Hypnotherapy and the Brain

Broccoli and the Brain

 

Hypnotherapy has many amazing applications - to make positive changes, break habits, let go of the past, improve motivation and so on... You may be considering hypnotherapy for anxiety, hypnobirthing, smoking cessation, fertility treatment, IBS to name just a few. If you are based in the Blackpool and Fylde area - you are certainly searching in the right direction.

Calm & Contented Hypnotherapy can help with all of these issues

This post is all about hypnotherapy and the brain. So you might be wondering why there is a picture of a stem of broccoli on this post - is it some subliminal message to anyone considering hypnotherapy for weight control? Possibly. But the main reason I chose to include broccoli in the post is because this is the vegetable that most helps me to understand what is going on in the brain.

Most people are familiar with the general shape and size of our grey matter - cast your mind back to your school days and you may remember 'the plastic brain model' in the science lab. or pictures in text books?

Without baffling you with science: different parts of your brain are responsible for different functions - moving, seeing, speaking etc... The human brain as a whole could be compared to a lump of play-doh. The brain is really malleable and pliable. This is a relatively new discovery - as in years gone by it was thought that the brain had little plasticity - i.e. unable to change once it had grown, developed and set in it's ways. However, it turns out you can teach a old dog new tricks as long as the treats are tasty enough and actually our brains are able to make new neural connections and make a change.

So back to the broccoli. One of the primary cells in the brain is called a neuron, which - yes you've guessed it - looks like broccoli - more precisely the tender stem variety. All sensations, movements, memories, thoughts, feelings etc are a result of signals passing through these neurons. The tasty tree like part at the top (the dendrites) receive messages from other cells, then signals pass through the stalk (the cell body) and down the stem (the axon), this signal then passes from that neuron to the next broccoli head through receptors via the release of chemicals and electrical pulses known as neurotransmitters.

The end result is a very intricate and complex brain structure and thus many of workings of the brain still remain a mystery. It is thought that hypnotherapy is used to 're-wire' the brain and strengthen or change current neural pathways. Suggestions, ideas and imagery which are in line with a clients goals and aspirations can be presented during a hypnotherapy session, these impact on the neural pathways and lead to a positive response in the clients physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.

According to Dr. Mary Pasini “regardless of age, your brain has the ability to make new neurons and construct new neural pathways throughout your life. When you engage in new experiences or think in novel ways, new pathways are forged. Every time you think a specific thought, a specific pathway of neurons fires up, neurotransmitters are released and synapses are subtly altered. With repetition this pathway is strengthened. Even as you read this very sentence, your brain is changing. In this way, your brain’s structure is a culmination of all the thoughts and experiences you have had up to this very moment.”

Hypnotherapy brings about a state of deep relaxation and heightened awareness. In this state, the mind becomes open and receptive to new concepts. It is believed that the mind doesn't know the difference between imagination and reality, so hypnotherapy impacts on neural pathway and new ideas can become a new reality.

Of course, this is a very simplified version and only part of what hypnotherapy can entail. At Calm & Contented Hypnotherapy many different techniques are used and chosen in accordance to what is most suitable for the individual client.

Whatever the scientific reasoning and rational for change - for those clients who:

• wish to stop smoking - habits can be broken
• wish to lose weight - willpower can be strengthened
• wish to overcome anxiety - calm and balance can be re-stored

Testimony to this can be found in the number of people who are seeking out hypnotherapy across the UK. It is proving to be a safe and natural alternative to dealing with emotional issues, behaviours and stresses in life.

Trying to Conceive...

 

Unexplained Infertility 

 

Many women seek out hypnotherapy because they have the intention of becoming pregnant and after a time nothing seems to be happening. Calm & Contented Hypnotherapy makes no guarantees that hypnotherapy will enable you to become pregnant, in the same way that medical treatments such as IVF can't make promises.

It would be wonderful to have a crystal ball - but no-one knows what the future holds. The miracle of life is very much in the hands of the gods, higher force, force of nature or whatever beliefs you hold. At Calm & Contented Hypnotherapy I maintain that the intention of become pregnant is very important - after all it is the reason you are taking a certain journey. However, our aim is to focus upon the changes that need to be made which will enable you to become more fertile. The emphasis of the sessions is to put you in a more fertile state - changes may be made on a  mental, physical or emotional level, or you may require support with lifestyle changes for example stopping smoking or weight control.
 
The Fertile Body Method aims to increase fertility by identifying and resolving issues that may be preventing conception. There are issues that you may be consciously aware of, or blocks to conception which may manifest in the unconscious part of the mind.

The Fertile Body Method has treated may clients with a range of underlying fears and unresolved issues:

• Fears about pregnancy
• Fears of birth
• Parenthood and the ability to cope
• Concerns about work versus family life
• Unresolved issues relating to past miscarriage or termination
• Past grief
• Childhood experience
• Relationship issues  

Each woman is different - with different wants, needs and expectations. The best way to find out whether hypnotherapy is right for you, is to give me a call for an informal and confidential chat. Sessions are help at Susan Walker Associates, Hardhorn Road, Poulton-le-Fylde and The Spa on the Breck, Breck Road, Poulton-le-Fylde.

Gemma Webster

Clinical Hypnotherapist & Fertile Body Method Practitioner

Dip HPD & PNLP (MNCH)reg NHPr BA Hons.

07729275909

Listening to your femininity within...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your Menstrual Cycle: Pregnancy, Infertility and more... 

How much do you know about your menstrual cycle?

For most women they view their monthly bleed as something less than positive. An inconvenience, messy and more often than not uncomfortable. With this mind set, its hardly surprising that a women's period is known as 'the curse' - Yet how helpful is it to view such a natural and wonderful process with such negative connotation?

An understanding of the female body can help us to reconnect with ourselves on multiple levels. Whatever stage of life: puberty, trying for a baby, pregnant, menopausal or resolving tensions. It can be empowering for a woman to embrace femininity rather than viewing the menstrual cycle as something that should be 'put up with' or 'swept under the carpet'.

Certainly if you are trying to concieve: biological and emotional understanding of your own unique cycle is so important. And once pregnant imagine how much easier it is to listen to your body and embrace the changes of pregnancy, if you are already accustomised to tuning in to your body. Techniques such as hypnobirthing can the help strengthen and focus your mind and body for birth - building and bonding on what you already instinctively know from within.

Understanding physical and emotional changes throughout your cycle can help with self nurture - by listening to your body you can learn when it is time to eat, drink, rest and take that all important 'me time' away from the rest of the world. 'Me time' sounds like a bit of a cliche these days! But time out can really give a woman the opportunity to reflect on the month past and prepare for the month ahead.

Emotions are all part of humanity and where once you might have viewed irritability or tears or sadness during the lead up to your monthly bleed, such emotions may now be viewed through different eyes. This purge of negative emotion may be a reflection of the experiences you have had that month - reminents of unexpressed anger and unfinished business. When these emotions are encouraged to surface: a woman may feel cleansed and refreshed. Similar to that feeling, when you have a good cry over a sad movie. Dealing with locked in emotion then paves the path to move forward - with energy, enthusiam and positivity.

So not only does understanding and instinctly responding to our natural cycle help us to celebrate womanhood - it can also help to improve conditions and wellbeing. It is suggested by some experts that when our own natural tendancies and rhythms are not honoured that illness can follow. This is certainly a reason to start and pay attention to our bodies, emotions and thoughts and really start to give ourselves the self nurture that we deserve. Menstruation can be truly healing. To read more about this fasinating subject read: 'Her Blood is Gold, Awakening to the Wisdom of Menstration' by Lara Owen.

For more information about Natal Hypnotherapy™ and Hypnotherapy for Infertility & Hormonal Issues see www.calmandcontentedhypnotherapy.co.uk

Take a breather

Are you breathing comfortably?

As you sit there now: Are you consciously aware that you are breathing? Until I mentioned it...probably not. Breathing is an innate and involuntary function controlled by our autonomic system - which means for most of us, much of the time our breathing patterns don't register on our radar.

Perhaps as you read this and become aware of your breathing now, you can notice more about your breathing pattern? Short and shallow or long and deep. Some people breathe high up into their chest and others breathe low, deep into their stomach and these patterns change depending on our circumstances. In these ever busy days, the stresses and tensions of life tend to mean that most people are in the first camp - breathing short and shallow. What's more as stress increases, breathing patterns accelerate as part of our flight and fight response, thus fuelling and prolonging feelings of anxiety.

What happens when we breathe?

On an inhalation the diaphragm contracts and moves down making way for air to fill the lungs. When oxygen enters the lungs there is an exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the air and blood in the lungs. A complex network of blood vessels and capillaries carries oxygen to all parts of our body.

Breathing is quite a remarkable bodily function in that although for most of the time it remains an involuntary function, if you choose, you may alter the patterns of your breath. By paying attention to your breathing pattern you may learn how to manipulate it, to have a profound effect on your body and mind. Stress can be reduced and well being improved simply by focusing on long, abdominal breaths. Deep breathing creates a shift in the nervous system away from stress and towards relaxation, calm and mental clarity. 

Deep focused breathing can help generate a state of rest and repair. Diaphragmatic breath has been shown to positively affect immune function, hypertension, asthma, autonomic nervous system imbalances, and psychological or stress-related disorders. 

Learn to breathe...

One of the times that women may be familiar with 'learning to breathe' is within antenatal classes. Natal Hypnotherapy teaches women deep abdominal breathing which can help to:

•Relax your body

•Expanding your abdomen & lungs makes more room for the uterus

•Your blood pressure remains at a healthy level

•Increases the level of oxygen to your muscles and to your baby

•Increases the production of birthing hormones 

•Helps get rid of toxins and lactic acid

Instinctive deep, autonomic breathing can come naturally within a birthing scenario - but what about the rest of time? In daily life we often hear the deep exasperated sigh of someone who is feeling 'brassed off'. A natural antedote for frustruation. Perhaps it is a case of staying in tune with our bodies - and really breathing properly when we need to? Perhaps incorporating deep breathing on a day to day basis is the way forward... Incidentally the process of hypnosis is synonymous with deep breathing and just another benefit of hypnotherapy.

Yogis have known for centuries all about the benefits of good breathing and it seems science is finding more and more reasons that we should take advantage of this rich and free medication. So whether or not you are preparing for birth, whether or not you are feeling stressed out.
Keep on (deep) breathing ;)

Yoga and breathing 

Relaxation Techniques 
 

Fertility Treatment Blackpool & Fylde

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can Hypnotherapy get me Pregnant? 

It would be wonderful if hypnotherapy were a magic wand! Unfortunately there are no guarantees about becoming pregnant. What hypnotherapy can do is to help to put you into a fertile state. It is important to hold on to the intention of becoming pregnant whilst you see your therapist, but the focus of hypnotherapy for fertility is to address the mental and physical issues that may be preventing conception. It is unusual for there to be any one single reason that you are unable to become pregnant so therapy encompasses everything that needs to be addressed - for example limiting beliefs, stress, hormone levels, lifestyle - or whatever is relevant for you.

Fertility Hypnosis: How it works...

Hypnosis is a trance state induced through focusing attention; hypnotherapy is the art of utilising this state of absorption to facilitate inner change, which can positively impact on physical well being and fertility. Mind-body medicine is an approach to health that recognises the effect that our mind has on our body, and vice versa. This model views the various aspects of ourselves and the different systems of our body, as a part of the greater whole. This holistic approach acknowledges the effect that one part, or one system, will have on another.

For some the idea of mind-body medicine is a completely new concept and you may struggle to see how changes to the mind can affect the body and vice versa. Everyone has experienced the physical affects of emotion. For example the quickening of our heart beat when thinking about fear or the leap of excitement in your stomach as you think about a loved one. There are many beliefs that a woman may have surrounding fertility, for example: the belief that she should not become pregnant or that she doesn't deserve to conceive. These mental beliefs can strongly impact on the physical being thus preventing pregnancy.

Changing beliefs is just one element that hypnotherapy can help with. Hypnotherapy can support the mind and body to work in harmony together and redress balance in all aspects of health and life.

For more information regarding Unexplained Female Infertility please contact Gemma Webster at Calm & Contented Hypnotherapy and watch this space for more information on the Fertile Body Method...


Fertility in the news

Sugar Addiction Blackpool

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sugar Tax  

It's looking as if the UK are going to be following in the footsteps of countries like Mexico that have already imposed a sugar tax in soft drinks. According to the BBC, the Commons’ Health Committee has said there was now ‘compelling evidence’ that a tax would reduce consumption. Increasing pressure is being placed on MP's to increase tax on sugar as well as target marketing and advertising - especially campaigns aimed at kids.

No So Sweet

• "There has been growing concern about the damaging impact of sugar on health - from the state of people's teeth to type-2 diabetes and obesity
• Sugar has been dubbed "empty calories" because it has no nutritional benefit
• Government advisers recommend no more than 5% of daily calories should come from sugar
• That is about 1oz (25g) - six or seven teaspoons - for an adult of normal weight every day. For children, it is slightly less
• The limits apply to all sugars added to food, as well as sugar naturally present in syrups and honey
• To put this in context, a typical can of fizzy drink contains about nine teaspoons of sugar" BBC Online

But it tastes so good

It is believed that human beings crave sugar on a primal level and that in times gone by accessing sugar would have been essential to our survival. The problem is that in the modern world sugar is readily available at every petrol station, supermarket, cafe etc...

It has also been found that in the short term sugar and fat can improve our mood (especially in women). Fuzzy feel-good hormones like serotonin are released into our blood stream giving us a high followed by a low. This low mood leads to the sugar craving and the damaging sugar cycle is in place.

Obviously the long term effects of eating too much fat and sugar lead to health problems such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes... and now also damaging your wallet!

Hypnotherapy for Sugar Addiction

The good news is hypnotherapy can help you to break the psychological cycle of comfort eating. Working with the subconscious mind: hypnotherapy can help you to find more constructive ways of dealing with the stresses of life.

How many of us were rewarded with chocolate buttons for being a good girl! Hypnotherapy can reprogram this and you can learn that there are other more appropriate ways of rewarding yourself besides reaching for a bar of Dairy Milk!


How many sessions it takes is dependent on the individual. For some people there may be deep rooted reasons as to why you comfort eat and for this client a number of sessions may be required, but for others reaching for the biscuit tin has become a habit - which is possible to resolve in one or two sessions.


Make it your new years resolution to eat less sugar!

Hypnotherapy Blackpool

Hypnotherapy Blackpool Area

 

Are you looking for hypnotherapy in the Blackpool Area? I operate between two locations. Poulton-le-Fylde and Lytham St Annes meaning that I am in close proximity to most people on the Fylde Coast.

At Calm & Contented Hypnotherapy I offer treatments primarily for women. All women are unique and there is a vast range of issues that can affect us. The aim of hypnotherapy is to make changes to thoughts, emotions and behavioural patterns. It is possible to treat a wide range of conditions using hypnotic techniques.

Hypnotherapy is commonly used to treat conditions such as:

• Anxiety
• Stress
• Weight Control
• Confidence & Self Esteem 
• IBS
• Smoking Cessation

With 2016 around the corner it may be time for you to take action and make sure you stick to your New Year Resolutions with a little help from Calm & Contented Hypnotherapy. There is no better time to stop smoking, cut back on booze and lose a few pounds.

For full details and more information please see Calm & Contented Hypnotherapy

Best Regards