do you look for in a coach?”  This one usually catches them off guard and there response helps reveal how well thought out their business model is.  Do they have a crystal clear idea of what is important in being a coach.

Typically they don’t get asked this question a lot so don’t be surprised if it takes them back a little. But be silent and look them straight in the eye. After they collect themselves if they give a very concise and well thought out answer then you can reasonably assume they have a very clear vision of coaching.

More about Rob Malone:

Rob Malone is President of Malone Building Solutions (MBS) a commercial design/build company that specializes in the design, project management and construction of commercial and institutional projects. MBS predominately works in the St. Louis metro area but has done work in Kansas City, Chicago and Washington D.C. Some of MBS’s more notable clients have been AT&T, Phizer, Universal Studios, The City of Chicago and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Also notably MBS was selected to do the first ever design/ build project for U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command.

After being brought on as a consultant to help salvage several church construction projects that had gone horribly wrong Rob realized that there was a need for a program to educate churches on the solicitation, evaluation and procurement of design and construction services. To that end Rob, with his brother Marty Malone, created Malone Church Solutions (MCS).  MCS provides cutting edge design/build services for the religious market.

Rob’s newest venture is www.brainsalsa.com. This is a web site design to stimulate the mind and open the box of our consciousness to new possibilities. Brain salsa focuses on the business side of personal achievement and success. Additionally Rob is expanding into coaching for professionals and small businesses to help them succeed in today’s dynamic and challenging business environment.

Rob is currently on the Executive Board of Directors for the Southern Illinois Builders Association. He has been a member of the St. Louis Young Entrepreneurs Organization as well as World Entrepreneurs Organization. He has served on the Mid America Work Force Investment Board and is listed in the International Who’s Who of World Entrepreneurs.

You can contact Rob at rob@brainsalsa.com

Life coaching / Career Coaching

The Importance of Coaching

Rob Malone – Expert Guest Writer

My first position out of my master’s degree was at a special needs school. Being that this was an early intervention program, students were no more than 3 years old. The majority of the children were on the autistic spectrum although anyone who was approved to receive services could attend.

Overcome Limiting Beliefs

I worked in a classroom with 10 students in the morning and conducted individual therapy in the afternoon. After almost a year I met a little girl named “Jessica”.  She was about 2 years old and severely… …impaired. Jessica had to wear a helmet because she was a “head banger”. Up until then I have never seen a “true” head banger. Sure a child would have a meltdown and then carefully walk over to a wall and tap his or her head against the hard surface. However the fact that they actually cared that they didn’t want to get hurt gave the behavior away for what it was.  If the child hit there head too hard, it would actually hurt, and you could hear the cry change from a meltdown to a “real” cry.  (Most parents or child caregivers know the different cries a child can make.)

Jessica did not have her helmet on one day when I watched her bang, no smash her forehead against the edge of the snack table. There was absolutely NO concern for pain or injury and she was using all her strength. She didn’t hold back, one day, when we were doing play therapy on the floor and she purposely hit her head on the hardwood part of the floor instead of the rug. What was even more alarming was that her scream did not change when she made contact with whatever she was banging her head against.
I kept waiting for a louder scream or a change in tone to tell me “this hurts”, but it never came.

Jessica made no eye contact. She did not relate to peers, adults, or the world around her.
She had very little to no expressive language but could point to what she wanted. She understood and could follow a few commands.

Jessica was also a little peanut of a girl. Adorable, with these big blue eyes, and responded to music. She would smile, staring off somewhere out of the corner of her eye and clap when she heard the beat.

I watched this little girl, heartbroken, wondering what would happen to her. In my mind she didn’t have much of a future and I felt like my job was to make her as happy as possible and well, maybe comfortable might be the word, because I didn’t see her improving. She was the most impaired child I had ever worked with to date and I just couldn’t imagine things would change. I know that this influenced most of us at the school and we resigned ourselves to making sure she didn’t regress any further.

Just like everyone child who turns 3 in early intervention, Jessica eventually “aged out” and moved to another school for pre-school children ages 3 to 5.

Three years later…

I’m walking through one of the county’s public schools with a special needs program to observe a child in class and I see this little girl walking in line. She caught my attention because the teacher was telling her to be quiet. Apparently she was chit chatting in the hallway with her friend and they were giggling too. I looked at those big blue eyes, which looked right back at me because she felt my stare. That was right after Jessica looked up at the teacher, who was talking to her, made eye contact, said sorry, and followed the child in front of her back to class.

It was like the world stop spinning for a moment.
I was so happy for her and so immediately disgusted with myself.
“Shame on me,” was all I kept thinking. Shame on me for not giving her a chance, for believing that she didn’t have a chance to change. Who was I to make such a judgment? How dare I make that judgment even though I thought I was basing it on logic and experience…because it wasn’t her experience.  She didn’t have the limit of knowing that the odds were that things were unlikely to get better.

Yes, we all take historical data and use it to predict or anticipate similar future events.
It’s an effort to be realistic and make the world predictable. The more predictable things are, the safer we feel because we know what’s coming. Uncertainty increases the probability of being hurt or let down.
However this time, feeling safe and “knowing” what was coming created a limiting belief in my mind that did not give Jessica a chance.

Now, Jessica may not have been mainstreamed but she had come a heck of a long way from the days of self-injury and living literally in her own world. I would love to know where she is today.

Thank goodness for everyone that came in contact with Jessica after me for giving her every opportunity to succeed because I got to witness the rewards of that effort.  A little girl gets to live her life connected to the rest of the world.
I have NEVER forgotten my experience with Jessica so that I never had to say “Shame on Me” again.

Everyone deserves the chance to get well, to change, to achieve his or her goals in life and no one has the right to say otherwise. When we are empowered, positive change happens. I feel lucky to be able to go to work everyday and witness it.

href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/achillesinternational/4824392604/sizes/m/in/photostream/” target=”_blank”>Photo Credit

href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/familymwr/5007471553/sizes/m/in/photostream/” target=”_blank”>Photo Credit

Limiting Beliefs Series / Entry #1

Finding Hope

I recently started working with someone suffering from tinnitus who said the door to hope has been cracked open since being bombarded by so many telling him there is nothing he can do to get well.  He found countless entries online talking about the endless horror that he is in for.   Doctors have said, “There’s nothing we can do. Come back in two months.”  The picture painted of the future was a dark one and perhaps one he didn’t want to live with.

Then he told me how he experienced brief silence a few times over the course of the week as he works to redirect his mind away from focusing on the tinnitus.  I was so excited to hear that because it proved what his mind was capable of.  His mind was capable of being quiet.  One of the goals of our work together would be to expand those periods and capitalize on his ability to achieve silence.

But what about what all those other people said?  They said this couldn’t happen.

But it DID happen.

No one has the right to impose their own limiting beliefs on you.   That’s their life experience, not yours.

If I had listened to all the doctors when I was 25, I would still be suffering from arthritis and limping today from an untreated broken foot.  Who wanted to operate, who wanted to give me cortisone shots every few week so I wouldn’t limp, physical therapy, an orthopedic insert…none of it worked.  I couldn’t put weight on my foot for a good 30 minutes every morning when I got out of bed.   Now this wasn’t the end of the world and I am not remotely trying to compare it to tinnitus but what if I believed the surgeon who said it was going to be this way forever?

Apparently they didn’t know that within 4 sessions of acupuncture my limp would be gone and I could be pitching again…

The example I give here is where I had experienced someone else’s imposition of limiting beliefs.

Next in this series, I’ll talk about when I learned I was capable of doing the same and how it changed everything.

You can get the help you need, you can get well, and you can REJECT the limiting beliefs around you so you can achieve your goals.

Photo Credit

Tinnitus Veterans on Disability

Although we are a visual people, you don’t have to see the wounds in order for them to exist.

Yes, it’s a lot easier for someone to know a veteran has to deal with the affects of war when you can see it,but it should not have to be necessary.

In my research to address the growing issue of soldiers coming home from military service with tinnitus, I have also found my disappointment in the lack of attention it deserves growing exponentially.

I searched for data and the first article that showed up on google was from 2007! The next option, well, was the post I wrote just a few days ago.

Although the research will continue, it is necessary to focus on treatment and how to get well.

You can get well.

What I did take away from the Daily News article is that 30% of soldiers come home with tinnitus.  Fifty percent of those exposed to roadside bombs develop tinnitus.

Tinnitus can be anything from mild to debilitating, constant, intermittent, fluctuating in volume and/or tone.  One can have multiple sound going off at the same time.  It can be insignificant or torture.

The first line of defense if to educate our soldiers…and especially those in command to help protect their ears.

On the other hand, I get it.  How many of us would be thinking about protecting our ears when we might die in the next few moments???   That’s why they need to be prepared in advance.

Based on the data noise induced tinnitus is the primary cause in our military suffering from tinnitus.  Hearing loss can add to the challenge of getting well because a sound rich environment is so helpful in habituating.

Next we will talk about what the military has done to try to help active soldiers avoid damaging their ears, suffer form hearing loss, and experience tinnitus as well as what they are trying to do one our men and women come home.

Obviously it’s not enough, our veterans need direction and you can have a thorough tinnitus reduction program which will help you get your life back.

I would suggest starting with Dr. Kevin Hogan’s, Tinnitus Turning the Volume Down.  We co-authored and revised the book recently so that the information is as up to date.  You can then follow up with a tele-consult for an individualized program that has proven results.

As always you can feel free to email anytime to find out how you can get well.

Our Veterans

Our military put their lives in harms way for us and we should thank any soldier we encounter for their service to ourselves and our country.  Some see combat , some don’t, but all contribute.

For those who make it home alive, life doesn’t necessarily go back to “normal”.  There is emotional and/or physical stressors that can effect any soldier who is coming home to try to resume life as a civilian.

So after we welcome our soldiers home and thank them for their service, what happens to them?  Where do they go next when all the parades die down and they have to function like the rest of us?

For those veterans suffering from tinnitus, the answer may not be easy to find. Often, they feel they have no choice but to go on disability when they may have been more hope and help for them.

An increase in number in veterans suffering from tinnitus has steadily been on the rise over the past decade.

The number of tinnitus-related disabilities rose from 144,243 to 339,573 from 2000 to 2005, according to the Veterans Administration.  The amount paid out to veterans with tinnitus went from $150 million to $418 million in that time.

The military is suffering from a dramatic increase in tinnitus sufferers.  I find it confusing that long term benefits from investing in a better solution for our military suffering from tinnitus has not been taken advantage of.

Aside from the cost of taking care of these men and women who defend out country, don’t they deserve to have their lives back?  Please, that was rhetorical because there is only one answer to that question.

Our veterans can find peace again, whether it’s silence or habituation, it can happen because I’ve witnessed it.

So let’s say thank you with more than just a banner.  Veterans can get well, get their lives back, and find peace again.  With a multi-modal approach, we can address the physical and emotional aspects of tinnitus and provide the opportunity to heal.

If a soldier or veteran you know is suffering from tinnitus, let them know there is hope and feel free to email me with any questions you might have.

My next post will address some of the causes of tinnitus for our military.

Photo Credit
Photo Credit

In the field of cancer research, scientists are focusing on if there is a direct connection between stress and cancer. While the effects of stress are still not completely known by scientists, there is some data that stress can have a damaging effect on the immune system, which in turn may increase the rate of cancer. If stress decreases the body’s ability to battle a disease, the body logically loses its ability to kill cancer cells. Recent studies have also found that a few molecules, known to increase in times of stress, have also been linked with cancer.

What is Psychological Stress?

Researchers have long been attempting to uncover whether psychological factors can result in the formation of cancerous tumors, as well as other associations between stress and cancer. It is well worth asking if stress might be linked directly to the development of cancer.

Stress impacts the body in a specific manner. When one is under stress because of a negative occurrence or as a result of an overly busy and stressful lifestyle in general, the body produces more adrenaline and the hormone cortisol. Both hormones function to raise the heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. These factors can be quite harmful when combined. In addition, an individual who is under stress may drink more alcohol, smoke more, or begin to gain an excessive amount of weight due to unhealthy eating.

Can Stress Cause Cancer?

Researchers have done many studies to determine if there is a link between personality, stress, and cancer. It appears that there is no concrete scientific evidence that a person’s personality or outlook affects their cancer risk. There are, however, many factors to look at in the relationship between stress and cancer. It is known that stress affects the immune system, but so do many other factors. Despite many studies, a link between psychological stress and cancer has not been proven. Looking at the studies that have been conducted, they sometimes appear to arrive at opposite conclusions.

What Are the Symptoms of Stress?

The signs of acute and chronic stress are generally similar. The most frequent signs of stress appear physically, psychologically and behaviorally.

The signs of physical stresses are:
• Head pain
• Heart-related issues, such as chest pain, shortness of breath, fast heart rate, and hypertension

• Muscular pains as well as back pains
• Weight loss or gain

Some frequent psychological problems include:
• Depressive disorders
• Worry
• Mood swings

Behavioral changes are:
• Eating disorders, either over or under eating
• Angry responses to small irritants
• Alcohol and Drug abuse

Can Stress Lead to Cancer?

Numerous studies have shown that high levels of persistent stress can result in the weakening of the immune system. In turn, it has been suggested that the body may become more vulnerable to viruses that cause cancer. This implies that it is possible for chronic stress to lead to virus-associated cancer, such as lymphoma.

The most recent studies in this field have involved the testing of animals with diseases similar to the ones in humans. The findings have led researchers to conclude that the release of stress hormones into the blood stream may lead to changes in processes in the cell that normally prevent cancer. These changes occur in the processes that repair the cell DNA after damage and the ones that control the growth of cells. The implication is, then, that it may be possible for stress to reduce the natural protection of the body against the formation of tumors.

The Link Between Cell Growth and Cancer

Telomeres are basically a protein structure arranged to shield the ends of chromosomes, while the enzyme telomerase, is responsible for maintaining the integrity of telomeres. The growth of cells become arrested and is irreversible with the shortening of telomeres.

Telomerase is needed for the preservation of stability of Telomeres. This in turn helps control the growth of tumors. This enzyme plays an important role in the diagnosis of cancer as well as in developing anti-cancer therapies as it is instrumental in curbing the spread of cancerous cells.

Larsson also manages an interesting Facebook application called Emoinstaller. Emoinstaller allows you to add extra Facebook emoticons as well as Facebook smileys to your Facebook chat experience in just a couple of clicks.

Do you think there is a link? Let us know your thoughts.

How do I know with IBS treatment is right for me?
During pre-visit contact with our practice, you will get an idea of which way your therapist might be inclined to treat your IBS with.

At the first session, you will go through a thorough history which may include symptom experience, stressors, IBS triggers, onset, and pre-onset history. You will then discuss with your therapist and come to a clear decision as to which process would be more effective.

How many sessions are there for IBS treatment? How frequently will we meet?
The IBS treatment protocol is 8 sessions in total. After the initial session, subsequent appointments are ideally every 2 weeks.

Regression therapy typically ranges from 8 to 10 sessions on a weekly basis. If this is a viable option to reduce IBS symptoms then the therapist will provide you with an educated estimate of the number of sessions.

What is my first IBS session going to be like?
At your first session you will experience:

• a thorough clinical interview including medical and psychological history
• current symptoms and their severity
• review of past treatments and experiences
• review medical treatment and confirm that you have a firm diagnosis of IBS
• experience hypnosis
• come to a mutual realistic expectation of treatment
• explain and educate as to treatment plan and symptom log sheets

How long are the sessions?
The North Carolina IBS protocol consists of 45-50 minute sessions.
The Hypnoanalysis session are approximately 90 minutes in length.

How soon will I know if the IBS treatment is working?
You will know, typically by the 4th or 5th session if hypnosis for IBS is effective for you. Some clients experience relief immediately while others have a more gradual progression.
The key here is that everyone is unique and our bodies and minds respond uniquely as well.

What if I’ve tried everything and I am skeptical about hypnosis?
That is why you have the chance to experience hypnosis at your first session to decide for yourself.
Hypnosis is a powerful tool that can unlock our potential and healing capabilities. I believe in a healthy amount of skepticism until you experience hypnosis for yourself so you can make an educated decision with an experienced professional.

How are the treatment fees?
The basic or 45-50 minute sessions are $125 per session.
The extended hypnotherapy sessions (90 minutes) are $245 per session

Can you administer IBS treatment over the phone or with Skype?
If the basic session protocol is a viable option then it is possible to administer the treatment via Skype or a similar webcam program. An experienced hypnotherapist wants to see his or her client to pick up on signals that may be lost over the phone.
In order for extended hypnotherapy sessions to be administered via Skype, you must first have a 90- minute teleconsult and more in depth history before any approval will be made.

How can I find out more about what can be done to improve Irritable Bowel Syndrome?
To read Dr. Palsson’s research and study results please CLICK HERE
To learn more about what can be done to improve Irritable Bowel Syndrome please CLICK HERE.
How do I request an appointment with an experienced IBS treatment therapist?
You can call the Harwood Group directly and toll-free at (888) 860-0886
or email us at info@theharwoodgroupny.com.

If you would like to leave your questions and comments below, I will be happy to answer you here so that we continue to add to our FAQ.

Thank you and I look forward to answering your questions on IBS, hypnosis, or whatever is on your mind…

IBS Treatment Protocol at The Harwood Group
IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome Treatment FAQ

Panic Anxiety Attack

Panic Attack vs. Anxiety Attack…

or is it a Panic Anxiety Attack?

Overtime the terms panic attack and anxiety attack have become used interchangeably.  However, The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), a psychotherapists bible to diagnoses, would beg to differ.

The truth is that the term panic attack is used to describe when symptoms, described in this series’ previous post, come on suddenly and are extremely intense.  Typically these symptoms “peak” within 10 to 15 minutes and then subside.  The time the entire panic attack takes can differ and sometimes it may be hard to know when one stops and another starts.

Anxiety, however, is used to describe a core feature of several diagnoses under the heading of “Anxiety Disorders” in the DSM-IV.  The DSM is broken down into “chapters” or categories.  Listed under the umbrella of Anxiety disorders are Acute Stress Disorder, Agoraphobia (without history of panic disorder), Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Panic Disorder (with or without agoraphobia), Phobias, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

When someone has experience d panic attacks with enough frequency and interference with daily life, then they could possibly be diagnosed with a panic disorder.

Although there are similarities between panic and anxiety, the differences lie in the intensity of symptoms and length of time the symptoms occur.

While panic attacks are intense with a quick onset, anxiety generally intensifies over a period of time.  Everyone has anxiety.  It only falls into the category of an anxiety disorder when the symptoms are abnormal or inappropriate.  Think about the last time you heard a noise at night while you’re lying in bed in the dark.  That funny feeling is anxiety and it is necessary for survival, being part of our “flight or fight” response.  It’s a natural occurrence that our mind and body is attempting to keep up safe.  When you perceive a possible threat, the body prepares itself to either fight or flee to ensure self-preservation.

The symptoms of anxiety follow and are very close to those of panic attacks:

• Muscle tension
• Disturbed sleep
• Difficulty concentrating
• Fatigue
• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Increased startle response
• Increased heart rate
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness

The difference is that the symptoms tend to be less intense and can last for days, weeks, or even months.

The good news is that both conditions are responsive to treatment.  In order to understand how treatment works we will continue this series on panic and anxiety by looking at each specific diagnosis.

Photo Credit

Don't Panic

Ever have someone tell you, “Just don’t panic”?  If you have ever had a panic attack you know that it is easier said than done.  There are tools you can use to decrease the occurrence of panic attacks but first it’s necessary to understand just what a panic attack is.  Plenty of people have ended up in the emergency room because they thought they were having a heart attack instead of a panic attack.

This is the first in a series of posts on panic attacks.  Later posts will include a look at causes and triggers of panic attacks along with specific examples to better understand how we tick.  Subsequent posts will cover the difference between panic and anxiety attacks, dealing with panic attacks, overcoming panic attacks,  as well as how to stop a panic attacks.

So what is a panic attack?

By definition, a panic attack is a discrete period of intense fear or discomfort.  It usually begins abruptly, peaking within 10 minutes (as long as 30 minutes0, and can subside relatively quickly or over the next several hours.  Depending on intensity, for some the experience is so upsetting that it make days to recover.  Panic Attacks feature at least four of the following symptoms:

• Palpitations or accelerated heart rate
• Sweating
• Shaking or trembling
• Shortness of breath
• Choking sensation
• Chest pain
• Nausea or stomach distress
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Feelings of unreality or depersonalization
• Fear of going crazy or losing control
• Fear of dying
• Hot flushes or chills

A panic attack is often associated with panic disorder, but a situationally-bound panic attack may occur with phobias even without the presence of panic disorder.

I wonder how many people feel they have experienced a panic attack and do not meet the criteria of at least 4 of the aforementioned symptoms.  Perhaps you experienced something else?

The more you understand how the bomb works, the easier it is to diffuse it.

All You Need is LAR

All You Need is Love…and Appreciation…and Respect

The Beatles were on the right track when they sang about love…but it’s not the ONLY thing you need.  You also need appreciation and respect.

My mentor, the awesome Dr. Kevin Hogan, has always said that everyone needs love, appreciation, and respect in a relationship or they will simply go away.  Now not being a fan of blanket statements, I have tried to think of an exception on many occasions to no avail mainly because the statement is true.

If it’s work, you need that appreciation, respect, and love comes in the form of acknowledgement or you will not want to stay…

“He never notices how I stay late.”

“My boss is so rude she never even looks me in the eye when I hand my reports in.”

If it’s a relationship…

“We both work and I’m always the one doing the household stuff and he never even says thanks…”

“How come I always initiate sex when I’m just as exhausted as she is?”

“If she tells me one more time how I don’t do enough for this family…”

“Why am I the one that always takes care of the crisis with Mom and Dad?”

You get the idea, I hope.

I have abbreviated these 3 crucial components to creating a long and healthy relationship down to LAR (rhymes with “far”).   So think about your own relationships, the ones you’re happy about and the ones you’re not, work, family, all of it and see when you need to give more LAR and possibly get some.  Then you can make a decision about what to do with the insight you’ve gained.

So don’t tell Paul that I re-titled the song… All you need is LAR.

…and so is Naomi Bettencourt of Global Warming and Cooling! Stay Cool Naomi.

On my last post about my definition of personalized empowerment, I used a clip from City Slickers.  I promise not to make a habit of this but I had to do it one more time because Naomi had such a great comment.  In addition to being the top heating and cooling expert in the Las Vegas area, she also showed great insight to point out this clip of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman and said…”It’s just true, isn’t it?”

The bad stuff is easier to believe…

Yup, it’s true.

Think about… anything you do well.  Doesn’t matter what it is.  Whether it’s closing a sale, teaching, skiing, being a good partner, good cook, therapist… You do it well all day long and somewhere in there one sale doesn’t close, one child out of 25 gets an F, you fall once in 20 runs, you put your foot in your mouth (well that happens more often than most of us would like), you have to throw the dish in the garbage and get take out, or you couldn’t help 1 out of 6 people you worked with that day.

What do you focus on?  Is it the positive influence you had all day long or the one perceived negative?  

I grew up playing softball and still play although I now run like I have a piano on my back.  What was I more likely to remember from a game, the home run or the strike out?  Well, if I gave a darn about how well I did, then of course it was the strike out.  Just not good enough. I HAD to be better, the best.  And what I did dream about that night?  How I should have swung at first pitch like I’d wanted to.  We’ll talk about programming at a later date.

The point is that we tend to focus on the negative when we’re actually good at something so imagine when the negative message is all that you’re getting and it’s a bit more serious like,

“Just don’t pay attention to those bullies…”

“ Forget what your parents said to you, that was years ago…”

“Ignore the pain…”

“Just don’t focus on that ringing in your ears…”

“Just decide to focus on something else…”

“Just make the decision that you’re going to eat right and exercise and you’ll lose the weight this time…”

“Just get over it…”

Makes you want to smack someone upside the head doesn’t it?  If it were that simple we would all be well adjusted, highly self-esteemed individuals…who were also perfectly slim and fit.

Basically someone just told you to ignore your subconscious, the place where you store your habits, beliefs, and emotions that get triggered into what I call autopilot when a stressor kicks in.  So once the reaction is triggered you may hardly be aware of what you’re doing and why.  It’s all easier said than done. 

How do you reject what you’ve been fed over and over again?  It’s not a matter of “just getting over it” but some brutally honest hard work that involves poking holes in all the imprints you were given over the years, gaining insight, and making long lasting positive cognitive changes. 

I have found the greatest chance for that to happen is with hypnotherapy.  It is one of the only modalities that I know of that addresses any issue at its core level, the subconscious, because that is where long term changes happen.  What keeps me positive is that there is a way to resolve conflict and make positive changes in your life because everyone deserves the opportunity to find their own sense of peace.

style=”border:0px;” alt=”site stats”/>

 The following is a great scene in City Slickers…  Billy Crystal’s wife has sent him off to a dude ranch to find his smile again…Yeah I know it’s a movie so work with me a little bit.

Please be advised that the “S word” is used in the above clip…and I don’t mean Shoot.

Curly’s Secret to Life…

When I first attempted to articulate the meaning of personalized empowerment, I thought of this scene in City Slickers. (Thank goodness for YouTube!)  For Curly (Jack Palance) it was so simple but I just love how Billy Crystal is so confused.  He probably didn’t want to here that he has to figure it out for himself…

Recently I came up with the concept of personalized empowerment when I was not-so-gently pushed by a colleague to explain what I do. 

I started out with… the typical, “I try to help people.”

OK, how.  “Well, I help them release what keeps them stuck so they can achieve their goals.” Referring to how the past influences and programs us to be who we are.

He told me to stop with the therapist babble and tell him what I do… I could feel the adrenalin kick in. 

After some time of this back and forth and nitpicking my every word I finally said, “It comes down to  power.  You got the message along the way that you didn’t have any choice and now it’s time to be empowered to reject the message you’ve been given and write yourself a new one.  Why does anyone else get to decide but yourself?  I  want people to take their power back so they can experience peace and truly be whoever they want to become.   I want to empower them to achieve their goals and the idea that you can cookie cutter that one, one size fits all,  is ridiculous.” 

And so was born “personalized empowerment”.  Let me know what you think. 

Even if you don’t write it here, I bet we would truly get unique answers because what makes me happy and feeling like my life is productive and purposeful has got to be different than yours since we arrived here today with a different history and set of experiences.  Sure there may be some similarities with people but the process of arriving at the point of being empowered to make positive cognitive changes in your life is unique and to be a part of that process is not only a huge responsibility but also a great privilege.

Video Credit

style=”border:0px;” alt=”site stats”/>

Glenn Beck

However it would be beneficial to know how you or those you work with prefer to learn as it would give you so much information to work with so that you can increase your opportunity to achieve you goals.  Or, if you are working with someone else, you can better understand how he or she absorbs information.

Have fun with the quiz below and find out how you experience the world, whether it’s visual, auditory, kinesthetic, or audio-digital.

What is your preferred learning mode?

1. When learning something new, I do better when I can:
1. See what is happening
2. Hear how to do it
3. Do it myself
4. Understand how it works
2. What influences me the most when making an important decision is:
1. How it looks to me
2. If it sounds right
3. My gut feeling
4. Know it is the best decision
3. When buying a new car, my choice may be influenced by:
1. How it looks – style, color, lines of the car
2. Sound of the engine or sound of the doors when closing them
3. How it feels when I sit behind the wheel
4. Data I have researched
4. People know what kind of day I’m having by the:
1. Way I dress and look
2. Tone of my voice
3. Thoughts and feelings I share
4. How I interpret conversations or situations
5. When eating at a restaurant, my selection may be determined by:
1. How the food looks
2. If it sounds good to me
3. My stomach pangs
4. Nutritional information

Results:

Add up your answers.  How many of each did you pick?

1. Your preference is VISUAL
2. Your preference is AUDITORY
3. Your preference is KINISTETHIC (feeling or doing)
4. Your preference is AUDIO-DIGITAL (understanding or knowing)

Were you surprised by your result?  Would you change how you go about achieving your goal(s) or helping others?

When working with others, for example, in my own psychotherapy/hypnotherapy practice, it is always helpful to know how someone learns as it will influence the words I choose when speaking to them.  By paying attention to the language someone uses, one can pick up on whether they are an auditory, kinistethic, visual, and/or audio-digital learner.  I can then change my own language use to create the greatest probably of connecting and helping them.

Note that we can fit into more than one category with one particular mode being your strongest.

The more you know, the more likely you will implement and change, and the more likely you will succeed.

Gain knowledge and empower yourself to reach your full potential.

Photo Credit

style=”border:0px;” alt=”site stats”/>

The Harwood Group is dedicated to helping children, adolescents, and adults.  It is our belief that you should stick to what you know how to do best so if there is a topic that you are interested in that we do not specialize in, we will do our best to point you in the right direction.

We DO specialize in helping people who are suffering from tinnitus, chronic illness, depression, anxiety, and fear.

With that said we have the abilityto treat the following issues to give you some examples:

• hyperacusis
• misophonia
• unwanted habits
• fear of flying, fear of heights
• bed wetting
• test anxiety
• test improvement
• ADD
• ADHD
• IBS / Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• fear of needles, fear of doctors, fear of dentists
• self-esteem
• stress induced illness
• relationships
• decision making
• career enhancement
• sports enhancement
• smoking cessation with our Smokeless with Hypnosis program – Individuals and Groups
• Transitions Lifestyle Weight Management Program – Groups
• achieving your goal(s)

We utilize a multi-modal approach which may include one or more or all of the following for example: cognitive behavioral therapy, hypnosis, hypnoanalysis, ego state therapy, gestalt therapy, visualization, mental rehearsal.

I invite you to… email me at jennifer@theharwoodgroupny.com or call The Harwood Group at (888) 860-0886 with any questions you might have to to request an appointment.

Your emails and calls are treated with the same confidentiality as our sessions.

Appointments are held via phone, skype (video chat), or in person.  We reserve the right to determine which medium would be most effective for your specific reason for working together.   You can find out more about our practice in the “services” area.

We wish you all the best as youcommit to achieving your goals and making the positive changes in your life that you deserve.

style=”border:0px;” alt=”site stats”/>

2. What is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is an interactive therapeutic process to facilitate physical, emotional, and/or mental health in individuals. An interactive process where you are fully aware and in control of everything you are saying and doing while working with the therapist.

3. What are some common reasons for using hypnosis/hypnotherapy?
Hypnosis and hypnotherapy can be used for almost anything and everything that you would want to effect positive change.
A few of the many areas follow:

• smoking cessation
• weight loss
• body image
• self-esteem
• career goals/achievement
• sports achievement
• treating mental illness
• depression
• chronic illness
• pain management
• relaxation
• stress reduction
• increase self-awareness
• relationships/family

4. What is a trance?
There are different types and levels of trance. Trance is a state of heightened awareness with a reduced peripheral awareness. It allows you to remain highly focused on whatever the issue is at hand. Hypnotic trance, in it’s deepest state, has allowed doctors to perform surgical procedures without anesthesia. A light trance is all that is necessary to begin the therapeutic process. Focusing techniques have the same effect by allowing you to concentrate on whatever it is you want to work on.

5. Can I be hypnotized?
Almost everyone can be hypnotized. For those who find it challenging, I use focusing techniques and tools to facilitate change.

6. Are you going to swing a watch in front of me and tell
me my eyes are getting heavy?
No. My style of hypnosis is more about using focus techniques and tools to allow you to get to the root of the issue and create positive change in the most effective yet empathetic way.

7. Will I remember what happened?
Most people remember everything, because the state of hypnosis is a heightened state of awareness. Some clients report more detail than usual because they are in tune to what is going on around them.

8. What does hypnosis feel like?
The experience is unique for everyone. Some just feel a little bit more laid back than usual. Some experience a sense of feeling heavier or perhaps lighter, as if you are floating. You may feel a tingling in your hands or feet. Most people are visual, and picture events and situations, while others can hear, smell, or feel familiar objects or situations. Whatever your experience, you’re more open to whatever and wherever you need to go to get better.

 2. What do you specialize in? Why?
I specialize in the treatment of Chronic Illness including Tinnitus, as well as Anxiety, Fears, and Phobias. Chronic illnesses include Fibromyalgia, Environmental Illness, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I feel that focusing on a few key issues in my practice allows me to be more effective and experienced, which gives you the best probability for improvement.

3. How long, and how frequent are therapy sessions?
Our initial session is approximately 90 minutes to 2 hours in length, where we will discuss why you have come, your goals, expectations, and personal case history. You will also have the chance to experience some trance and focusing techniques at the end of the session. Subsequent sessions are approximately 90 minutes in length. Frequency is determined through pre-session information that I gather from you as well as our first session together.

4. How long will I be in therapy?
Length of therapy varies, and depends on the reason why you have come to see me. In general, the number of sessions is related to the issue and its severity. Most clients utilize 8 to 12 sessions. Although the number is flexible and may vary. I will openly discuss with you from the beginning what I estimate our time together to be.

5. Who do you work with?
I work with all ages – as long as it is in my area of specialization. Otherwise I will refer you to a qualified therapist or discuss your options.

6. Where are you located?
I am located in Larchmont, New York, a suburb of New York City. My office is conveniently across from the Larchmont Train Station for easy access by train or by car.

7. Do you do therapy over the phone?
On occasion, if there are extenuating circumstances, I will agree to do therapy via telephone sessions. We would discuss if phone session would be productive and/or effective before deciding to proceed.

8. Do you accept insurance?
No. I do not accept insurance, although I am considered a ‘reimbursable’ therapist in the state of New York. This means that you may be able to receive a percentage of my fee as an ‘out-of-network’ provider. I will provide you with all the necessary information, so you can explore this possibility with your healthcare provider if you so choose before we meet.

9. What are your hours?
Daily Monday through Friday with some evening hours. Please email me for specifics, as my hours change.  3 Day Intensive typically roll over into the weekend.

10. How do I schedule an appointment?
Please email me at jennifer@theharwoodgroupny.com to schedule an appointment or call our office, (888) 860-0886 / (914) 315-1823.
Due to my schedule, please anticipate approximately a 2 week wait for all appointments. Thank you.

style=”border:0px;” alt=”site stats”/>

Tinnitus Teleconsult on CD

Tinnitus Treatment

Tinnitus Consultation on CD

Who should own this program?

This program was designed for anyone who suffers from tinnitus.  Whether your cause is emotional, physical, or some combination of the two, this program helps you to learn how to manage your tinnitus and promote habituation.   Family, friends, and loved ones of someone who suffers from tinnitus could also benefit from this program as it gives insight into what someone you care about is going through and how you could possibly help them. Healthcare professionals and therapists could also benefit by gaining insight, understanding, as well as learning exercises to promote tinnitus management and reduction.

What is included in the Tinnitus Teleconsult on CD Program?

• 9 self-hypnosis recordings
• audio recordings to discuss and outline tinnitus treatment
• pdf file for you to print out summarizing the tinnitus reduction exercises, tinnitus distress survey, tinnitus checklist, and tinnitus log

Tinnitus expert, Jennifer Battaglino, LCSW, CHT, has worked with hundreds of tinnitus sufferers. Throughout the past several years, Jennifer has worked with tinnitus sufferers remotely through teleconsults and web-cam consults. A teleconsult is an individualized session, approximately 90 minutes in length where Jennifer works with someone individually to help them to implement and achieve a tinnitus reduction program. She would discuss everything…from what works to what doesn’t. Topics included diet, medication, the various methods of treatment, whether or not an osteopath would be a viable option, self-hypnosis, to name a few, as well as teach her clients practical exercises they could execute on a daily basis to promote habituation and new neuropathways.  Jennifer’s multi-modal approach encompasses various therapies as well as making some easier to access from home, without traveling or spending thousands of dollars.

Tinnitus Relief

The Tinnitus Teleconsult on CD Program is the culmination of over 6 years of specializing in tinnitus management, treatment, and reduction. About one-third of Jennifer’s clients have experienced remission while the vast majority experience relief and/or volume reduction.

Guarantee

“I have heard those words ‘Sorry, there is nothing I can do’ and ‘You’ll just have to learn to live with it’ for different reasons but I can’t imagine tinnitus waging war in someone’s head and hearing those words.  You don’t have to feel lost and people do get their lives back.  It takes commitment but isn’t feeling like yourself again worth it?

I believe in this process and have observed first hand so many people who were on the edge, telling me ‘I just don’t know if I can live like this’, make their way back to having a fulfilling life.

‘My promise and guarantee is that if you don’t experience relief within a year of your purchase, you can return your purchase for a full refund to The Harwood Group.  It will help you gain control over your tinnitus and your life again.’     Jennifer Battaglino

DESCRIPTION

• Streamline your plan and work on giving yourself the best possible chance to experience relief
• You will find out what therapies work
• Know your intervention options
• Understand medications that have helped others in the past which you can discuss with your doctor
• Listen to case studies and find out what other clients have done in the way of therapy, intervention, self-hypnosis, and medication to get well.

Have a better understanding of

• how tinnitus works
• what is effecting your tinnitus
• and how you can “interrupt” the cycle and ultimately break it to bring the volume down.

Learn practical reduction exercises you can use everyday to

• detach emotionally from your tinnitus
• promote new neuropathway growth
• and promote habituation.

You will

• Understand the concept of habituation and how vital it is to experiencing a volume reduction.
• Understand the definition of hyperacusis and how it pertains to tinnitus
• Learn how to reduce or extinguish hyperacusis symptoms to promote volume reduction
• Discuss diet and exercise and how they can impact your tinnitus
• Understand supplements – what works and what doesn’t
• Explore the various options open to you to get well from TRT to Neuromonics to Hypnotherapy

Price: $197.00

Store is temporarily down:  please email customer service at cs@theharwoodgroupny.com

with any inquiries.

Healthy and Happy Children

Photo Credit
1. Are children/adolescents good candidates for hypnosis?

Yes.  It has been proven that a child as young as 3 years of age can be hypnotized. However, the greatest success typically starts around 5 or 6 years old.  We very rarely work with someone less that 6 years old.  It is commonly known that children tend to be better candidates for hypnosis than adults.  Think about it…there has been less time to reinforce the negative imprints you may want to change or positively influence.

2.  How do I know if my child is a good candidate for hypnosis?

Most children are good candidates.  Deciding whether or not hypnosis is a viable option is more influenced by what the presenting issue is.  For example hypnosis has been proven to help improve  conditions such as  ADD, ADHD, fears, anxiety, test skills, improving grades in school, and sports enhancement.

3.  What are some issues that can be treated with hypnosis for children and adolescents?

• Pain
• Anxiety
• Bed wetting
• Unwanted habits such as (but not limited to) nail biting, thumb sucking, hair pulling
• Tics
• ADD/ADHD
• Sleep disorders
• Anger management
• Performance fears
• Sports performance
• Asthma
• Fears, ie. The dark, dentist, storms, needles, etc.
• Separation issues

4.  How does hypnosis work?

Think about how you would train for a marathon or to get in shape… You do so through repetition because you are conditioning your body.  Hypnosis allows for the opportunity to condition your mind.  It’s like studying for the test.  The more you go over the material the more like you will decrease performance anxiety and increase your chances of getting an A!

It has been proven that the success of hypnosis is not necessarily about the depth of trance.  Therefore you do not have to achieve a comatose-like state in order to achieve success.

Hypnosis or being in a focused-state allows your child to tap into their subconscious mind, where imprints and habits are found.  In many situations where we want to change, the behavior we want to effect has become habit; meaning…

the mind is triggered to go into auto-pilot and fall back on the “perceived” solution to the problem.  So a child gets nervous and doesn’t even realize they are nail biting or acting out in some way.

5.  How do you apply the advantages and effectiveness of hypnosis to working with children?

Parent participation and support is absolutely necessary for your child’s success.  You child looks to you to determine what is credible in this world and having your support only increases your child’s chances for success.

In addition, I will make an individualized recording, or multiple recordings when necessary, to reinforce the work that we do together.   This allows for the repetition I spoke of earlier to condition the brain to respond in the manner which we decide is healthier and more positive for your child.  Having the recording to listen to each day trains the mind to break out of that autopilot-like state and creates a choice.  The more choices someone has, the more likely they are to succeed and make a permanent change.

6.  Do you have to get to the root cause of the problem or can a change be made through straight suggestion?

Because children are such great candidates for hypnosis, often, getting to the root cause of an unwanted behavior or situation helps but isn’t always necessary. Of course each situation is treated on an individualized basis.

7.  How do we know the hypnosis intervention is working?

First, we determine measurable milestones so we can track progress.  If we don’t know what we’re measuring then how do we know something is working?  When someone tries to lose weight, they may make the statement that they want to lose 2 to 3 pounds per week…The scale tells the individual if what they are doing is working.

The same holds true here.  If we determine that “Johnny”  is able to focus for at most 5 minutes at a time then we might measure success in increasing that amount of time to 10 minutes over the next month.

The more specific the goal, the easier it is measured.

8.  When will I see a change?

Typically within… 2 to 3 sessions, we will know how well a child or adolescent is responding.  It is commonly known that children and adolescents tend to respond quicker to hypnosis than adults.  Therefore one only has to invest a few hours of time to see results as they may happen.

9.  Is hypnosis safe?

Hypnosis is completely safe and, in most cases, the least intrusive method for intervention.  It often prevents the use of medication or other methods of intervention that we would like to avoid with children and adolescents.

Someone who has been hypnotized remembers everything that has happened in session and never loses control over his or her own actions.  Once they experience a taste of relief, often clients want to hardly talk in session so they can get to the “hypnosis part”, looking forward to relief and positive change so that they can be happier and healthier.  Relationships tend to improve as well with those around them.

10.   How do I request an appointment?

You can email us at Jennifer@theharwoodgroupny.com  or call (888) 860-0886 to request an appointment.

If you have any questions about treating children and adolescents, please feel free to leave you question here or email us privately.  We will answer as prompty and thoroughly as possible.

WHERE TO START?       Which road should you take?

The Tinnitus Teleconsult   -

consults available in person, telephone, and Skype (webcam)

First: Read the Tinnitus FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Second:Read,Tinnitus: Turning Down the Volume, 2010 edition, which has been revised and expanded; co-authored by Jennifer Battaglino and Kevin Hogan. It is a great place to start to get a better idea of my philosophy and approach to tinnitus treatment.

Third: Contact me at jennifer@theharwoodgroupny.comto request an appointment/teleconsult. Consults can be conducted in person, by skype, or by telephone. Teleconsult Fee is $250.00 US and approximately 90 minutes in length.

Required prior to each teleconsult:

• EMAIL your complete case history, in your own words, to me at jennifer@theharwoodgroupny.comBegin up to 18 months prior to onset and include any major changes in your life such as deaths, divorces, accidents, injuries, employment upset, relationship issues, etc. Also be sure to include your desired outcome(s) for having a teleconsult.

• FAX a copy of your most recent audiogram to:
(914) 819-0283 or mail to: Jennifer Battaglino, 178 Myrtle Blvd., Suite 107, Larchmont, New York 10538

• INFORM me via email or fax that your MRI or CT scan results are normal, meaning no tumor. I will not work with you after the first teleconsult unless a tumor has been ruled out.  You can also ask your ENT or audiologist about a BAER test which is less involved that an MRI or CT scan and may help rule out whether a more thorough test is needed.

DESCRIPTION:
The teleconsult is where we will design a personalized tinnitus reduction and management program.
• Streamline your plan and get connected with the right people to give yourself the best possible chance to get well.
• You will find out what therapies work and don’t work
• Know your intervention options
• Understand medications that have helped others in the past which you can discuss with your doctor
• Find out if you qualify for intensive therapy such as a 3-Day Intensive Session or Weekly Sessions.
• Find out what other clients have done in the way of therapy, intervention, self-help, and medication to see how it applies to your own situation.

Have a better understanding of

• how tinnitus works
• what is effecting your tinnitus
• and how you can “interrupt” the cycle and ultimately break it to bring the volume down.
• Learn practical reduction exercises you can use everyday to detach emotionally from your tinnitus
• promote new neuropathway growth
• promote habituation

• Understand the concept of habituation and how vital it is to experiencing a volume reduction.
• Discuss diet and exercise and how they can impact your tinnitus
• Understand supplements and the real facts about what works and what doesn’t
• Explore the various options open to you to get well from TRT to Neuromonics to Hypnotherapy

 

If you would like to get started on your own you can order the tinnitus teleconsult on CD program now.

Tinnitus Teleconsult on CD program:

The Tinnitus Teleconsult on CD Program -  Cost $219

This CD program includes the following:

• EVERYTHING typically covered in a scheduled teleconsult appointment described above

PLUS:

• 9 self-hypnosis recordings
• audio recordings to explain and instruct on tinnitus treatment
• pdf file for you to print out summarizing the tinnitus reduction exercises, tinnitus distress survery, and tinnitus log

Other Treatment Options:

Individual Sessions for Tinnitus

TINNITUS 3-DAY INTENSIVE THERAPY
Please note that, due to my schedule, an approximate 2 week wait period for appointments should be anticipated. There is a longer wait period for 3-day Intensive Therapy Sessions as availability is limited. Your appointment might be moved up in the event of a cancelation.

Thank you.

Photo Credit

Mike Casey is an inspiring colleague who’s wealth of knowledge provokes thought and simpley put…make a lot of sense.  He is an expert in nutrition, mind-body connection, and stem cell therapy.

You visit Mike Case at his website http://stemcelltherapyresearch.com/

Now I am not about to take credit for this post, but I have been recently talking about Stem Cells and how they work and the scientific research, but I thought it only fair to give credit where it is due. See growing up I was always taught “logic” and that you had to scientifically prove everything. Believing was not enough if it could not be proven. After years of research on my own and always missing something I stumbled across something… or should I say someone. The following is from Dr. Bruce Lipton’s work. I have followed his research in depth now for a few years and he has scientifically backed what I like to call, “truth.” So we know what stem cells are and how they work, but I want to take a different direction now and talk about how the human body works and how our cells communicate. Over the next few weeks I will be going over all of this and using work from Bruce along the way, afterall why re-create the wheel.
“Sometimes, the body’s natural harmony breaks down, and we experience dis-ease, which is a reflection of the body’s inability to maintain normal control of its function-providing systems. Because behavior is created through the interaction of proteins with their complementary signals, there are really only two sources of dis-ease: either the proteins are defective or the signals are distorted.

About 5 percent of the world’s population is born with birth defects, which means they have mutated genes that code for dysfunctional proteins. Structurally deformed or defective proteins can “jam the machine,” disturb normal pathway functions, and impair the character and quality of lives. However, 95 percent of the human population arrives on this planet with a perfectly functional set of gene blueprints.

Because the majority of us have a perfectly healthy genome and produce functional proteins, illness in this group can likely be attributed to the nature of the signal. There are three primary situations in which signals contribute to dysfunction and dis-ease.

The first is trauma. If you twist or misalign your spine and physically impede the transmission of the nervous system’s signals, it may result in a distortion of the information being exchanged between the brain and the body’s cells, tissues, and organs.

The second is toxicity. Toxins and poisons in our system represent inappropriate chemistry that can distort the signal’s information on its path between the nervous system and the targeted cells and tissues. Altered signals, derived from either of these causes, can inhibit or modify normal behaviors and lead to the expression of dis-ease.

The third and most important influence of signals on the dis-ease process is thought, the action of the mind. Mind-related illnesses do not require that there be anything physically wrong with the body at the outset of the dis-ease. Health is predicated upon the nervous system’s ability to accurately perceive environmental information and selectively engage appropriate, life-sustaining behaviors. If a mind misinterprets environmental signals and generates an inappropriate response, survival is threatened because the body’s behaviors become out of synch with the environment. We may not think that a thought could be enough to undermine an entire system, but, in fact, misperceptions can be lethal.

Consider the situation of a person with anorexia. While relatives and friends clearly perceive that this skin-and-bones individual is near death, the anorexic looks in a mirror and sees a fat person. Using this distorted view, that resembles an image in a funhouse mirror, the anorexic’s brain attempts to control a misperceived runaway weight gain, by-oops!-inhibiting the system’s metabolic functions.

The brain, like any governing entity, seeks harmony. Neural harmony is expressed as a measure of congruency between the mind’s perceptions and the life we experience.

An interesting insight into how the mind creates harmony between its perceptions and the real world is frequently illustrated in stage hypnosis shows. A volunteer from the audience is invited onstage, hypnotized, and asked to pick up a glass of water, which the volunteer is told weighs one thousand pounds. With that misinformation, the volunteer struggles unsuccessfully with straining muscles, bulging veins, and perspiration. How can that be? Obviously the glass doesn’t weigh one thousand pounds even though the mind of the subject firmly believes that it does.

To manifest the perceived reality of a thousand pound glass of water, something that cannot be lifted, the hypnotized subject’s mind fires a signal to the muscles used to lift the glass at the same time it fires contradictory signals to the muscles used to set the glass down! This results in an isometric exercise wherein two groups of muscles work to oppose each other, which results in no net movement-but a lot of strain and sweat.

Cells, tissues, and organs do not question information sent by the nervous system. Rather, they respond with equal fervor to accurate life-affirming perceptions and to self-destructive misperceptions. Consequently, the nature of our perceptions greatly influences the fate of our lives.

While most of us are aware of the healing influences of the placebo effect, few are aware of its evil twin, the nocebo effect. Just as surely as positive thoughts can heal, negative ones-including the belief we are susceptible to an illness or have been exposed to a toxic condition-can actually manifest the undesired realities of those thoughts.”

Mike Casey
May 18, 2010

style=”border:0px;” alt=”site stats”/>

Source: http://stemcelltherapyresearch.com/

by John Richard Clarence Miller -

Author Gregg Pasternack

Living a healthy lifestyle can be confusing, but also give people a wide variety of methods to achieve their goals. Antioxidants have been one of the most popular dietary supplements in recent years. From cholesterol levels and cardiovascular health to eyesight and blood flow, these supplements are great for people on any kind of diet or meal plan. One of the newest forms of antioxidants available are called OPCs (oligomeric proanthocyanidins). These are the most potent found anywhere on earth. You would typically find these in red wine, pine bark, bilberry, and grapes. Along with the usual benefits, OPCs also provide 20 times more power than Vitamin C and 50 times for Vitamin E in eliminating free radicals that cause oxidation.

The company Isotonix has developed an antioxidant supplement called OPC-3. It contains OPCs from many sources, including pycnogenol. This OPC only comes from French maritime pine bark and is the world’s most potent. OPC-3 is a powder supplement in which you add water to the over cap and take it once a day on an empty stomach. The directions say to take 2 caps full per 150 lbs. of body weight for the first week. After that, you go down to 1 a day. Over time this is suppose to help lower cholesterol levels, keep your heart in good shape, strengthen your eyesight, among helping with other parts of the body. There are even benefits specifically for men and women. Men using OPC-3 get a boost in sperm fertility, which is great for all age groups to keep that in check. The women get some help during that “Time of the Month” when it comes to craps and the abdominal pain that sometimes follows.

Seniors will enjoy the support for joint flexibility and it fights the inflammation that occurs for some in their golden years. For those who enjoy a day in the sun, these antioxidants also contribute to healthy skin complexion, making you tan a little more productive. If someone is having trouble with blood clots and circulation, OPC-3 can help to promote healthy blood platelets, vessel dilation, and strengthen overall circulation throughout the body. With so many benefits, it’s no wonder antioxidants have become one of the main supplements people include into their daily meals. OPC-3 has enough potency to provide plenty of support in multiple areas, making it to be as common as a multivitamin in the near future.

Isotonix OPC-3 is available in two sizes. 30 servings will cost about $29, but the deal to get is $70 for the 90-servings bottle. It’s on sale online and quite possibly at your local supplement store. While these types of supplements are good for you, they won’t cure or prevent any health problems that exist today. But hey, every little bit helps when you’re trying to keep your body in check. The good with all antioxidant supplements: anybody can benefit. You should at least keep it away from the little ones, in case they grab some thinking it’s that candy powder they lost after Halloween.

Gregg Pasternack has been a noted expert on health and nutrition for 20 years. To learn more about OPC-3, click here. He has been lecturing about the benefits of OPC-3, and other powerful antioxidants as well.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com

by Gregg Pasternack -

To Order nutraMetrix supplements, including  OPC-3 CLICK HERE NOW

The following article was written by Dr. Olafur Palsson, the founder of the 7-session IBS protocol.

You can visit his website at ibshypnosis.com

International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 54(1): 51-64, 2006
Copyright © International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis
ISSN: 0020-7144 print / 1744-5183 online
DOI: 10.1080/00207140500322933

STANDARDIZED HYPNOSIS TREATMENT FOR IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME:

The North Carolina Protocol

OLAFUR S. PALSSON

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

Abstract: The North Carolina protocol is a seven-session hypnosis-
treatment approach for irritable bowel syndrome that is unique in
that the entire course of treatment is designed for verbatim delivery.
The protocol has been tested in two published research studies and
found to benefit more than 80% of patients. This article describes the
development, content, and testing of the protocol, and how it is used
in clinical practice.

BACKGROUND

In 1994, I began a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship in behavioral
medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill under
Dr. William Whitehead, who had spent much of his research career
investigating the psychophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Two years earlier, I had completed my doctoral dissertation research
in clinical psychology, testing a scripted hypnosis protocol that I had
designed to treat chronic stress problems (Palsson, 1993). That study
had shown that a scripted course of hypnosis treatment delivered verbatim
to a group of individuals could have very substantial beneficial
psychological and physiological effects. I therefore had considerable
interest in continuing work on developing standardized hypnosis
interventions for physical problems.

At the time I began my postdoctoral fellowship, a number of reports
from England had been published indicating that hypnosis was a
highly promising therapy for IBS and seemed to be more effective than
anything else for severe and treatment-refractory cases. As we began
our work together, Dr. Whitehead and I quickly developed a common
interest in designing and empirically testing a fully scripted hypnosis
intervention for IBS. We chose this highly standardized approach both
for the sake of scientific rigor, because we wanted to investigate how

Manuscript submitted November 19, 2004; final revision accepted January 16, 2005.

1Address correspondence to Olafur S. Palsson, Psy.D., Division of Digestive
Diseases, CB#7080, Room 1105C Bioinformatics Bldg., University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7080, USA. E-mail: opalsson@med.unc.edu

51

The treatment achieves its benefits and using the exact same treatment
with all patients was highly desirable for that purpose, and to make
wide generalization of the treatment easier if it proved to be clinically
effective.

THE CONTENTS AND STRUCTURE OF THE PROTOCOL

In consultation with Dr. Whitehead and based on the literature on
the psychological aspects of IBS, as well as my past experience from
my doctoral research and work with chronic pain patients, I wrote a
seven-session hypnosis protocol designed to address the problem of
IBS and a shorter session script for an audio recording for patients to
use daily at home between clinic sessions. We chose a seven-session
therapy format and a biweekly administration schedule to emulate
previously published work on successful hypnosis treatment for IBS
(Whorwell, Prior, & Faragher, 1984).

The nature of the protocol we created was partly dictated by the
requirement that it had to be usable without customization with all
patients, regardless of their ability to visualize, their pace of hypnotic
response, or their need for direct instruction. For this reason, the language
of the scripts is very directive, and the style and structure of the
sessions are more formal and detailed than might be necessary for
many patients.

The basic nature and sequence of content in the protocol’s sessions
is fairly uniform, consisting of (a) eye-fixation induction, (b) trance-
deepening associated with counting and imagined gradual movement
down to a different level (going down stairs, going down in an elevator,
sinking down on a cloud), (c) guided, systematic physical relaxation,

(d) a “therapeutic scene” experienced vividly in multiple senses to
enhance dissociation, further facilitate relaxation, and for use as a metaphor
for inner comfort and calm (this therapeutic scene is absent in
the first session), (e) therapeutic suggestions aimed at changing IBS
symptoms and gastrointestinal functioning, and finally (f) trance termination.
To illustrate the structure and language of the sessions, the
complete script of Session 2 of the protocol (except for the induction) is
provided in Appendix 1.
All of these session elements are familiar to anybody who practices
hypnosis. However, three aspects of the protocol structure that are perhaps
not that common should be pointed out here. One is the fact that
the protocol was specifically designed to be “modular.” We wanted to
be able to easily replace the IBS-specific suggestions with different test
suggestions without having to rewrite the entire sessions each time, in
case the protocol did not seem to adequately impact IBS symptoms in
our early testing. For this reason, all the therapeutic suggestions are
found in one circumscribed part of each session, in an “intervention

module” in the middle of each session script. Second, the intervention
module follows extensive deepening, suggested dissociation, and
engagement of the patient in vivid multisensory imagery. This was
done with the aim of ensuring that the patients were generally in the
most receptive state possible when the therapeutic suggestions were
delivered. Third, the therapeutic suggestions in the protocol are typically
explicitly tied to the therapeutic scenes that precede them to
enhance the impact of the suggestions. For example, in Session 3, after
the patient is induced to vividly imagine resting inside a warm and
comfortable mountain cabin with thick protective log walls on a
stormy winter night, lying on a big, soft bed close to a crackling, cozy
fire in the fireplace and experiencing the concomitant sounds, smells,
textures, temperature, colors, etc., this imagery is directly linked to the
suggested bowel-symptom changes:

Relaxing inside a warm, safe, comfortable mountain cabin like this, nothing
can disturb your comfort. The thick walls protect you from all discomfort.
Even though the storm is howling outside, you can barely notice it
in the safe comfort of the log cabin.

In the same way, you are protected more and more every day from
pain and discomfort in your stomach and bowels. You are becoming less
and less sensitive to discomfort or pain until nothing can upset or irritate
your intestines anymore. More and more it feels like your intestines are
protected from all discomfort, like nothing can upset them, just like you
are protected from the winter storms when you are resting inside the
mountain cabin. No matter how strong they blow outside, the thick protective
walls keep you warm, comfortable, and safe. You can feel comfortable
and relaxed inside. Perfectly comfortable and relaxed inside.

The intervention strategies we selected in our protocol were multifaceted.
They contained five therapeutic elements that I thought might
be useful in addressing IBS as I understood the disorder. These were as
follows:

1. Changing attention focus to decrease symptom experience. The protocol
contains many direct and indirect suggestions for the patients to automatically
pay ever less attention to their symptoms. Example: “You pay less
and less attention to unpleasant feelings inside you every day, as your
sensitivity to bowel pain and discomfort steadily fades away and
disappears.”
2. Altering perceptual experience of the symptoms, by suggesting
decreased symptom intensity and frequency or a positive change in
the quality of bowel sensations. Examples: “And even if you feel discomfort
inside, you will most likely notice that it is surprisingly weak,
much milder than before . . .” and “In situations where you might
have experienced bowel discomfort or pain before, you will probably
be surprised to realize that you only feel pleasant, warm, soothing
sensations.”

3. Suggestions of overall increased sense of health and comfort. Example:
“You become more comfortable and healthy every day, undisturbed and
peaceful inside like this beautiful secluded garden.”
4. Suggestions for the intestines to become immune to irritation or upsetting
life events. Example: “Gradually it will begin to feel more and more
like nothing can upset or irritate your intestines anymore.”
5. Suggestions and imagery to encourage normal and healthy bowel functioning.
Example: “You will probably notice after you leave here today
that your intestines are more and more functioning with a healthy,
steady, comfortable rhythm that does not cause you problems, a healthy
natural rhythm that does not disturb your comfort.”
Once we had written the protocol, we first conducted preliminary
testing of it on two of our coworkers and polished the scripts to ensure
that they could be routinely administered without problems. We then
invited a couple of patients with severe IBS to receive treatment with
the protocol. As soon as we were satisfied that we were seeing good
initial evidence of therapeutic impact in these first patients, we began
our first formal hypnosis study.

RESEARCH ON THE EFFECTS OF THE PROTOCOL

The aims of the first study were to quantify how effective our newly
constructed protocol was in improving IBS symptoms and psychological
well-being and, assuming that it would have a significant impact
on bowel symptoms, to test our hypotheses of the physiological mechanism
of action. Regarding the latter, we focused on two physiological
parameters that we thought would likely be altered by hypnosis and
might mediate improvement in bowel symptoms. These were visceral
pain sensitivity in the bowel and smooth muscle tone in the bowel
wall. Both of these variables were measured in the study with
computer-controlled balloon inflation tests inside the lumen of the rectum.
We also wanted to see if pain-specific suggestions affected
change in visceral pain thresholds or clinical pain, so we divided our
patient sample randomly into two subgroups and omitted any verbal
suggestions of pain changes in the treatment of one group.

Eighteen patients with chronic symptoms that had been unresponsive
to standard medical treatment were treated in the study. The
results, which have been described in detail elsewhere (Palsson,
Turner, Johnson, Burnett, & Whitehead, 2002) were both pleasing and
somewhat perplexing. The protocol clearly had substantial impact on
the clinical symptoms of IBS. All but 1 of the 18 patients were judged to
be improved after treatment. All IBS symptoms measured-abdominal
pain, bloating, and bowel functioning abnormalities (hard or watery
stools)-were markedly improved after the treatment course, as
shown in the top half of Figure 1. Symptoms of anxiety and somatization

Figure 1. Effects of the North Carolina Protocol on Bowel Symptoms of IBS Patients in
Two Studies.

were also greatly reduced after treatment, as seen in Figure 2. On the
other hand, the physiological parameters tested (bowel pain thresholds
and smooth muscle tone) were entirely unchanged after treatment,
making it clear that these aspects of bowel physiology had no
role in mediating the therapeutic effect. We were also surprised to find
that the subgroup that had not received any pain-specific therapeutic
suggestions showed equal therapeutic gain, including equivalent
reduction in clinical abdominal pain, compared to the group receiving
the full, unedited protocol.

We completed this first trial just as I finished my postdoctoral training
and accepted a position as director of a behavioral medicine clinic
at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia. There I began
to use this standardized protocol routinely in my own clinical practice,
as it had shown itself to be helpful for most patients. I did, however,
want to repeat formal testing of the protocol on a different patient sample
to confirm the degree of therapeutic effects that could be expected,
since our initial patient sample had been small. I also wished to further
pursue the quest for understanding the physiologic basis of the impact
of this treatment on bowel symptoms.

Figure 2. Effects of the North Carolina Protocol on Psychological Symptoms of IBS
Patients in Two Studies.

I, therefore, designed and carried out a second study, treating
24 patients with the protocol and using the same main clinical-outcome
measures as in our prior study. As in the first study, the patients
we enrolled had already failed to benefit from medical management of
their IBS. This time, the physiological hypothesis tested was that hypnosis
effected its improvement in gastrointestinal functioning via
impact on autonomic nervous system activity. This idea was based on
indications from several published studies that autonomic dysfunction
plays a role in IBS. To assess autonomic-activity changes, we used a
well-standardized psychophysiological stress profile procedure to
measure surface parameters of autonomic activity (heart rate, systolic
and diastolic blood pressure, skin temperature, and skin conductance),
as well as skeletal muscle tension (forehead electromyographic recordings)
before and after the hypnosis treatment course.

As in the previous study, most of the patients (21 out of 24) improved
from the treatment, both in bowel symptoms and in psychological symptoms.
The posttreatment improvements in IBS symptoms were nearly
identical to those of our first study (see Figure 1). This provided a nice
confirmation of our assumption that by using an entirely standardized

verbal intervention, one can achieve closely replicable clinical effects on
IBS in different patient samples. In this second study, we further found
that all treatment responders remained improved at 10-month follow-up.

However, we found again that the physiological variables we tested
did not reflect the substantial changes in bowel symptoms or psychological
symptoms. Of all the physiological parameters measured, only
finger skin conductance (that is, sweat gland activity) showed a small
change after treatment (see Palsson et al., 2002, for further details).

In short, the conclusions of our empirical testing of the standardized
IBS treatment protocol to date are that it produces highly replicable
results that constitute substantial and long-lasting improvement in
bowel symptoms for most patients and that this treatment is also associated
with improved psychological well-being. On the other hand, it
remains unclear in spite of our research through which mechanisms
hypnosis achieves its beneficial effects on bowel symptoms.

Apart from treating patients in our research studies, I have completed
treatment on more than 70 additional patients with this same protocol
and have continued to enjoy success with it equivalent to our formal
studies. As more and more clinicians have become aware of the protocol
and our promising outcome data, we have started sharing the whole
treatment protocol at no charge with clinicians nationally and internationally.
We now call it the North Carolina Protocol, to distinguish it
from the other well-outlined and empirically tested hypnosis approach to
IBS, that of the Manchester group in England. Because more therapists
are continually adopting our treatment approach, it may be worth outlining
here how I have typically utilized the protocol in clinical practice.

HOW TREATMENT WITH THE NORTH CAROLINA PROTOCOL
IS CONDUCTED

The initial visit of an IBS patient presenting for hypnosis treatment
consists of a thorough general clinical interview that includes medical
and psychological history, discussion of the nature and severity of the
current symptoms, and review of past treatments and conclusions of
any medical evaluation and tests. I typically want to make sure that the
patient has been well evaluated medically and that a firm diagnosis of
IBS has already been made. I also use this first visit to establish rapport,
educate the patients about IBS as needed, and orient the patient
to hypnosis. I make every effort to give the patient a realistic expectation
of therapeutic gains. I explain that the treatment offered is not a
cure for IBS and that not everybody improves, but the research as well
as my own experience indicate that about 4 out of every 5 people benefit
from the treatment. I further explain that the patient may or may not
feel noticeable improvement right away and that some people only
begin to feel markedly better halfway through the treatment course.

I give the patient symptom log sheets to record their IBS symptoms
daily in detail, and I recommend that the patient keep diet, medications,
vitamins, and supplements consistent as much as possible during the
treatment course (unless changes are recommended by a physician) to
enable us to observe the effects of the intervention without confounding
influences.

The second visit is generally scheduled at least 2 weeks after the
first one to allow a 2-week symptom baseline. I strongly emphasize to
the patient to record the bowel symptoms daily in the interval between
the first and second visits and to bring the symptom record to the
second visit.

The scripted treatment course is initiated in the second visit and is optimally
conducted approximately biweekly until the entire seven-session
sequence is completed. I try to avoid an interval longer than 3 weeks if at
all possible, especially in the first half of the treatment course.

I typically treat patients with the exact protocol and use the hypnosis
scripts verbatim, except for occasionally making minor adjustments
in the inductions to account for varying rates of patient response. On
rare occasions, if the patients have unusual symptoms that I believe
should also be targeted, I make additions to the therapeutic suggestions
of the therapeutic module parts of the scripts (such customizations
were not made in our studies).

The scripted hypnosis sessions take between 20 and 40 minutes to
deliver, so they can easily be accommodated within regular therapy
hours with time to spare to address any matters of importance. I avoid,
however, carrying out much psychological therapy other than the
scripted hypnosis intervention in hypnosis-treatment visits.

At the end of the second treatment session, patients receive the hypnosis
audio recording for home use. The home practice is an integral
part of the treatment, and I strongly emphasize the importance of it with
patients. If people report having a hard time using the audio recording
daily, I ask them to do their best to use it at least five times a week. Compliance
with home practice is generally good. The audiotaped home
exercise contains a self-hypnosis type of induction to aid patients in
eventually switching to self-hypnosis home practice once they are very
familiar with the recorded hypnosis exercise, and I invite them to do so.
However, many prefer to continue their home hypnosis practice with
the aid of the audio recording throughout the treatment course.

In the sixth treatment visit, I ask patients to again start recording
their bowel symptoms on the standard diary forms and to bring them
to the last session. I generally graph this information after the last hypnosis
session and show the patient in graphic form the comparison of
their current and pretreatment symptom levels. This is a good way for
patients to get an objective picture of their own therapeutic gains and
also creates a summary of treatment change to keep in the patient file.

Once the seven-session sequence is completed (which typically
takes about 3 months), the therapy course is finished and no further
treatment for IBS is generally required. However, I have typically
offered my patients the opportunity to return for a 3-month follow-up
visit as a booster session, because many patients find that helpful. In
that visit, I generally repeat one of the sessions from the protocol,
allowing patients to pick their favorite session, although I have sometimes
created a custom therapeutic scene based on the patients’
requests instead. I have learned over time from these follow-up visits
that most patients continue to improve further in their bowel symptoms
in the months after completing the standard treatment course.

It has been my experience that the occasional patient who does not
respond to the standard seven-session treatment sequence typically
does not benefit either from additional sessions. I therefore have come
to discourage further treatment efforts with hypnosis if there is little or
no response. I also do not continue therapy beyond the seven sessions
and a single follow-up with patients who have responded well to treatment
except in uncommon cases when there seems to be a particular
reason to do so (such as to address new or atypical symptoms that
might be helped with a focused customized hypnotic intervention).

Both my clinical experience and our research data have shown that
treatment responders typically remain better for a long time. In a few
cases, however, patients have contacted me years after the end of treatment
and told me that they are experiencing a relapse (often brought on
by unusually stressful life circumstances). In such cases, I have found
that the patients can often bring their symptoms back under control if
they use their audio exercise again daily for a couple of months.

The clinical effects of the North Carolina Protocol need to be further
confirmed in larger studies than have been conducted to date, and
especially in controlled studies comparing this intervention to other
treatments known to have some effectiveness for IBS treatment, such
as medications or cognitive-behavioral therapy. In the meantime, the
protocol offers advantages that make it an excellent therapy option for
patients who do not experience adequate relief of symptoms from
standard medical interventions. It provides a brief and fixed course of
therapy, it is extremely easy for clinicians to use, it is well received by
practically all patients, and the experience to date shows that it can be
expected to reliably improve the bowel symptoms of the great majority
of IBS patients who have been unresponsive to other treatments. We
continue to share the protocol for free with licensed health professionals
who wish to use it and have proper training and experience in clinical
hypnosis. There are now more than 200 clinicians using the
protocol nationwide in the United States, and the numbers of therapists
using it and patients benefiting from it continue to grow steadily
year by year.

OLAFUR S. PALSSON
REFERENCES

Palsson O. S. 1993 The psychological and psychophysiological effects of stress reduction

by means of group hypnosis intervention. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Virginia

Consortium for Professional Psychology.
Palsson, O. S., Turner, M. J., Johnson, D. A., Burnett, C. K., & Whitehead, W. E. (2002).

Hypnosis treatment for severe irritable bowel syndrome: Investigation of mechanism

and effects on symptoms. Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 47, 2605-2614.
Whorwell, P. J., Prior, A., & Faragher, E. B. (1984). Controlled trial of hypnotherapy in

the treatment of severe refractory irritable-bowel syndrome. Lancet, 2, 1232-1234.

If you have any questions about the protocol, you can go to Dr. Palsson’s website

ibshypnosis.com

April Braswell is one of the leading Dating and Relationship Coaches in the country, specializing in Online Dating Coaching and working with clients over 40.

In my work as a dating and relationship coach, a number of the men and women who approach me or their friends refer to me, tell me secretly of their fears and anxieties about dating, romantic sex relationships, and their fears about getting married.
Secretly, they fear that they will never find someone who will truly love them. Secretly they are afraid that if the person they’ve been dating, if it doesn’t work out with THEM, then “Marriage, it’ll never happen for me!” Do you ever feel that way and have thoughts like that?
“April, what if it never happens for me?”
When they do this, they are carrying stress and anxiety in their bodies. Indeed that stress and anxiety can build up cortisal secretions in their system and create stress-related illnesses. When their minds are filled with such fearful thoughts and anxieties, their stress level just increases and worsens the situation for them.
In my dating and relationship coaching, I make a point of actively listening to them. I make a point of asking them a lot of questions to surface BOTH the fears and anxieties AND their dreams of love.

When you are really in love, what will that look like?

When you say you want to be married, what are some of the details? How will you feel? Where will you live? Will there be children? Will you live in the country? Or a metro area?

My goal is to help them to make that relationship REAL in their minds and to see it and feel it – what their unique romantic love relationship could really be like.
And once they have started to PICTURE it in their mind’s eye and to FEEL it emotionally and passionately, the very next thing I ensure they do is…
TO TAKE ACTION to make it happen in their lives.

It is imperative for success in realizing what we most want in life to actually TAKE ACTION to bring it about.

So, when we want to create a great marriage romantic love relationship? We need to go on more dates!

Right after you have envisioned your desire, you must get out there and take action to go on MORE DATES in the next 3 weeks.

Go on coffee dates.

Go on drinks dates.

Meet people and interact with them romantically and DO FLIRT!
Once you have developed this NEW HABIT of DATING REGULARLY, you are well on your way to your romantic relationship success.

Happy dating!

April Braswell
Online Dating and Relationship Coach

Website: www.aprilbraswell.com

Biography:

April Braswell, is a leading expert Relationship Coach and Online Dating Coach, providing Easy Dating Tips and Relationship Coach services.   Her work as a Romance Coach and Online Dating Coach started out with her own story of romantic love.

Ladies, most of us grew up with dreams of romantic love, a knight in shining armor, reading beautiful fairy tales with gallant heros.  We dreamt of looking stunningly beautiful in our bridal gown and getting married.  Well, April did, too.  However, she was gloriously happily married at 36.

And then at 37 became a widow.

Widowed herself, April has successfully navigated the romance and dating game to the altar, worked on a successful marriage and all that a great romantic relationship entails, and now is herself back in the dating game in the 21st century. With her compassionate, humorous and sometimes audacious approach she encourages and inspires her clients to be their best selves and find love with her as their Romance Coach.

style=”border:0px;” alt=”site stats”/>

Author of 19 books, Professional Speaker, Doctor of Psychology

Why does putting our feelings into words — talking with a therapist or friend, writing in a journal — help us to feel better? A new brain imaging study by UCLA psychologists reveals why verbalizing our feelings makes our sadness, anger and pain less intense.

Another study, with the same participants and three of the same members of the research team, combines modern neuroscience with ancient Buddhist teachings to provide the first neural evidence for why “mindfulness” — the ability to live in the present moment, without distraction — seems to produce a variety of health benefits.

What are Scientists Seeing?

When people see a photograph of an angry or fearful face, they have increased activity in a region of the brain called the amygdala, which serves as an alarm to activate a cascade of biological systems to protect the body in times of danger. Scientists see a robust amygdala response even when they show such emotional photographs subliminally, so fast a person can’t even see them.

But does seeing an angry face and simply calling it an angry face change our brain response? The answer is yes, according to Matthew D. Lieberman, UCLA associate professor of psychology and a founder of social cognitive neuroscience.

“When you attach the word ‘angry,’ you see a decreased response in the amygdala,” said Lieberman, lead author of the study, which appears in the current issue of the journal Psychological Science.

The study showed that while the amygdala was less active when an individual labeled the feeling, another region of the brain was more active: the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex. This region is located behind the forehead and eyes and has been associated with thinking in words about emotional experiences. It has also been implicated in inhibiting behavior and processing emotions, but exactly what it contributes has not been known.

“What we’re suggesting is when you start thinking in words about your emotions –labeling emotions — that might be part of what the right ventrolateral region is responsible for,” Lieberman said.

If a friend or loved one is sad or angry, getting the person to talk or write may have benefits beyond whatever actual insights are gained. These effects are likely to be modest, however, Lieberman said.

“We typically think of language processing in the left side of the brain; however, this effect was occurring only in this one region, on the right side of the brain,” he said. “It’s rare to see only one region of the brain responsive to a high-level process like labeling emotions.”

Many people are not likely to realize why putting their feelings into words is helpful.

“If you ask people who are really sad why they are writing in a journal, they are not likely to say it’s because they think this is a way to make themselves feel better,” Lieberman said. “People don’t do this to intentionally overcome their negative feelings; it just seems to have that effect. Popular psychology says when you’re feeling down, just pick yourself up, but the world doesn’t work that way. If you know you’re trying to pick yourself up, it usually doesn’t work — self-deception is difficult. Because labeling your feelings doesn’t require you to want to feel better, it doesn’t have this problem.”

How Did the Study Work?

Thirty people, 18 women and 12 men between ages of 18 and 36, participated in Lieberman’s study at UCLA’s Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center.

They viewed images of individuals making different emotional expressions. Below the picture of the face they either saw two words, such as “angry” and “fearful,” and chose which emotion described the face, or they saw two names, such as “Harry” and “Sally,” and chose the gender-appropriate name that matched the face.

Lieberman and his co-authors — UCLA assistant professor of psychology Naomi Eisenberger, former UCLA psychology undergraduate Molly Crockett, former UCLA psychology research assistant Sabrina Tom, UCLA psychology graduate student Jennifer Pfeifer and Baldwin Way, a postdoctoral fellow in Lieberman’s laboratory — used functional magnetic resonance imaging to study subjects’ brain activity.

“When you attach the word ‘angry,’ you see a decreased response in the amygdala,” Lieberman said. “When you attach the name ‘Harry,’ you don’t see the reduction in the amygdala response.

“When you put feelings into words, you’re activating this prefrontal region and seeing a reduced response in the amygdala,” he said. “In the same way you hit the brake when you’re driving when you see a yellow light, when you put feelings into words, you seem to be hitting the brakes on your emotional responses.”

As a result, an individual may feel less angry or less sad.

This is ancient wisdom,” Lieberman said. “Putting our feelings into words helps us heal better. If a friend is sad and we can get them to talk about it, that probably will make them feel better.”

The right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex undergoes much of its development during a child’s preteen and teenage years. It is possible that interaction with friends and family during these years could shape the strength of this brain region’s response, but this is not yet established, Lieberman said.

One benefit of therapy may be to strengthen this brain region. Does therapy lead to physiological changes in the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex? Lieberman, UCLA psychology professor Michelle Craske and their colleagues are studying this question.

How do Buddhist teachings combine with modern neuroscience?

Combining Buddhist Teachings and Modern Neuroscience

After the participants left the brain scanner, 27 of them filled out questionnaires about “mindfulness.”

Mindfulness meditation, which is very popular in Southeast Asia and elsewhere, originates from early Buddhist teachings dating back some 2,500 years, said David Creswell, a research scientist with the Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA.

Mindfulness is a technique in which one pays attention to his or her present emotions, thoughts and body sensations, such as breathing, without passing judgment or reacting. An individual simply releases his thoughts and “lets it go.”

“One way to practice mindfulness meditation and pay attention to present-moment experiences is to label your emotions by saying, for example, ‘I’m feeling angry right now’ or ‘I’m feeling a lot of stress right now’ or ‘this is joy’ or whatever the emotion is,” said Creswell, lead author of the study, which will be featured in an upcoming issue of Psychosomatic Medicine, a leading international medical journal for health psychology research.

“Thinking, ‘this is anger’ is what we do in this study, where people look at an angry face and say, ‘this is anger,’” Lieberman noted.

Creswell said Lieberman has now shown in a series of studies that simply labeling emotions turns down the amygdala alarm center response in the brain that triggers negative feelings.

Creswell, who conducted the mindfulness research as an advanced graduate student of psychology at UCLA, said mindfulness meditation is a “potent and powerful therapy that has been helping people for thousands of years.”

What Else Does Mindfulness Help?

Previous studies have shown that mindfulness meditation is effective in reducing a variety of chronic pain conditions, skin disease, stress-related health conditions and a variety of other ailments, Creswell said.

Creswell and his UCLA colleagues — Lieberman, Eisenberger and Way — found that during the labeling of emotions, the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex was activated, which seems to turn down activity in the amygdala. They then compared participants’ responses on the mindfulness questionnaire with the results of the labeling study.

“We found the more mindful you are, the more activation you have in the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex and the less activation you have in the amygdala,” Creswell said. “We also saw activation in widespread centers of the prefrontal cortex for people who are high in mindfulness. This suggests people who are more mindful bring all sorts of prefrontal resources to turn down the amygdala. These findings may help explain the beneficial health effects of mindfulness meditation, and suggest, for the first time, an underlying reason why mindfulness meditation programs improve mood and health.

“The right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex can turn down the emotional response you get when you feel angry,” he said. “This moves us forward in beginning to understand the benefits of mindfulness meditation. For the first time, we’re now applying scientific principles to try to understand how mindfulness works.

“This is such an exciting study because it brings together the Buddha’s teachings — more than 2,500 years ago, he talked about the benefits of labeling your experience — with modern neuroscience,” Creswell said. “Now, for the first time since those teachings, we have shown there is actually a neurological reason for doing mindfulness meditation. Our findings are consistent with what mindfulness meditation teachers have taught for thousands of years.”

The research was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health, the article is from this week’s press release…

Dr. Hogan’s website is kevinhogan.com

Kevin Hogan
Network 3000 Publishing
3432 Denmark #108
Eagan, MN 55123
(612) 616-0732

Biography:

Kevin Hogan is the author of nineteen books. He is best known for his international best selling book, The Psychology of Persuasion: How to Persuade Others to Your Way of Thinking.

In the past decade he has become the Body Language Expert and Unconscious Influence Expert to ABC, Fox, The BBC, The New York Times, The New York Post and dozens of popular magazines like Forbes,Investors Business Daily,InTouch, First for Women, Success!, and Cosmopolitan.

He has become the go-to resource for analyzing key White House figures.

style=”border:0px;” alt=”site stats”/>

Is hypnotism trickery? Photo Credit

I’ve stated before that when you learn hypnosis you have to be a little tricky to bypass the critical factor, that skeptical guard that stands watch outside the gateway to the subconscious mind. Those who have been hypnotized before can attest to the fact that it takes a little practice to get your mind in the right frame. Once you’ve done it a few times it’s a lot easier to simply fall into the hypnotic state without a long induction. But what if it’s your first time? Or what if there is emotional resistance to going into the hypnotic trance even on a subconscious level?

The Truth Shall Set You Free?
When I was in high school there was a neighbor boy about 10 or 12 years old who had always spoken with a very noticeable stutter. One day I saw him walking past my house and I stopped to talk to him. Within moments I interrupted him and said, “you don’t stutter anymore!” He smiled and told me that a doctor gave him a new medication that stops stuttering. Even in high school I knew there was no such medication for stuttering and started to say, “Oh, a placeb… Well, that’s really cool!” I thought it was really amazing that he had stopped stuttering after all those years. A few weeks later I saw him again and noticed that his severe stutter had returned and I asked him what happened. He said, “M-m-my s-s-sister s s-s-said i-i-it w-w-w-was a s-s-sugar p-p-pill.” His stutter was gone completely for weeks, and was back in full swing. The sister told the truth and the doctor told the lie. But the key is that there was undeniable proof that his mind was completely capable of fixing the problem. Why did he stutter when obviously he didn’t have to? Too bad there wasn’t a hypnotist that could have stepped in and acquainted that boy with the power of his own mind because the truth is that he had the power to stop stuttering.

The Placebo Effect
The placebo effect is something that researchers have been studying for a very long time with varying conclusions. When a new drug is being tested they have to find out what percentage is responding to the placebo effect so they can determine a more accurate success rate in the drug. It’s so well known that a significant percentage of people will feel better just by thinking they are taking a wonderful new cure that they have to factor them out of the equation. I’ve recently read about a study in which the subjects were told that they were going to be involved in a new chemotherapy regiment. Although the treatment was inert and had no real affect at all, 31% of the participants lost their hair. The expectation to loose hair during chemotherapy was there, so it seems the mind can and does respond to the positive and negative suggestions. Makes you think twice about the friends you hang out with, the movies and TV shows you watch and the music you listen to. I do not recall the sales trainer that said this but I believe what he said to be true, “You live in the house that you live in because that’s the house you believe you can live in. You drive the car you drive because that’s the car you believe you can drive and you have the life you live because that is the life you believe you can live.”

Is Mankind Too Advanced To Believe?
I get a strange sense that the human population takes so much pride in our immense knowledge and sophistication that we don’t fall for hypnosis or the power of thought anymore, as if what all we learn from the placebo effect is “don’t be so weak minded.” Doesn’t it make more sense to believe that the more we progress intellectually, the more we will see, embrace and utilize the power of our minds? I can hear everyone saying (and I definitely have said it too) how can this illness be related to something my mind has control over or how can this situation have resulted from me and my mind… it just happened to me. I hear you and still wonder about it sometimes myself, but I certainly can’t dismiss the idea that our minds make and break us all the time. Remember that great subconscious realm consisting of nearly 90% of your mental functions is a repository of secrets that it the conscious mind isn’t very interested in knowing for the most part. What is that secret part of our mind doing in there at all hours of the day and night?

Delusional vs. Optimistic
Are there limits? It would seem logical to me that there are limits, but I’m not going to be the guy who sets them and then looks like a Neanderthal-man to my grandchildren’s generation who knows so much better. But some say, “It’s impossible to fix this” or “do that with just your mind.” Shhhhh!!! The guy who just did it might hear you! Everyone has a line they’ve drawn between delusional and optimistic, where does yours lie?

Hypnosis – It’s All In Your Head
It is all in our heads, so let’s experiment with the power our minds possess so that we can harness it. It’s been said that if you believe you can or you believe you can’t, you’re right. Imagine if the first Olympic athletes could see our men and women today. I think it would appear to them like some sort of trick or magic because a hundred years ago it wasn’t possible for men and especially women to run that fast, jump that high, skate that amazingly or endure that much. What if we didn’t have to trick our selves, but learned and believed the power of our minds to excel or to heal?

I think the trick runs the other way. My experience tells me we are tricked into doubt, fear and disbelief.

Photo Credits: Lauren Kristin, J. R. Bernstein, Little Dan 77

Shane Kester
May 2010

Source: http://www.shanekester.com

Photo Credit

style=”border:0px;” alt=”site stats”/>

Mike Casey

Mike Casey is an expert in nutrition, stem cell research, and the mind-body connection.  You can visit his blog, where this post originated at http://stemcelltherapyresearch.com/

I again want to focus on the power of our mind and how it works with our body.

In the face of heroic efforts needed to save our own lives, what chance do we have to save the world? Confronted with current global crises, we understandably shrink back, overwhelmed with a feeling of insignificance and paralysis-unable to influence the affairs of the world. It is far easier to be entertained by reality TV than to actually participate in our own reality.

But consider the following:

Fire walking: For thousands of years, people of many different cultures and religions from all parts of the world have practiced fire walking. A recent Guinness World Record for longest fire walk was set by 23-year-old Canadian Amanda Dennison in June 2005. Amanda walked 220 feet over coals that measured 1,600 to1,800 degrees Fahrenheit. Amanda didn’t jump or fly, which means her feet were in direct contact with the glowing coals for the full 30 seconds it took her to complete the walk.

Many people attribute the ability to remain burn-free during such a walk to paranormal phenomena. In contrast, physicists suggest that the presumed danger is an illusion, claiming the embers are not great conductors of heat and that the walker’s feet have limited contact with the coals. Yet, very few scoffers have actually removed their shoes and socks and traversed the glowing coals, and none have matched the feat of Amanda’s feet. Besides, if the coals are really as benign as the physicists suggest, how do they account for severe burns experienced by large numbers of “accidental tourists” on their firewalks?

Our friend, author and psychologist Dr. Lee Pulos, has invested considerable time studying the fire walking phenomenon. One day, he bravely faced the fire himself. With his pants rolled up and his mind clear, Lee walked the gauntlet of burning embers. Upon reaching the other side, he was delighted and empowered to realize that his feet showed no sign of trauma. He was also totally surprised to discover upon unrolling his pants, his cuffs detached along a scorch mark that encircled each leg.

Whether or not the mechanisms that allow fire walking are physical or metaphysical, one outcome is consistent: those who expect the coals to burn them, get burned, and those who don’t, don’t. The belief of the walker is the most important determinant. Those who successfully complete the firewalk experience, firsthand, a key principle of quantum physics: the observer, in this case, the walker, creates the reality.

Meanwhile, on the extreme opposite of the climate spectrum, the Bakhtiari tribe of Persia walk barefoot for days in snow and ice over a 15,000-foot mountain pass. In the 1920s, explorers Ernest Schoedsack and Merian Cooper created the first feature length documentary, a brilliant award-winning movie titled Grass: A Nation’s Battle for Life. This historic film captured the annual migration of the Bakhtiari, a race of nomads who had no prior contact with the modern world. Twice a year, as they have done for a millennium, more than 50,000 people and a herd of half a million sheep, cows, and goats cross rivers and glacier-covered mountains to reach green pastures.

To get their traveling city over the mountain pass, these hardy, barefooted people dig a roadway, through the towering ice and snow that blankets the 14,000 foot high peak of Zard-Kuh (Yellow Mountain). Good thing these people didn’t know they could catch a death of cold by being shoeless in the snow for days!

The point is, whether the challenge is cold feet or “coaled feet,” we humans are really not as frail as we think we are.

Heavy Lifting: We are all familiar with weightlifting, in which muscled men and women pump iron. Such efforts require intense bodybuilding and, perhaps, some steroids on the side. In one form of the sport called total weightlifting, burly male world record holders lift in the range of 700 to 800 pounds and female titlists average around 450 to 500 pounds.

While these accomplishments are phenomenal, many other reports exist of untrained, unathletic people showing even more amazing feats of strength. To save her trapped son, Angela Cavallo lifted a 1964 Chevrolet and held it up for five minutes while neighbors arrived, reset a jack, and rescued her unconscious boy.5 Similarly, a construction worker lifted a 3,000-pound helicopter that had crashed into a drainage ditch, trapping his buddy under water. In this feat captured on video, the man held the aircraft aloft while others pulled his friend from beneath the wreckage.

To dismiss these feats as the consequence of an adrenaline rush misses the point. Adrenaline or not, how can an untrained average man or woman lift and hold a half ton or more for an extended duration?

These stories are remarkable because neither Ms. Cavallo nor the construction worker could have performed such acts of superhuman strength under normal circumstances. The idea of lifting a car or helicopter is unimaginable. But with the life of their child or friend hanging in the balance, these people unconsciously suspended their limiting beliefs and focused their intention on the foremost belief at that moment: I must save this life!

Drinking Poison: Every day we bathe our bodies with antibacterial soaps and scrub our homes with potent antibiotic cleansers. Thus, we protect ourselves from ever-present deadly germs in our environment. To remind us how susceptible we are to invasive organisms, television ads exhort that we cleanse our world with Lysol and rinse our mouths with Listerine . . . or is it the other way around? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention along with the media continuously inform us of the impending dangers of the latest flu, HIV, and plagues transported by mosquitoes, birds, and swine.

Why do these prognostications worry us? Because we have been programmed to believe our body’s defenses are weak, ripe for invasion by foreign substances.

If Nature’s threats weren’t bad enough, we must also protect ourselves from byproducts of human civilization. Manufactured poisons and massive amounts of excreted pharmaceuticals are toxifying the environment. Of course poisons, toxins and germs can kill us-we all know that. But then there are those who don’t believe in this reality-and live to tell about it.

In an article integrating genetics and epidemiology in Science magazine, microbiologist V.J. DiRita wrote, “Modern epidemiology is rooted in the work of John Snow, an English physician whose careful study of cholera victims led him to discover the waterborne nature of this disease. Cholera also played a part in the foundation of modern bacteriology-40 years after Snow’s seminal discovery, Robert Koch developed the germ theory of disease following his identification of the comma-shaped bacterium Vibrio cholerae as the agent that causes cholera. Koch’s theory was not without its detractors, one of whom was so convinced that V. cholerae was not the cause of cholera that he drank a glass of it to prove that it was harmless. For unexplained reasons he remained symptom-free, but nevertheless incorrect.”

Here’s a man who, in 1884, so challenged the accepted medical opinion, that to prove his point, he drank a glass of cholera, yet remained symptom-free. Not to be outdone, the professionals claimed he was the one who was wrong!

We love this story because the most telling part is that science dismissed this man’s daring experiment without bothering to investigate the reason for his apparent immunity, which was very likely his unshakable belief that he was right. It was far easier for the scientists to treat him as an irksome exception than to change the rules they created. In science however, an exception simply represents something that is not yet known or understood. In fact, some of the most important advances in the history of science were directly derived from studies on anomalous exceptions.

Now take the insight from the cholera story and integrate it with this amazing report: Rural eastern Kentucky, Tennessee, and parts of Virginia and North Carolina are home to devout fundamentalists known as the Free Pentecostal Holiness Church. In a state of religious ecstasy, congregants demonstrate God’s protection through their ability to safely handle poisonous rattlesnakes and copperheads. Even though many of these individuals get bitten, they do not show expected symptoms of toxic poisoning. The snake routine is only the opening act. Really devout congregants take the notion of Divine protection one giant step further. In testifying that God protects them, they drink toxic doses of strychnine without exhibiting harmful effects. Now, there’s a tough mystery for science to stomach!

Spontaneous remission: Every day, thousands of patients are told, “All the tests are back and the scans concur . . . I am sorry; there is nothing else we can do. It is time for you to go home and get your affairs in order because the end is near.” For most patients with terminal diseases, such as cancer, this is how their final act plays out. However, there are those with terminal illnesses who express a more unusual and happier option-spontaneous remission. One day they are terminally ill, the next day they are not. Unable to explain this puzzling yet recurrent reality, conventional doctors in such cases prefer to conclude that their diagnoses were simply incorrect-in spite of what the tests and scans revealed.

According to Dr. Lewis Mehl-Madrona, author of Coyote Medicine, spontaneous remission is often accompanied by a “change of story.” Many empower themselves with the intention that they-against all odds-are able to choose a different fate. Others simply let go of their old way of life with its inherent stresses, figuring they may as well relax and enjoy what time they have left. Somewhere in the act of fully living out their lives, their unattended diseases vanish. This is the ultimate example of the power of the placebo effect, where taking a sugar pill is not even needed!

Now here’s an utterly crazy idea. Instead of investing all of our money into the search for elusive cancer-prevention genes and what are perceived to be magic bullets that cure without the downside of harmful side effects, wouldn’t it make sense to also dedicate serious energy to research the phenomenon of spontaneous remission and other dramatic, non-invasive medical reversals associated with the placebo effect? But because pharmaceutical companies haven’t come up with a way to package or affix a price tag to placebo-mediated healing, they have no motivation to study this innate healing mechanism.

by Mike Casey – May 18, 2010

style=”border:0px;” alt=”site stats”/>

Author of “Balancing Your Emotional Health” and found of the Roth Wellness Center

     Fibromyalgia was recognized by the American Medical Association as an illness and cause of disability in 1987, yet it has been a struggle for many since Hippocrates first described a similar set of symptoms in 400 BC. In the early 1900’s, fibromyalgia was considered “arthritis of the muscles” and classified with other rheumatological conditions involving pain in the muscles or joints.

Stress and pain are irreversibly linked in fibromyalgia. For many people, some kind of stressful event is what initially triggers the illness. It often shows up after a serious illness, some kind of emotional or mental shock or with PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Many believe that stress unmasks the disorder.
  Today fibromyalgia is thought to be a central nervous system disorder in which either pain-sensing nerves are excessively sensitive, or the brain is extremely sensitive to pain impulses. People with fibromyalgia are out of balance in the HPA axis – hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal – which is our body’s system for responding to stress with neurochemicals like adrenalin and serotonin. Pain sensation and abnormal stress response are related and people with fibromyalgia experience more pain when they are stressed.
  Simply having fibromyalgia is stressful. Though fibromyalgia feels different to each person, the common denominators are… painful and uncomfortable sensations throughout the body, fatigue and mental cloudiness. Not being able to accomplish things is stressful, especially when it affects your employment situation, leading to financial stress. Dealing with a chronic illness and lifestyle changes is stressful.
  Adding insult to injury is the fact that you may still appear healthy to everyone else, no matter how badly you feel, so that few people understand how compounding these conditions can be on a daily basis. Anything in addition to the everyday stress load tends to tip the scales and cause the fibromyalgia symptoms to be worse.
  Stress reduction is an important part of managing fibromyalgia. Hypnotherapy is a technique that can successfully address the stress, physical pain, and mental anguish from which people who have fibromyalgia suffer.
  Hypnotherapy can successfully shift your appraisal of stressful events and change how your mind and body subsequently react. Choosing hypnotherapy is a self-care option that pro-actively says, “I’m in charge of my mind and my body, not the events that surround me!”

http://www.rothwellnesscenter.com/

Biography:

Dr. Michael B. Roth:

Dr. Roth received his degree from Los Angeles Chiropractic College and has been practicing in this area for over 24 years.

He is the author of two books on wellness, the e-book “Wellness, Weightloss and You!” and the recently published “Balancing Your Emotional Health,” which reveals how to identify and clear the emotional issues sabotaging one’s health.

Dr. Roth is a certified BRT practitioner, an astonishingly simple and effective form of therapy.

Dr. Roth is certified in NET. Neuro Emotional Technique is a unique way to support the body’s journey into a mind-body balance by removing emotional blocks. He creates a compassionate and nurturing environment that comforts you in this process.

Dr. Roth has run over 20 marathons and has participated in the Ironman Triathlon consisting of a 2.4-mile ocean swim, 112-mile biking and a 26-mile run!

Dr, Roth is also a member of the Flying Samaritans, a group of professionals who travel to the rural areas of Mexico to provide medical assistance and education at no cost to the patient.

Dr. Roth is current and up to date with all of his techniques and information. He strives to educate himself and share this knowledge with his patients.

Dr. Roth believes in educating people about integrative health and wellness. He conducts regularly scheduled classes on health and nutrition explaining what true health is and how the body can be supported nutritionally, physically and emotionally.

Dr. Roth’s philosophy is that the body has the inherent wisdom to heal. His focus is on the four vectors of health: Chemical, Structural, Emotional and Electromagnetic, to find the cause. He facilitates the healing of the source, not just treating the symptoms.

style=”border:0px;” alt=”site stats”/>