Hypnotherapy in Suffolk

Hypnotherapy and Hypnosis in Suffolk and Essex

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Hypnotherapy and Anger Management

Anger Management with Advanced Hypnotherapy and NLP in Ipswich Suffolk

Anger is a normal, healthy emotion. It has a purpose. However, it could be a problem if you find it difficult to keep it under control. You can learn to control your anger, and you should: anger directed towards a job not done, or a promise broken, is understandable, sometimes anger will express truthfully how we are feeling – but it should never get out of control because it leads to bad or unintended consequences such as a loss of trust or even a relationship. Worst is when it is used as a means of control of others which is not only unfair but also can be the worst form of domination. Anger can be a useful way to blow off steam but should not lead to harm of others – unless in the rare event that we are actually under physical attack.

Dealing with your Anger

Everybody has a physical reaction to anger: But you should be aware of what your body is telling you, and take steps to calm yourself down, because it will generally lead to a better outcome.

Learn to recognise your anger signs

Your heart beats faster and you breathe more quickly, preparing you for action. This is based in the fight or flight mechanism. When we were Hunter Gatherers or Farmers many millennia ago we became hard wired to either fight an adversary or run away. We would pump adrenaline and lash out or run as fast as possible.

An angry response may also be rooted in past behaviour. If losing your temper got you out of trouble in the past, or you “got your way” as a child or teen, then it might have seemed like a successful strategy.

You could also notice other signs, such as tension in your shoulders or clenching your fists. If you notice these signs, then you need to get out of the situation if you have a history of losing control.

Count to 10 .. slow breathing down .. and learn how to anchor a calm state

Counting to 10 gives you time to cool down, so you can think more clearly and overcome the impulse to lash out. Anchoring calm enables you to slow down and think.

Breathe slowly

Breathe out for longer than you breathe in, and relax as you breathe out. You automatically breathe in more than out when you’re feeling angry, and the trick is to breathe out more than in. Anchor your calm state. This is something you can learn to do. This retrains you to be calmer. This will calm you down effectively, and help you think more clearly. Your adrenaline will stop pumping. You will learn that being calm gets better results.

If you lose your temper there will be many times when you do or say something you regret. It will often lead to unfortunate consequences: Relationships break down, trust is lost, at worst  – you could end up in legal trouble.

Most people regret who they become when they are angry and may feel that they: “cannot help it.” However they can and should for their own sake and those around them – there is really no excuse for lashing out verbally or physically when there are better ways to handle the matter.

Managing anger long term

Once you can recognise that you’re getting angry, and can calm yourself down, you can start looking at ways to control your anger more generally.

Exercise helps with anger

Bring down your general stress levels with exercise and relaxation. Running, walking, swimming, yoga and meditation are just a few activities that can reduce stress. Exercise as part of your daily life is a good way to get rid of irritation and anger.

Practicing self hypnosis will help you train yourself to be mindful and calm and learn how to deal with the issue in the best way rather than the worst  way – lashing out.

Looking after yourself may keep you calm

Make time to relax regularly, and ensure that you get enough sleep. Drugs and alcohol can make anger problems worse. Consider asking for help with managing alcohol and drugs. They tend to lower inhibitions and, actually, we need inhibitions to stop us acting unacceptably when we’re angry. Learning self hypnosis is a great way to relax.

Getting creative and Learning new things

Writing, making music, dancing or painting or enjoying a sport can help release tension and reduce feelings of anger. Finding a new project or hobby. Perhaps you once wanted to explore photography or learn a language or write a local history. Many a client has gone on to find a new, enjoyable, and even profitable avenue to explore. Extending skills also makes you more employable. Some clients have set up one person businesses. Channeling energy into something new.

Maybe you want to master a sport more fully or channel any aggression productively.

Perhaps you could join a rambling group and walk for miles, or a book club, and make new friends?

There are many classes available to channel energy.

Talking about how you feel

Discussing your feelings with a friend, or a Professional Hypnotherapist, can be useful and can help you get a different perspective on the situation. Many people go through similar situations but you might find that they are much better at resolving them than you. Borrow their experience.

Let go of angry thoughts

I can help you change unhelpful ways of thinking.  Thoughts and projections such as: ‘It’s unfair,’ or ‘People like that shouldn’t be on the roads,’ will just make anger worse.

Learning to change your thought processes like this will keep you focused on whatever it is that is triggering your anger. When you are mindful of this, and let these unhelpful thoughts go, it will be easier to calm down. You will find that these new ways of thinking and behaving work much more satisfactorily than the old ways. Life is a long process of learning where we should take the lessons from failure and experience and not repeat what has failed!

Try to avoid using phrases that include:

always (for example, “You always do that.”)

never (“You never listen to me.”)

should or shouldn’t (“You should do what I want,” or “You

shouldn’t be on the roads.”)

must or mustn’t (“I must be on time,” or “I mustn’t be late.”)

ought or oughtn’t (“People ought to get out of my way.”)

not fair (“It’s not fair – why should they …)

Anxiety, Fear and Anger

Sometimes when people talk about “anger” what they actually mean is aggression, says Dr James Woollard, a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist. “Often when people experience or appear to show anger, it’s because they are also feeling fear or perceive a threat, and they are responding with a ‘fight’ response to this.” “Asking yourself, ‘What might I be scared of?’ can give you a different set of choices about how to respond,” says Dr Woollard. “You might be angry that something has not gone your way. But you may also be scared that you might be blamed or hurt as result. Recognising this might allow you to think and act differently.”

Read more on how to manage your anxiety.

“Managing your anger is as much about managing your happiness and contentment as your anger,” adds Dr Woollard. “It should be a part of developing your emotional intelligence and resilience.”

Domestic Violence and Anger

If uncontrolled anger leads to domestic violence (violence or threatening behaviour within the home), there are places that offer help and support. You can talk to your GP or contact domestic violence organisations such as Refuge, Women’s Aid or the Alternatives to Violence Project. Read about getting help for domestic abuse.

Abuse Trauma and PTSD

Getting help with anger

If you feel you need help dealing with your anger, I can help you to learn how to handle your anger, understand why you get angry, and deal with any past issues that may trigger the angry response.

Anger management programmes

A typical anger management programme involves one-to-one counselling and working together to find the best strategies for YOU. The programme is usually three ninety minute sessions. In some cases, however, it may be over a couple of months.

I offer a free assessment and then you can decide for yourself.

Call or Text: 07875720623

Email: grahamahowes@me.com

Hypnosis for Anger

Graham Howes Advanced Hypnotherapist and NLP Practitioner for Anger Management in Ipswich Suffolk

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Pain and Cancer Relief and Parkinson’s and Strokes

Pain Relief and Hypnosis – the evidence for Hypnotherapy and pain management

Posted on 2017

“One show” BBC TV: on Hypnotherapy and Pain Relief

I am quoting, in full, as a public service, a scholarly article from 2009 on the efficacy of hypnotherapy in assisting with pain management and relief.

Adding NLP is also extremely effective in this regard and  promotes healing.

It is additionally important to empower the sufferer to have a positive attitude to recovery.

This type of Pain Relief Hypnosis and NLP is available from me.

Where is pain relief hypnosis and NLP effective?

It can be effective with Back Pain, Parkinson’s and Stroke Pain, Cancer Pain, and Motivation for Wellness, pain concerned with IBS, pregnancy as well as the other areas of pain mentioned below. It is also effective for psychological pain which is when the pain is not physiological.

Graham Howes – Pain Relief Hypnotherapist:

https://hypnotherapyinsuffolk.co.uk/hypnotherapy-pain-cancer-relief/

Article on the efficacy of Hypnosis in Pain Relief:

Int J Clin Exp Hypn. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2009 September 25.

Published in final edited form as:
Int J Clin Exp Hypn. 2007 July; 55(3): 275–287.
doi: 10.1080/00207140701338621
PMCID: PMC2752362
NIHMSID: NIHMS129985

Hypnotherapy for the Management of Chronic Pain

Gary Elkins, Mark P. Jensen, and David R. Patterson
Author information  Copyright and License information:
The publisher’s final edited version of this article is available at Int J Clin Exp Hypn

Abstract

This article reviews controlled prospective trials of hypnosis for the treatment of chronic pain. Thirteen studies, excluding studies of headaches, were identified that compared outcomes from hypnosis for the treatment of chronic pain to either baseline data or a control condition. The findings indicate that hypnosis interventions consistently produce significant decreases in pain associated with a variety of chronic-pain problems. Also, hypnosis was generally found to be more effective than non-hypnotic interventions such as attention, physical therapy, and education. Most of the hypnosis interventions for chronic pain include instructions in self-hypnosis. However, there is a lack of standardisation of the hypnotic interventions examined in clinical trials, and the number of patients enrolled in the studies has tended to be low and lacking long-term follow-up. Implications of the findings for future clinical research and applications are discussed.

Pain that persists for longer than 6 months is referred to as chronic pain (Keefe, 1982). Unrelieved chronic pain can cause considerable suffering, physical limitations, and emotional distress (Turk, 1996). Further, chronic pain is one of the most common reasons for seeking medical care but often persists despite treatment with analgesics and physical modalities. For example, epidemiologic studies indicate that approximately 11% to 45% of individuals in the United States experience chronic back pain (LeResche & Von Korff, 1999), 75% of patients with advanced cancer suffer persistent pain (Bonica, 1990), and chronic pain is the most common reason for the use of complementary and alternative therapies (Astin, 1998; Eisenberg et al., 1993).

Interest in hypnosis for pain management has increased with recent evidence that hypnosis can reduce pain (and costs) associated with medical procedures (Lang et al., 2000), and there are now an adequate number of controlled studies of hypnosis to draw meaningful conclusions from the literature regarding chronic pain (Jensen & Patterson, 2006; Montgomery, DuHamel, & Redd, 2000; Patterson & Jensen, 2003). Hypnosis in the treatment of chronic pain generally, but not always, involves a hypnotic induction with suggestions for relaxation and comfort. Posthypnotic suggestions may be given for reduced pain that can continue beyond the session or that the patient can quickly and easily create a state of comfort using a cue (i.e., taking a deep breath and exhaling as eye lids close). The focus of hypnosis in the treatment of chronic pain also often involves teaching the patient self-hypnosis or providing tape recordings of hypnosis sessions that can be used to reduce pain on a daily basis outside the sessions. In our experience, some patients experience an immediate reduction in pain severity following hypnosis treatment, whereas others can obtain reduction in pain with repeated practice of self-hypnosis or hypnosis sessions.

The purpose of the present paper is to evaluate the efficacy of hypnosis for the treatment of chronic pain as determined by a review of controlled prospective trials. Studies are reviewed with regard to types of chronic-pain problems treated with hypnosis. This state-of-the-science review includes some recently published clinical trials that have not been included in any previous reviews, as well as a discussion of the implications of the findings for future research and clinical applications.

Controlled Trials of Hypnosis in the Treatment of Chronic-Pain Problems

Thirteen studies, excluding studies of headaches (note: hypnosis in the treatment of headaches is reviewed elsewhere in this issue) were identified that compared outcomes from hypnosis in the treatment of chronic pain to either baseline data or a control condition. Hypnosis has been applied to a variety of chronic-pain conditions including those from cancer (Elkins, Cheung, Marcus, Palamara, & Rajab, 2004; Spiegel & Bloom, 1983), low-back problems (McCauley, Thelen, Frank, Willard, & Callen, 1983; Spinhoven & Linssen, 1989), arthritis (Gay, Philippot, & Luminet, 2002), sickle cell disease (Dinges et al., 1997), temporomandibular conditions (Simon & Lewis, 2000; Winocur, Gavish, Emodi-Perlman, Halachmi, & Eli, 2002), fibromyalgia (Haanen et al., 1991), physical disability (Jensen et al., 2005), and mixed etiologies (Appel & Bleiberg, 2005–2006; Edelson & Fitzpatrick, 1989; Melzack & Perry, 1975). These studies are reviewed in regard to research design and outcomes for each chronic-pain condition.

Cancer Pain

Spiegel and Bloom (1983) assigned 54 women with chronic cancer pain from breast carcinoma to either standard care (n = 24) or weekly expressive-supportive group therapy for up to 12 months (n = 30). The women randomised to the group therapy condition were assigned to groups that either did or did not have self-hypnosis training as a part of their treatment. The hypnosis intervention was directed toward enhancing patient competence and mastery in managing pain and stress related to cancer. Hypnotic training included suggestions to “filter out the hurt” of any sensations by imagining competing sensations in affected areas. Patients were also given instructions for using self-hypnosis outside of the group-therapy sessions. Both treatment groups demonstrated significantly less pain and suffering than the control sample. Hypnosis was not the main focus of the expressive-supportive group-therapy sessions, however, patients who received hypnosis in addition to group therapy reported significantly (p < .05) less increase in pain over time (as cancer progressed) compared to patients who did not receive the hypnosis intervention.

Elkins et al. (2004) conducted a prospective, randomised study of 39 advanced-stage (Stage III or IV) cancer patients with malignant bone disease. Patients were randomised to receive either weekly sessions of supportive attention or a hypnosis intervention. Patients assigned to the hypnosis intervention received at least four weekly sessions in which a hypnotic induction was completed following a standard transcript. The transcript included suggestions for relaxation, comfort, mental imagery for dissociation and pain control, and instruction in self-hypnosis. In addition, patients in the hypnosis intervention were provided with an audiocassette tape recording of a hypnotic induction and instructed in home practice of hypnosis. The hypnosis intervention group demonstrated an overall decrease in pain (p < .0001) for all sessions combined. The mean rating of the effectiveness of self-hypnosis practice outside the sessions was 6.5 on a 0-to-10 scale.

pain management with hypnosis

pain relief with hypnosis

Low-Back Pain

McCauley et al. (1983) conducted a prospective trial comparing hypnosis and relaxation training for chronic low-back pain. Seventeen outpatients were assigned to either self-hypnosis (n = 9) or relaxation (n = 8). The baseline was an EMG-assessment session and 1 week later the patients began eight individual weekly sessions. No significant change in any outcome measure was observed during the 1-week baseline period. Patients were assessed 1 week after the completion of treatment and then again 3 months after the treatment ended. Patients in both groups were found to have significant reductions in pain as measured by the McGill Pain Questionnaire and visual analog ratings of pain. Patients given the hypnosis intervention reported significant pre- to posttreatment (percent improvement in the three pain measures were 31%, 25%, and 25%, respectively) and pretreatment to 3-month follow-up improvement. However, both the hypnosis intervention and relaxation were effective; neither proved to be superior to the other.

Spinhoven and Linssen (1989) compared training in self-hypnosis to an education program for chronic low-back-pain patients using a crossover study design. Forty-five patients with low-back pain were assigned to receive one of the two treatments first, followed by 2 months of no treatment/follow-up, then the treatment that they had not yet received, followed by another 2-month follow-up period. A pain diary was used as a measure of pain intensity, up-time, and use of pain medication. Distress and depression were assessed using the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90). Patients in the hypnosis condition received hypnosis that included a variety of suggestions such as relaxation, imaginative inattention, pain displacement, pain transformation, and future-orientated imagery. Patients were taught to use self-hypnosis and in the fifth session they were given an audiotape to facilitate continued self-hypnosis practice. Patients in the education condition received lectures and facilitated discussion to induce an attitude of self-control of pain. A number of patients dropped out of this study; however, the data that were available from the 24 patients who completed both phases of the study (and therefore received both treatments) showed significant pretreatment to 2-month follow-up improvement on all outcome measures except pain intensity. Further, the post hoc analyses did not reveal any significant differences between the two treatment conditions on any measure. It was concluded that the treatment package was effective in teaching patients with chronic low-back pain to better cope with their pain and to achieve improved adjustment to chronic pain.

Arthritis Pain

Gay et al. (2002) compared the effectiveness of hypnosis and Jacobson relaxation for the reduction of osteoarthritis pain. Thirty-six patients with osteoarthritis pain were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: hypnosis, relaxation training, and a no-treatment/standard-care control condition. The hypnosis intervention consisted of eight weekly sessions that began with a standard relaxation induction followed by suggestions for positive imagery, as well as a memory from childhood that involved joint mobility. The subjects in the standard-care control condition were administered the outcome measures and were offered treatment after their last follow-up assessment. Patients in the hypnosis treatment showed a substantial and significant decrease in pain intensity after 4 weeks of treatment, which was maintained through 3 months and 6 months of follow-up. In comparison, patients in the no-treatment control condition reported little change in pain during the 6 months of this trial. However, although significant differences between the hypnosis and the standard-care control condition were found mid treatment (4 weeks after treatment started), post treatment, and at follow-up, the differences between the effects of the hypnosis intervention and the relaxation control on pain reduction were not statistically different.

Sickle Cell Disease

Dinges et al. (1997) enrolled 37 children and adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) who reported experiencing episodes of vaso-occlusive pain into a prospective 2-year treatment protocol. A pre- and post experimental design was used and participants were asked to complete daily diaries during 4 months of baseline and during the 18 months of treatment that involved weekly (for the first 6 months), bimonthly (for the next 6 months), and once every 3 weeks (for the final 6 months) cognitive-behavioural intervention that centred on self-hypnosis training and practice. The hypnosis intervention included suggestions for ideomotor responses (e.g., hands moving together, arm becoming lighter and rising) and encouragement to develop individualised metaphors and self-suggestions to use for pain management. Results indicated the self-hypnosis intervention was associated with a significant reduction in the number of pain days. There were significant baseline versus treatment phase differences observed on: (a) the percentage of days during which both SCD pain (from 20 to 11 days) and non-SCD pain from (19 to 6 days) were reported by patients, (b) percentage of days of non-SCD pain that medication was taken (from 6% to 1%), and (c) percentage of “bad sleep nights” on non-SCD pain days (from 8% to 2%). No significant changes were found in the percentage of days of SCD pain that medication was taken or on the percentage of bad sleep nights on SCD pain days, however. The authors concluded that the overall reduction in pain frequency was due to the elimination of less severe episodes of pain.

Temporomandibular Pain

Temporomandibular disorder can be associated with chronic pain related to dysfunction of the masticatory musculature, the temporomandibular joint, or both. Simon and Lewis (2000) examined the effectiveness of hypnosis on temporomandibular pain disorder in 28 patients. Measures of pain symptoms (pain intensity, duration, and frequency) were assessed on four separate occasions: during wait list, before treatment, after treatment, and at 6-month follow-up. The hypnosis intervention consisted of education about hypnosis and five sessions that involved an eye-closure induction, relaxation imagery, suggestions for limb catalepsy, metaphors, suggestions for hypnotic analgesia and anaesthesia suggestions, and suggestions that muscle tension would serve as a cue for relaxation. Patients were also instructed to practice self-hypnosis daily with audiotaped recordings of the hypnotic treatment. The results indicated a significant decrease in pain frequency (p < .001), pain duration (p < .001), and an increase in daily functioning. Analyses also suggested that the treatment gains were maintained for 6 months after treatment with reduced pain and improved daily functioning.

Winocur et al. (2002) compared “hypnorelaxation” to the use of an occlusal appliance or an education and advice condition for the treatment of temporomandibular pain. The study sample consisted of 40 female patients who were randomly assigned to the three treatment groups: (a) hypnorelaxation (n = 15); (b) occlusal appliance (n = 15); and (c) education/advice (n = 10). The hypnorelaxation intervention included progressive muscle relaxation suggestions and self-hypnosis training for relaxation of facial muscles. Patients in the occlusal appliance condition were provided with a full-coverage, hard acrylic appliance constructed to fit the maxillary arch. Patients assigned to the education and advice condition were provided with recommendations regarding how to manage activities and diet in order to better manage pain. Pain intensity (current and worst) was assessed before and after treatment using visual analog ratings. Both active treatment modes (hypnorelaxation and occlusal appliance) were more effective than education/advice in alleviating sensitivity to palpation. However, only patients in the hypnosis condition (not the occlusal appliance condition) reported significantly greater decreases in pain intensity: 57% reduction for current pain intensity and 51% reduction for worst pain intensity compared to patients in the education/advice condition.

Fibromyalgia

In a controlled study, Haanen et al. (1991) randomly assigned 40 patients with fibromyalgia to groups that received either eight 1-hour sessions of hypnotherapy with a self-hypnosis home-practice tape over a 3-month period, or physical therapy (that included 12 to 24 hours of massage and muscle relaxation training) for 3 months. Outcome was assessed pre- and post treatment and at 3-month follow-up. The hypnosis intervention included an arm-levitation induction and suggestions for ego strengthening, relaxation, improved sleep, and “control of muscle pain.” Compared with patients in the physical therapy group, the patients who received hypnosis showed significantly better outcomes on measures of muscle pain, fatigue, sleep disturbance, distress, and patient overall assessment of outcome. These differences were maintained at the 3-month follow-up assessment and the average percent decrease in pain among patients who received hypnosis (35%) was clinically significant, whereas the percent decrease in the patients who received physical therapy was marginal (2%).

Disability-Related Pain

Jensen et al. (2005) examined the effects of 10 sessions of standardised (script-driven) hypnotic analgesia treatment on pain intensity, pain unpleasantness, depression, and perceived control over pain in 33 patients with chronic pain secondary to a disability. Outcome measures were assessed before and after a baseline period, as well as after treatment and at 3-month follow-up. The hypnosis intervention consisted of a hypnotic induction followed by five specific suggestions for alteration of pain: diminution of pain, relaxation, imagined analgesia, decreased pain unpleasantness, and replacement of pain with other non – painful sensations. Also, posthypnotic suggestions were given for daily practice of hypnosis but the patients in the study were not given any practice tapes prior to the 3-month follow-up assessment. Analyses indicated significant pre- to post treatment improvement in pain intensity, pain unpleasantness, and perceived control over pain (but not depressive symptoms) over and above change that occurred during the baseline period. Improvement was also maintained at the 3-month follow-up. Hypnotisability and concentration of treatment (e.g., daily vs. weekly) were not significantly associated with treatment outcome. However, cognitive expectancies assessed after the first session showed a moderate association with pain reduction.

Mixed Chronic-Pain Problems

Melzack and Perry (1975) examined the effects of hypnosis and neurofeedback in 24 patients who had a variety of chronic-pain problems. Baseline data was collected during two no-treatment (baseline) sessions, and patients were then randomly assigned to one of three treatment conditions: four sessions of hypnosis alone, eight sessions of neurofeedback training alone, or both hypnosis and neurofeedback training. The hypnosis treatment consisted of a taped hypnotic induction with suggestions for relaxation, ego strengthening, a feeling of greater tranquility, and of being able to overcome things that are ordinarily upsetting and worrying. No direct suggestions for pain control were included in the hypnosis treatment. The McGill Pain Questionnaire was administered before and after each of the baseline, training, and two post training practice sessions. There was a reduction in pain observed during the hypnosis training (range, 21%–32% improvement; median improvement = 23%), however, none of the observed changes in either the neurofeedback or hypnosis conditions were statistically significant in comparison to the baseline phase.

Edelson and Fitzpatrick (1989) evaluated hypnosis and cognitive-behavior therapy for treatment of chronic pain. Twenty-seven patients with various chronic-pain problems (back pain being the most frequent) were randomly assigned to: cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) alone, CBT plus hypnosis treatment, or an attention control (supportive, nondirective discussions). The hypnosis and CBT treatments were identical with the exception of a hypnotic induction. It is noteworthy, however, that the CBT intervention used in this study included some what might be considered “hypnotic components.” Specifically, the CBT intervention encouraged the participants to: (1) avoid using the “pain” label to describe their sensations; (b) reinterpret pain sensations as “numbness” through the use of imagery (this component, in particular, might be considered as a hypnosis intervention); and (c) monitor and restructure negative self-talk. The results indicated decreases in pain intensity for both the hypnosis intervention and the CBT treatment that were sustained at 1-month follow-up. However, only the CBT treatment resulted in significantly lower pain rating scores in comparison to the attention control condition. In this study, adding a hypnotic induction appeared to have little positive effect. In fact, in this study the CBT treatment minus the induction had a greater effect on pain behaviours. Given the “hypnotic characteristics” of some aspects of the CBT treatment used in this study, this finding is somewhat puzzling. However, this does suggest the possibility that a hypnotic induction may detract from some forms of CBT for chronic pain.

Appel and Bleiberg (2005–2006) investigated the association between hypnotisability and hypnosis for treatment of chronic pain. Twenty-seven patients with a variety of chronic-pain problems (15 lumbar pain, 7 rheumatological pain, 3 cervical pain, 1 peripheral neuropathy, 1 gynaecological related pain) received hypnosis treatment sessions directed at “teaching self-regulation of the affective and sensory components of pain.” The word hypnosis was not mentioned during the intervention, which included relaxation training, autogenic statements, guided imagery for pain alteration and health and healing, and individualisation to use images “in a way that is best for him or her.” The results indicated a significant reduction in pain ratings pre- and post treatment. Measures of relaxation and suffering were not related to hypnotisability. However, changes in pain ratings were significantly correlated with hypnotisability (r = .55, p < .001) as measured by the Stanford Clinical Hypnotic Scale.

Discussion

This review identified 13 published controlled articles that evaluated the efficacy of hypnosis for chronic pain. With the exception of two articles (Appel & Bleiberg, 2005–2006; Melzack & Perry, 1975), the studies reviewed included a control condition for comparison. In each of the studies, the hypnosis intervention was demonstrated to be significantly more effective than a no-treatment condition in reducing pain in chronic-pain patients. Moreover, the efficacy of hypnosis in reducing pain was consistently confirmed for a wide variety of different chronic-pain conditions (e.g., cancer, low-back pain, arthritis pain, sickle cell disease, temporomandibular pain, disability-related pain).

However, there have been a relatively small number of studies conducted for each of the different chronic-pain conditions (in some cases only one study). Although it is encouraging that 13 controlled studies have reported on the use of hypnosis with chronic pain, there are a number of basic research design weaknesses that tend to run throughout most of these reports. The number of patients enrolled in the studies tends to be low, bringing up issues of power to detect group differences. Control conditions used usually have lacked credible controls for placebo and/or expectation. Multiple measures of outcomes are seldom employed as are follow-up assessment of sufficient duration (i.e., long-term follow-up). Thus, although the findings provide support for the general applicability of hypnosis in the treatment of chronic pain, considerably more research will be needed to fully determine the effects of hypnosis for different chronic-pain conditions (e.g., neuropathic, sickle cell disease, arthritis, etc.).

Studies of hypnosis in the treatment of chronic pain have often included instructing patients in self-hypnosis as a way of coping with pain and gaining greater self-control over pain (e.g., Dinges et al., 1997; Elkins et al., 2004; Gay et al., 2002; Haanen et al., 1991; Jensen et al., 2005; McCauley et al., 1983; Simon & Lewis, 2000; Spiegel & Bloom, 1983; Spinhoven & Linssen, 1989; Winocur et al., 2002). This usually includes providing patients with tape recordings of hypnosis sessions and instructions in home practice of self-hypnosis. However, research has yet to determine the importance of and the best ways to provide instruction in self-hypnosis practice. For example, it is unknown whether standard tapes are as effective as individualised recordings. Also, the necessary frequency of practice has not been determined or even if home practice is as effective as “live” sessions. Our clinical experience suggests that patients who are more actively involved in self-hypnosis practice benefit more and may have more long-lasting gains (see Elkins et al., 2004; Jensen & Barber, 2000). In clinical practice, we recommend to patients that they practice at least once a day. To facilitate this, we provide them with tape recordings of the sessions. We also give them instructions for practicing self-hypnosis without the use of a recording. Some patients choose to practice by listening to a tape, and some choose to practice self-hypnosis without a tape; many do both.

Chronic pain is a complex phenomenon that may be affected by emotional, cognitive, behavioural, and physiological responses and a multimodal treatment approach may be important for some chronic-pain patients. However, there have been few studies that have evaluated the effect of hypnosis as an adjunct to other treatment modalities for chronic pain, including, for example, treatment programs designed to increase activity and to reduce the negative effects of pain on function (Patterson & Jensen, 2003). One study compared CBT to CBT combined with a hypnotic induction. In that study (Edelson & Fitzpatrick, 1989), only the CBT treatment alone resulted in significantly lower pain-rating scores in comparison to an attention-control condition. This finding is somewhat puzzling, because some aspects of the CBT treatment used in this study appeared to be very similar to a hypnotic intervention (i.e., the CBT intervention included instructions to reinterpret pain sensations as “numbness” through the use of imagery). However, this study suggests the possibility that the addition of a hypnosis induction may have detracted from an intervention focused on altering maladaptive cognitions. Further research is needed to determine the best methods of integrating hypnosis with CBT and other multimodal interventions for chronic-pain management.

The present review also reveals that there is a lack of standardisation in hypnotic induction and interventions. There is a need to more clearly identify the components of a hypnotic intervention to better allow comparison across studies and to differentiate hypnosis from other “hypnotic-like” interventions such as relaxation training. For example, in the present review, treatments such as progressive muscle relaxation and mental imagery appeared to be approximately as effective as interventions that were labeled as “hypnosis.” It may be that these treatments are similar in regard to mechanism of action and effect. Research is needed to determine the efficacy of hypnosis and specific hypnotic suggestions and interventions. Jensen and Patterson (2006) proposed a basic chronic-pain hypnotic-analgesia intervention that consists of the following: (a) a standard hypnotic induction that includes a focus of attention and relaxation; (b) suggestions for alteration in subjective experience of pain; (c) hypnotic suggestion lasting at least 20 minutes; (d) four to seven sessions indicating “brief hypnosis treatment” and eight or more sessions to indicate “hypnosis treatment;” and (e) instruction in daily home practice of self-hypnosis. Greater standardization in hypnosis research protocols for chronic pain would allow for greater specificity of treatment and clearer identification of innovations in the development of particularly effective hypnotic interventions.

The current review indicates that hypnotic interventions for chronic pain results in significant reductions in perceived pain that, in some cases, may be maintained for several months. Further, in a few studies, hypnotic treatment was found to be more effective, on average, than some other treatments, such as physical therapy or education, for some types of chronic pain. These findings are encouraging for an initial wave of studies, but a more sophisticated body of research including larger sample sizes and more rigorous controls would be far more convincing. Further, most studies have focused on how hypnotic suggestion may be used to achieve analgesic effect, but hypnosis may also have other benefits for chronic-pain patients such as reduced anxiety, improved sleep, and enhanced quality of life (Jensen, McArthur, et al., 2006). These targets for hypnosis intervention with chronic-pain patients warrant further investigation. Research to date has been very promising and continued research is needed to fully evaluate the effects and mechanisms of hypnosis interventions for chronic pain in randomised trials and clinical practice.

Contributor Information

Gary Elkins, Texas A & M University College of Medicine and Scott and White Clinic and Hospital, Temple, Texas, USA.

Mark P. Jensen, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA.

David R. Patterson, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA.

References

Appel PR, Bleiberg J. Pain reduction is related to hypnotizability but not to relaxation or to reduction of suffering: A preliminary investigation. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis. 2005–2006;48:153–161. [PubMed]
Astin JA. Why patients use alternative medicine: Results of a national study. Journal of the American Medical Association. 1998;279:1548–1553. [PubMed]
Bonica JJ. Evolution and current status of pain programs. Journal of Pain Symptom Management. 1990;5:368–374.
Dinges DF, Whitehouse WG, Orne EC, Bloom PB, Carlin MM, Bauer NK, et al. Self-hypnosis training as an adjunctive treatment in the management of pain associated with sickle cell disease. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. 1997;45:417–432. [PubMed]
Edelson J, Fitzpatrick JL. A comparison of cognitive-behavioral and hypnotic treatments of chronic pain. Journal of Clinical Psychology. 1989;45:316–323. [PubMed]
Eisenberg DM, Kessler RC, Foster C, Norlock FE, Calkins DR, Delbanco TL. Unconventional medicine in the United States. Prevalence, costs, and patterns of use. New England Journal of Medicine. 1993;328:246–252. [PubMed]
Elkins GR, Cheung A, Marcus J, Palamara L, Rajab H. Hypnosis to reduce pain in cancer survivors with advanced disease: A prospective study. Journal of Cancer Integrative Medicine. 2004;2:167–172.
Gay M, Philippot P, Luminet O. Differential effectiveness of psychological interventions for reducing osteoarthritis pain: A comparison of Erikson hypnosis and Jacobson relaxation. European Journal of Pain. 2002;6:1–16. [PubMed]
Haanen HC, Hoenderdos HT, van Romunde LK, Hop WC, Mallee C, Terwiel JP, et al. Controlled trial of hypnotherapy in the treatment of refractory fibromyalgia. Journal of Rheumatology. 1991;18:72–75. [PubMed]
Jensen MP, Barber J. Hypnotic analgesia of spinal cord injury pain. Australian Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. 2000;28:150–168.
Jensen MP, Hanley MA, Engel JM, Romano JM, Barber JB, Cardenas DD, et al. Hypnotic analgesia for chronic pain in persons with disabilities: A case series. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. 2005;53:198–228. [PubMed]
Jensen MP, McArthur KD, Barber JB, Hanley MA, Engel JM, Romano JM, et al. Satisfaction with, and the beneficial side effects of, hypnosis analgesia. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. 2006;54:432–447. [PubMed]
Jensen MP, Patterson DR. Hypnotic treatment of chronic pain. Journal of Behavioral Medicine. 2006;29:95–124. [PubMed]
Keefe FJ. Behavioral assessment and treatment of chronic pain: Current status and future directions. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 1982;50:896–911. [PubMed]
Lang EV, Benotsch EG, Fick LJ, Lutgendorf S, Berbaum ML, Berbaum KS, et al. Adjunctive non-pharmacological analgesia for invasive medical procedures: A randomised trial. Lancet. 2000;355:1486–1490. [PubMed]
LeResche L, Von Korff M. Epidemiology of chronic pain. In: Block AR, Kemer EF, Fernandez E, editors. Handbook of pain syndromes: Biopsychosocial perspectives. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum; 1999. pp. 3–22.
McCauley JD, Thelen MH, Frank RG, Willard RR, Callen KE. Hypnosis compared to relaxation in the outpatient management of chronic low back pain. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 1983;64:548–552. [PubMed]
Melzack R, Perry C. Self-regulation of pain: The use of alpha-feedback and hypnotic training for the control of chronic pain. Experimental Neurology. 1975;46:452–469. [PubMed]
Montgomery GH, DuHamel KN, Redd WH. A meta-analysis of hypnotically induced analgesia: How effective is hypnosis? International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. 2000;48:138–153. [PubMed]
Patterson DR, Jensen MP. Hypnosis and clinical pain. Psychological Bulletin. 2003;129:495–521. [PubMed]
Simon EP, Lewis DM. Medical hypnosis for temporomandibular disorders: Treatment efficacy and medical utilization outcome. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontics. 2000;90:54–63.
Spiegel D, Bloom JR. Group therapy and hypnosis reduce metastatic breast carcinoma pain. Psychosomatic Medicine. 1983;45:333–339. [PubMed]
Spinhoven P, Linssen AC. Education and self-hypnosis in the management of low back pain: A component analysis. British Journal of Clinical Psychology. 1989;28:145–153. [PubMed]
Turk DC. Biopsychosocial perspective on chronic pain. In: Gatchel RJ, Turk DC, editors. Psychological approaches to pain management: A practitioner’s handbook. New York: Guilford; 1996. pp. 3–32.
Winocur E, Gavish A, Emodi-Perlman A, Halachmi M, Eli I. Hypnorelaxation as treatment for myofascial pain disorder: A comparative study. Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology. 2002;93:425–434.

Afterword from Graham Howes – Hypnotherapist for Pain Management in Ipswich Suffolk

In the UK: I would also point to the work of Professor L G Walker at Hull University with regard to treating aids and cancer with hypnotherapy.

See the webpage below on how I can help:

Hypnotherapy for Pain and Cancer Relief Hypnosis

I offer help with pain relief for Cancer and Stroke and Parkinson’s sufferers and much more

Call Graham: 07875720623

Email: grahamahowes@me.com

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Stress in The Workplace – What it is and How to Use it Productively

Talking about Stress at Work by Graham Howes

Stress is one of the biggest killers in the World today.

However, there is no reason why Stress could not be harnessed in a more productive way.

Stress is a normal, necessary function of everyday life.

There is stress when you must meet a deadline, drive in heavy traffic, or run late for a meeting.

Stress is a natural and essential component of human existence, and in moderate doses, stress is even healthy and beneficial for mental and physical functioning.

During times of stress our brain pumps specific hormones and neurotransmitters, such as cortisol and adrenaline. These chemicals are associated with the “fight-or-flight” response in our bodies. This might have been useful when facing a sabre tooth tiger – but we don’t need the feelings of hyperstimulation, anxiety and panic, in most every day situations: such as explaining to the accountant about a minor overspend!

When these chemicals are released they excite our nervous system, increase our blood pressure, make our heart beat faster and raise blood glucose levels.

Our senses sharpen and we receive “a short-term buzz”, according to psychiatrist Dr. Lynne Tan of Montefiore Medical Centre in New York City, in an article on stress and mental health, for American Television.

Moderate short-term stress is beneficial because the chemicals released help to strengthen our immune system, improve performance and memory, and encourage positive mood. In all, stress helps us to accept challenges, take risks, and react quickly in an emergency.

Our bodies create a burst of energy and “we can feel as if we are ready for anything.” However sometimes this can lead to severe and paralysing anxiety, “feeling stressed out” or even a Panic Attack.

Stress on the body and brain is necessary for us to react appropriately to situations, however, stress becomes unhealthy when the “fight-or-flight” response becomes overactive and inappropriate.

The physical and psychological dangers of chronic stress are prevalent and can affect all aspects of daily life:

A human body: “doesn’t distinguish between physical and psychological threats,” explains Jeanne Segal, PhD, in her article published on Helpguide.org – “Understanding Stress: Signs, Symptoms, Causes and Effects.”

For instance, when one is stressed over a busy schedule, argument, traffic jam, or finances: “the body reacts just as strongly as if it were facing a life-or-death situation.”

While experiencing high amounts of chronic stress the nervous system continually releases large amounts of hormones.

The brain does not get an opportunity to reach a healthy level of homeostasis or mental equilibrium.

Thus, the over-activity and excessive stimulation of these hormones, that are supposed to be used for only short-term instances, can kill brain cells, and cause many other unhealthy consequences; such as high blood pressure, muscle tension, mental and physical exhaustion.

“Chronic stress affects nearly every system in your body,” Segal explains. People who suffer from chronic stress also experience emotional sensitivity, and other physiological symptoms, such as headache, diarrhoea, nausea, restlessness, loss or increase of appetite.

Chronic Stress can also “suppress the immune system, increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, contribute to infertility, and speed up the ageing process.

Long-term stress can even rewire the brain leaving a person more vulnerable and susceptible to anxiety, panic attacks, and depression.

Mindful Hypnotherapy is one modality for retraining the person to use stress in a calm and productive way, to utilise the buzz of adrenaline, and yet to avoid getting into the hyper stimulation of fight or flight or chronic stress.

We spend a fortune on physical wellness and neglect mental wellness.

One related approach is using the NLP process of anchoring  – or training through Hypnosis to use Mindfulness in a constructive way. 

Each person is unique and so is my approach for each person.

Graham Howes Advanced Hypnotherapist and NLP Practitioner Stress Management

About Graham Howes: I was in Harley Street as a Hypnotherapist but am mainly in Ipswich Suffolk.

I can offer onsite visits for Businesses for a wide range of bespoke interventions.

I was also a Professional Actor and still Teach, Direct Theatre Shows, and Write Plays with COME DANCE WITH ME going on a National Tour soon.

Talk to me for Free on: 07875720623

Email: grahamahowes@me.com

Web: https://hypnotherapyinsuffolk.co.uk/managing-stress/

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How to Treat Binge Eating Disorder and Obesity

How to Treat Binge Eating Disorder and Lose Weight for Good – Weight Loss that Works

Weight Loss with Hypnosis to Tackle Obesity

There is a perception that losing weight is about counting calories, sins, dieting or using meal replacements or taking the latest wonder drug or pill.

Obesity is often seen as difficult to deal with with a sense that bariatric surgery is the only option when the diet counselling or CBT fails.

We have known for a long time that the diet and the attendant obsessions with pounds lost often leads to WEIGHT GAIN. Enough of yoyo dieting or boom and bust! This is a radically different 21st Century Approach – we know the diet works short term and when you go back to “normal eating’ back comes the weight!


Weight Loss is actually a mindset issue.

If you really want to tackle obesity or binge eating disorder  then you need to tackle WHY you overeat. I run weight loss with hypnotherapy courses which include Hypno Gastric Band hypnosis.

These sessions tackle the underlying drivers and triggers of craving or “food addiction”. Actually the overeating is usually triggered, in my experience, by low self esteem, boredom, anxiety, stress, depression, lack of confidence and more. I have seen clients who comfort eat or binged as a defence mechanism who had suffered physical and / or sexual or domestic abuse or trauma.

There are many reasons why people might use food for comfort and they might binge or constantly pick and nibble or graze. These are generally coping habits rather than food addictions. If you recognise the patterns that trigger the cravings then you will stop self medicating with food. There is a sense in which food has become for some like a tranquilliser.

I work with clients to address these coping habits with strategies and by questioning their default thinking processes.

We put in place a weight management approach. The truth is that obsession with small amounts of weight lost or gained is too obsessive and calorie control or starvation or meal replacement or other slimming regimes are frankly BORING.

Weight loss is also almost never in a straight forward downward line: If you go to the Gym and gain muscle mass you will appear to gain weight. You might lose a lot of water at first and then it all slows down as you tackle the fat. This is not failure – you have to recognise that until you find your stable weight and size you will be up and down in weight.

THE MOMENT YOU GIVE UP IS THE MOMENT YOU START PUTTING WEIGHT BACK ON AND OFTEN YOU WILL PUT ON EVEN MORE WEIGHT.

If you assume that you have failed then you will go back to overeating. Actually failure should be a lesson to improve!

The final session is the revolutionary HypnoGastricBand. This is the last session – because I have treated real Gastric Band patients who were STILL trying to overeat because they had not dealt with the Psychological factors of their being overweight or obese.

I have been a Certified Hypno Gastric Band Practitioner since it appeared and have seen many clients with a high success rate because we work together to help you lose weight and tackle the drivers for obesity.

Talk to me for FREE – each person has their own reasons for overeating, and tackling obesity or just being overweight, is about working with the individual.

This holistic approach not only deals with the root causes of overeating but helps you deal with your issues in life – low self esteem, depression, lack of confidence, stress, anxiety, panic attacks, trauma , PTSD procrastination, boredom, addiction or what ever is your particular problem.

If you are a Comfort Eater, Binge Eater or simply cannot seem to stop picking and nibbling or grazing – talk to me.

If you are overweight or labelled obese (BMI over 28) and tend to yo yo diet – talk to me for FREE.

FREE CONSULTATION: Text or call 07875720623 or email: grahamahowes@me.com and I will call you in confidence.

Website for easy weight loss

Graham Howes Advanced Hypnotherapist and NLP practitioner and Certified Hypno Gastric Band Practitioner since 2010

About Graham Howes – Weight Loss Specialist in Ipswich:

I have practiced in Harley Street London W1 – currently I offer this approach at competitive rates in Ipswich or Hadleigh Suffolk and Colchester Essex or Worldwide or Nationwide by Skype. I have a great deal of experience with weight loss and eating disorders.

Hypnotherapy in Ipswich or Hadleigh Suffolk and Colchester Essex or by Skype for Eating Disorders: Binge Eating Disorder, Comfort Eating, Grazing, Anorexia or Bulimia, Food Addiction and more

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When your Gastric Band isn’t working there is a treatment

What to do When Your Gastric Band is Failing you

I have had a sudden influx of people who are deemed to be obese who have the real Gastric Band. They had the Bariatric Surgery for obesity but are still trying to over eat.

Why is the Gastric Band not working?

The problem is that it sometimes works when you put the physical intervention of a Gastric Band or a Gastric Bypass etc BUT if the patient did not deal with WHY they overeat then they will often be in a worse position! They will crave to overeat but the Gastric Band, at least in some cases, stops them from doing that. So what do they do? They get creative.

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The Gastric Band has little impact if they are a Sugar Addict or crave the tranquillising effects of Binge or Comfort Eating or Grazing!

Clients have admitted blitzing food in a liquidiser to get past the system. Puréed Fish and Chips anyone?

How Hypnosis NLP and Hypnotherapy can help with Obesity and a Real Gastric Band

I have a great deal of experience with the Virtual Gastric Band or HypnoGastricBand Hypnosis – sometimes known as Hypno Band or Mind Band – so now I am offering an after care service to deal with the overeating connected with the REAL Gastric Band.

We will find strategies for such things as stress, boredom, anxiety, worry, depression and more.

We will deal with the food addiction – if that is what drives the excessive eating or drinking. Actually it is a habit not an addiction.

Together we can tackle the chocolate or sugar or alcohol addiction.

Together we can tackle all the underlying reasons driving the overeating so that, with the Gastric Band, you get the overeating and obesity under your control.

We look at HOW to tackle obesity.

Which means that the Gastric Band can finally do it’s work and curb the appetite.

Graham Howes Certified Hypno Gastric Band Practitioner Advanced Hypnotherapist and NLP Practitioner in Ipswich and Hadleigh Suffolk and Colchester Essex GHR registered and GHSC regulated CNHC approved

Click Below for more information or text or call me for a FREE CONSULTATION and ASSESSMENT on: 07875720623

Hypno Gastric Band in Ipswich and Hadleigh Suffolk and Colchester Essex or by Skype

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How to make 2016 a better year with Hypnosis in Ipswich

How can you make 2016 a better year?

You are what you think

Janus is the Roman God of the New Year – he looks both backward and forward. It depends how you use the past as to how your future will be.

Janus-dimon

If you view the past as a terrible time and expect ore of the same then the probability is that you will get what you predict. If you use the past as a learning process and learn from past mistakes traumas and problems you will hopefully not make the same mistake and will make a new decision based on your experience.

You will look forward positively and optimistically. The more that you find success with your new positivity the more positive you will become.

Set yourself small goals at first and as you focus on succeeding you may well find that your confidence grows.

Failure is there to teach us to do things better – so if you “fail” learn from it and next time “fail better”.

Hypnotherapy and NLP combined helps you learn how to move beyond your limitations and begin to view Life in a more positive light – so the negative mindset which limits your growth – becomes a thing of the past.

You can be greater than you thought – each of us has innate skills that are unique to us. So let Janus be your portal into a great Life.

I am a Hypnotherapist and NLP practitioner in Ipswich Suffolk and I enjoy helping people reach their potential.

Happy New Year

Graham Howes Advanced Hypnotherapist and NLP Ipswich Suffolk

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How to be Confident

How to be Confident with Hypnotherapy and NLP

I am seeing many people, at my Hypnotherapy Practice, in Ipswich in Suffolk, for a lack of Confidence or Low Self Esteem and Social Phobia.

It is a rough tough world sometimes but we have all achieved success at some time in our Life and so it is better to dwell on your success than it is your failure.

Failure teaches us to do things better – or it should! When we buy into failure we are essentially buying into that lack of confidence rather than remembering that we are all unique individuals with something to contribute.

Whether in Business or Life Social Phobia, Lack of Self Esteem or Confidence can really hold us back and block our success in Life.

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. – Samuel Beckett

trapped

We should regard Failure as teaching us and success as empowering us

“If you fell down yesterday, stand up today.” ? H.G. Wells

The point about when it goes wrong is for us to learn and move on and try again.

I use Hypnotherapy and NLP to help people whether they are in Business, and have Presentations to make, or someone just trying to cope with Life. I help people get in touch with their successful times and put the failures into context as a valuable tool. And how to grow your confidence. Many people are like the swan – gliding along elegantly while paddling like hell underneath!

It is learning the right strategies that can definitely help. One client of mine was suicidal and had a raft of problems and now has a responsible high powered job with a multinational! Anything is possible.

Set yourself a realistic goal – when you achieve it your confidence grows in your ability to do, not only what you have to do, but what you want to do. You earn then learn how to be confident.

About Graham Howes:

I trained as a Drama Teacher and acted Professionally for 39 Years. I have written plays and directed them. I have worked in very high level Businesses in Sales and Sales Support. I trained Telemarketing Teams.

How to be Confident
Confidence can be yours

Graham Howes Advanced Hypnotherapist and NLP Practitioner

Tel /Text: 07875720623

Email: grahamahowes@me.com

Hypnotherapy and NLP for Confidence in Ipswich and Hadleigh Suffolk Colchester Essex and On Site for Business

https://hypnotherapyinsuffolk.co.uk/hypnotherapy-business/

Hypnotherapy for Confidence

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Weight Loss Hypnotherapy in Ipswich Suffolk – How to Lose Weight with Hypnosis

Weight Loss Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy in Ipswich Suffolk and Hadleigh Suffolk

Weight Loss Hypnotherapist in Ipswich and Hadleigh Suffolk

Weight Loss Hypnotherapy in Ipswich and Hadleigh Suffolk

I was a specialist weight loss hypnotherapist in Harley Street. Since then I have been using hypnosis and NLP for helping people lose weight with hypnotherapy in Ipswich and Hadleigh Suffolk and Colchester Essex.

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 How to Lose Weight With Hypnosis

Gaining Weight and How to Reverse Obesity

We keep hearing that we have an have an “obesity epidemic” in the UK. Some of this, as in the USA, is because of ready meals and junk food. In fact the American Health Authority calls it “junkie food” because they say that people become addicted to fat sugar and salt in high levels in the food which makes them feel good for all of half an hour!

Unfortunately this has a bad impact on the waistline. It can also lead to depression, cancer, osteoarthritis, type 2 diabetes, heart trouble and more! Your knees and back don’t thank you either because for every stone overweight it is as if you were wearing a rucksack filled with fat. You try carrying a rucksack wearing a rucksack weighing even one stone and you will see what I mean!

Losing weight with dieting

The problem is that the diet industry has always known that when you stop the diet you go back to your “normal eating” – and when you do the weight piles on again!

So we get the boom and bust of yoyo dieting.

Quite honestly dieting is boring!

Diets tend to be starvation or exclusion diets

Starvation Diets

You are asked to cut down on calories or maybe you are allowed sins (I find calling food sinful a psychological no no!) or you eat shakes or ready meals.

Some diet ready made foods contain ground duck feathers to bulk you out or a substance like wallpaper paste that mimics fat.

You may find that if they are low in fat or salt they are high in sugar or vice versa.

Starvation puts pressure on the liver and kidneys and your autonomic system makes you crave to eat more.

You might have strong short term goals – such as a wedding – and you override the siren call of your hypothalamus – the governor of your appetite.

You drink diet drinks which might contain aspartame which studies show makes you hungrier and actually may cause cancer.

You get bored with the shakes or ready meals.

You do the High Fibre Diet and get good at sprinting ..

You crash diet to beat the weigh in.

The moment you weaken you binge and put the weight back on.

Exclusion diets

Don’t eat fish on a wet Tuesday! Eat lots of fat. Cut out carbs. Take as much fat as possible out of your diet. Fast on designated days etc etc.

A nutritionist friend told me how harmful these diets can be as your poor digestive system liver and kidneys suddenly take on a huge load of one particular type of food and suddenly lacks another food group.

I suggested that I should bring in a Pineapple Diet – where you substitute fresh pineapple for one meal a day. I would talk of it’s miraculous digestive powers. I would say it was high in Bromelane a digestive enzyme. I would say it was full of fibre and bulked you out. I would tell you to watch your calories in other meals.

You might do it and lose weight … until you got bored with Pineapple and it would go the way of the Grapefruit Diet!

Perhaps I would sell it to you in pill form extolling the virtues of some obscure chemical and it’s ability to break down fat.

If all this worked wouldn’t the NHS prescribe it?

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Dieting Problems

The problem is that we become calorie obsessed: “I lost / gained a pound today!” It is rumoured that some weight loss counsellors get bonuses for every pound lost – hence the obsession with pounds.

Frankly you can gain or lose a pound depending on what time of the day that you weigh. A pound is nothing. The overall aim is to lose weight steadily – and there will be peaks and troughs depending where you are in getting rid of fat – for instance.

If you are in a time where weight stands still or even goes up a little you get depressed and abandon the diet – it is “not working” – so you may as well comfort yourself with food.

Or maybe you feel it is all your fault?

Actually: You are fighting your body’s natural equilibrium.

Weight Management with Hypnosis

My approach is to help you manage your weight without calorie counting or any other gimmick. You learn how to use portion size control and eat a balance of food stuffs that meet your body’s needs.

We can also look at some foods that actually might be making you ill or lacking energy.

We can examine whether a low carb diet is the way forward or actually whether it depends on what carbs you eat .. Is there any foundation to the Paleo Diet?

Are Raspberry Ketone Pills a waste of money?

Is Dukane Diet all it is cracked up to be or is it more simply a matter of a balanced diet managed well?

Learn how to listen to your body and realise when you are full and stop eating?

You take some exercise which you enjoy

Most importantly you address why you overeat and stop tranquillising yourself with food!

Why you overeat:

Stress

“The boss / customer yelled at me so I reached for my secret Chocolate Drawer!”

We tranquillise ourselves with sweets or food and binge or comfort eat.

We could however use a strategy to address the stress and also lessen the possibilities of being yelled at by someone: prioritising is one great strategy instead of eating.

The problem is that you stress eat and it makes you “feel good” for about 15 minutes and then the stress still hasn’t gone.

A little stress is a good thing – a lot can prove fatal! It is now one of the biggest killers.

Anxiety

“I get anxious and eating a snack makes me feel better.”

I had a client that I regressed to find out if she unconsciously understood her addiction to jelly babies. She recalled a long repressed memory of being eight years old and her Mother sitting her in a sunny garden and saying: “Never mind darling – when you have a problem eat a jelly baby and all will be well.”

Her 25 stone self thanked her Mother for that well intentioned dietary nightmare but realised that she didn’t have to address her anxieties that way.

I taught her how to diminish the anxiety and address the source of the anxiety.

Boredom

“I get bored in the evening and watch TV and reward myself after a hard day with beer and snacks.”

This is a huge danger area for some people and eating late means you never really get to digest properly so the body deposits it as fat to digest later. Of course you never get to digest it later.

Boredom is a craving for company or mental stimulus – so we need to find a strategy for that … one client started making bespoke cards .. another loved reading and joined a book club and made friends … another rediscovered Art … another took up running again and is now doing half marathons .. another wrote her village history.

We also need to suggest gently that eating or drinking too much alcohol is not the best default.

Depression or PTSD or Trauma:

“I find that bad thoughts can be addressed with eating or drinking.”

Actually the fix is only temporary and overeating or drinking too much alcohol can lead to you spiralling out of control. Your self image is perceived as bad which makes you more depressed.

If the Comfort or Binge Eating is related to past trauma – perhaps it is time to stop letting that event or events affect you. The event, abuse or PTSD, continues to affect you. A properly qualified Hypnotherapist with training in Psychological Abuse Trauma and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder CAN help you move forward and stop self medicating with food or alcohol.

You cannot change what happened but you can alter how you feel about it and put it behind you.

There are many reasons for weight issues

I work with you using my many years of experience to find solutions to overeating or drinking too much alcohol. We work in a holistic way through the issues – so whether it is PTSD, Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Boredom or anything else that causes you to tranquillise yourself with food we will find a strategy, explore nutritional alternatives, have some fun along the way, motivate you to lose weight and much more …

Hypno Gastric Band for Obesity in Ipswich and Hadleigh Suffolk and Colchester Essex

I was an early adopter of the virtual gastric band in 2010 and I now offer this in Ipswich and Hadleigh in Suffolk and Colchester Essex.

It works well and the course thoroughly explores, with Hypnotherapy Hypnoanalysis and NLP, all the reasons for your weight issues. Then we “fits” under hypnosis the HypnoGastricBand. Your unconscious or subconscious then makes you feel full sooner.

We work TOGETHER to deal with YOUR issues.

The Hypno Gastric Band is available now in Ipswich Suffolk. Hadleigh Suffolk on Sundays and Colchester Essex by special appointment.

I offer a FREE telephone consultation with no obligation

Call or Text Graham Howes: 0787 5720623 or Call: 01473 879561

Hypnosis for weight loss in Ipswich and Hadleigh

Graham Howes Certified Hypno Gastric Band Practitioner since 2010 Advanced Hypnotherapist and NLP Ipswich Suffolk – The HypnoGastricBand System

Weight Loss Hypnotherapy in Ipswich Suffolk

Graham Howes Hypnotherapy for Weight Loss Hypnosis to Lose Weight in Ipswich Suffolk Hadleigh Suffolk and Colchester Essex – Weight Loss Expert Suffolk

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Anxiety Stress Depression and Panic Attacks there is another treatment

Anxiety Stress Depression and Panic Attacks there is another treatment

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How to move beyond Anxiety Stress Depression and Panic Attacks

I am seeing an awful lot of people at my clinics in Suffolk and Essex recently for Anxiety, Work Related Stress, Depression and Panic Attacks.

I suppose with the Financial Climate and the pressures on people this is unsurprising!

On it’s own Stress is now one of the big three killers in the World – and in the US workers, who have ended up with severs health issues because of stress, have even ended up suing the Companies that don’t practice Stress Management!

Many people don’t realise that there is an alternative approach for Depression Anxiety and Panic Attacks. Medication helps – but the question is whether you want that sort of support long term? My years of experience of working with Clients with Hypnotherapy and NLP have helped me evolve an approach that seems to work for most sufferers.

Stress, Anxiety and Panic Attacks are all based in the Fight or Flight response – this was useful when you faced a Sabre Tooth Tiger – but less usually useful these days! We probably don’t want to fight or run away from Nigel from Accounts because of an overspend! (Or maybe we do!)

We hate the feeling of adrenaline, the sweaty palms and raised heartbeat and we try to quell it – the unconscious part of you concerned with this thinks you haven’t noticed that help it just gave you – and dumps some more adrenaline into the bloodstream .. and you could soon be hyperventilating.

Simply put: you are headed in the wrong direction! I teach clients how to get the situation under control by a combination of proven techniques and strategies.

People who are depressed get into the mindset of: the light at the end of the tunnel is definitely a train coming in the opposite direction! We explore a number of different tried and tested approaches to help you get past depression.

You CAN get control of Depression Stress, Anxiety and Panic – talk to me for FREE to see how.

Hypnotherapy takes work with your therapist – so results can vary – it is not a substitute for Medical advice but complementary to it.

Please call me on 01473 879561 or text or call 07875720623 – leave your name number and time to call.

Graham Howes ASHPH GHR registered GHSC regulated Advanced Hypnotherapy and NLP

https://hypnotherapyinsuffolk.co.uk/anxiety-depression-panic-attacks-stress/

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Blogs on Hypnosis Hypnotherapy NLP Theatre

I am Graham Howes Professional Hypnotherapist in Colchester Essex and Ipswich and Hadleigh in Suffolk.

I also offer my services Worldwide and Nationwide with clients in Barcelona, Italy and the USA to name but a few and other parts of the UK by Skype or Facetime.

Home Visits are possible where it is difficult to get to me and on site Business to Business Services and Theatres, Film Sets and TV studios.

Discretion assured: I have worked with many top Businessmen, Actors Models Presenters and Journalists in Harley Street!

graham howes hypnotherapist Ipswich Suffolk
Graham Howes Hypnotherapy in Ipswich Suffolk

I offer caring Hypnotherapy using Hypnosis and NLP and other advanced techniques to work with you to help make things better. Please explore this site – blogs to come!

I have been an Actor, Teacher, Theatre Director and Writer – info on my latest project MISSING PIECES can be seen on http://missingpiecestheatreshow.co.uk

I became a Hypnotherapist while appearing in FAME in London’s West End back in 2001 specialising in Harley Street in Performer’s issues and when I moved to the Suffolk Essex border specialised in Weight Loss, Hypno Gastric Band and more..

Please explore my site

If interested there are many blogs Hypnosis, Theatre, Hypnotherapy and NLP on the sister site here

Graham Howes ASHPH GQHP GHR registered GHSC regulated CNHC approved Advanced Hypnotherapy and NLP Certified Weight Loss Practitioner Hypno Gastric Band System FULL Disclosure and Barring Service Vetted

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