Hyped Up
Creative Artwork: Flora Pilkington
We chat to two hypnotherapists about how to improve your family’s quality of life and mental well-being in stressful times. First up, Dorset based hypnotherapist Trevor Bedford shares his expertise.
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he quality of our lives can be seen in terms of our circumstances, our thoughts and our genetics. Sometimes we can change circumstances to improve our lives. When we cannot change circumstances, then we need to change how we think. Genetics determine the pre-disposition to being happy. Corona virus puts us all in a situation where we have little or no control over circumstances, so this leaves our thoughts as the variable we can control. Rumination - as in repetitive negative thoughts - is known to be the biggest cause of anxiety and depression. The reason for this is that our brain functions in many ways like a computer, what we input is processed and the output is determined by the input. That means our thoughts, imagined or real is the input. What we think, determines the chemicals our brain produces to help us cope with any situation. The difference between anxiety and excitement can be very small, however the chemicals produced are very different. Take for example two people taking a flight. The first cannot wait to go on holiday, it’s going to be great. At the airport they look forward to the flight, the peace, movies and the general anticipation of the adventure they are
starting. Everything they have imagined is real and positive. Their brain produces happy chemicals and they feel excited. The second dreads going on the flight the minute they hear they are going on holiday. They tell all their friends and constantly repeat their fears. At the airport, they see the plane, they see the thin outer layer of the plane that is going to fly at 600 miles an hour at 30,000 feet, with closed doors and filled with highly flammable fuel. That is just dangerous, their brain produces the chemicals needed to cope with danger. Everything they have imagined is also real, but negative. They feel fear. Both parties are in the same situation, the way they think about it changes how they feel and behave. The input is different, therefore, the output is different. The first gets on, relaxed and calm. When they hit turbulence, which is normal, they get scared and probably do not enjoy the sensation, however, they cope. The second person is already in their fight, flight or freeze mode, negative stress chemicals produced and in a high state of anxiety. When they hit turbulence, they can no longer cope. What we think controls the chemicals in our bodies, in turn controls how we feel. How we feel results in how we behave.
Self−Hypnosis Guide Preparation
Plan what you are trying to achieve. This can be a very specific objective – to do an hour’s exercise and look forward to it. It could be a very general objective – to wake feeling good, confident and calm. You can write down exactly what you want to achieve, record it or just think about it. Once you know what you want this session to focus on make sure you are in a safe place and have the intention to go into hypnosis.
Hypnosis
Many people like to start by breathing 7/11. Breath in
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How do we change our ruminative thoughts – which produce negative stress chemicals - to more productive ones that produce happy chemicals? • Imagination Learning to take active control of our thoughts means becoming cognitively aware of your thoughts, as in recognising when you are constantly worrying or having fearful thoughts about the corona virus. Taking control of your thoughts takes practise and gets easier the more you do it. I like to start by using breathing techniques, like 7/11. Breath in through your nose counting to 7, imagining cool, relaxing air filling your lungs with oxygen and energy, breath out through your mouth counting to 11, imagining
counting to 7, imagining cool, relaxing air filling your lungs with oxygen and energy, breath out counting to 11, imagining breathing out all the worries, troubles, pains and fears. Expelling all the carbon dioxide and poisons, emptying your lungs. Repeat three or four times so you can start the hypnosis in a calm and relaxed state of mind. Close your eyes. Then relax yourself, start at the top of your head and imagine all your muscles relaxing, ending at your toes. There are many induction protocols you can use, they focus on you telling yourself in different ways that you are relaxed and calm. This can take five minutes. Keep telling yourself you are relaxed and calm, and it starts to happen. Just relax and enjoy the peace for a while before allowing yourself to go deeper.
