A New Me! What's wrong with the old me?

Every January seems to be the time to think about new starts, new me, new habits and so on. But is the old me really so bad?

One of the kindest things we can do, is to actually like ourselves. Some people find that harder than others. It's very easy to give a compliment, but can you receive a compliment so easily? Sometimes, something, deep down, inside is instilled within, programmed almost to dislike what we feel or what we look like. And it doesn't need to be something we have consciously put there either. These feelings have a way of creeping up on us and before we know it they are squatting within our subconscious mind, taking up valuable space. There is a saying, a song even, "You don't know what you've got till it's gone". (Shows age!)But there is some truth in it. And even the negativity we store up about ourselves, the dislike of our shape or size, the sadness, the anxiety; sometimes we don't know just what we have had until it's gone. But in some cases gone is good! Gone can mean freedom from unwanted thoughts and feelings, constraints and behaviour. And yes, sometimes we don't know what a psychological weight we have been carrying around, until it's gone! So perhaps before we go seeking a 'new me', we should perhaps, check out the 'old me' and learn to love all over again. Maggie. Senior therapist. Bee Yourself Hypnotherapy.

New Year - New You

Once again the festivities are over and we wonder what lies in store for us this year. Will it be better? Will it be happier? Will I eventually lose / gain weight? Will it be different? Will this be the year I stop smoking? I suppose the main question is, do we want it to be different? If so, how do we do that? One thing about a new year, it does offer a new start, a time to think and re-think what we really want out of life. And the trick is not just to decide what we really want, but to actually get out there and go for it! That takes courage and sometimes we may need to turn to someone to talk to; to talk things through with; to bounce off of; and help us to increase the confidence levels to take that next step. Many of us also face sadness at this time of year. Losing friends and loved ones is difficult at any time of year, but over the festive period those emotions can becomes magnified as well as carrying on into every festive celebration from now on. So new starts with promises of change and improvement are often tinged with dark clouds drifting around us. For some they can get too close for comfort. Whatever your new start is to be, whatever resolution you promised yourself and whatever thoughts and memories you take into 2013, may it prove to be all you hope for. So here's to change; to good health, to absent friends & family and supporting each other through this New Year ahead. Maggie. Therapist. Bee Yourself Hypnotherapy. www.beeyourself-hypnotherapy.co.uk

Christmas is coming!

Yes Christmas is coming, complete with all the joy, excitement, family time, sharing and fun. Sounds just like Christmas in the movies doesn't it. I'm certainly dreaming of a white Christmas this year because that's what we have been told to expect here. Perhaps I should change my introduction to look forward to all the stresses & strains, pressures of finding money you don't have, coping with memories of absent friends or simply wondering where the energy will come from to cope with the whole process!

Many of us spend hours on end trying to think off something different from the usual Christmas present. What can we buy someone which is useful and yet unique? Hypnotherapy can provide relief from of life's constraints and unwanted habits or behaviour. At Bee Yourself Hypnotherapy we are now selling Christmas gift vouchers which can be purchased for any treatment be it #StopSmoking, #WeightLoss, #GastricBanding or simply for pampering and #Relaxation. What better gift!

Call now to order yours. Payment and orders can be taken over the phone by credit and debit cards. Make this Christmas a relaxing one for someone.

Best wishes to all for the forthcoming season. May it be a good one! Maggie. Senior therapist. www.beeyourself-hypnotherapy.co.uk

How stressed are you?

Stress can be likened to a silent epidemic causing all sorts of physical, mental and emotional conditions in our lives. Quite often, stress is never identified as the root cause and literally gets away with murder. Much is being said on the news about the over prescribing of anti-depressants at the moment. Many people simply cannot function without them. And yes, they can help in cases of stress & anxiety. Please note I said 'help' and not 'cure'. It can almost feel like the quick and easiest method of damping down the symptoms which is always very welcome indeed. The symptoms and side effects produced by stress can indeed become debilitating. But I believe, that until we start to tackle the cause of the stress and develop strategies to target this, we might as well continue to gently blow the flames rather than extinguish the fire.

Sometimes it helps to talk to someone about what exactly is happening in our lives. We certainly live life at some pace and for reasons unknown to man, it is now expected of us to function at this pace. The busier you are, the more you do, the more expected of you, the more you are meant to do; but was this how we were designed to function? I think not. Otherwise why do our blood vessels react to keep us under control? Why do we stretch our digestive systems to the limit? Why do we struggle to sleep? Why do we become so short tempered over the smallest of things? Why do we become so forgetful? Why worry? Why worry indeed! All these bodily reactions are in response to stress in our lives. The brain is preparing us to fight or run for our lives. Don't get me wrong; if we ever being chased for our lives that is a very helpful state to get into! But within our every days lives, it becomes unhelpful and even downright dangerous to our health and well-being.

So is there an antidote to stress; one that does not involve ingesting chemicals? Yes there is: The perfect antidote to stress is relaxation.......... Relaxation is something we don't do nearly enough of; until of course we are forced to in response to something interfering with our health. But why wait until it gets to that stage. There are many ways to relax and unwind. The hardest is all to often to start of with.......finding time for you. Once you find that time use it well. Guard and protect it. Cherish it! Whether you spend an hour at a time soaking in bubbles by candle light, spending undisturbed time getting into a good book, standing in the garden or on the beach and taking in the most beautiful deep breaths along with the beautiful scenery.....now that is great to reduce your heart rate and blood pressure! But for those who need help to relax, help to unwind, help to fight the negative effects of stress on the body, there's always hypnotherapy. It's an amazing way to relax and charge the batteries. Jack Dee likens it to popping in for a massage to the mind. I love that description. In fact, I couldn't put it any better myself! Maggie. Senior therapist. Bee Yourself Hypnotherapy. 8th November 2012.

#Stoptober

Stoptober is the NHS's stop~smoking~in~October campaign. Are you thinking about quitting? Are you one of those smokers who thinks, yes, they would love to stop, but deep down you just feel as though you can't? Well this is probably a good time to take that forward. You have lots of company, lots of support and encouragement and lots of good reasons to give it up now and some good resources at your beck and call.

Am I a smoker? The answer is no.
Was I a smoker? The answer is yes.
Did I need help to quit? Oh yes indeed!
What method helped me? Hypnotherapy.




So can hypnotherapy help me to stop smoking?

If you really want to do something, but feel as though you really can't manage it on your own, then hypnotherapy may the route to your success. It usually takes one session and you stop. And any professional, clinical hypnotherapist, will, if you feel you require a second session within a month, provide that for free! They should be as keen as you are to help you stop smoking.

Can hypnotherapy make me stop smoking?

Now that is a different question altogether. One of the myths of hypnotherapy is that a hypnotherapist can take over your mind or make you do things. Wrong on both counts. If a client came to me and said that they were told to come because loved ones are concerned that they stop smoking; but they really enjoy the cigs and really don't want to quit; in that case I have to advise them that they are wasting their money. Nobody has that power over another person and for that reason a reputable therapist is never allowed to issue a guarantee.  It's enshrined within their 'code of conduct' for a good reason. For more information on that and how to check that your hypnotherapist is qualified and registered, go to the CNHC website and search at www.cnhc.org.uk

Of course there are many resources out there to help you stop smoking. There are support groups, nicotine replacement patches...chewing gums etc etc. And many of these work for a lot of people and they are to be commended and encouraged whichever route they choose.

For me, I chose hypnotherapy to stop using nicotine and not replace it with another form of the drug. And one of my concerns was of course the risk of gaining weight. And many people do! The coating of tar gradually leaves your tongue and you can taste food and enjoy eating more. Many substitute a cigarette for a snack and really believe that it helps to keep the weight off. But at what risk to your health? And I have to say, at one point, I had mastered both (smoking & eating).

With hypnotherapy your fears and concerns should be listened to by the therapist prior to your session. The first part where you discuss you, should take some time to ensure this is really personal for you and your concerns taken on board. I lost weight when I stopped smoking for that very reason.

So if you have managed to stop, either on your own or with some support, well done!

And if you are thinking about quitting and feel that this is time for you to do it, good luck, I wish you well!

Maggie.

Bee Yourself Hypnotherapy

What's the difference between hypnotist & hypnotherapist?

The short answer is of course, Therapist. Last year the profession of hypnotherapy became registered (voluntary at first) and regulated by the Complimentary & Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC). One of the reasons for this was to allow the public to differentiate between a hypnotist and a hypnotherapist. To become a hypnotherapist now and get on to the register, you must be qualified, insured to practice and evidence that your knowledge is up to date.

Does this mean hypnotists are bad? Certainly not! Hypnotists provide us with great entertainment. Some of us love watching the stage shows and the expertise these guys have. Some of us even enjoy getting up to the stage and joining in the fun. And others are more inclined to stay rooted in the audience and watch from a distance (guilty!)

The process of taking someone into hypnosis is a fairly simple and relaxing one. If the hypnotist has not managed to get you on to the stage, it's because you really didn't want to go there. That's the basic rule in hypnotherapy too. Anyone can be hypnotised if they really want to. There are of course some medical exceptions such as paranoia, but the basic rule is you can if you want to. When someone visits a therapist such as a hypnotherapist, they are seeking help with a particular issue. People seldom attend for therapy and resist hypnosis. You remain in control the whole time and a therapist certainly cannot take over your mind! But it is essential that there is trust between you and your therapist. You need to know that in order to uphold their professional status, your therapist is not allowed to do the stage entertainment stuff and must at all times keep your personal details confidential at all times. So the therapy clinic should feel safe, friendly and helpful. But the key in success is certainly to choose the right therapist for you. If you can develop trust in your therapist you are already on your way to where you want to get to. And never feel e embarrassed to ask to ask if a therapist is qualified, registered and insured. And the evidence should be there to see on your first visit. Maggie.

Senior therapist with;

www.beeyourself-hypnotherapy.co.uk

Is Therapy for me?

Therapies come in all shapes and sizes, as do therapists and people who seek therapy. As a qualified hypnotherapist I love trying all sorts of therapies, some for relaxation and some as a treat for some 'me time'. But there are other times in our lives when certain issues or thoughts start to come to our attention more than we would like them to. At other times issues can cause us to change our behaviour and habits without us even realising. It's at these times when therapy becomes less of a luxury and more of a necessity. I once was very privileged to attend a workshop in London led by Naomi Fell, the American psychologist who published her research and conclusions on Validation Therapy. Its purpose was to train staff in the skills to understand what people with dementia were trying to convey when their usual powers of communication were interrupted with the illness. Dementia is a cruel illness which robs people of their intellect. Occasionally they can become upset, almost disturbed and out of character. As if they are re-living an experience. Validation therapists are trained to go into the experience with them and guide them safely to a conclusion. Although it can be a frightening experience for the person and I have to say, for the therapist as well sometimes, they can find a peace afterwards that is hard to quantify. Almost a relief. It is finished! So why am I rambling on about Naomi Fell and her Validation theory? Well her research led her to believe that, we do, throughout our lives, lock issues away deep in our subconscious minds. And often that's the best place for them. But, and here's the rub, her evidence demonstrated that at some point, it will come back to the forefront of our minds or our conscious mind as we refer to it. And when it does, we are forced to deal with it because of the effect it has on us and our day to day lives. And although her therapy was geared towards helping people with dementia cope with these recurring thoughts and problems, her advice was for us all. Her recommendation? Deal with issues when you can and while you are still able to. Because some day, you might not be as able, but they will rear their heads. Maggie Senior therapist Bee Yourself Hypnotherapy