breast cancer and hypnosis

September 10, 2007 at 1:25 pm (anesthesia, command, family, hormones, hypnosis)

I have recently received an email from Anne Spencer from the infinity institute bout the uses of hypnosis in cancer and surgery… a very interesting thing to allow the mind to take you on a holiday whilst the body is healing itself.

I apologise for the direct copy but it seems the best way to let you know about this…

Begin…

The following was submitted to us by Christina Gikas and we are pleased to share it with you today.

ABC News

Hypnosis Reduces Breast Surgery Side Effects

Pain, Nausea and Other Side Effects Mitigated by Pre-Surgery Sessions, Study Shows

By SUSAN KANSAGRA, M.D., ABC News Medical Unit

Aug. 28, 2007 -

It’s something that’s usually associated with stage performances and helping smokers quit, but new research suggests hypnosis may soon be an important tool in helping patients endure common side effects of breast cancer surgery.

 

Researchers at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York showed that a 15-minute hypnosis session reduced side effects including pain, nausea and emotional distress in patients undergoing breast cancer operations.

The study was published Tuesday in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

“If this were a drug, it would be very successful,” said lead study author Guy Montgomery, director of the Integrative Behavioral Medicine Program at Mount. Sinai School of Medicine.

Montgomery added that hypnosis carries the added benefit of having no side effects – a quality that makes it an attractive alternative to many drugs used for similar purposes.

Two hundred women who were about to undergo surgeries like a breast biopsy or removal of a suspicious breast lump participated in the study. About half of the women received a 15-minute hypnosis session shortly before their operations. The other women in the study had a consultation with a psychologist before surgery.

The hypnosis session included relaxation exercises that encouraged the women to think of pleasant thoughts, such as a beach on warm day. The women who did not undergo hypnosis talked to a psychologist, who listened and offered supportive comments only.

After their surgeries, the women who had hypnosis experienced less pain, nausea, fatigue, discomfort and emotional upset than their counterparts–and these differences were substantial, the study’s authors reported.

 

Not only did hypnosis reduce the side effects from surgery, but it also did this while reducing the amount of anesthesia used during the surgery. Additionally, the researchers showed that hypnosis decreased the amount of time spent in the operating room by almost 11 minutes, leading to an overall cost savings of about $770 per patient.

These results were seen despite the fact that treatments involving hypnotism don’t work for everyone; previous studies have shown that about 11 percent of people are resistant to hypnosis. But researchers noted that the tests used to weed out hypnosis-resistant women from the study would have taken longer to perform than the hypnosis itself.

Believing in Good Results

 

Hypnosis is believed to work by helping patients expect good results. It also helps take attention away from pain, and some studies have even shown that hypnosis can actually change the way a patient perceives pain.

“When we take an aspirin & we expect to have headache relief,” Montgomery said. “One of the things hypnosis is very good at is helping people form expectancy to these outcomes, such as less pain and less nausea.”

While hypnosis is commonly associated with a loss of control, many doctors say it is a powerful tool that patients can use to take charge of their own health.

 

C. Richard Chapman, professor and director of the Pain Research Center at the University of Utah said, “This study adds to a growing body of evidence showing that psychological interventions complement medical interventions. & Such interventions empower patients by engaging them in their own care and giving them control over their own pain, nausea and discomfort.”

Montgomery said that even patients who are skeptical about or fearful of hypnosis can take advantage of its benefits if they are properly counseled.

“We’re going to tell you that hypnosis is typically not like hypnosis used in television or seen in movies,” he said. “Rather, its something that we can do together that can help you reduce side effects. & You’re really the person in control.”

Adding to this notion is the fact that the hypnosis sessions the women underwent included instruction on how they could perform hypnosis on themselves in the future.

 

Not Just for Breast Cancer Surgery

In addition to being effective, hypnosis may also prove to be a versatile tool. The benefits of hypnosis have been shown in previous research to extend to other procedures as well, including gynecological surgery and coronary artery bypass.

Montgomery said he is hopeful that doctors continue to expand the use of hypnosis in other medical applications.

 

“This could become part of standard care,” he said. However, he added, “it’s not a panacea for everything, but rather a tool in the toolbox that we can use to address specific problems.”

 

Copyright © 2007 ABC News Internet Ventures

Carpe Diem…

Anne H. Spencer, PhD

Founder, Exec Director

www.infinityinst.com ~ 27 Years Teaching the Power of the Mind ~

END.

Thisamazing, the healing power of the mind can really kick it up a notch when you realise exactly how to get there.

Be well, hug those you love

Mel

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A handfull of hair

August 8, 2007 at 5:11 pm (anesthesia, command, hypnosis, kids, painrelief)

My little 7yo daughter Amazon just pulled a handfull of hair out of her own head just to prove that she could to the witchlings who are staying tonight (while I and their dad are at rehersals, their mum is on night shift at the moment) Hubby is looking after them.

The thing that amazes me is that we all use hypnotic states at all times, and in children, well, they are just as easy as that, they fall into an altered state easily and naturally.

Amazon supressed the usual feeling of something pulling her haid (and yes, every morning is a trauma when we have to brush it) and actually riped out her hair… the primary gain was strong enough psychologically that she could feel nothing as she was doing this.

And this is why people can have operations under hypnotic anethetic, amazing isn’t it?

I personally gave my husband a week long anesthetic from his teeth hurting as it was going to take that long to get to the dentist.

Command language aside, this is just remarkable and easily available for any one who really wants to apply themselves, they can do anything.

YOU CAN DO ANYTHING!!!

be well

Mel

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So Oprah just did “The Secret” on Australian TV

May 17, 2007 at 2:53 pm (command, family, relationships, the Secret)

The Amazing thing about the secret is that is isn’t people have been talking about it for centuries

Hold a memory of a person for long enough and they will contact you (yes, even if it is a dream then it is contact)

we ask for things all the time without actually realising that we do

saying “its awful” over and over again really compounds the fact that what is in that world is and will remain, believing and looking forward for things to change and working on a future.. that gives both you and the universe something to aim for.

Because as soon as you mention that you want “that”, then suddenly you may begin to see many other people whom already have “that” and when you associate or relate to those people you will find out how to get “that”, it is a snowball effect that just keeps going.

Be grateful for what you have… I have a beautiful husband and gorgeous children, and the more I get to know them the luckier I feel… even in the challenging times – and there are many in life, I am lucky because there is always hope and everything eventually passes both good and bad… when you focus on the good bits then the bad falls away, shrivels and drops off like it is supposed to…. gain learning from every challenge… look at it and say thankyou for being here, what do I need to learn?

Learn to say “thankyou for giving me this” say it to yourself, others and the universe

and watch with child like wonder as your life changes for the better little by little and you notice it.

law of compounding says that a little movement now can make a huge difference in the future, just one little baby step of self appreciation and love and off you go on the best Alice in wonderland ride ever!!

Be well and happy

Mel

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The power of attraction is exciting

May 14, 2007 at 2:41 pm (command, family)

The power of attraction is an old tale, there are days that everything seems right and it all goes along swimmingly, easily and happily

And there are days that this does not happen

…. what is going on?

When you decide to be a certain way then things happen for you… I have recently seen a movie called “The Secret”, it is very American in that all the physicists and theologists are American and so as an Aussie, this sometimes gets in the way (the accent can be a little difficult to understand and I accept that ours maybe as well to our friends across the sea)

None the less, it rings true!!

when you concentrate on something then it will be attracted to you.. Just the other day I was focussing on getting my assignments done and an email cam from out of the blue that triggered a cascade work and as such all the other things that had been hasseling me just fell away and I am now able to just sit and achieve each assignment as needed.

even more easily than before!! when I chose the words “I want to finish my assigments in the next 2 weeks… it starts to happen and the inspiration just lifts you to a plane of existance that is focussed where you want to be!!

So be specifi…. what do you want? couch it positively and work it!!

it is easier than you thought!!

Mel

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love a little more…. live a little longer

May 3, 2007 at 11:42 am (command, hypnosis, relationships)

its just that simple

Mel

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Positive sayings and command language

March 27, 2007 at 10:38 pm (command, family, hypnosis, relationships)

I like how your hair shines in this light, instead of I like your hair

That dress moves so beautifully on you instead of I like your dress

Round out the compliment with How it is good and Exactly what is good – nice about them and then they have less chance to yes..but you.

“How good to you feel” is a tag question that lets people know that they can feel good

And you may notice how easily and naturally these roll off the tongue when we use the positive command eg

Yesterday was really bad.. you know?I stuffed up and it was just awful

or

Yesterday was really not good, you know?I made huge mistakes and I learned a lot!

Effectively both are the same sentence and you may notice now just how much more optimistic the second sentence is….. when we accept the way things were and look forward we give ourselves and others permission to learn from the experience and put the effort of focus into a better outcome in the future.

The command language in each sentance has an enormous effect on our bodies and minds and as a therapist I cut people off as quickly (and gently) as I can so that we can steer them to a better plane, whilst honoring the intention of the client to get across that yesterday was not good (command word = good)

When someone asks “how are you?”…. say “fantastic” and light up with a big smile, and notice their bodies standing more upright as you say it, copying yours and as you take a nice deep breath of optimism, you can also notice that theirs will match yours and they automatically look like they feel better (the secret is that they do now too!!, just for a moment, and that makes a huge difference when you realise that we touch so many lives for a fraction of a second every day and can make their life so much happier with a little frivolous joy ;-)

Practice it, have a go!!.. its fun and contagious

Mel

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… and his autoimmune system is now attacking itself

March 22, 2007 at 10:57 am (Parts conflict, command, hormones, hypnosis, relationships, separated)

I know of a couple who have split up for two years now and the guy has been dragging his feet with settlement, so much so that he is now in contempt of court.. it means more to him to piss off his ex than to just get it over with.

Sadly, they have a child and the many issues that go along with that.

(back story)

for the last 5 years, he has been predicting his own death, this is one of the reasons that his wife left him because he took her on his roller coaster of emotions every day and she could not cope any more and left him.  He is morbidly obese and though in the last 2 years shed 75kg+ he is still a big boy.

Last week, I have been told that he was due in court in three weeks time and he  will not do anything about it, the guy is a friend so all I can do is be there if he needs to chat.

On Monday I find out that he is now in hospital in ICU on a respirator with secondary pneumonia and his own immune system is attacking his lungs , he had been coughing up blood…. talk about a parts conflict.

For as long as I have known them, he has been generally unhappy, and from what his ex wife says, he was always saying he was going to die around his birthday, this has been going on for years because she would call me crying from time to time and say she could not help him want to live, he did not want to get off the couch and look at alternatives, he just kept saying that he would die and it would be soon….   he turns 35 in may

Simply put,  be careful what you say because the subconscious mind is always aware and gives you exactly what you want, given that once she had left him he then went out and shed so much weight, if he turned his thinking to I want to live.. then perhaps this would have been different, he still can pull through, he just needs to want it enough, however in his language now saying “I don’t want to die” Still carries the command ‘to die’, the subconscious can (and does depending on the depth of importance) ignore the ‘don’t’.

Think for a positive outcome and say it 10 times in the morning and 10 times at night

Emile coue coined the phrase

“every day and in every way I am becoming better and better and better”

I give this to my clients to say and because it is open ended for the better, then the subconscious takes this on easily and naturally and changes things in just the right time for you.

Be well

Mel

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How constructive is praise for your child? and what do you praise?

March 1, 2007 at 10:24 am (command, family, kids, relationships)

http://nymag.com/news/features/27840/

This is a very interesting take on language, and inherently I knew this before I read it – subconsciously, now I know it consciously and have found a change with dreamer and amazon within a couple of days because of my change in the positive reinforcement language I use with them.

Live and learn every day!

When you praise the effort, the kids work harder, when you praise the intelligence, they need to protect their ’status’ as being sooooo smart so they only do what they know they can do easily and if anything is hard, they stop very quickly because this tells them that they are not that smart….

Gotta love the human mind.

Hugs

Meli

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A Frightening development in marketing – Hypnomarketing

March 1, 2007 at 12:18 am (command, fertility, hypnosis, relationships)

I believe that this is not only detrimental to the Hypnotherapy industry, it is also dangerous for the poor suckers who walk into this honey pot.

http://hypnomarketing.biz/

My husband just got an invitation to go to a hypnoshow free, with free alcohol and nibblies.

As I am a clinical hypnotherapist I thought cool, a show is always fun to watch… upon reading I am APPALLED that this is going to happen. they are charging the client $20K to $100K (client is trendy clothing company)

And inviting the young trendy an uninformed to come for a free show… .hell I would go too!!

The thing that buggs me is that they are so up front that they are promoting a clothing line, ideally this would be ok however, knowing that the subconscious mind does not know the difference between reality and imagination, I am EXTREMELY concerned because they are directly linking these clothes with feeling great and sexual potency and such things (as all good advertising does), however, putting these people even though they are willing into a trance and linking the clothes with actual wellbeing is a dangerous road to take in my opinion

Therapists Know that 20% of people are HIGHLY SUGGESTIBLE and with a few drinks, this percentage only increases.

Subconsciously when you walk onto stage, you are giving deep approval for what is to occur and if that is being in a show great, if that is being made a slave to a brand for life and it is directly attached to sexual potency, wellbeing and a happier life, that is irresponsible, especially given the people coming think that they a going to get something free, a skillfully (and I know the hypnotist, he is EXTREMELY good, his use of command, embedded and metaphorical are fantastic, he was an NLP trainer) worded patter can really make an impact – great for advertising… not so good for the simply uninformed…

Yes they are adults, yes they walk in (and have to sign waivers!!) It just feels wrong, in my map of the world..

advertising is the are of co-ercion true.

Moving people into a highly suggestible state even with their agreement and promoting to them as such linking it explicitly to their health and wellbeing? what happens when the brand folds? or does not come in their size? HOW WILL THE SUBCONSCIOUS REACT WHEN THESE THINGS THAT ARE NOW SO NECESSARY FOR SELF ESTEEM ARE NOT AVALIABLE?

Impotence? heart disease? relationship troubles? cancer?

what do you think? will this send our Industry back onto the stage and out of actually helping people? what will the push back be?

Mel

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Listen like a man

February 27, 2007 at 1:39 pm (command, family, kids, relationships)

Strange that men and women actually listen differently (yes, this is a gross generalisation)

Women tend to listen and give mild opinions and let the talker just vent

Men listen and have a need to give the talker solutions and are surprised when those solutions are not followed through

as a therapist I need to listen like a woman and a man…. only reacting to the things that the client actually needs to work on and ignore the rest of the fluff.

I am still working on it

watcha think? is it easy to adjust one’s listening style?

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