Military Concerns

For the past 2 or 3 years, I have been working with military families and active service members.

Some join the military for a job.
Most join for a career.
Military members face all the problems that non-military face, and then some. Being in the military means you move every 2 or 3 years. You can be deployed at any time, in the army this means that you will relocate to a war zone for 15 or 18 months. You can be deployed numerous times.

The stress for military members and their families is very high. This is worsened by the fact that many service members and military spouses are still teenagers, or in their early 20s.

How do you reduce stress while in the military?
Right now the Department of Defense is offering Mindfulness training. I think this will be very helpful. I also find hypnosis can be very effective.

Remember Me?

Another study shows that stress interferes with short-term memory.

I just read a great article with some memory tips by Jane Thurnell-Read:


http://www.healthandgoodness.com/article/improve-memory.html

She also has some stress reduction tips. I recommend daily self-hypnosis and/or meditation for stress reduction.

Memory can be enhanced with hypnosis. Learning, the acquisition of new knowledge and esperience can be accellerated with hypnosis.

How to Stay on Top

How does one stay on top of things? Many if not all of my clients seem to suffer from too-busy-syndrome. No one talks about stress anymore. It is just an accepted part of life. You’re alive. You have a job (or 2 or 3) and you have stress. No one wants to reduce stress. Stress is the new status symbol. The more stress you have, the more important you are.

But in my research I have found that it is desirable to have a way to manage stress. Yes, every life is stressful. Even good things like weddings and births stress us. Even imagined things like worrying about getting laid off exert stress on us. Stress may be necessary to motivate us. If we never felt hunger, we would never bother to hunt for food. But too much stress causes memory loss, irritability and physical illness. We know it causes anxiety attacks and even heart attacks. So how do we find that balance between stress that motivates us and stress that kills?

I think self-hypnosis is the best way. It is something you can do every day, as many times per day as necessary, and it’s relatively inexpensive. You don’t need any special equipment and the risk of injury is low. You can learn it quickly and easily. And if done every day, you receive all the benefits of the relaxation response. You will sleep better, concentrate more easily, have more patience, and improve your physiology. Practicing self-hypnosis just 10 minutes per day can lower your blood pressure, if high. It raises your frustration tolerance, which means that you feel more calm and in-control, even in traffic. That means less Road Rage!

So it is a good idea to stay on top of your stress level. Top of the morning to you!

Creativity

Where does inspiration come from?
You first have to gain knowledge and experience in a field, so you can recognize a good idea when you encounter one. Mozart said, “when I am alone, as in riding in a carriage, that is when inspiration comes. Whence it comes I know not nor can I force it.” So one of the most creative people of all time says he must be relaxed, and that creativity cannot be forced. This is true according to the research I did a few years ago for my presentation, creative hypnosis. I found a list of things that can stimulate creativity, but not force it.
First, Walking. Walking is good for you, especially outside in the fresh air. News Flash: Fresh air is good for your brain! Walking on the beach is best, but an unpaved path will do. According to the Chinese, walking on uneven terrain balances the yin and yang energies of the body. So walking can stimulate creativity by getting oxygen to the blood, circulating your blood, balancing your energy, and hey, you never know what you may trip over or encounter along the way.
They say listening to Bach is good, but I’m sure Mozart would do.
Watch a sunset. Read a book. [Avoid Television. Television does not evoke creativity.] These methods are all stress reducers. Stress is the enemy of creativity. So you have to learn healthy ways to relax, and reduce stress.

And who are the stress reduction experts? Hypnotherapists or hypnotists, of course!

If you experience a creative block and cannot overcome it on your own by any of the previously mentioned methods, consult with your favorite hypnotist. If you need to find a hypnotist, contact the National Guild of Hypnotists, the largest organization of hypnotists in the world, with hypnotists in 65 countries. You’re right, we should change the name to The International Guild of Hypnotists.

Don't change!

People can’t change. I hear this all the time. Mostly from people who want other people in their life to change. It is frustrating, but we can’t change others.

I also hear this from people who have difficulty breaking a habit. They sigh heavily and say, it’s no use, people can’t change.

The funny thing is, that I see people change all the time! And I can point this out to a friend or client who says, I’ll never quit --- (blank). When I tell them people quit every day! Surely you know someone who has quit?! How did they do it? There are many ways and maybe you just have to try something else. Keep going until you succeed. The only way you can fail is to give up. See “Perseverence” article.

That's why I love hypnosis. People change old habits and old beliefs and find better ways to handle stress, which is the cause of a lot of destructive habits. I enjoy teaching people self-hypnosis so they can reduce stress naturally, without drugs, and in just a few minutes each day!

Weighty Issues

Weighty issues

I read an article Sunday that asserted that the relationship between stress and weight gain is stronger than we thought. It’s not only that people eat more during times of stress. And is there someone out there who does not experience stress during the “holiday season?” A recent study has revealed that mice under stress gain extra weight even if their calorie intake is the same as the mice without stress. So even if you do not eat more, you may gain weight!! That is true! Think about the skinnies you know who eat so much more than the chubbies you know. IT’S NOT THE CALORIES!!!

Another study showed that if premature babies are given the same amount of formula at every feeding, the ones who are physically touched more often gain more weight in the same amount of time. This is a desirable thing for premature babies. It means that Touch, not Food was the significant factor in development.

Stress causes fat cells to grow and multiply regardless of calorie intake. And this fat usually is stored around the waist, which is the most dangerous place for it to be, since it increases the risk of heart disease and other medical conditions.

Exercise lowers the hormones associated with stress. So does relaxation. So does hypnosis. Self-hypnosis done on a regular basis, at least once per day, has the following benefits:

Physiological changes such as decreased metabolism, heart rate, and breathing rate, in addition to distinctively slower brain waves.
Emotional changes such as feelings of calm and a decrease in anxiety.
Behavioral changes such as better sleep, more energy and improved concentration are also reported.

I have read about some studies which show that relaxation, such as hypnosis or meditation, can be used to lower blood pressure when done twice daily (for only 15 minutes)!