Some recent articles about Hypnosis and the Power of the Mind ......
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Below - you will find a list of recent articles I have written for DECISION magazine. Please take a look through the list of titles below. Then just click on to one you would like to read. Please feel free to re-produce any of these articles. All I would ask is that you mention my authorship & copyright.
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Depression - is there a cure?
- Larry McMahon
Originally published in "Decision" magazine.
Some years ago, when I was in Sudan I went wandering around the ancient city of Omdurman - after dark! Omdurman is basically a mediaeval Arabian marketplace. It is a warren of narrow streets lined with all sorts of stalls, with merchants crying their wares. In fact it is a bit like stepping back into a much earlier time zone. At first I was very nervous - expecting one of the dark-skinned, white-robed locals to slit my throat at any minute.
How wrong I was! There was such a happy carefree atmosphere. I remember thinking; - "But these people are so poor...yet they seem so happy!" The atmosphere in Omdurman that evening was full of joy. When I attempted to buy some of the exotic spices on sale in one of the shops, the merchant refused to accept money from me. Instead he said in his simple English;- "Welcome to my country!" Later on a little boy ran after me to return a coin I had apparently dropped in the street earlier on.
More recently - walking around the streets of my native city of Dublin - I am struck by how unhappy and stressed people seem to be. I keep patting my pocket, to make sure my wallet hasn't been pinched. Yet Dublin has experienced an economic boom in recent years. People are a lot more prosperous. But (is it my imagination?) they do not seem to be as happy as they seemed to be, when I was younger. Are they perhaps more depressed?
About Depression
Depression is an insidious illness. It strikes both rich and poor. There is an awful irony - when people work hard to make a lot of money, in order to be happy...only to end up rich...and depressed as well. Depression affects people of all ages and walks of life. And it tends to be a "secret" ailment. People who suffer from it, very often develop an external mask of sociability and bonhomie - to hide their inner turmoil. They fool the world - but never themselves.
Of course people who never get depressed, say it's "all in the mind!" And so it is - but in a very cruel way. We all have our own mental illusions about the world we live in. The mental world inhabited by the depressive, is a truly horrific one.
The distress and mental agony suffered by depressives is very real for them. Having met many sufferers in my own practice over the years, I now believe that Depression has to be the very worst illness of all. No physician or therapist can fully understand the horror of Depression - unless they themselves have also been sufferers. And it is so difficult for the depressive to explain what it is like - to the rest of us. That is why they often use metaphors such as "Black Hole" or "Black Dog" to try to describe it.
The reason I conclude that Depression is the worst of all illnesses - is because virtually all sufferers contemplate suicide - and many of them eventually succeed in ending their torment in this way. What other illness is so horrific that people want to kill themselves? Patients with Cancer or Heart Disease all want to live. Depressives often unfortunately want to die.
Chronic Anxiety and Panic Attacks, are part of the Depression complex. Many people suffering from Alcohol-Dependency, are using alcohol as their own "medication" for depression...only to find that alcohol itself can cause the depression to get worse!
It's hard to imagine...
If you know someone who suffers from Depression, it can be difficult to imagine what they are going through. Here is one way for an outsider to begin to grasp at an understanding. Most depressives experience an extreme form of one of the "negative" emotions, such as....fear, despair, anger, self-hatred, grief, guilt, hatred, sadness, unworthiness etc. Very often, there is no obvious "cause", such as a childhood trauma. But the feeling is there nonetheless. And it is very real to the sufferer. Let's imagine that the negative feeling is Anxiety. And the person can tell you that much at least. Then try to remember the most terrifying experience you ever had in your own life. Re-live that terror in your mind. Then try to imagine what it might be like, if it was multiplied in its intensity by a factor of 5...and that it continued indefinitely in your life, for no particular reason.
A government minister recently got himself into hot water, by referring to suicide as a selfish act. Even though he had to apologise - he was in fact not that far off the mark. But "self-absorbed" might be a more accurate term. When you suffer from Depression, you become totally absorbed in your own internal mental pain - to the exclusion of all else. When people commit suicide they do not consider the suffering and grief they will cause their loved ones. The thought literally never crosses their mind. Such is the nature of this dreadful mental condition.
What about treatment?
First let it be said that many sufferers tell nobody about it - and the condition goes undiagnosed. But if diagnosed, the G.P. will either refer the patient to a psychiatrist or a psycho-therapist. It rather depends on the preferences and experience of the G.P. Psychiatrists usually prescribe medication. These mood-altering drugs generally have the effect of "masking" the symptoms somewhat. However they do not unfortunately unravel or cure the underlying "programme" which activates the condition. But they can at least pacify the patient temporarily - which can be a good thing. Many of the clients I see, who have been treated by psychiatrists, describe it as a "hit or miss" procedure. First we try one drug. If that doesn't work, let's try another...until hopefully they hit on one that does the job.
Psycho-therapy (i.e. Counselling) at least has the merit that no drugs are used. It is sometimes referred to as the "Talking Cure". The idea is that the patient is encouraged to talk freely about his/her problems...until eventually the underlying cause is brought to light. This knowledge is then supposed to somehow lead to a cure. This therapy incidentally can often take many years! Unfortunately however there are a number of problems with Psycho-therapy....
For many patients, knowledge does not in fact lead to a cure. In other words, even if they do find out what caused all their problems...they still actually have those problems! Only now they can tell all their friends why they are so miserable. But they are still miserable. And quite often after spending years in therapy - they are actually more miserable than when they started! By talking about their problems for years to the therapist - it has now become official!
Another worrying aspect of Psycho-therapy is the implied assumption that Depression is caused by trauma, especially in childhood. I have to say that - in most of the cases I come across - the more likely cause seems to be an inherited genetic tendency. Beside which, focusing on the cause or even the problem itself can often paradoxically be counter-productive. A far more productive approach is to focus instead on the solution!
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) at least offers a more practical approach to the problem. It is based on the idea that Attitude and Behaviour tend to match each other. So, first change behaviour patterns through various exercises - so that eventually, the attitudes will shift. And some sufferers, at least, have found CBT to be helpful with their condition.
The Best Solution of all
The positive outcome desired by every depressive is happiness. Simple, isn't it? When you're happy - you literally cannot be depressed! Happiness is actually the cure. And of course Happiness is produced by your own internal "pharmacy" - with absolutely no negative side-effects.
And (guess what?) every person on this planet knows how to be happy - even if that knowledge is sometimes forgotten - buried deep in the subconscious mind. Given the opportunity to experience happiness again, the subconscious mind will gladly re-awaken the circuitry of happiness - and always enthusiastically seize it.
To the best of my knowledge, of all the treatments & therapies on offer, only Hypnotherapy (when creatively operated) can actually trigger this profound type of change - where happiness replaces misery. Because Hypnotherapy is "solution-oriented", the Unconscious is only too happy to co-operate. That is why the positive changes are usually triggered faster...and are also permanent and generative.
Copyright - Larry McMahon. All rights reserved - but feel free to copy this article, post it, quote it, think about it and forward it on to others. The only requirement is including the following footer with it...
Article by LarryMcMahon. Visit www.larrymcmahon.com for more original content like this. Reprint permission granted with this footer included.
But do you suffer from Depression? And would you like to heal yourself? If so, just click here.
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Making your dreams come true!
- Larry McMahon
Originally published in "Decision" magazine.
"I have a dream !” We are all familiar with the famous Martin Luther King incantation. If anyone was a visionary leader – he was ! He had a dream, and his dream came true. Of course, he himself did not actually make it all happen. He provided the vision. It was then up to his followers, U.S. legislators and opinion-leaders to do the actual implementation. Mind you – the same could also be said of Adolf Hitler. He too had a vision, which he communicated to his followers – who in turn made it happen – with devastating consequences.
“Visionary” leadership is all the rage these days. But when business gurus preach about it … somehow they make it sound just as nebulous as “strategic” leadership. So this article is meant to clear the fog – and provide a “nuts ‘n’ bolts” description. So if you want to create your own vision (and make it happen)…read on !
Your own "compulsive vision"
First of all – a compulsive vision is not just visual. It is multi-sensory. It’s really just a day-dream…but full of visual elements, and sounds, and smells, and taste and feelings (both physical & emotional). It fully engages all the senses. The sensory elements should be as intense as possible – i.e. the colours should be really bright, and the shapes should be really clear. This applies to all the relevant channels you use in the fantasy – and specially to the emotional feelings. Really let yourself feel good, as you enjoy your own daydream ! They say that with the conscious part of your mind, you can pay attention to a maximum of 5 to 9 things or ideas, at any one time. The best visions or day-dreams take up most of that “data-processing” capacity.
In fact, the unconscious part of your mind cannot notice the difference between reality and a really good daydream. That is why – when you’re having a pleasant daydream – a silly smile appears on your face ! And when you’re having an unpleasant or scary daydream – the opposite happens – your heart starts thumping & your breathing gets faster. In effect you are fooling the Unconscious.
How to "install" it
Now we come to the useful bit ! How can you use this “technology” to improve your own life and future ? Here’s how…. Let’s say there’s something you’d really like to have – like that dream job, you’ve just applied for. All you need to do, is put together a future fantasy in your mind. Imagine the actual moment in the future, when you know you’ve got the job – and let yourself enjoy it ! And don’t forget to include lots of bright colours, clear shapes & sounds, as well as physical sensations. And then just let yourself wallow around in the fantasy – allowing the strong, positive emotional feeling to flow through.
What happens then – is that your Unconscious takes that fantasy on board – and starts “pushing the buttons” to make that dream come true ! Why? Because firstly it’s “fooled” by the “reality” of the dream – and secondly it knows the dream is important, because of the strong positive feeling associated with it. The feeling is the quality marker.
You've done it before...
Think back over your own life to date. Was there ever something that you really wanted desperately – and you got it ? It could have been a present as a kid, or to go somewhere special, or a person or an achievement. I bet you fantasised about having & enjoying that thing…well before you ever got it in reality ! And that’s how & why you got it ! See – you’ve been doing this successfully already ! All I’m suggesting is that you do more of it !
In case you don’t believe this – it also works in reverse ! In other words, if there’s something you want – and you have a daydream, imagining how lousy you’re going to feel…when you know you’ve failed…then that is exactly the result you get. Your Unconscious is a bit like a computer. It takes what you give it. So if there’s something you really want out there – and you’re going to have a fantasy – why not have a positive one ? After all it costs nothing. And at least it’s more enjoyable than a negative dream…and of course it might also come true for you !
When you have such a compulsive future fantasy stored away in your Unconscious, it becomes almost like an inner guiding light or computer programme. Whenever you come to a crossroads in life, you instinctively know which turn to take. Your Unconscious will continue to do what it takes, to nudge you inexorably in the direction of your dream-fulfilment. So fantasies can work for both your short and long-term goals.
The "Inspiring" Leader
If you’re a leader of others, here’s how you can become an “inspiring, visionary leader”. This is so easy. You just use the same approach. First create your future fantasy – but this time make it all about the achievement of your organisational or business goals. Pack it with lots of sensory data plus a really strong positive feeling – like you’re really excited & thrilled.
Then (now this could be the tricky part) - you need to communicate your dream to your followers. But you must use clear sensory language – so they can understand and share the dream. And it is especially important to express your own strong positive feelings in the vision. In fact you may have to exaggerate the expression of these emotions. That’s what Luther King did ! By exaggerating the emotional expression, you affect or “infect” your followers. They then take the dream on board as their own. Now here’s the good bit. They go out and make your dream come true for you !
Join the Dreamers !
A man I met some years ago, was telling me about how he used to have a daydream many years before that. In the dream he had his own factory with 50 employees, in a small country town. At the time, he was working as a factory foreman. And the daydream wasn’t really serious. It was more to pass the time during the odd boring working day. But then a couple of years later – things started to happen. What he described as a whole series of co-incidences occurred – at the end of which, he had his factory with 49 employees (close enough !). What puzzled him though, was how everything seemed to just fall into place – without any conscious effort on his part ! He just happened to be in the right place at the right time. He happened to meet certain people, who just happened to push opportunities his way !
Since then I have met other people with similar bizarre stories to tell. They had a daydream they enjoyed – and it just happened to come true. The bizarre part is that it involved little or no work or effort on their part.
This raises an interesting metaphysical question. In a world where most people don’t have a dream – they stagger from day to day, hoping for the best – maybe those few people who do have a compelling dream, somehow influence the world around them? Could the “energy” of their dreams somehow energise people and events around them ?
In the meantime…..think about it…..and……..dream on!
Copyright - Larry McMahon. All rights reserved - but feel free to copy this article, post it, quote it, think about it and forward it on to others. The only requirement is including the following footer with it...
Article by LarryMcMahon. Visit www.larrymcmahon.com for more original content like this. Reprint permission granted with this footer included.
But would you like to make your own dreams come true? And would you like to learn how Hypnosis can help you? If so, just click here.
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Blushing - the Secret Agony.
- Larry McMahon
Originally published in "Decision" magazine.
Imagine you are sitting in your office, when one of your staff walks in to ask you a question. Instantly (before you can even think about it) you feel the heat, as the blood rushes to your neck and face ... and it happens yet again. You blush a bright red colour ! As you fumble your way through your answer - you notice your subordinate looking at you, in a peculiar way. Now you know that he has noticed it too ... and is probably beginning to wonder what is wrong with you!
This is the sort of thing that happens many times a day, to people who suffer from this strange and secret ailment. It's a secret of course - because - by definition - people with this problem don’t go around talking about it. In fact I must confess that I did not realise that Facial Blushing was a problem at all – until I began meeting sufferers many years ago, in my role as a hypno-therapist.
About Facial Blushing
You might say that it is not really an illness as such. And yet people with this chronic blushing problem can find their careers and social lives blighted by it. Some blushers become so obsessed and desperate that they even resort to surgery! There are in fact a growing number of surgeons (especially in the U.S.) who offer a surgical solution. It is called "Endoscopic Transthoracic Sympathectomy". Although this surgical procedure might be classified as "cosmetic surgery", it is nonetheless a major operation. The procedure involves placing a metallic clamp on the sympathetic nerve,in the chest area, to block nerve transmission - as well as collapsing one lung. The procedure can be ineffective or even fatal. Of course like most surgery - it is also expensive. But the claim made is that it can be reversed if the surgery is ineffective.
Most chronic blushers are fair-skinned, with reddish or blond hair. The problem usually begins to manifest itself in puberty - which is significant in itself. There are both male and female blushers. The ones I have met are also usually highly intelligent, and successful in their careers.
For most of us, blushing only occurs when we are extremely embarrassed. If someone catches you out in a lie, in public, for example - it is quite normal to blush. The strange thing about chronic blushers however - is that it often seems to happen back-to-front. In other words - the blush happens first, and is then followed by a feeling of embarrassment (caused by the blush).
When I first started helping people with this problem, I assumed a psychological cause - in other words, that the "feeling" preceded the actual blush. This was because some of my clients had particular psychological issues (as we all have!). Cognitive behavioural therapists act on the assumption that Facial Blushing is connected with Social Phobia. My own similar mistake was to assume that the blushing response was mainly an expression of such underlying feelings.
How Susan changed everything
This all changed some years ago - when a client of mine helped me to find a much better approach and solution. I shall call her "Susan" to preserve her anonymity. Susan was a very bright, confident, out-going and good-looking third-level student. She was and is the sort of person who will never need a psycho-therapist. She had no hang-ups ! The only problem she had was....Blushing!
The first time we had a hypnotherapy session - there was no change afterwards in her blushing behaviour. Susan, by the way, blushed whenever anybody (friend or foe) looked at her or showed interest in her. However she was determined to do something about it. So she came back for a second session. This of course put pressure on me - to find a new or different approach.
From our discussions - we developed the following working hypothesis...
1. The Blushing response is part of the sympathetic nervous system – like breathing, sweating, heart-beat rate, blood pressure change etc.
2. It has been part of our nature as Humans, since the beginnings of our species.
3. Therefore it must have a benevolent purpose of some kind. Otherwise it would have been eliminated in the evolutionary process.
4. Because Blushing is experienced by the Blusher - but also seen by the other person, or persons - its function is most likely one of communication.
5. What the Blusher in effect communicates, is twofold - first to other people, but also to the self. The message to others is ... "This is to let you know - that I know that you're looking at me !" The message to the self is ... "Let me out of here!"
6. One possible evolutionary benefit might be in human courtship. The Male of the species finds this information very useful (at least he’s not wasting his time!) It also acts as an attractant to the Male. The very same process occurs when the Male blushes, in response to the Female gaze!
7. All that is happening with the Chronic Blusher is caused by a random throw of the genetic dice. He or she just happens to have inherited a hyper-sensitive predisposition to blush. This is a bit like the way some people are born with a faster heartbeat rate than others.
8. So they have an "over-sensitive" blushing system. In other words they blush whenever anybody (male or female) looks at them!
For Susan and I this was the breakthrough. Just as other genetically determined conditions (such as Haemophilia, Hypertension or Depression) can be ameliorated or cured by the creative use of Hypnotherapy - the same we found was true for Susan's Facial Blushing.
Two Types of Blushing
While every case is unique - I tend to meet two types of "Blushers" in my practice. The first type are people who do have a Social Phobia of some kind. With these people, Blushing is an expression or symptom of the underlying phobia. Quite often it is just one, of a number of symptoms they have. With a client like this, the best approach I find, is to use Hypnotherapy to unravel the underlying Social Phobia - as well as the Facial Blushing.
The second type are "Pure Facial Blushers". Like Susan, for them the problem is an automatic physical response. It is not triggered by psychological problems.
Everybody can blush of course. But for the Pure Facial Blusher, the blushing response mechanism is hyper-sensitive. He or she is usually blond and fair-skinned. And the trait often runs in the family. So he/she has inherited a genetic pre-disposition to blush easily and frequently. For the Pure Blusher, I now use a hypnotic methodology - which recognises and adapts to this reality.
The Pure Blusher usually blushes more - and seems to be the most active in seeking a cure. He/she does not feel fundamentally inadequate socially. Perhaps that is one reason why Blushing just seems so pointless to him or her. And of course it can be like a blight over one's social life and career.
Epilogue...
The last time I heard from Susan, she told me that she doesn't "even feel the need to blush anymore - or even think about it." It is gratifying for me to be reminded yet again, of the power of the Human Mind to trigger such dramatic changes in the mind/body system. After over 25 years as a therapist, I am still amazed how Hypnotherapy can help my clients to unravel & change such complex responses as Blushing. And of course, on a personal/professional level, I get a special "buzz" from finding yet another way to outwit the surgeon's scalpel!
So...thank you Susan !
Copyright - Larry McMahon. All rights reserved - but feel free to copy this article, post it, quote it, think about it and forward it on to others. The only requirement is including the following footer with it...
Article by LarryMcMahon. Visit larrymcmahon.com for more original content like this. Reprint permission granted with this footer included.
But do you suffer from a Blushing problem? And would you like to cure yourself? If so, just click here.
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Smoking - problem & solution!
- Larry McMahon
Originally published in "Decision" magazine.
You can see them huddling in doorways outside office buildings, shops and schools. There they are – the Smokers ... the lepers of modern society. There they stand, with their backs to the wind, puffing away. Have you ever noticed the special stance they adopt? It’s a sort of “smoker’s semi-crouch”. Their body language oozes guilt! These people are prepared to submit to any indignity, in order to get their “fix”. They are the victims of legislation, taxation and social discrimination wherever they go. Despite this, and all the anti-smoking propaganda, they continue to smoke – in the full knowledge that they are effectively cutting up to 20 years off their expected life-span. Such is the sheer addictive power of Nicotine.
You are effectively “hooked” after your third cigarette. This is true for most people. After your third cigarette, you progress slowly (but inevitably) over the years, till you make it into the “Big League” of 20 to 40 per day. Nicotine has to be the single most addictive substance known to Man. It is certainly far more addictive than Heroin or Cocaine or Alcohol – and far more lethal! Most people who drink alcohol are not addicted to it – but everyone who smokes is!
How Nicotine keeps you hooked
Research scientists are beginning to find out a bit more about the way Nicotine affects the brain. Effectively what seems to happen with smokers, is that a part of the brain starts to adapt to Nicotine – and then begins to “specialise” in processing it – and firing off the pleasure signals in the brain. So even though it is a lethal poison, Nicotine insinuates itself into the inner workings of the brain. Pretty soon it becomes an indispensable part of the “mind-body” system. Hence the dreaded withdrawal symptoms smokers experience, when they try to come off the drug. That is also why – even though you might have kicked the habit, and been off cigarettes for years – as soon as you inhale even one cigarette, that special “Nicotine Department” in your brain, immediately clicks into action. It realises that it’s “party-time” again – and starts working really hard, to make you smoke more & more ! What it’s trying to do is to make up for the lost Nicotine in-take over the years! That is why, when ex-smokers take up the weed again – they find themselves smoking more than they’ve ever smoked before!
So who still smokes these days?
Surveys indicate that 30% of the population smoke. More females than males are smokers. This is a reverse of the way it used to be back in the 60s. Sadly many young girls continue to smoke because Nicotine suppresses appetite. They believe it makes them slim and attractive – despite the smell off their breath, hair and clothing.
I recently asked a doctor I know, who worked in one of the major hospitals in the Dublin area, how many of her medical colleagues smoked. Here is the shocking answer I got...50% of the doctors...and...(wait for it!)...80% of the nurses! So it just goes to show – a brilliant intellect & full knowledge of the horrific consequences of smoking, are no defense against a substance as powerfully addictive as Nicotine. You might well say: “But these are the same people who continuously warn us against the perils of smoking!”
No wonder the Health Authorities are so embarrassed by all those white-coated (smoking) healers they employ. The fact that they often slip outside the hospital doors, to have a quick puff, is quietly ignored. So they throw some money at the problem. That way, they can say they are at least doing something about it! They plaster the hospital grounds with "Smoke-Free Zone" signs. They advertise on TV. They even hire “Smoking Cessation” counsellors. I must say that personally I have never seen any evidence to suggest that “counselling” has any effect whatsoever on smokers’ habits.
So what does work?
You can try Will-Power. This is the most difficult method of all. The vast majority who try will-power, fail. However it must be said that a very small number of people do succeed this way. They should be really congratulated for having the courage & persistence which most smokers find impossible.
Then there are Nicotine-based chewing gums, tablets and patches, and now Vaping. The trouble with all of these is that you are still getting the drug (i.e. Nicotine) – albeit through a different delivery system. So you are still effectively “feeding your habit”. And that is why most people quickly revert to cigarettes – either during, or immediately after their “course of treatment”. The thing is, that inhaled tobacco smoke is still the fastest delivery system for the poison. In fact, the only good thing about these Nicotine-based products is that at least you are not getting the tar-intake, while you are on them.
Some people find that Acupuncture works for them. This method is tapping into the wisdom of ancient China. While even the practitioners are not sure precisely how it works – it seems that it interrupts or interferes with the “electrical circuitry” of the brain & body. It can apparently turn on the brain’s pleasure signals (endorphins), trigger a relaxation response and interrupt the circuitry of the withdrawal symptoms.
Two new drugs have been promoted in recent years, as possible cures for smoking. The first one is Zyban, an anti-depressant marketed by GlaxoSmithKline. The second one is Champix, produced by Pfizer, which interferes with the receptors in the brain. In clinical trials, it was found that one year later, 10% of smokers taking a placebo were still off cigarettes. 15% of smokers taking Zyban were still off. And 23% of smokers taking Champix were still not smoking.
Do your research and think carefully before thinking of taking either of these drugs however. On 1st July 2009, the FDA (Food & Drug Administration) in the U.S. required both Zyban and Champix to carry a "Black Box Warning", the agency's stongest safety warning. This is due to the side effects, including depression and suicidal thoughts & actions.
The Hazelden Foundation in Minneapolis is probably the world’s leading clinic for treating addictions. They favour the 12-step type of approach, as used for alcoholics. They have adapted this also for cigarette addicts. They run a special 7-day “Smoking Cessation Retreat”. One year later 38% of the participants are still off the cigarettes. The claim they make is that this is 5 times higher than most other methods.
It is a paradox that the most effective method for coming off cigarettes, is at the same time the easiest, the fastest and the least intrusive of all. That method is Hypnotherapy. For example with my own individual anti-smoking sessions – one year later at least 90% of my clients are still off the noxious weed.
A bit like Acupuncture – it belongs in the category of alternative medicine. It’s rather like accessing the super-computer we all carry inside our skulls – and programming it to bring about healing, learning & change at a deep level inside us. And what we can say for certain is that it does actually work for most people. Hypnosis is simply a methodology for communicating with the sub-conscious mind...and asking it to make the necessary changes (mental & physical) in order to come off cigarettes with minimal effort.
What amazes most people is how enjoyable and relaxing the experience can be. And yet, at the same time, dramatic changes start occurring in the Mind/Body system. For most people there are literally no cravings or withdrawal symptoms afterwards. Their health starts to improve. And they discover to their amazement, that life without cigarettes is actually more enjoyable than life with cigarettes.
Of course, there's also the sheer expense of smoking! These days, if you're on a packet (20 cigs) a day - that means you're wasting €5,000 per year!!! Just think of what you could do, with that extra cash in your life? Like how about a luxury holiday for two .... anywhere in the world .... and every year from then on ... as well!
If you are a smoker yourself - or have loved ones who are – the important thing is to do something. What a way to spend a life – dependent on an expensive and poisonous drug – which ultimately brings you nothing but misery, chronic illness and a tragically short life!
Copyright © Larry McMahon. All rights reserved - but feel free to copy this article, post it, quote it, think about it and forward it on to others. The only requirement is including the following footer with it...
Article by LarryMcMahon. Visit www.larrymcmahon.com for more original content like this. Reprint permission granted with this footer included.
Are you a smoker? Would you like to learn more about how Hypnotherapy can help you to kick the habit for good? Then just click here for all the details!
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THE LAST BLAST !
Published in "Galway Now !" magazine.
We sent lifelong smoker, Bunny Ford, to a hypno-therapy seminar to see if she could finally kick the habit and live without cigarettes.
Larry McMahon has been a practising hypno-therapist for over twenty years, not quite as long as Bunny has been smoking. On April 20th, she attended a one-day seminar in Dublin and at the time of going to print, four weeks later, was still smoke-free.
“It’s like I have been let out of the cell and now I am gingerly going through the Prison to try to get out of the main door before the Nicotine Guards get me and put me back where I belong ! Larry’s session is very comprehensive and covers much more than smoking. After the morning session you have a personalised hypno-therapy session. There were six of us altogether. All female and from varying backgrounds. There were the 40-a-days like me, and a couple of milder smokers. We all had different reasons for smoking and different reasons for not being able to do without the weed. We spent the morning discussing our addictions. Like all addicts, we each had different and varied reasons for starting in the first place, and for not being able to stop. We smoked up to lunch time and had a last fag after lunch. From the morning session I would say that everyone there was committed to giving up for good.
Larry explained that the language he uses has to be very unambiguous, and that a lie, however unintentional, would cause the subconscious to immediately shut off and not listen to another word he said. So everything he says has to pertain to all the people in the room and has to be true to everyone.
He told us that he envisages the subconscious like the hard-disc of a computer. Its functions include the day-to-day survival of the body – breathing, heart-beat etc etc. It is also programmed to act in your best interests and so, somewhere along the line, it has had a program written into it that smoking is good. It makes you feel good, therefore it is good and why would you want to stop doing something that’s good for you ? In computer-speak, Larry aims to re-educate or re-write the disc. To do this he re-programmess the part of the subconscious whose job it has been to keep you happy with smoking. He praises the good job this programme has done and gives it a new job to do. But that’s not all Larry does ! He will throw in any phobias you wish to be rid of, any weight or other problems that can be addressed, he can do at the same time ! Great value for money !
The actual hypno-training itself is somewhat surreal. We had been listening to a docile, quietly spoken Larry all morning. During the session his voice changes from a normal, gentle, jaunt-along sort of voice, to a slow, Merlin the Magician drawl. As Larry drones on and on, you find yourself drifting off – not asleep, not awake, but between the two. You are aware that Larry is repeating what he told you he was going to say before lunch. You already know the story so you just relax deeply and let him do his thing !
It’s been four weeks since I last held, touched, smelt or tasted cigarettes – and boy am I pleased with myself. Actually I have very little to be proud of really except that I made the decision to go to Larry McMahon for a session. I am not saying this has all been plain sailing. I have been a smoker for 30 years and the habit of just picking up a packet of cigarettes and lighting one at certain times does not just disappear. But I am aware of being a non-smoker now – much more than I was consciously a smoker. I wonder when being a non-smoker is just natural to me. I would strongly recommend this method of quitting to anyone who is serious about giving up cigarettes for good. I have tried them all and this one works !”
Are you a smoker? Would you like to learn more about how Hypnotherapy can help you to kick the habit for good? Then just click here for all the details !
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"I just can't stomach that!"
- Larry McMahon
Originally published in "Decision" magazine.
“It’s hard to swallow!”... “It churns me up inside!”... “It makes me sick!”... “I can’t take any more of this s - - t!”... “It really hits me in the gut!” So often, when we’re feeling really upset or stressed, we use expressions like these. All of these exclamations of course, refer specifically to the Digestive System. It’s hardly any accident therefore – that this particular area of our anatomy, is especially sensitive when we are under stress!
Every emotion you feel in your mind – you also feel in your body. That’s just the way we function as Humans. Think about how you feel physically, when you are stressed, or excited or afraid. Very often this type of feeling manifests itself in the digestive system. You get that tight “knotted” feeling in your stomach. Or you lose your appetite. Or you feel sick. Maybe you feel the sphincter muscle tightening . Or you get Diarrhoea. You get indigestion – or simply a pain in your stomach. Even when you get a stress headache – its origins are usually in your stomach anyway.
That is why so many stress-related (or psycho-somatic) ailments are felt in this part of the anatomy. In other words – if you are continuously under stress – and continuously experiencing some of the above responses – eventually the responses become like a permanent feature of your life! The more sensitive you are, as an individual, the more susceptible you tend to be to this type of condition. These illnesses can be extremely painful and debilitating.
What sort of ailments?
So what sort of ailments are we talking about ? Well, you yourself may well suffer from one of them. Or you almost certainly know someone who does. We are talking about conditions such as IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis and Gluten Intolerance.
IBS is a common disorder of the intestines, that leads to crampy pain, gassiness, bloating and changes in bowel habits. Some people have constipation. Some have diarrhoea. And some have both. It is a functional bowel disorder without evidence of disease. It does not cause intestinal bleeding or permanent harm to the intestines. It can however be extremely annoying and possibly debilitating. Going to the bathroom can be agonizing.
Crohn's Disease causes inflammation in the small intestine. This disease usually occurs in the lower part of the small intestine, but it can affect any part of the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus. The inflammation extends deep into the lining of the affected organ. This can cause pain and can make the intestines empty frequently, resulting in diarrhoea. It is what is known as an inflammatory bowel disease.
Ulcerative Colitis is yet another inflammatory bowel disease. It affects the large intestine - causing inflammation. ulcers and sores. The rectum and lower part of the colon, are usualy affected. Again - an extremely painful and unpleasant illness.
Gluten Intolerance has baffled the medical profession for years. What I have found in my own practice is that it is also a psychosomatic disorder. It often combines with other gastrointestinal conditions. And because it is usually triggered by Anxiety or stress – it lends itself to unravelling and healing through Hypnotherapy.
Because of the similarity of symptoms, it can be difficult to diagnose which specific ailment is involved. Another problem is that, whatever the diagnosis, the actual causes seem to remain a mystery to the medical profession. And the only treatments on offer, are a range of palliative drugs - which can sometimes reduce the pain and discomfort. It's worth bearing in mind that medication does not actually cure the condition. At best, all it can do is alleviate the symptoms.
The Stress connection!
And yet – most sufferers have themselves noticed the stress connection. When you are under pressure – the symptoms become dramatically worse! And indeed, most medical specialists will admit that there is a stress connection. Every client I have seen in my hypnotherapy practice (with IBS, Crohn’s, Colitis or Gluten Intolerance) had a stress or sensitivity problem of some kind. I will go further. In every single case – the actual underlying cause of the disorder was Stress !
And the solution was obvious and straightforward. The Mind/Body connection is painfully evident to the patient. To unravel the underlying causes of IBS, Crohn’s Disease, Colitis and Gluten Intolerance – you first have to enable the patient to heal or change mentally. After that – the Body itself begins to heal naturally too.
The answer lies in the Mind...
Why is it that the main thrust in medical care for these ailments, is the use of palliative drugs for the physical symptoms? Could it be that pharmaceutical companies are not too happy about funding research… which could highlight that Meditation, Biofeedback, Hypnotherapy and regular exercise offer a cheaper, and far more effective solution?
It is generally accepted by most medical practitioners, that 80% of all illnesses have a psychological component of some kind. In other words – what happens in your mind, can make you ill. This is especially true, when it comes to the various ailments which affect the digestive system. Surely it makes a lot more sense therefore, to seek a form of therapy, which triggers healing in that part of you, where the trouble begins...namely in the Mind ?
The beauty of the Hypnotherapy approach (when used creatively), is that it can trigger genuine mental healing and well-being - so that the Stress-factor is "de-activated". At the same time, it also triggers physical healing in your digestion system...so that it can work naturally, freely and painlessly again.
Copyright - Larry McMahon. All rights reserved - but feel free to copy this article, post it, quote it, think about it and forward it on to others. The only requirement is including the following footer with it...
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Weight Loss - how Hypnotherapy can help.
- Larry McMahon
Originally published in "Decision" magazine.
Have you ever looked at those old family snap-shots (I mean those tiny black & white ones from the 40s and 50s and earlier)... and noticed something interesting? When you look at these photos of your recent ancestors, the really remarkable thing is that all of your ancestors were thin! And why? Because they were hungry, and had to walk or cycle everywhere. Nowadays we all have cars, and spend hours sitting on our rear ends, watching telly. And we’re certainly not hungry anymore.
It is remarkable that almost every middle-aged individual in the developed world is overweight.
For most of our existence as a species, we humans were driven by hunger. As nomadic hunter-gatherers on the African Savannah – we were never sure where the next meal might come from. We had no natural weapons, such as claws or sharp teeth. But we did have highly-developed brains and the ability to hunt in packs, using our own hand-crafted weapons. Most of our brain-power and creativity was focussed on the single, all-encompassing problem of survival. You could say, that for the last 100,000 years, the central existential challenge for the Human race was – “Where’s the next meal coming from ?”
The Real Human Lifestyle
Imagine what it must have been like, living back then on the plains of Africa in a small nomadic tribal unit. The environment was harsh. There are still some small racial groups today (such as the Kalahari Bushmen) living a similar lifestyle. So you didn’t get to eat too often, back then. But whenever the hunting party managed to return with an animal “kill” – then it was party-time ! And the really smart thing to do then, was to gorge on the meat. In fact, the more you could stuff yourself the better. The more food you could store on board, in the form of fat, the better ! In this way, you might possibly survive until the next “kill”. This was especially true if you were an aged tribal member (that means over 35!). At that age, if you were still alive, you were already too old to keep up with the hunting party – and thus, past your sell-by date ! To survive – you needed fat, not muscle.
This basic survival lifestyle continued, when our ancestors moved northwards into the cold European climate. If anything, conditions were even harsher.
Old habits die hard
So here we are now (the same species, with the same bodies and brains) in the “post-industrial society”. And our central problem has at last been solved. Everyone reading this article has plenty of food. Your fridge and cupboards and supermarkets are bulging with food and drink. And therein lies another problem…….
Evolution hasn’t caught up yet with our dramatically altered lifestyle. We still have the same bodies and brains, as we had back then. And we still carry within us, the same genetic survival “programmes”. Have you ever noticed how hungry you get, when you go travelling ? You have a good breakfast before you leave for the airport. Then you get to the airport. It’s amazing how peckish you can get, just waiting for the plane. So maybe a couple of croissants and a coffee while you’re waiting. Then you tuck in to the in-flight meal. And when you reach your destination, then it’s time for a really proper meal, with all the trimmings. It’s amazing how travelling whets your appetite !
And yet, the reality is that you have been sitting, doing nothing for most of the journey. And you’re starving! It’s just another of those primeval genetic programmes kicking in. Back on the plains of Africa – when you went travelling, you really did need extra nourishment. It could take hours, or days in the blazing heat. So today – as soon as your Subconscious “knows” you’re travelling, it does exactly what it has done to your ancestors for hundreds and thousands of years !
And the solution?
We all know of course, that the reason we’re overweight, is we eat too much…and get too little exercise. Simple, isn’t it? And the solution? Well, what you can do of course, is take lots of exercise and go on a diet. But it’s not that easy…….
Most of us are just too busy to spend a couple of extra hours each day doing the necessary exercise. And if you go out walking or running…there’s all that car exhaust, plus the danger of being run over or mugged ! There is something pathetic about all of these gyms and leisure centres, which have sprung up to meet this very modern market need. As you peddle away on your exercise machine, you watch some inane on-screen video, your ears bombarded by high-volume rock music…while the sweat pours down your body getting into your eyes, and soaking your t-shirt and shorts. You might as well be back on the African savannah again!
Why diets don’t work
“Can you hypnotise me to stay on my diet?” This is the question I often get asked by clients. And I always have to answer – “No!” The problem with diets is that the Subconscious Mind almost always “sabotages” them. The Subconscious always wants what’s good for you. It does not want what’s bad. So how does it know the difference? Simple really….if it feels good, it’s good. If it feels bad, it’s bad. And let’s face it – most diets do feel bad ! And that is why they do not work. It’s also why, every year some American doctor invents a new “wonder-diet” – and writes a best-seller, based on it. Then the following year…yet another wonder diet best-seller appears.
The Hypnotic approach
The thing about Hypnotherapy is that everything must be “positive”. It works best, when the subject programmes him/herself to literally enjoy those types and amounts of food and drink, which are appropriate…and also enjoy those types and amounts of physical exercise, which are appropriate.
But the big problem, is what to do about that ancient, genetic, primeval gorging instinct, which once served us so well. An approach, which I find useful, is to get the Subconscious to “re-learn”. In other words – it can actually “learn” through suggestion, that there is plenty of food & drink available 24 hours a day….and that therefore, it is no longer so necessary to store so much on board in the form of fat!
Copyright © Larry McMahon. All rights reserved - but feel free to copy this article, post it, quote it, think about it and forward it on to others. The only requirement is including the following footer with it...
Article by LarryMcMahon. Visit www.larrymcmahon.com for more original content like this. Reprint permission granted with this footer included.
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That Creativity Spark!
- Larry McMahon
Originally published in "Decision" magazine.
Some years ago, I was invited to attend a conference on “Creativity” in Buffalo. I was really excited – already imagining all these incredibly creative types sharing some of their elusive genius with the rest of us. How disappointed I was, when I got there! The event turned out to be a (very large) gathering of consultants, peddling their wares + an even larger group of creativity academics. Yes – some U.S. universities actually have “Professors of Creativity”! Most of the conference presentations consisted of these academics reading papers on their latest attempts at analysing the creative process. This despite the fact that Creativity is the exact opposite of Analysis!
The Flash of Inspiration
Most of us are familiar with the “creative flash of inspiration”. You know the way it can happen. You have some important business problem to solve. You gather all the facts. You analyse them as best you can. But you find you are getting nowhere. So you put the problem to one side. You forget about it. Then later on…one evening you’re out walking the dog……..and suddenly out of nowhere…you get your flash of inspiration – your solution.
Your creative breakthrough seems to come “out of nowhere”. But of course, it has to come from somewhere. And the realm it comes from, is of course your own Unconscious Mind. Your Unconscious had been working quietly on the problem all along. And now it has delivered the solution. And all of this incredible creative process has occurred below your level of conscious awareness. No wonder that Creativity is a mystery!
The Mystery of Creativity
Just as the Unconscious Mind defies analysis – so too does the creative process. And yet that is exactly what so many “self-help” books and training courses try to do. They fail because they try to analyse creativity – and then provide systematic creativity techniques.
Mozart, Michelangelo, Henry Ford, Albert Einstein…..think of any number of creative geniuses. None of them ever studied creativity as such. They just did it. And yet their creative output was indeed phenomenal. So where does that leave the rest of us?
So, how does it happen?
Perhaps the most useful approach for most of us – is to forget about analysing and understanding it. Instead, we should accept it as a mystery and consider simply what can we do foster it? Because there are indeed certain preconditions which actually seem to spark the creative flame in most of us.
The most basic precondition of all, is that you need a challenge of some kind. Something needs to be done. Something has to get sorted out. Very few of us can be creative in a vacuum. That is why Arts Council grants are generally a waste of taxpayers’ money. Paying an artist to “be creative” is not a good idea. Paying him to paint a picture is.
Limitations
And here is a paradox. The more limitations or constraints we have, the more creative we seem to become. So if your challenge is to increase your company’s profitability by 10% in one year….but with a reduced sales force…a very limited budget…. and out-of-date technology ….and a major competitor moving into your market….you probably will deliver! The funny thing is, that if you have the same challenge with none of the above constraints – you probably won’t deliver. So in a way, maybe we should welcome these very limitations. They are after all preconditions which somehow energise us to excel.
The Deadline Scenario
One precondition we are all familiar with of course, is time. Have you ever noticed the following type of scenario? You have a major assignment to complete. Let’s say it’s a research project. It has to be completed in six months’ time. And the results and recommendations must be presented to the Board by a certain date. Have you ever noticed that you find yourself doing most of the work, preparing your presentation the night before – right up against the deadline? Yet you had a whole six months to do all this ! Why leave it to the last minute? Your spouse gives out to you. You even give out to yourself!
Well, I’m afraid that’s just one of the quirks of creativity. You see – the Creative Part of your unconscious mind already knows you have six months to play with. And it wants to use all of that available time to facilitate all the necessary “permutations & combinations” going on in your unconscious – for as long as possible. That is why – if you do sit down to finish off that report three weeks earlier….you find there’s nothing there. It’s called “Writers’ Block”. The Creative Part of your unconscious actually sabotages any attempt on your part, not to use the available time to the maximum.
That is also why, when you do sit down the night before the deadline, the stuff just seems to flow out of you…almost like it had been sitting there all along. Poets will often refer to sitting down to write a poem…which then flows out, almost like it had been written already in their unconscious, just waiting to pop out. Mozart himself referred to this phenomenon in a letter to his sister. And when it comes to creativity, he is one guy we have to respect. He produced two world-class musical masterpieces every month – before his untimely death at 35, leaving an incredible output behind him. He described composing as if each masterpiece was already “complete in his mind” before writing it down.
Expect Success!
One other precondition is expectancy. What this means is that whatever challenges are thrown your way…you simply expect to solve them. This can seem like a sort of “arrogance” sometimes to others. A classic example is the way many chief executives make creative decisions. When asked, he/she will often say;- “The way I make decisions is…I ride my hunch….Sometimes I get it wrong…but usually I’m right!” The more you respect your unconscious – the more it delivers. And this is especially true for the Creative Part of your Unconscious. So….the more you expect to deliver creative solutions – the more you will!!
Copyright - Larry McMahon. All rights reserved - but feel free to copy this article, post it, quote it, think about it and forward it on to others. The only requirement is including the following footer with it...
Article by LarryMcMahon. Visit www.larrymcmahon.com for more original content like this. Reprint permission granted with this footer included.
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Have you a Phobia?
- Larry McMahon
Originally published in "Decision" magazine.
Imagine you’re back again, as a little baby – say two years old. You’re playing quietly by yourself, as children do. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, you’re attacked by a dog! It’s barking savagely, baring its teeth, snarling. You scream with terror! Luckily, a watchful adult steps in to save you. But how does this incident get recorded in your infant brain?
Remember that you are at the “pre-intellectual” stage of your development. So you can’t rationalise or explain this shock occurrence. What often happens in this instant – is that a “phobia-programme” gets installed in your infant / unconscious mind. The programme is quite simple – and goes as follows…. “Whenever a dog appears – experience & demonstrate terror!” It is worth bearing in mind, that this programme is actually a life-saving programme. Based on the data available to your infant brain – this could after all be a wild animal! And if the original feeling of terror is strong enough – the programme gets stuck.
It can take over your life!
Years later, as a mature adult, the Dog-Phobia-Programme continues to operate. Every time you see a dog, you get a panic attack. Eventually this phobia can take over your life. You become afraid of even going out for a walk ... because you never know when a dog might appear around the corner! And because the original scare happened so long ago, in early childhood, you can’t even remember or understand why you’re so frightened.
As a mature intelligent adult, you also know (with the conscious, thinking part of your mind) that most dogs are basically harmless. And that is what makes the whole thing so embarrassing. A phobia is an overwhelming, panic-driven survival programme – wired into your infant unconscious mind. And that is why it will always override the mere intellectual meanderings of the conscious mind.
The above, is a description of how a typical phobia gets installed. Although, in fairness not all phobias (or irrational fears) start this way. But in most cases, the fear is fixated on a particular object or happening. In fact some phobias can seem quite reasonable. Like, a dog really could bite you! Or people who suffer from a Fear of Flying, know that a plane really could crash!
Irrational Fears
But what about phobias which are triggered by genuinely harmless stimuli? Think about mice, spiders, open spaces (Agoraphobia), enclosed spaces (Claustrophobia), butterflies, thunder, cats, being seen by others. These are just some of the phobias I come across, in my practice, as a hypnotherapist. “Being seen by others” or Social Phobia is very common. If you know someone who totally avoids social gatherings of any kind – he / she may be suffering from this inhibiting condition. The people who suffer from phobias like this, are usually very intelligent people, and often quite successful in other aspects of their lives. As one client (a successful businesswoman) who suffered from Thunder-Phobia put it to me; - “If I was told I had terminal cancer – I would prefer it to living like this!” The fear may be irrational – but the fear is real!
Can you genetically inherit a Phobia?
Some phobias are particularly puzzling however. Take Snake-Phobia for example. Some people freak out whenever they see a snake on television. Yet there are no snakes in this part of the world. So it couldn’t really be caused by a childhood trauma. Or people who suffer from an extreme fear of crossing over water – even though they grew up miles away from the nearest river. It raises the question – can we perhaps inherit a genetic pre-disposition to a specific phobia? After all many of our ancestors on the plains of Africa, would have had a solid, practical reason to be afraid of snakes and spiders. Perhaps those of our ancestors who feared snakes most, tended to outlive their more careless neighbours – and thus reproduce their genes more often? It is interesting that most of us (while not being phobic about it) nevertheless regard snakes as loathsome to look at. Satan, in Christian mythology, is often depicted as a snake too!
Many of my own clients tell me that the phobia they suffer from, also affects one or more other members of their family. They often imagine that they must have "learned" the phobia from a parent. But it is at least as likely, that the phobia was "inherited".
Milder Phobias
Generally however, most really strong phobias are learned before the age of four. Milder phobias are usually learned in later childhood. In my own case for instance, I attended a particular primary school in Drumcondra - St. Patrick's National School. It's still there, attached to the teacher training college. In those days, the teaching method used by many of my teachers was to beat each child savagely, nearly every day. I soon discovered that it didn’t matter whether you did your homework conscientiously or not. You got beaten anyway. Being a smart kid, I soon learned to be terrified of teachers. It made sense. The more terrified you were – the less frequent the sadistic beatings. Years later as a working adult however I still carried a residual fear of authority figures (i.e.bosses). It took years to work itself out of my system.
Can Stress trigger a Phobia?
Apparently yes. Especially in the middle years - if you happen to be in a stressful situation for a year or so - a phobia can kick in out of nowhere. One client of mine, developed a Fear of Flying. The odd thing was, that he had actually enjoyed flying for years previously. He was energetically expanding his business, at the time - flying all over Europe. It was as if the Flying Phobia switched on, in order to slow him down. He hadn't consciously realised just how much stress he was under, at the time.
Face the Fear!
Another client mine suffered from Arachnophobia (fear of spiders). She thought that she might cure it, by “facing the fear”. So she made a point of studying everything she could find out about spiders. In fact, she became a sort of expert on the subject. In her researches, she discovered that there was a really dangerous spider in Australia (the deadly Red-Back) which can actually kill (unlike its harmless Irish cousins). So she went specially to Australia...to face the fear. Anyway – I’m afraid she came back from her trip worse than ever!
The Solution...
The most productive way I find to deal with phobias in Hypnotherapy, is to start by acknowledging that the “Phobia-Programme” itself, has a positive intention. It is after all trying to save your life (as it understands it). But that understanding is wired into your unconscious infant mind. What is possible in hypnosis, is to tell the Phobia-Programme what it didn’t know about spiders all those years ago. Once this “grown-up” data is accepted by the Phobia-Programme….once it realises that your life is no longer in danger….it simply switches off!
Copyright - Larry McMahon. All rights reserved - but feel free to copy this article, post it, quote it, think about it and forward it on to others. The only requirement is including the following footer with it...
Article by LarryMcMahon. Visit larrymcmahon.com for more original content like this. Reprint permission granted with this footer included.
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A Bit of a Drink Problem...
- Larry McMahon
Originally published in "Decision" magazine.
“Am I an Alcoholic?... or just a social drinker?” How often have you asked yourself this question? Alcohol (unlike Nicotine) is not inherently addictive. Indeed, it is true, that for most people, alcohol is a positive “quality of life” element. But sadly...for a minority of drinkers – it becomes a compulsive and life-wrecking addiction.
It seems there are three ways of becoming an Alcoholic...
If you're depressed...
The first way is, if you suffer from Depression, and use alcohol as your own self-administered medication. You could say that this is yet another Irish solution to an Irish problem. A significant number of the regular customers of every bar, fall into this category. But Drink, as an anti-depressant, is very deceptive!
Initially Drink seems to help – especially if the depression takes the form of a social phobia. Alcohol helps the depressive to feel more relaxed (and less depressed). And the more he drinks – the more relaxed he feels. But unfortunately the “cure” is worse than the illness. The subsequent hangovers are especially bad – and make the depression even worse ... thus driving the individual to drink again, as the only form of relief. And so the vicious cycle continues in an ever downward spiral.
Maybe it's in your Genes...
The second route into Alcoholism, is through Genetics. If you happen to inherit a genetic tendency towards Alcoholism, it can be a real trap. It does seem to be the case that alcoholism can run in certain families. Full marks to those individuals who spot this in their own families – and decide to take evasive action. If you see how booze can ruin so many lives within your own family tree, it can be a very wise decision to abstain totally.
Getting into the habit...
The third way to become a habitual drunk, is through sheer habit & quantity. This one can kick in, if you happen to be in the kind of job where a lot of drink happens to be available. So, if you’re a journalist, a diplomat, a P.R. executive or a barman….watch out! Also in this category, is the special Irish phenomenon of a regular drink with “the lads”. Of course, some drinkers have all three of the above factors working against them!
Binge Drinking
Binge Drinking seems to be a characteristic we share with other Northern Europeans, like the Scots, Scandinavians and Russians. Is climate perhaps a possible cause? In Ireland (especially in the West) we have the ritual of week-end drinking. Young men deliberately and systematically drink themselves senseless – every week-end. This is followed by a gigantic hangover for two or three days. They usually don’t turn up for work on the Monday. Then – towards the end of the week, they slowly recover ... only to hit the bottle again on the Friday night.
And these are young men, who (anywhere else in the world) should really be out chasing women. What a sad spectacle they make! And, to make matters worse, their conduct is tolerated or condoned by neighbours and friends. The sheer quantity of booze is almost unbelievable. One of my clients (a successfully reformed alcoholic) told me that in his prime he drank twenty pints of Guinness + ten brandies…every day for a whole year! I asked him how he got the money to finance this level of drinking. He told me with remarkable candour ; - “I earned it, I borrowed it & I stole it!”
Rock Bottom
Alcohol affects the functioning of the brain. So the Alcoholic cannot think clearly. All he can really focus on, is the next drink! That is why so many Alcoholics never even try to come off the drink. And those few who do, are often shocked into it…when they hit rock bottom ... or get involved in a car crash where they kill another human being. The “wise” alcoholics are those few, who see the danger before things get too bad.
The AA can help...
For them, Alcoholics Anonymous is the usual refuge. The A.A. approach makes sense in many ways. First the Alcoholic is socially pressurised in the group. He (or she) has to introduce himself to the others ... “Hello! I’m Larry…and I’m an alcoholic!” And so the famous “12-step” process continues – with the group of peer alcoholics offering each other mutual support, in their slow struggle back to rejoin the rest of the human race. The truly reformed Alcoholic, can never drink again!
As with all addictions, self-degradation is at the heart of alcoholism. That is why the A.A. rightly emphasise the spiritual side of this healing process. Maybe it’s more a case of redemption than healing! The reformed alcoholic (AA style) continues to fight the urge – one day at a time – sometimes for the rest of his life.
What about those “Drying Out Centres”?
If you go to one of these Rehab centres, you sign up for 4 weeks or more, of intensive group and individual therapy. These centres are usually residential. And of course, no alcohol is allowed! They are also very expensive!
But does this treatment work? Unfortunately, the results are not encouraging. Most of these centres do not reveal their "success rates". And yet this very expensive treatment is recommended by the medical profession – and usually even covered by medical insurance! The setting in these centres implicitly encourages smoking – thus effectively displacing one addiction (Alcohol) with a far more powerful one (Nicotine). Many people emerge from this form of therapy, still hooked on Alcohol – but now smoking more than ever as well!
This whole approach was developed originally by the Hazelden Centre in Minnesota, founded in 1949. They originated the 12-Step Approach, sometimes known as “The Minnesota Model”, which has now become the standard treatment, copied by centres around the world.
And yet ... even this leading edge centre can only claim a 53% success rate, 12 months after treatment. Click here for details.
But Hypnotherapy is better
Unfortunately all too many reformed alcoholics fall by the wayside. Both the A.A. approach and the Minnesota Model can be so difficult. They both depend after all ultimately on sheer will-power. One weakness of these therapies, is that no solution is provided to cope with the actual chemical reality of addiction. In fact the chemistry of alcohol addiction is not well-understood. Alcohol can insinuate itself into the very chemistry of the brain itself.
Now it’s not that the Alcoholic needs yet another drug to be-fuddle his brain. It’s just that (in most alcohol treatment centres) the power of the Mind itself, to re-generate and create its own internal cure, is not fully developed.
Here is how Hypnotherapy can be so effective - when operated creatively. It can tackle all three of the possible causes, at the same time. The underlying Depression can be unravelled and healed. The Genetic Tendency can be counter-acted. The chemical dependency relationship can be neutralised.
What I have found in my own practice, is that Hypnotherapy has an 80% success rate. That's right. Eight out of ten of my clients are still off the drink, one year later! So yes - the Unconscious Mind can be re-programmed – so that “not drinking” becomes actually more enjoyable than “drinking”. As a result, the reformed alcoholic actually finds it easy ... to dry out ... and stay that way permanently!
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Noises in my Head! - how Hypnotherapy can help.
- Larry McMahon
Originally published in "Decision" magazine.
I’ve been meeting quite a few clients over the years, who suffer from a form of illness – which most other people don’t really notice. But the people who suffer, certainly do know about it! It consists of an intolerable level of non-stop noise, inside their own heads! Because this type of illness is “silent” to the world at large, it seems to go unnoticed. But there does seem to be a lot of it about.
The two most common afflictions are Tinnitus and Meniere’s Disease. To add to the distress of sufferers, most medical specialists seem to know little about the underlying mechanisms or original causes – and, to make things worse, they have no cure for it !
With Tinnitus, there is a constant noise in one, or both ears. Sometimes it’s two separate noises – one in each ear. These noises can be high or low pitch.
One theory is that the tiny vibrating fibres (or hairs) in the inner ear, get damaged. As a result they transmit garbled signals to that part of the brain, which manages the hearing process. However, for most of us, these micro fibres get damaged anyway, as part of the natural aging process - but without causing Tinnitus!
So another (more likely) theory, is that the cause lies deeper in the brain - in that part which converts vibrations into recogniseable sounds inside the brain. The cause can be shock, caused by exposure to extra-loud noise and/or psychological shock.
Meniere’s Disease sometimes includes Tinnitus symptoms. But there is also an uncomfortable sensation of fullness in the area of the ears. As well as this, the sufferer has debilitating bouts of Vertigo (dizziness) and nausea.
What causes the illness ?
When a client comes to see me, I am always interested in what was going on in his/her life just before the condition started. It nearly always provides clues to the causes. Ironically (according to my clients) hearing specialists rarely seem to pursue this approach. They are only interested in how the ailment “presents”.
In my own practice, I find that for some people, the problem was indeed triggered by loud external noise – such as an explosion or continuous exposure to noisy industrial machinery, artillery fire or rock music.
Some clients may even have inherited a genetic predisposition to either Tinnitus or Meniere's.
However – for many clients the problem seemed to kick in as a response to stress. Many patients will attest that the intensity of the internal noise levels, do indeed vary with stress levels. So why aren’t the experts interested? I know I am. Both Tinnitus and Meniere’s Disease can be psycho-somatic. This is good news inasmuch as all psycho-somatic conditions are amenable to Hypnotherapy.
Other conditions, such as Dental Problems or Lockjaw, have also been known to trigger Tinnitus. Even the loud noise levels in a MRI Scan, can be a cause.
The Stress Connection.
When the "Mind / Body System" is under stress (physical or mental or both) it can go into spasm. Each of us is affected differently by Stress. Some people get it in the back. The back muscles seize up or go into spasm. This can eventually settle into a chronic (permanent) back pain condition. But the pain gets even worse thereafter, whenever the person is stressed out. In this sense it can act like a "warning signal".
Other people get it in the digestion system. They get Diarrhoea. This can degenerate into a painful Irritable Bowel Syndrome condition. It is there all the time - but can get even worse, whenever Stress appears.
And then for others, the hearing system is the vulnerable area. That complex system within the inner ear and brain..... whereby sounds are received and processed and register in the brain. This complex system can come under extreme physical stress, when exposed to loud noise (explosions, artillery fire, rock music, industrial noise etc). But for others, the stress can be psychological (the shock of hearing bad news, like a bereavement etc). And if this stress goes on for long enough, it can settle into a continuous Tinnitus noise. This can also act like a "warning signal" thereafter - increasing in volume, whenever you might be exposed to loud noise.
Medical Solutions?
Unfortunately, this is one area where the Medical Professions have little to offer. Here is what the Health Service Executive (H.S.E.) has to say - "However, in most cases of tinnitus, there is no cure and so treatment is aimed at managing the symptom on a day-to-day basis. Staff at specialist tinnitus clinics can give you information about tinnitus, and help you develop a strategy to manage it more effectively".
How Hypnotherapy can help.
Hypnotherapy is a technique for talking directly to the Unconscious Mind. Your Unconscious controls and operates just about everything that goes on in the Mind/Body system. And that includes the complex hearing system inside your head. Tinnitus switches on by itself. And the good news is it can also switch off. When Hypnotherapy is used skillfully, it can be a method for doing just that ! If it is possible for an individual to heal naturally from Tinnitus, then Hypnotherapy can be an ideal way to trigger such a process.
The same is true for Meniere's Disease. In this case, the fluid levels in the inner ear are affected - causing a full feeling in the head, vertigo and nausea. But again - it switches on by itself. It can also switch off.
This whole process can be like a very complicated negotiation. Letting the Unconscious know that the original stressors will not recur - and asking it to bring about changes within the complex hearing system - so that the Tinnitus noise no longer registers in the brain. With Meniere's - we are asking the Unconscious to regulate fluid production in the inner ear.
These changes are usually physical. In other words, the healing changes triggered, can involve brain chemistry, electrical signalling patterns within the brain and brain neurology.
If however, these "physical" changes prove impossible, Hypnotherapy can help in two other ways. The noise is still there - but somehow no longer registers in the brain (a bit like the way anasthesia deals with physical pain). Or the noise is still there (and heard) but no longer triggers the same mental anguish).
Noise Pollution.
Most readers will be aware of the levels of noise pollution in modern society. We are blasted by loud noises in restaurants, cinemas, fitness centres, shops. Next time you’re at a wedding reception, try asking the band to turn down the volume – and notice the blank look you get! The band members are probably already deaf, or have Tinnitus themselves! As for rock concerts and discos….forget it!
Many middle-aged parents, desperate to escape the noise volumes in their own home, buy an IPhone for their teenage offspring. Of course the kid can now blast his ear-drums with mega-decibels from then on. As a result, many 18 year-olds have the hearing levels of people in their 70s! And the damage is permanent. The higher and lower frequency ranges can no longer be heard. However, they can still hear conversation, in the middle ranges. So the hearing defect is usually not spotted until years later. And on top of that – they are now susceptible to Tinnitus also!
Musicians face a special Danger!
My daughter Katie was the original “lead singer” with the "Riverdance" show. She had a great time, touring the world with the show, for a number of years. However, as a professional singer – she also had to take care of her hearing. Like the other professional musicians, she always wore earplugs on stage. But “what about the audience?” you might well ask!
As proud parents, my wife and I attended the show many times, in different parts of the world. We also had to stuff our ears with bits of dampened tissue paper…in order to be able to actually hear Bill Whelan's wonderful music, free of distortion. I don’t know what other members of the audience did. They were mostly middle-aged folks and young children. I do know however, that the Riverdance management received many complaints from the public, about the noise level. These complaints were ignored. Unfortunately, the people who operate the sound systems in cinemas, theatres and music venues, already have impaired hearing levels themselves – thanks to their continuous exposure to loud rock music etc. So they are incapable of making accurate judgements on appropriate sound levels for the public.
We attended Riverdance when it played in Hollywood. All the big stars and celebrities were there. One night, during the interval, Jack Nicholson tentatively approached the sound man at the back of the theatre, and asked “Hey guys, could you just turn down the sound a teenchy-weenchy bit?” Our bold Irish sound engineer looked the big Hollywood star straight in the eye, and said in his best Dublin accent ... “No!”
One of my recent Tinnitus clients is a German rock musician. He plays the drums! He tells me that there is a special residential clinic somewhere in Germany, full of clapped-out rock musicians. They are all suffering the most excruciating aural agonies with Tinnitus. And sadly, they have no cure available for them. He also tells me that nowadays, all rock musicians wear heavy duty ear-plugs. So now they are really free to deafen the audience! I guess the sheer noise level masks the total lack of musicality!
The problem with modern noise pollution, is that it either causes deafness or Tinnitus directly…….or pre-disposes you later in life to develop these ailments when under stress. Stress always goes for the “weakest link in the chain”.
What can we do?
So what can we do to protect ourselves? Well, this unashameadly paranoid “grumpy old man” has taken certain steps…….. I keep well away from pop concerts. The last one I went to was Paul Simon in the RDS. I had to flee with a ringing sound in my ears! I have since read that Paul Simon himself now suffers from Tinnitus !
The odd time I’m invited to a wedding – I leave before the music starts. I click onto the “mute” button when the commercial breaks come on the telly (Haven’t you noticed that RTE Radio & Television actually increase the volume level for the ads?) I’ve given up going to the cinema altogether. As for those modern noise abominations…discos and rock concerts – the less said the better! And whenever I find myself waiting in my car for the traffic-lights to go green ... and I hear that unmistakeable “thump-thump” racket coming from the car beside me......!
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The Anorexia / Bulimia Puzzle.
- Larry McMahon
Originally published in "Decision" magazine.
Most doctors would classify Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia, as belonging to the “Depression” family of illnesses. However most people suffering from Depression know that they are ill – and actively want to be healed. The real puzzle about Bulimics and Anorexics is that they seem to actively and wilfully cause or contribute to their own sickness. Many of them do not seem to want to heal. In fact, they actively resist medical intervention! It’s their unfortunate relatives (especially their mothers) who drag them around the country, from specialist to specialist – desperately seeking a cure. But then, it’s very hard to cure someone, who doesn’t want to be cured!
Some just want to stay the way they are.
Many internet surfers have been horrified on coming across so-called “Pro-Anorexia” websites. Some Anorexics and Bulimics were setting up their own personal websites and chat-lines, in order to promote their “lifestyle”. They would exchange tips with each other on how to make yourself vomit etc. They also put their pin-up photos online. These would be really disgusting photos of themselves in bikinis – like skeletons in bikinis! They were in fact showing off and boasting to each other online – about how skinny they were (ribs showing, breasts shrivelled etc), and how they were managing to outwit “the enemy”. Fortunately most responsible internet service providers have now closed down these websites.
Strange Symptoms.
Anorexia and Bulimia have overlapping symptoms. But the symptoms are really strange. Some or all of the circumstances below are typical of these bizarre and tragic conditions.
Low self-esteem, verging on self-disgust and self-hatred is usually part of the package. Some Anorexics also mutilate themselves with blades or fire. Many unfortunately succeed in killing themselves through starvation or suicide. Sufferers are invariably female – between 14 and 30 years old.
A general obsession about food and eating and a fear of eating or being “full”. They systematically starve themselves. Paradoxically they often enjoy cooking or baking for other people!
An inner compulsion to control their intake of food. This “control” thing is the central characteristic of the illness. Whenever they eat or binge, they are then compelled to punish themselves by forced vomiting. Another form of self-punishment or control, is to engage in excessive physical exercise.
The “control” thing can also manifest itself in other aspects of their lives. They are often very neat in appearance and have beautiful copperplate handwriting ! The late Dr Milton Erickson coined the term “Little Miss Perfect” to capture the essence of the Anorexic. They are also obsessively orderly, in the way they organise the rigid routines of their strange "lifestyle". They are also usually very intelligent and strong-willed.
Another common characteristic, is a very close relationship with the mother. This relationship can be tempestuous. It can be loving or hostile – but very close nonetheless.
Anorexia can also be infectious, in a weird sort of way. Say a new girl joins a class of girls in secondary school. But she is anorexic. Pretty soon the teacher can notice five or six other girls starting to lose weight! It’s a sort of “copy-cat” effect. The other girls admire the skeletal newcomer – how she seems so in control of her body. They want to be like her. In the old days, this sort of phenomenon in girls’ schools, was called “Hysteria”. In this context, ballet schools can be particularly dangerous. Some schools actually teach their pupils to make themselves vomit, after meals – so they stay nice and skinny!
A minority of anorexics and bulimics come from a dysfunctional family background – the sort of childhood that might trigger Depression in later life anyway. However, it should be said that, Anorexia is more likely to be a cause than an effect of family dysfunctionality. Having an Anorexic in the family, can be totally disruptive of normal family life!
And then of course, there’s the question of self-image. When an Anorexic looks at herself in the mirror, she is either quite pleased by what she sees – or else, she thinks she’s too fat. The rest of the world thinks she looks like a hideously starved skeleton. But her own self-image is “real” to her! At some deep level, the Anorexic seems to want to "stay small" and not become a woman.
What are the causes?
So what triggers this very strange and tragic illness? Well, the popular reason given, is all those skinny fashion models pouting at us from almost every page of every magazine & newspaper.
Well, consider this account by Richard Morton in England in 1686, describing a 20-year old young woman.....
“ . . . like a Skeleton only clad with skin, yet there was no fever, but on the contrary a Coldness of the whole Body . . . Only her Appetite was diminished, and Digestion uneasy, with Fainting Fitts, (sic) which did frequently return upon her.”
So it would appear that Anorexia Nervosa pre-dates Christian Dior and Karl Lagerfeld! Perhaps it was just less noticeable in previous centuries….when most people were skinny anyway (albeit involuntarily). In famine situations, an Anorexic in the family was probably not seen as a particular problem!
The "Control" Fixation.
The main clue to the real cause of Anorexia and Bulimia lies in the peculiar obsession with “control”. The Anorexic actually feels good when she controls her food intake and starves. Think about that – she actually feels good! Conversely, she feels bad (and punishes herself) when she “over-eats”. Based on the Pleasure Principle – that’s why Anorexia resists a “cure”.
The Bulimic exercises control through vomiting. First she "gorges" - then she forces herself to vomit. While vomiting itself is very unpleasant, for the Bulimic, there can be a sense of relief afterwards.
But where did this peculiar distortion of the Pleasure Principle originate? Where did this strange response get learned? One possible area is infancy or early childhood. As a baby, your whole focus is on food. That’s what life is all about, in those early months and years. And of course, that’s when you’re really learning – faster than you’ll ever learn in later life.
Changes from breast-feeding to bottle-feeding, or from liquids to solids can be traumatic for an infant. If there is friction or anger in the parental relationship, or if the mother is emotionally upset – that only adds to the trauma for the infant. Perhaps the infant desperately needs to “control” his/her situation. And food is what life is all about anyway, at that stage. So in some strange infantile pre-logical way…..the baby “learns” to gain some form of “control” over the surrounding chaos … through controlling her eating and food intake.
For the anorexic or bulimic to heal – she may need to “unlearn” any such early learning. This is best done through Hypnotherapy. But first, she needs to actually decide that she wants to heal. And that is the heart of the problem. By definition, the condition itself militates against its own destruction!
Some Differences
Every patient is different, and requires a unique, tailor-made approach. Some individuals are pure Bulimic or pure Anorexic. Other patients combine elements of both conditions e.g. self-starvation and forced vomiting.
Anorexia is a visible affliction. Everybody (apart from the sufferer) can see how skeletal she looks.
Bulimia however is invisible. The sufferer can look outwardly healthy, with a normal body weight. By her appearance, who would have guessed that the late Princess Diana was bulimic? Some Bulimics manage to conceal their affliction from both family and friends.
In my own practice however, I have noticed that (compared to Anorexics) Bulimics are more likely to acknowledge that they do "have a problem". They are more likely to seek help.
Where the problem lies
The world at large considers both Bulimia and Anorexia as diseases. However the perceived reality for the patient, may be entirely different.
The main disease for the patient is in fact Depression. For the Bulimia patient - the Bulimia behaviour pattern is actually her "therapy" for this illness - giving her some temporary relief from her mental torture. For the Anorexic also - the anorexic behaviour pattern is her solution or "therapy" for the real underlying mental pain of Depression.
In order to be able to help - the therapist first needs to acknowledge and go along with this perceived reality. The real problem is always Depression. This horrific illness underpins both Anorexia and Bulimia. When the Depression is healed, Bulimia and Anorexia can fade away. They are no longer needed.
Brain Chemistry
Bulimia and Anorexia usually start in early adolescsnce. This is a period of dramatic change - both physical and mental. The physical changes are there, for all to see - as the girl changes into a woman, or the boy changes into a man. The mental changes are also evident in the mood swings, enthusiasm and intolerance of the teenager! We need to realise that the brain is still developing during puberty.
Another possibility is that, during this extremely complex growth phase, a "glitch" occurs somewhere in the vast internal labyrinth of the brain. Perhaps this glitch then triggers the bizarre behaviour patterns of Anorexia or Bulimia? Some anorexics, for example, seem to want to retain their slim (pre-puberty) body shape. They do not want to "grow up". If this is the case - the brain needs to heal itself. Again Hypnotherapy is perhaps the best way to activate internal self-healing in the brain.
But then - we are back to Free Will again. This is the real conundrum of both Anorexia and Bulimia. You can only heal yourself, if you actually want to heal! Ony then can Hypnotherapy operate at its most effective.
Copyright - Larry McMahon. All rights reserved - but feel free to copy this article, post it, quote it, think about it and forward it on to others. The only requirement is including the following footer with it...
Article by LarryMcMahon. Visit www.larrymcmahon.com for more original content like this. Reprint permission granted with this footer included.
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Why are other people so scary?
- Larry McMahon
Originally published in "Decision" magazine.
A client came to see me recently, with a chronic stammering problem. He stammered continuously in every conversation. As far as he could remember, he had always had this problem. Fortunately he was still able to run a successful business – thanks to e-mail.
It was quite difficult for him to explain all this to me, because of the speech impediment. He said it was just not possible for him to talk – without a stammer. Then I had an idea. I told him I would leave the room for five minutes. But while I was away out of the room, I asked him to talk out loud, continuously, until I came back. He agreed. He was astonished to discover that he actually could talk totally without a stammer!
Of course, once I returned to the room – his stammer immediately kicked back in! As soon as he knew that another member of the human race was in the room, he could not stop stammering.
People who suffer from a chronic blushing problem, react in a similar manner. Except, for them the problem response is triggered by other people paying visual attention to them. As soon as the blusher knows another person is looking at him or her – the blush switches on. Yet paradoxically, the same blusher cannot actually blush in the dark – or in a darkened room. Once the blusher knows he can’t be seen clearly, the blushing response de-activates. In fact one blusher I know, handles his problem by wearing dark glasses all the time. For him – once he knows his eyes can’t be seen, the blushing stops. Could this perhaps be one reason why so many celebrities and rock stars wear sunglasses?
All eyes on You!
Most readers of this article have neither a stammering nor a blushing problem. However, many readers will be all-too-familiar with the panic response that kicks in – whenever they are asked to do some public speaking. Once you know you are being looked at, by all those people out there in the audience…… the heart starts pounding….the palms get sweaty…..the throat tightens up.....
Why is it so scary? What is it about being paid attention to by other people, that can make us so afraid? Ironically, many people spend their entire lives, craving a bit of attention – and thoroughly enjoying it on the all-too-rare occasions when it happens!
It is easy to understand someone having a phobia about dogs or flying or even water. After all, a dog could bite you - a plane could crash- you could drown if you fall overboard. But….. why have a phobia about people?………after all, they can’t bite…or can they?
Social Phobia
Social Phobia is a more common condition than you might imagine. Next time you’re in a crowded church, notice the people sitting near the door. That’s where people with Social Phobia invariably sit – so they can make a quick getaway, if it all gets too much for them. Think of the friends you have, who never go to parties or receptions or weddings. The panic response is generally stronger in formal settings, or where the “other people” are seen as high status individuals.
What causes this Panic Response?
But how does this particular phobia get installed? Where and how can an individual learn to be afraid of other people? Early childhood is one likely setting. When the young child is already of a sensitive disposition, he or she is predisposed to be afraid anyway. All it takes then, is for the infant to be in a situation where he or she is already afraid – and then to be exposed to other people at the same time. Other people then somehow get “wired in” with the total experience. In time “Other People” can become the automatic trigger for the panic response.
There are so many possibilities for this sort of learning to occur in very early childhood. Think what it must be like, for a new-born infant who has to remain in an incubator – or endure much-needed surgery. Or imagine the trauma for a child given up for adoption. First she loses her own natural mother, when she needs her most. Then in whichever institution it may be, perhaps she bonds with a substitute “mother” in the staff. She then loses that mother, when she is transferred to a foster-mother. She then loses that “mother” also. By the time she arrives in her final adoptive home, she may have suffered two or more “bereavements”. Whenever the child is suffering, or feeling bad, and people are involved – this type of “learning” can take place.
One of my clients was a senior partner in an accounting practice. As part of his job, he had to attend frequent receptions. You know the sort of gathering – usually in a hotel meeting room – with everyone standing around in their suits, chatting away, and clutching their gin & tonics. He used to dread these all-too-frequent occasions – and could never understand why he felt so uncomfortable and panicky. Sometimes, in the middle of one of these gatherings, he would literally have to dash from the room – heading straight for the men’s room, to throw up!
We happened to find out how it all started, many years previously as a young boy. It was on his first day at school! He was already feeling bad anyway, because he was away from his mother for the first time ever. He was crying, as youngsters often do. And there he was, in that crowded schoolroom – surrounded by lots of strangers, babbling away. The bad feeling was actually caused by the absence of the mother. But in his childish unconscious mind, it got linked with crowds of talking strangers in an enclosed space. From then on, it was the crowds that triggered the problem!
One shudders to think about those unfortunate terrified youngsters trapped in that school gym in Beslan – and the horrors that ensued. Beslan is a town in North Ossetia, Russia. On 1st September 2004, a group of heavily armed Islamic terrorists stormed an elementary school. They held pupils, teachers and parents hostage. Two days later, armed soldiers attacked the school in an attempt to free the hostages. 334 civilians were massacred, including 186 children.
But what about the unfortunate survivors? That was their first day back at school. What have they learned, at an unconscious level? How will they cope for the rest of their lives? How will they feel in crowded spaces, from now on? How many have been traumatized? How many will suffer from Social Anxiety for the rest of their lives?
How can Social Anxiety be cured?
When Hypnotherapy is used with real skill, the sufferer can literally "re-programme" his/her Unconscious Mind. In this way, he/she has a totally different automatic response to social situations. So instead of feeling fear or terror, the person automatically feels good - and starts to enjoy social encounters in all sorts of new ways. It triggers a total lifestyle change.
Copyright - Larry McMahon. All rights reserved - but feel free to copy this article, post it, quote it, think about it and forward it on to others. The only requirement is including the following footer with it...
Article by LarryMcMahon. Visit www.larrymcmahon.com for more original content like this. Reprint permission granted with this footer included.
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