Part 4: Harnessing the Power of Mindset: Stop Smoking Now with Help from Hypnotherapy

In 2021 the doctor told Karen’s husband that if he wanted to live for a few more years, he had to make some significant changes in his eating and lifestyle.  That was all Karen needed to hear.  She revamped their eating, changing to homecooked, organic ingredient meals.  They started walking every night.  There was only one more hurdle – she had been a heavy smoker for 35 years.  She had tried to quite smoking before, she wanted to be a good example for her grandsons whom she watched 3 days a week.  She called me, explained the situation and asked if I could help.  Absolutely, I said and we started to work on her smoking.  I used the 3 session protocol I always use:  #1 Get ready to quit and pick a quit date, #2 Quit and #3 Seal in that she will never smoke again. I am happy to report that after three years, Karen is still smoke-free.

This final installment of the mindset series explores the transformative journey of smoking cessation and how hypnotherapy can provide invaluable support in breaking free from nicotine addiction.

Understanding Smoking Cessation Goals: Smoking cessation goals are centered around ending the harmful habit of tobacco use and achieving lasting freedom from nicotine addiction. The most common reasons that people cite to stop smoking include:

1. Health Improvement: Quitting smoking is one of the most significant steps you can take to improve your health and reduce the risk of smoking-related diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and respiratory conditions.

2. Enhanced Quality of Life: Breaking free from nicotine addiction can lead to improvements in physical fitness, energy levels, and overall well-being, enhancing your quality of life and longevity.

3. Financial Savings: Smoking cessation can result in substantial financial savings over time, as you no longer need to spend money on cigarettes or related healthcare costs.

4. Improved Social Relationships: Quitting smoking can lead to improved social interactions and relationships, as you no longer have to worry about the social stigma associated with smoking or exposing others to secondhand smoke.

5. Role Modeling for Others: Quitting smoking can serve as a positive example for friends, family members, and loved ones, inspiring them to prioritize their health and well-being.

The Smoking Cessation Mindset and the Mind-Body Connection:

Your mindset plays a crucial role in your ability to successfully quit smoking and maintain abstinence long-term. Through the mind-body connection, your thoughts, beliefs, and emotions can either support or hinder progress towards your smoking cessation goal. Here are the characteristic attitudes/beliefs associated with negative and positive smoking cessation mindsets:

Negative Smoking Cessation Mindset:

1. Fear of Withdrawal Symptoms: Anticipating withdrawal symptoms such as cravings, irritability, and anxiety, leading to avoidance of quitting or relapse.

2. Self-Doubt and Lack of Confidence: Doubting your ability to quit smoking successfully or maintain abstinence long-term, leading to self-sabotage and relapse.

3. Identification with Smoking Identity: Viewing smoking as an integral part of your identity or coping mechanism, making it challenging to envision life without cigarettes.

4. Negative Self-Talk: Engaging in negative self-talk or self-criticism related to past quit attempts or perceived lack of willpower, undermining motivation and resilience.

5. Social and Environmental Triggers: You feel triggered to smoke in social situations or environments associated with smoking, increasing your vulnerability to relapse.

Positive Smoking Cessation Mindset:

1. Commitment to Health and Well-Being:  You prioritize your health and well-being as primary motivators for quitting smoking and you embrace a proactive approach to self-care and longevity.

2. Belief in Personal Agency: Believing in your ability to quit smoking successfully and overcome challenges fosters confidence and determination.

3. Reframing Smoking Narratives: You challenge the narrative that smoking is pleasurable or beneficial and understand that cigarettes are toxic substances that undermine health and vitality.

4. Social Support and Accountability: You accept support from friends, family, or support groups and hold yourself accountable for your no smoking goal, fostering a sense of community and encouragement.

5. Celebrating Milestones and Progress: You celebrate milestones and progress along the quit journey, reinforcing motivation and resilience in the face of challenges.

Hypnotherapy for Smoking Cessation Mindset Transformation:

Hypnotherapy offers a unique approach to transforming the smoking cessation mindset, addressing underlying beliefs and emotions that may be perpetuating nicotine addiction. Through techniques such as relaxation, visualization, and suggestion, hypnotherapy can help you to:

• Reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with nicotine dependence.

• Overcome limiting beliefs and negative thought patterns related to smoking cessation.

• Reinforce positive motivations and intentions for quitting smoking.

• Develop coping strategies for managing triggers, stress, and emotional cravings.

• Cultivate a deep-seated commitment to health and well-being, paving the way for long-term smoking cessation success.

Summary:

By harnessing the power of the subconscious mind, hypnotherapy empowers you to break free from the grip of nicotine addiction and embrace a smoke-free lifestyle.

Working together with your hypnotherapist using proven, researched based hypnotherapy techniques in a series of hypnosis and counseling sessions, you can discover/clarify your general physical health mindset and specific beliefs and concerns about your current smoking habits, establish and prioritize your no smoking goals, envision the thoughts, feelings and activities of an updated mindset that supports your goals, craft customized personal affirmations in alignment with your updated mindset, and  establish a daily affirmations and gratitude practice that reinforces your mindset, celebrates progress and propels you toward successful achievement of our your specific np smoking goal.

If you are considering working with me as your hypnotherapist, I am available for a free 30 minute consultation for new clients. Please call me at 818-929-4944 or go to cindaroffman.com to book a free consultation.

Sincerely,

Cinda

HypnoNews and Resources

 For a more detailed article that asks questions like why is it so hard to stop smoking, please see the following:

https://www.mindsethealth.com/matter/stop-smoking-hypnosis

Part 3: Harnessing the Power of Mindset: Better Sleep with Help from Hypnotherapy

Most adults have had a sleepless night or a ‘didn’t sleep well last night’ experience at one time or another. This experience can be simply a passing annoyance. However, for some of you, frequent or chronic insomnia can be a debilitating problem with significant mental and physical health implications.

Juanita had done an excellent job of training herself to get by on 3 (yes, 3!) hours of sleep a night.  She was a young mother, working part time and going to school.  She literally believed that she had no time to sleep.  10 years later, her son (and now daughter as well) were 8 and 10 and she wanted to sleep more and better.  Could I help? Of course I could.

First of all, we talked about her goals and how important getting a better night’s sleep was to her.  She felt that at her age, she needed more sleep.  Her goal was 7-8 hours a night.  The first thing we did was come up with a set of affirmations changing her mindset about sleep.  Instead of “I won’t be able to sleep more than 3 hours tonight,” we changed her self-talk to “I easily get 8 hours of sleep every night.”  In hypnosis, she was really relaxed for the first time in a long time.  I encouraged her to listen to the recording of her hypnosis session as she was falling asleep so she would be very relaxed.  Each time she listened to the recording she reinforced that feeling of complete relaxation.  Soon, she was sleeping 7-8 hours every night.

After your first few hypnotherapy sessions, you may also feel like you have had a ‘good night’s sleep’ for the first time in weeks, months, or even years. You fell asleep easily, slept through the night, and woke up in the morning feeling alert and refreshed.

This third installment of the series explores the critical role of mindset in achieving better sleep and how hypnotherapy can be a transformative tool in overcoming sleep-related challenges.

Understanding Sleep Goals:

Quality sleep is essential for overall health and well-being, yet many individuals struggle with sleep-related issues. The five most common reasons people set sleep goals are:

1. Improved Health and Vitality: Adequate sleep is crucial for physical and mental health, supporting immune function, cognitive performance, and emotional well-being.

2. Enhanced Productivity and Performance: Quality sleep promotes alertness, concentration, and productivity, facilitating success in work, school, and daily activities.

3. Stress Reduction and Relaxation: Deep, restorative sleep helps you reduce stress levels, promote relaxation, and recharge your body and mind for the day ahead.

4. Emotional Regulation: Sleep plays a vital role in emotional regulation, helping you manage mood swings, irritability, and emotional reactivity.

5. Disease Prevention: Chronic sleep deprivation has been linked to an increased risk of various health conditions, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and depression.

The Sleep Mindset and the Mind-Body Connection:

Your mindset profoundly influences your sleep quality and patterns. Through the mind-body connection, your thoughts, beliefs, and emotions can impact sleep onset, duration, and overall sleep quality. Here are the attitudes/beliefs associated with negative and positive sleep mindsets:

Negative Sleep Mindset:

1. Catastrophic Thinking: You dwell on worst-case scenarios or potential sleep disturbances, leading to anxiety and heightened arousal.

2. Sleep Avoidance Behaviors: You engage in activities that disrupt sleep, such as excessive screen time, caffeine consumption, or irregular sleep schedules.

3. Hyperarousal: Heightened vigilance or arousal before bedtime, makes it difficult for you to relax and fall asleep.

4. Clock Watching: Obsessively monitoring the clock and calculating how much sleep you will get, leading to increased stress and sleep disturbance.

5. Daytime Sleep Anxiety: You worry about the consequences of poor sleep or feeling anxious about not getting enough rest, perpetuating a cycle of sleep-related stress.

Positive Sleep Mindset:

1. Relaxation and Acceptance: You embrace relaxation techniques and accept sleep variability, letting go of perfectionism and sleep-related worries.

2. Establishing Sleep Hygiene: You prioritize sleep hygiene practices including a consistent sleep schedule, a relaxing bedtime routine, and a comfortable sleep environment.

3. Mindfulness and Present Moment Awareness: You learn and practice ways  to stay present and grounded, reducing pre-sleep rumination and anxiety.

4. Trust in the Body's Ability to Sleep: You are confident in your body's natural ability to regulate sleep and restore balance, fostering a sense of ease and trust in the sleep process.

5. Gratitude and Positive Outlook: You practice gratitude and focus on positive aspects of the day, promoting relaxation and emotional well-being conducive to restful sleep.

Hypnotherapy for Sleep Mindset Transformation:

Hypnotherapy offers a unique approach to transforming your sleep mindset, addressing underlying beliefs and emotions that may be contributing to sleep-related challenges. Through techniques such as guided imagery, progressive relaxation, and hypnotic suggestion, hypnotherapy can help you:

• Reduce pre-sleep anxiety and hyperarousal.

• Cultivate a calm and relaxed state conducive to sleep onset.

• Overcome sleep-related fears and negative thought patterns.

• Enhance sleep quality and duration through subconscious reprogramming.

• Develop healthy sleep habits and routines to support long-term sleep success.

Summary:

By harnessing the power of the subconscious mind, hypnotherapy empowers you to align your mindset with your sleep goals, paving the way for restorative and rejuvenating sleep.

Working together with your hypnotherapist using proven hypnotherapy techniques in a series of hypnosis and counseling sessions, you can discover/clarify your general sleep health mindset and specific beliefs and concerns about your current sleep hygiene, establish and prioritize your sleep goals, envision the thoughts, feelings and activities of an updated mindset that supports your goals, craft customized personal affirmations in alignment with your updated sleep mindset, and  establish a daily affirmations and gratitude practice that reinforces your mindset, celebrates progress and propels you toward successful achievement of our your specific sleep goals.

If you are considering working with me as your hypnotherapist, I am available for a free 30 minute consultation for new clients. Please call me at 818-929-4944 or go to cindaroffman.com to book a free consultation.

Stay tuned for Part 4: Harnessing the Power of Mindset: Stop Smoking Now with Help from Hypnotherapy, where we turn our focus to smoking cessation goals and explore how hypnotherapy can support you in breaking free from nicotine addiction and you can delve into the transformative potential of mindset in achieving smoking cessation with the help of hypnotherapy.

Sincerely,

Cinda

HypnoNews and Resources

One man’s personal, post pandemic story that you might relate to:

I Tried Everything to Cure My Insomnia. This Is What Finally Worked.

 https://www.yogajournal.com/lifestyle/hypnosis-for-insomnia/

For the research minded:

Hypnosis Intervention Effects on Sleep Outcomes: A Systematic Review

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5786848/

Part 2: Harnessing the Power of Mindset: Achieving Weight Loss Goals with Hypnotherapy

The first time I tried hypnotherapy, I was desperate.  I had tried everything to lose weight after the birth of my third child.  Nothing worked.  A friend told me about hypnotherapy and I thought, “Why not?”  After explaining about how hypnotherapy worked and asking me about my goals, the kind and gentle hypnotherapist told me to relax in his big, overstuffed recliner.  I don’t remember much else about the session.

When I got home and started to make dinner that night, there was a definite shift in my mindset.  I knew I wanted to eat healthier and wasn’t tempted by the chicken nuggets and grilled cheese I made for the children.  The next morning, I woke up early and got dressed to go walking.  As I was tying my shoes, I realized that there had been a definite shift in my thoughts.  I was hooked.  I continued hypnotherapy for a while, lost 15 lbs. and was healthier all around because of my walking.

Can hypnotherapy help you change your mindset, eating and exercise habits to support reaching your health and weight loss goals? Definitely, that’s what it is all about.

Weight loss goals are among the most common health objectives you may strive to achieve. This segment of the series explores the intricate relationship between mindset and weight loss, and how hypnotherapy can be a powerful tool in supporting you on your weight loss journey.

Understanding Weight Loss Goals:

Weight loss goals vary in nature and scope, ranging from short-term objectives to long-term lifestyle changes. Common reasons for setting weight loss goals include:

• Health Improvement: You may seek to lose weight to improve overall health, manage chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension, or reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

• Appearance Enhancement: Weight loss goals are often motivated by a desire to enhance physical appearance, boost self-esteem, and feel more confident in your body.

• Fitness and Performance: You may set weight loss goals to enhance athletic performance, increase stamina, or achieve specific fitness milestones.

• Disease Prevention: Weight loss can play a crucial role in preventing obesity-related health conditions such as joint pain, sleep apnea, and certain cancers.

The Weight Loss Mindset and the Mind-Body Connection:

Your weight loss mindset plays a pivotal role in determining your success in achieving weight loss goals. Through the mind-body connection, your thoughts, beliefs, and emotions (mindset) can either support or hinder progress towards your weight loss objectives. Here are some attitudes/beliefs associated with negative and positive weight loss mindsets:

Negative Weight Loss Mindset:

• All-or-Nothing Thinking: Believing that any deviation from a strict diet or exercise regimen constitutes failure, leading to feelings of guilt and self-sabotage.

• Self-Criticism and Shame: Engaging in negative self-talk and self-criticism based on perceived body flaws or past weight loss failures.

• External Validation: Seeking validation and approval from others based on physical appearance, leading to a reliance on external factors for self-worth.

• Fear of Failure: Anticipating failure or setbacks before embarking on a weight loss journey, leading to avoidance of challenges and opportunities for growth.

• Lack of Self-Efficacy: Doubting your ability to make lasting changes and achieve weight loss goals, undermining motivation and commitment.

Positive Weight Loss Mindset:

• Self-Compassion and Acceptance: Practicing self-compassion and acceptance of your body, embracing the journey towards health and well-being without judgment.

• Goal Orientation: Focusing on specific, achievable goals and milestones, celebrating your progress rather than fixating on perfection.

• Intrinsic Motivation: Finding inner motivation and satisfaction in the process of improving health and well-being, independent of external validation.

• Resilience and Adaptability: Embracing setbacks as opportunities for learning and growth, maintaining a positive outlook in the face of challenges.

• Self-Efficacy and Empowerment: Cultivating a belief in your ability to make meaningful changes, taking ownership of your health and well-being journey.

Hypnotherapy for Weight Loss Mindset Transformation:

Hypnotherapy offers a unique approach to transforming the weight loss mindset, addressing underlying beliefs and emotions that may be impeding progress. Through techniques such as guided imagery, cognitive restructuring, and positive suggestion, hypnotherapy can help you:

• Overcome limiting beliefs and self-sabotaging thought patterns.

• Cultivate a positive and empowered mindset towards diet, nutrition, exercise and weight loss.

• Enhance your motivation and commitment to healthy lifestyle changes.

• Develop coping strategies for managing cravings, emotional eating, and stress.

• Establish a supportive internal dialogue and self-care practices to sustain your long-term success.

Summary:

By harnessing the power of the subconscious mind, hypnotherapy empowers you to align your mindset with your weight loss goals, paving the way for sustainable health and well-being.

Working together with your hypnotherapist using proven hypnotherapy techniques in a series of hypnosis and counseling sessions, you can discover/clarify your general physical health mindset and specific beliefs and concerns about your current weight, establish and prioritize your weight loss goals, envision the thoughts, feelings and activities of an updated mindset that supports your goals, craft customized personal affirmations in alignment with your updated weight loss mindset, and  establish a daily affirmations and gratitude practice that reinforces your mindset, celebrates progress and propels you toward successful achievement of our your specific wealth loss goals.

If you are considering working with me as your hypnotherapist, I am available for a free 30 minute consultation for new clients. Please call me at 818-929-4944 or go to cindaroffman.com to book a free consultation.

Stay tuned for Part 3: Harnessing the Power of Mindset: Better Sleep with Help from Hypnotherapy, where we shift our focus to the importance of quality sleep in achieving optimal physical health and explore how hypnotherapy can support individuals in overcoming sleep-related challenges. Join us as we delve into the transformative potential of mindset in achieving better sleep with the help of hypnotherapy..

Sincerely,

CInda

HypnoNews and Resources

For an excellent article about one person’s weight loss journey and her successful experience with hypnotherapy after all else failed to help her reach her goals, please see the following:

https://clarity-hypnosis.com/hypnosis-thing-thats-helped-lose-weight/

Part 1: Harnessing the Power of Mindset: Transforming Your Physical Health with Hypnotherapy

In the pursuit of optimal physical health, the role of mindset cannot be underestimated. Our thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes profoundly influence our actions and behaviors, ultimately shaping our health outcomes. This four-part series will delve into specific health goals, from weight loss to better sleep and smoking cessation, uncovering the transformative potential of mindset in achieving optimal well-being. On this journey you will find the keys to vibrant health and vitality through the power of the mind-body connection and hypnotherapy techniques.

This first installment of the series explores the foundational role of mindset in shaping physical health outcomes. From understanding mindsets to unlocking the mind-body connection, we lay the groundwork for harnessing the transformative power of hypnotherapy in achieving vibrant health and well-being. 

Understanding Mindsets and Their Impact on Health

Mindsets are the deeply ingrained attitudes and beliefs that shape our perceptions, behaviors, and ultimately, our outcomes. Physical health mindsets encompass attitudes, beliefs, and expectations related to our physical well-being. They can either propel us towards success or hinder our progress.   Positive health mindsets can foster resilience, motivation, and proactive health behaviors, while negative mindsets may lead to self-sabotage, disengagement, and poor health outcomes. Here are some typical attitudes/beliefs associated with negative and positive health mindsets:

Negative Health Mindset:

• Fixed Mindset: Believing that health conditions are predetermined and unchangeable, leading to feelings of hopelessness and resignation.

• Victim Mentality: Blaming external factors or genetics for health issues, neglecting personal responsibility and agency in improving one's well-being.

• All -or-Nothing Thinking: Viewing healthbehaviors as either perfect or flawed, leading to cycles of strict adherence followed by self-sabotage.

• Instant Gratification: Seeking quick fixes or fad diets rather than committing to sustainable lifestyle changes, leading to frustration and disappointment.

• Fear of Failure: Avoiding health-related challenges or opportunities for growth due to a fear of falling short or not meeting expectations.

Positive Health Mindset:

• Growth Mindset: Embracing the belief that health is dynamic and can be improved through effort, perseverance, and learning from setbacks

• Ownership and Empowerment: Taking personal responsibility for health outcomes, actively seeking information, and making informed choices to promote well-being

• Flexibility and Adaptability: Embracing change and viewing setbacks as opportunities for growth, adjusting strategies as needed to maintain progress

• Long-Term Perspective: Prioritizing sustainable habits and lifestyle changes over quick fixes, recognizing that health is a lifelong journey

• Resilience and Optimism: Cultivating resilience in the face of challenges, maintaining a positive outlook, and believing in one's ability to overcome obstacles.

The Mind-Body Connection

The mind-body connection refers to the intricate relationship between our thoughts, emotions, beliefs, and physical health. Neuroscience has revealed that the brain and body are interconnected, with thoughts and emotions influencing physiological processes and vice versa. Here's a closer look at the mind-body connection and where neuroscience fits into our understanding:

1. Neuroplasticity: The brain's ability to reorganize and adapt in response to experiences, thoughts, and behaviors. Through neuroplasticity, we can reshape neural pathways associated with health behaviors and beliefs

2. Stress Response: The brain's response to stress triggers physiological changes in the body, such as increased heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels. Chronic stress can negatively impact immune function, metabolism, and overall health

3. Emotional Regulation: The brain plays a central role in regulating emotions, with the limbic system and prefrontal cortex governing emotional responses and decision-making processes. Hypnotherapy techniques can help modulate emotional responses and promote emotional well-being

4. Placebo Effect: The phenomenon where the belief in a treatment or intervention leads to positive health outcomes, even if the treatment itself is inert. This underscores the power of mindset in influencing physical health and healing.

Practices such as meditation, mindfulness, and hypnotherapy leverage the mind-body connection to promote relaxation, stress reduction, and overall well-being. These interventions have been shown to improve immune function, pain management, and recovery from illness.

How Hypnotherapy Works

Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic modality that utilizes guided relaxation, focused attention, and suggestion to access the subconscious mind. By inducing a trance-like state, hypnotherapy bypasses the critical faculty of the conscious mind, allowing for direct communication with the subconscious. Through tailored interventions and suggestions, your hypnotherapist can help you to facilitate mindset shifts, reframe limiting beliefs, and instill positive thought patterns conducive to physical health and well-being.

Transforming Your Physical Health with Hypnotherapy

1. Identifying Limiting Beliefs: Hypnotherapy begins with identifying and addressing underlying limiting beliefs that may hinder progress towards physical health goals. These beliefs may include doubts about your ability to change, fear of failure, or past experiences that reinforce negative associations with health behaviors

2. Reprogramming Thought Patterns: Through hypnotic suggestion and visualization techniques, hypnotherapy helps reprogram thought patterns to support positive health behaviors and attitudes. You are guided to envision yourself as healthy, vibrant and capable of achieving your wellness goals with confidence and determination

3. Cultivating Motivation and Commitment: Hypnotherapy instills a sense of motivation and commitment to health goals by aligning subconscious desires with conscious intentions. You can tap into your inner resources, intrinsic motivations and values that drive sustainable lifestyle changes

4. Managing Stress and Resilience: Stress management is integral to physical health, as chronic stress can undermine immune function and exacerbate health conditions. Hypnotherapy equips you with relaxation techniques, coping strategies, and resilience-building skills to navigate stressors effectively and maintain balance in daily life

5. Enhancing Self-Care Practices: Hypnotherapy encourages the adoption of self-care practices that promote physical health and well-being, such as regular exercise, nutritious eating habits, adequate sleep, and stress reduction activities. You develop a deeper appreciation for self-care as an essential aspect of holistic health.

 Summary

In harnessing the power of mindset, hypnotherapy offers a transformative path to achieving optimal physical health and well-being. By addressing underlying beliefs, reprogramming thought patterns, and cultivating motivation, hypnotherapy empowers you to embark on a journey of self-discovery, resilience, and vitality. Through the integration of mind-body techniques, you can unlock your innate potential for vibrant health and embrace a life of vitality and wellness.

Working together with your hypnotherapist using proven hypnotherapy techniques in a series of hypnosis and counseling sessions, you can discover/clarify your general physical health mindset and specific beliefs about your current concerns/issues, establish and prioritize your physical health goals, envision the thoughts, feelings and activities of an updated mindset that supports your goals, craft customized personal affirmations in alignment your updated mindset, and  establish a daily affirmations and gratitude practice that reinforces your physical health mindset and propels you toward successful achievement of our your specific physical health goals.

If you are considering working with me as your hypnotherapist, I am available for a free 30 minute consultation for new clients. Please call me at 818-929-4944 or go to cindaroffman.com to book a free consultation.

Stay tuned for Part 2: Harnessing the Power of Mindset: Achieving Weight Loss Goals with Hypnotherapy, where we delve into the intricacies of weight loss mindset and the transformative potential of hypnotherapy in achieving sustainable weight loss.

Sincerely,

Cinda

HypnoNews and Resources

 For an excellent article the mind-body connection including historical roots, scientific basis, impact on overall health and well-being, and mind-body therapies, please see the following:

 https://mnclinicforhealth.com/understanding-the-mind-body-connection-a-comprehensive-guide/

After the Breakup: Healing, Letting Go, and Moving On

In the beginning, she only drove by her ex-boyfriend’s house once a day, then it was twice a day.  The breakup had been painful and quite one-sided. When she began picking up her daughter after school, she changed her route and it became 3 times a day.  That was when she called me.  She was happily married but still felt anger, resentment and anxiety about what her ex might be up to.  Could I help her stop obsessing over her ex and not need to drive by several times a day?  Yes, I could. As we worked together through a series of hypnotherapy sessions she was able to uncover and better understand the roots of her obsessive habit and she let go of the feeling of wanting to know what her ex was doing.  She was relieved, happy, and ready to get on with her own life.

Breakups, whether from a dating relationship or a marriage, can be emotionally and physically taxing experiences. In this article, I explore the depths of post-breakup challenges and how hypnotherapy techniques can aid you in healing, letting go, and moving forward in your life. From understanding the nature of interpersonal relationships to addressing the psychological and physical aftermath of a breakup, we uncover the transformative power of hypnotherapy in facilitating the journey towards recovery and emotional well-being.

Understanding Interpersonal Human Relationships:

Interpersonal relationships are dynamic connections between individuals, characterized by mutual understanding, communication, and shared experiences. Dating relationships involve romantic connections, while marriage relationships signify deeper commitments and shared life paths.

Defining Characteristics of Dating and Marriage Relationships:

• Dating Relationships are defined by mutual attraction, companionship, and shared interests. They typically involve less commitment compared to marriage, allowing for more flexibility and exploration.

• Marriage Relationships are marked by legal and emotional commitment, shared goals, and life partnership.  They often involve deeper levels of intimacy, trust, and long-term planning.

Breakup statistics in America:

According to recent studies, approximately 40-50% of marriages in the United States end in divorce. Breakup rates in dating relationships vary, with factors such as age, duration, and commitment level influencing the likelihood of separation.

Common Reasons for Breakups: Couples may break up for a single reason or a combination of several problems that the relationship just can’t seem to overcome. Some of the more prevalent reasons for breakups are:

• Communication breakdown and conflict.

• Infidelity and trust issues.

• Incompatibility in values or life goals.

• · Financial stress and disagreements.

• Emotional neglect or abuse.

• Substance abuse or addiction issues.

• Growing apart or loss of attraction.

Top 10 Issues and Problems that You May Experience After a Breakup:

1. Emotional pain and grief.

2. Loss of identity and self-esteem.

3. Anxiety and depression.

4. Social isolation and loneliness.

5. Anger and resentment towards the ex-partner.

6. Fear of future relationships or commitment.

7. Financial strain and instability.

8. Physical symptoms such as sleep disturbances or appetite changes.

9. Obsessive thoughts and rumination.

10. Difficulty letting go of memories or possessions associated with the relationship.

Importance and Benefits of Getting Help:

When a client comes to me after a breakup they are often wrestling with a variety of difficult psychological and physical issues. In one way or another they are in pain, suffering and struggling to heal, let go and move forward in their life. Seeking professional support after a breakup can significantly aid in the healing process. Therapeutic intervention provides a safe space for you to process the emotions, gain insights, and develop coping strategies to navigate the challenges of separation.

Hypnotherapy Techniques for Healing, Letting Go, and Moving On

1.      Positive Affirmations: Instill self-compassion, confidence, and resilience, reinforcing a positive self-image and outlook on the future.

2.      Visualization and Guided Imagery: Create mental imagery of releasing emotional baggage and embracing a fresh start, promoting inner peace and acceptance.

3.      Anxiety Reduction Techniques: Address anxiety and stress associated with the breakup, facilitating relaxation and emotional stability.

4.      Ego Strengthening: Build inner strength and self-reliance, empowering individuals to overcome feelings of vulnerability and dependency.

5.      Goal Setting and Motivation Enhancement: Define personal goals and aspirations post-breakup, fostering a sense of purpose and direction.

6.      Forgiveness Work: Facilitate forgiveness towards oneself and the ex-partner, releasing bitterness and resentment to make room for healing.

How These Techniques Work

Hypnotherapy techniques work by accessing the subconscious mind, where deep-seated beliefs, emotions, and patterns are stored. By tapping into this realm, you can reframe negative thought patterns, process unresolved emotions, and cultivate inner resources for healing and growth. Through guided therapeutic interventions, you can embark on a transformative journey towards emotional liberation and renewed self-discovery.

Navigating life after a breakup can be a daunting journey filled with emotional upheaval and uncertainty. However, with the support and guidance of a professional hypnotherapist, you can find solace, healing, and ultimately, the resilience to embrace new beginnings and forge a brighter future ahead.

If you are considering working with me as your hypnotherapist, I am available for a free 30 minute consultation for new clients. Please call me at 818-929-4944 or go to cindaroffman.com to book a free consultation.

Sincerely,

Cinda

HypnoNews and Resources

The article below is a fascinating and informative research report entitled “Making Sense and Moving On: The Potential for Individual and Interpersonal Growth Following Emerging Adult Breakups”. The study involved 160 participants, ages 20- 25. It assesses the key aspects of romantic relationship dissolution in emerging adulthood as predictors of future mental health.

 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6051550/

 For a broad global perspective on breakup statistics including dating and marriage relationships and the variety of factors that influence these breakups, please see the following:

 https://www.allohealth.care/healthfeed/sex-education/relationship-breakup-statistics

Part 4: Ready-Set-Go: Achieving and Sustaining New Year's Resolutions With Your Hypnotherapist's Support

Jeff began his New Year’s Resolution journey on his own with no blueprint and no support. He was recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and he needed to make changes in his diet and exercise practices to feel better and sustain his health. Using mostly will power he managed to achieve his target A1c level by mid-year. However, in late fall, cold weather and the onset of the holiday season’s food fests were challenging Jeff’s outdoor exercise practices and his diet.  He came to me for hypnotherapy help. We discussed the 5 stages of change theory and noted that he seemed to be at stage 5 (maintenance) in his journey. Following the blueprint for transformative resolutions with scheduled hypnotherapy follow-up support, we reviewed his goals, addressed his current challenges, planned and celebrated his success in maintaining his target A1c levels through out the winter and into spring of the next new year.

Part 4: Blueprint for Transformative Resolutions: Achieve and Sustain

In this final installment of our series, we lay out a comprehensive blueprint for your transformative journey toward achieving and sustaining your New Year's resolutions. This blueprint, informed by the synergy of readiness, SMART goals, hypnotherapy, positive affirmations, and visualization, guides you through each step of the resolution and maintenance process.

The Importance of Readiness to Change: Revisiting the Foundation

As we embark on crafting a transformative blueprint, it's crucial to revisit the cornerstone—readiness. The 5 stages of change theory, encompassing precontemplation to maintenance, underscores the evolution of readiness. Here's how it aligns with the blueprint:

• Readiness as a Driving Force: Throughout the transformative journey, readiness acts as a driving force. Revisit your initial commitment to change during moments of challenge, anchoring yourself in the firm foundation of readiness.

• Continual Growth: Recognize that readiness is not a one-time event but a continual process. Embrace the evolving nature of readiness as you progress through the stages of change.

Crafting SMART Resolutions: Building Clear Pathways

Building upon the foundation of readiness, SMART resolutions serve as the navigational markers on your journey. Each component of SMART contributes to a clear and achievable path:

• Specificity: Specific resolutions create clarity. Instead of a vague goal, articulate the specifics of what you aim to achieve. For instance, replace "exercise more" with "Walk an average of 11,600 steps per day every week."

• Measurability: Measurable criteria allow for progress tracking. Establish quantifiable metrics, ensuring that you can celebrate achievements and adjust strategies as needed.

• Achievability: Set goals that are realistic and attainable. While ambition is commendable, ensure that your resolutions align with your current capabilities, fostering a sense of accomplishment.

• Relevance: Align resolutions with your values and long-term objectives. A relevant goal resonates with personal aspirations, maintaining intrinsic motivation throughout the journey.

• Time-Boundedness: Establishing time frames adds a sense of urgency. Setting deadlines for milestones and overall achievement enhances focus and time management.

Building A Daily Affirmation Practice: Reinforcing Positivity

With SMART resolutions in place, the next step is to reinforce positivity through a daily affirmation practice. Positive affirmations become the motivational fuel that sustains your resolution journey:

• Consistency is Key: Regularly repeat affirmations to instill positive beliefs. Consistency deepens the impact of affirmations on the subconscious mind.

• Alignment with Goals: Craft affirmations that align seamlessly with your SMART resolutions. The synergy between positive affirmations and specific goals amplifies motivation.

• Morning Rituals: Incorporate affirmations into your morning routine. Starting the day with positive thoughts sets a constructive tone for the hours ahead.

• Evening Reflections: Conclude the day by listening to your hypnotherapy recording. Write your affirmations and what you are grateful for in your journal just before bedtime.

Adding a Gratitude Practice: Fostering Fulfillment

Gratitude, a powerful emotion, is an integral component of the blueprint. Cultivating gratitude enhances fulfillment, resilience, and overall well-being.

• Daily Gratitude Journaling: Dedicate time each day to journaling three things you are grateful for. This practice shifts focus to positive aspects, fostering a grateful mindset.

• Expressing Gratitude: Beyond personal reflections, express gratitude to others. This could be through notes, messages, or acts of kindness, deepening interpersonal connections.

• Gratitude as a Resilience Tool: During challenging moments in your resolution journey, revisit your gratitude journal. The positive emotions associated with gratitude act as a resilience tool.

Scheduled Follow-Up Sessions: Ensuring Sustained Success

The blueprint's final touch involves scheduled follow-up sessions with your hypnotherapist. These sessions play a pivotal role in refining goals, addressing challenges, and ensuring sustained success:

• Goal Review: Regularly review your SMART resolutions with your hypnotherapist. Adjust goals based on progress, challenges, and evolving priorities.

• Addressing Challenges: Use follow-up sessions to discuss any challenges encountered. Hypnotherapy provides a supportive space to explore and overcome obstacles.

• Celebrating Milestones: Acknowledge and celebrate achievements during follow-up sessions. Recognizing progress reinforces positive behavior and motivates continued effort.

Summary:

 As you embark on your transformative journey armed with the blueprint—rooted in readiness, guided by SMART resolutions, reinforced by daily affirmations and gratitude, and supported by follow-up sessions—remember that resolutions are not just about achievement but a journey of continuous growth. The synergy of these elements ensures that your resolutions not only endure but flourish, fostering a life of purpose and fulfillment.

Closing Thoughts

With the transformative blueprint in hand, you are poised to make this year your most impactful yet. The combination of clarity, positivity, gratitude, and ongoing support sets the stage for resolutions that go beyond mere accomplishment—they become a pathway to a more vibrant and fulfilling life. Ready, set, go—your transformative journey awaits.

If you are considering working with me as your hypnotherapist, I am available for a free 30 minute consultation for new clients. Please call me at 818-929-4944 or go to cindaroffman.com to book a free consultation.

Sincerely,

Cinda

HypnoNews and Resources

A research study in 2020 investigated what resolutions people make when they are free to formulate them, whether different resolutions reach differing success rates, and whether it is possible to increase the likelihood of a resolution’s success through various types of support. Participants were placed in three groups: active control, some support, and extended support. At a one year follow-up, the group that got some support was “exclusively and significantly” more successful. Read the study here:

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0234097

Part 3 - Ready-Set-Go: Achieving and Sustaining New Year's Resolutions With Your Hypnotherapist's Support

Surveys tell us that a New Year’s Resolution to lose some weight is one of the top 3 resolutions that people make every year. One of my clients came to me last January wanting to lose 40 lbs. In our initial two sessions I worked with her to establish her readiness to make changes and to craft her resolutions in a SMART form. Then we began to apply the power of hypnotherapy, affirmations, and guided visualization to support her weight loss actions. By June she was well on her way. By year end she was down 27 pounds. Her resolution for 2024 is now to lose the remaining 13 lbs. by May 15th and then maintain her healthy new body weight forever more.

The Power of Hypnotherapy: Affirmations and Visualization for Success

Part 3 of this series, explores

• The transformative power of hypnotherapy

• Positive Affirmations

• Visualization techniques in the context of achieving your New Year's resolutions

• Understanding how your hypnotherapist uses these techniques to help propel you toward your goals and foster lasting positive change

Hypnotherapy's Transformative Influence

• Breaking Through Mental Barriers: Hypnotherapy serves as a potent tool for breaking through mental barriers that may hinder progress in achieving resolutions. By inducing a state of deep relaxation, hypnotherapy enables access to your subconscious mind, where ingrained patterns of thinking and limiting beliefs reside

• The Subconscious Mind: The subconscious mind plays a crucial role in shaping behavior. Hypnotherapy allows you to explore and reshape subconscious thought patterns, promoting a more positive and constructive mindset that supports goal achievement

• Challenging Negative Beliefs: Through guided hypnotherapy sessions, you can identify and challenge negative beliefs that may be rooted in past experiences or self-doubt. This process is essential for creating a mental environment conducive to success.

Understanding Affirmations

In my hypnotherapy practice I include the use of positive affirmations as an integral part of the process.

Affirmations are statements about yourself, your thoughts, beliefs and behaviors as you want them to be. They use positive, constructive words to state what you intend to be true when your have completed a personal change goal such as a New Year’s Resolution.

The word ‘affirm’ means to make firm. You can use written affirmations to make a goal or belief firm in your subconscious mind and bring it into forceful alignment with your conscious desire. Affirmations are a vehicle for change, for transformation, in your life.

Crafting Effective Positive Affirmations

Affirmations are written in the present tense as if the statements are true now. They usually begin with the words ‘I’ or ‘My’ and include positive feelings or actions. Here is an easy six step process you can use when crafting positive affirmations that will support achieving your New Year’s Resolutions:

1. Find a quiet, peaceful place where you can relax and work without distraction for a least 20 minutes

2.  Using a simple sheet of paper or notebook, consider and jot down several of your current issues, problems and goals for change

3. Select an issue that is important to you to work on first. Refer to part 2 in this series and render that issue as a SMART New Year’s Resolution

4. Write out some statements beginning with ‘I’ or ‘My’ and affirming your desired state/goal as true. Write them in the present tense, using positive feeling and action words. Keep going until you have seven to ten statements to work with

5. Read your statements out loud and notice which ones resonate strongly  and feel the most powerful and authentic for you

6. Pick the top three statements to use in beginning your daily affirmation practice in support of your New Year’s Resolutions

When I work with you on achieving your New Year’s Resolutions we use my book, New Power in Affirmations, to help you craft effective affirmations and establish a daily affirmation practice that powerfully supports your goals. I encourage my clients to write their affirmations in longhand every evening before going to sleep.

Instilling Confidence Through Positive Affirmations

Positive affirmations, when integrated into hypnotherapy sessions, act as powerful catalysts for change. Here's how they work in tandem with hypnotherapy:

• Repetition and Reinforcement: Positive affirmations are repeated during hypnotherapy sessions to reinforce desired beliefs. Consistent repetition helps embed these affirmations in the subconscious, aligning the mind with the pursuit of resolutions.

• Cultivating Self-Belief: Hypnotherapy instills confidence by incorporating affirmations that cultivate self-belief. As you repeat and internalize these positive statements, you develop a stronger sense of self-efficacy and resilience.

• Aligning with Goals: Crafting affirmations that align with specific New Year’s Resolution goals ensures that the subconscious is focused on the desired outcomes. This alignment enhances motivation and commitment.

Visualization and Guided Imagery: Creating a Mental Blueprint

Visualization and guided imagery are powerful techniques employed in hypnotherapy to create a mental blueprint for achieving and sustaining your New Year’s Resolutions.

• Vivid Imagery of Success: Hypnotherapy sessions can guide you to vividly imagine yourself successfully achieving your resolutions. This mental rehearsal enhances motivation and primes the mind for success.

• Emotional Connection: Visualization allows you to connect with the emotional aspects of your goals. The positive emotions associated with success become powerful motivators, driving sustained effort.

• Overcoming Challenges: Through guided imagery, hypnotherapy helps you visualize overcoming challenges you may encounter on your resolution journey. This proactive visualization equips you with mental strategies for resilience.

Summary:

Hypnotherapy, when integrated with positive affirmations and visualization techniques, becomes a dynamic force in the pursuit of New Year's Resolutions. By breaking through mental barriers, instilling confidence, and creating a vivid mental blueprint for success, you are empowered to navigate your New Year’s Resolution journey with clarity and purpose.

Having harnessed the transformative power of hypnotherapy, join me in Part 4 as we craft a blueprint for your transformative journey—setting the stage for New Year’s Resolutions that not only endure but flourish.

If you are considering working with me as your hypnotherapist, I am available for a free 30 minute consultation for new clients. Please call me at 818-929-4944 or go to cindaroffman.com to book a free consultation.

Sincerely,

Cinda

HypnoNews and Resosurces

For some additional ideas specifically focused on setting and crafting positive goal affirmations, please see the following:

https://rhythmsofplay.com/why-i-turn-my-goals-into-affirmations/

Part 2 - Ready-Set-Go: Achieving and Sustaining New Year's Resolutions With Your Hypnotherapists Support

Part 2-Understanding New Year's Resolutions-Crafting Meaningful Goals

Late last fall my husband and I got the exciting and joyful news that our daughter was engaged. A month or two later, while we were attending a 2 day business planning seminar, Burt surprised me by declaring to the whole room that his #1 goal for 2024 is to finance and host an extraordinary wedding event for our daughter in Dallas, Texas by June, 2024. Clearly, Burt has reached the readiness stage of the 5 stage theory of change model and apparently he knows something about the SMART methodology for better goal setting.

Part 2 of this series, delves into the intricate world of New Year's resolutions. Understanding the dynamics, categories, and success factors behind resolutions is crucial for crafting meaningful and achievable goals that stand the test of time.

Understanding New Year's Resolutions

As the calendar turns a new page, the tradition of setting New Year’s Resolutions comes into focus. Resolutions are promises we make to ourselves—a commitment to personal growth, well-being, and fulfillment. To embark on a successful resolution journey, it's essential to gain a comprehensive understanding of this tradition.

Categories of Resolutions: Navigating Diverse Realms

Resolutions can span various aspects of life, reflecting the multifaceted nature of personal growth. Categories include:

• Health and Wellness: Resolutions related to physical health, exercise, nutrition, and overall well-being.

• Personal Development: Goals focusing on self-improvement, skill enhancement, and lifelong learning.

• Relationships: Resolutions centered around building and nurturing meaningful connections with others.

• Career and Finance: Aspirations for professional growth, financial stability, and career satisfaction.

Understanding the diverse categories allows individuals to tailor resolutions to their unique needs and priorities.

Types and Forms: Decoding Success Factors

Resolutions come in various types and forms, and understanding their success factors is key to achieving lasting change.

• Success Rates: Research suggests that resolutions related to health and well-being tend to have higher success rates. Understanding this can influence the selection of resolutions based on personal priorities and the likelihood of success.

• Abandonment Patterns: Statistics indicate that a significant number of resolutions are abandoned within the first few weeks of the year. Recognizing common abandonment patterns can help individuals develop strategies to overcome challenges and persevere.

• SMART Resolutions: Introducing the concept of SMART goals—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Crafting resolutions with these criteria enhances clarity, feasibility, and accountability.

Crafting SMART New Year's Resolutions

Crafting resolutions that adhere to the SMART framework is a practical and effective approach. This methodology transforms vague aspirations into concrete, achievable objectives.

• Specific: Clearly define the resolution. Instead of a broad goal like "exercise more," specify "jog for 30 minutes three times a week."

• Measurable: Establish quantifiable criteria to track progress. For instance, instead of "eat healthier," set a measurable target like "consume five servings of vegetables daily."

• Achievable: Ensure the resolution is realistic and attainable. Setting an achievable goal promotes a sense of accomplishment and motivates further progress.

• Relevant: Align the resolution with personal values and long-term objectives. A relevant goal resonates with individual aspirations, increasing commitment.

• Time-bound: Set a timeframe for achieving the resolution. A deadline creates a sense of urgency and helps manage time effectively. For example, "lose 10 pounds in three months."

 Practical Tips for Crafting SMART Resolutions:

• Reflect on Values: Consider what truly matters to you. Resolutions aligned with core values are more likely to be pursued with enthusiasm.

• Prioritize Realistic Goals: While ambition is commendable, resolutions should be grounded in reality. Gradual progress is sustainable and fosters a positive mindset.

• Break Down Complex Goals: If a resolution is complex, break it down into smaller, manageable steps. Each small achievement contributes to the overall success.

Summary:

Understanding the diverse categories and success factors of New Year’s Resolutions, coupled with the practical crafting of SMART goals, lays the foundation for a purposeful resolution journey.

Having gained insight into the world of New Year’s Resolutions, join me in Part 3 as we explore the transformative power of hypnotherapy and how positive affirmations and visualization techniques synergize with resolutions, propelling you toward your goals.

If you are considering working with me as your hypnotherapist, I am available for a free 30 minute consultation for new clients. Please or call me at 818-929-4944 go to cindaroffman.com to book a free consult.

Sincerely,

Cinda

HypnoNews and Resources

For a fascinating and informative article about the history and evolution of New Year’s Resolutions, please see the following:

https://www.history.com/news/the-history-of-new-years-resolutions

Breaking the Chronic Procrastination Cycle * Hypnotherapy Can Help

Welcome back to our ongoing exploration of the human mind and the transformative power of hypnotherapy. One pervasive issue that many of my clients grapple with - chronic procrastination. As a certified hypnotherapist with 15 years in practice, I've encountered various manifestations of procrastination and witnessed the profound changes that hypnotherapy can bring.

A new client called and said, “My boss says I need to come see you or I will be fired.”  Not my usual call from a new client.  I asked him what was the issue.  He said he was chronically late to work and his boss was tired of it.  A good example of how chronic procrastination can affect all parts of your life. 

We worked together to find the causes of his procrastination – he just wanted to be on his computer more. We came up with a set of affirmations, changing his beliefs about himself and his ability to change and be on time.  We came up with an anchor, a way of anchoring in the feeling he felt in hypnosis.  He used his anchor when he felt out of control and that brought him back to believing that he could change and be on time.  He made some behavior changes – setting his alarm earlier, moving some tasks from the morning to the evening before and staying off the computer in the mornings.   He began to arrive at work not only on time, but 15 minutes early like his boss preferred.

After a few sessions, he mentioned to me that not only was he doing so much better at work, but his marriage was also better.  We had never discussed his marriage in our sessions.  He said that when his wife got grumpy or yelled at him, he used his anchor to calm himself and let her vent.  It is impossible to have an argument with only one person yelling.  He really appreciated this side benefit of his hypnotherapy sessions. 

Understanding Chronic Procratination

Chronic procrastination is not just a matter of occasional delays or temporary hesitation. It's a persistent pattern of putting off tasks that are important, often leading to negative consequences in various areas of life.

Recognizing the key symptoms of chronic procrastination is crucial for those seeking change:

1. Consistent Delays: Tasks are consistently postponed, leading to missed deadlines and opportunities.

2. Excuse-Making: Individuals engage in self-deceptive rationalizations for delaying tasks.

3. Avoidance Behavior: There is a tendency to avoid certain activities or responsibilities altogether.

4. Difficulty Initiating: Getting started on tasks becomes a daunting challenge.

5. Time Mismanagement: Poor time management skills contribute to chronic procrastination.

6. Perfectionism: The fear of not doing things perfectly can paralyze action.

7. Lack of Motivation: A general lack of motivation or enthusiasm for the task at hand.

8. Low Self-Esteem: Procrastination often ties to feelings of inadequacy or self-doubt.

9. Fear of Failure or Success: Fear can be a powerful driver of procrastination.

10. Short-Term Focus: Preferring immediate pleasure over long-term benefits.

Types of Chronic Procrastination

Identifying specific patterns helps tailor hypnotherapy interventions. Eight common types include

• academic procrastination

• chronic overestimation

• perfectionistic procrastination

• avoidance procrastination

• deadline procrastination

• anxious procrastination

• rebellious procrastination

• habitual procrastination

Causes of Chronic Procrastination

Understanding the root causes of chronic procrastination is essential for effective intervention. Common causes include

• fear of failure

• lack of clarity about goals

• low self-esteem

• perfectionism

• underlying mental health issues

Uncovering these triggers helps tailor hypnotherapy strategies to address the specific needs of each individual.

Consequences of Chronic Procrastination

Chronic procrastination can have far-reaching consequences, both as a general habit and in specific areas such as sleep (bed time) procrastination. As a pervasive habit, it can lead to increased stress, decreased job performance, strained relationships, and missed opportunities. In the context of sleep procrastination, where individuals consistently delay bedtime, consequences may include sleep deprivation, impaired cognitive function, and negative impacts on overall health and well-being.

The cycle of Chronic Procrastination

Understanding the cyclical nature of chronic procrastination is vital for breaking free from its grip. The cycle typically involves a trigger, emotional response, coping strategy (procrastination), and temporary relief, perpetuating the pattern.

Benefits of Overcoming Chronic Procrastination

Reducing or eliminating chronic procrastination brings a myriad of benefits:

1. Increased Productivity: Accomplish tasks more efficiently and effectively.

2. Enhanced Well-Being: Lower stress levels and improved mental health.

3. Improved Relationships: Minimize the impact of procrastination on personal and professional relationships.

4. Boosted Confidence: Overcoming procrastination fosters a sense of accomplishment and self-worth.

5. Goal Attainment: Move closer to long-term goals with consistent action.

How Hypnotherapy Can Help

Hypnotherapy offers a powerful avenue for disrupting the cycle of chronic procrastination. Through various techniques, including guided imagery, suggestion, EFT and affirmations, hypnotherapy can address the underlying causes and rewire the subconscious mind.

In Summary

Chronic procrastination is a formidable challenge, but with the right tools and mindset, positive change is not only possible but probable. Hypnotherapy serves as a valuable ally in breaking free from the chains of procrastination, empowering individuals to lead more fulfilling and purposeful lives.

If you or someone you know is struggling with chronic procrastination, consider the transformative potential of hypnotherapy on your journey toward positive change.

I am available for a free 30 minute consultation for new clients. Please go to cindaroffman.com to book a free consult or call me at 818-929-4944.

Sincerely,

Cinda

HypnoNews and Resources

For additional information and advice on unwanted chronic procrastination and how to how to overcome it, here are two articles that may be of interest.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/triggered/202008/ocd-and-compulsive-procrastination https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/why-wait-the-science-behind-procrastination

For an absolutely fascinating article about one of the most recently identified forms of procrastination known as ‘revenge sleep procrastination’, please see the following:

https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-hygiene/revenge-bedtime-procrastination

Duck Quack, Chicken Cluck, or ? Stage Hypnosis Vs. Hypnotherapy

References to being hypnotized turn up in the strangest places – on a random TV show, a movie or sometimes a book.  In his One Good Deed, a character of author David Baldacci is doing things not to her benefit.  Archer suggests, “’He believes Hank Pittleman hypnotized you or something.’  Archer takes the cigarette from his mouth.  ‘Did he hypnotize you or something?’  Sarcasticly she responds ‘Yeah, Archer, if you clap your hands just right, I’ll get on the floor and bark like a dog.’” 

As a professional hypnotherapist, new clients will sometimes ask me, “Will I quack like a duck, cluck like a chicken or bark like a dog?”  The answer is no, not unless you want to.  Hypnotherapy (what I do) and stage hypnosis (what I don’t even know how to do) are 2 distinct practices. Both use hypnosis but they serve very different purposes and are conducted in different settings.  Let’s explore the differences between the two.

Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic technique that uses hypnosis as a tool to help individuals address various psychological and emotional issues, such as anxiety, phobias, trauma, and more.

• Its primary purpose is to promote healing, personal growth, and positive behavioral change. Hypnotherapists work with clients, one on one, to help them achieve specific therapeutic goals.

• Hypnotherapy sessions are conducted in a relaxed, comfortable, and private environment where the client can feel at ease

• In hypnotherapy, the client participates voluntarily and consents to the process. The hypnotherapist works collaboratively with the client to address their specific concerns or issues, and the client's well-being is the top priority.

• Hypnotherapists use hypnosis to access the subconscious mind and work with the client's thoughts, beliefs, and emotions. The goal is to promote relaxation, reduce anxiety, and address specific issues through suggestion, visualization, and therapeutic dialogue.

• Hypnotherapists typically undergo formal training and certification in hypnotherapy techniques, ethics, and client care. They are often licensed professionals who adhere to ethical guidelines and maintain client confidentiality.

Stage hypnosis is a form of entertainment. The primary purpose of stage hypnosis is to amuse and entertain an audience. Stage hypnotists typically perform in front of a live audience and select volunteers from the audience to participate in amusing and often comical hypnotic scenarios. It is not intended for therapeutic or healing purposes.

• Stage hypnotists select volunteers from the audience, but these volunteers are typically willing participants who agree to be hypnotized for entertainment purposes. While consent is involved, there may be some peer pressure or expectation to comply with the hypnotist's requests.

• Stage hypnosis relies on rapid and often dramatic hypnotic inductions to quickly hypnotize participants. The focus is on creating entertaining and sometimes outrageous scenarios, such as making participants believe they are famous celebrities or behave in unusual ways.

• Stage hypnotists may not necessarily have formal training or certification in hypnosis. Their expertise lies in entertaining an audience through hypnosis, and their primary concern is entertainment rather than therapy.

• Stage hypnosis provides immediate amusement and laughter but does not aim to bring about lasting personal change or therapeutic benefits.

In summary, hypnotherapy and stage hypnosis involve the use of hypnosis techniques but they have vastly different purposes, approaches, and ethical considerations. Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic tool used to help individuals with psychological and emotional issues, while stage hypnosis is a form of entertainment aimed at amusing audiences.

Please feel free to pass this post along to family and friends that you think might benefit from the positive effects of hypnotherapy.

I am available for a free 30 minute consultation for new clients.  Please go to cindaroffman.com to book a free consult or call me at 818-929-4944.

Sincerely,

Cinda

Hypnonews and Resources

For another perspective on Hypnotherapy Vs. Stage Hypnosis by an establlished hypnotherapy training company please see the following:

https://hypnotc.com/hypnotherapy-vs-stage-hypnosis-2/

For those who might be interested in learning to do stage hypnosis the following article offers some useful advice:

https://www.learnstagehypnosis.com/essential-stage-hypnosis-skills/

Just 1 MORE Thing: Hypnotherapy for Weight Loss in the Home Stretch

Last month we talked about what 1 thing might be holding you back or keeping you from living your best life.  For many, it can be those stubborn 10 – 15 pounds that you just can’t lose.  You may have had great success with a weight management program, Weight Watchers, Lindora or any of the others out there but there are still those stubborn last few pounds. 

Every year I help clients who had been very successful in losing a large amount of weight but found themselves stuck, making no further progress, as they entered the home stretch toward their final goal.

One client had a trip of a lifetime planned and wanted to be at her goal weight for purchasing clothes and supplies for the trip. Here is how she described her challenge in our initial session. “Through diets and exercising I have lost about 30 pounds over the past 10 months. I’m about 12 pounds away from my final goal but I’ve stopped making progress. I’m not gaining, but not losing, just bouncing   between 145 and 142. I know that I have lost almost all the weight I set out to lose. I feel like I deserve a reward for that. Also, I’m having trouble accepting when I’m satisfied.”

After listening to her weight loss journey, we came up with a strategy – what specific actions could she take to get off those stubborn 12 pounds.  She decided to decrease her caloric intake by reducing her portions.  She already knew what to eat, she just needed to eat less of it.  She increased her outdoor activity, not being near food makes it harder to snack.   We then came up with a set of affirmations that could help her get across that finish line.  Her first one?  “I weigh 130 pounds.”   We also included affirmations about moving more outside and eating less.  It’s important to state clearly what your goals are.  I gave her a copy of her hypnosis session so that she could listen to it for added motivation whenever she wanted.

After working together, those pounds came off and she was able to keep them off.  She had a great trip and continues to successfully maintain her goal weight.

Hypnotherapy can help in the final stretch of weight loss.

If you are stuck in the home stretch toward your weight loss goal and you would like to explore how Hypnotherapy may help, please go to cindaroffman.com to book a free consult or give me a call at 818-929-4944.

Sincerely,

Cinda

Just 1 Thing to Make a Lasting Positive Difference in Your Life Now

In the cycle of our lives, change is constant. But some changes we want and others we may just get. Is there 1 change you want or maybe need to make a lasting, positive change in your life now? Is there something that you have been avoiding? Something that you know you need to do but don’t really want to?

If you are having trouble doing that 1 thing, your subconscious thoughts, attitudes and beliefs could be creating the resistance that is holding you back. Hypnotherapy may be able to help.

Your subconscious is 90% (or more) of your brain.  It may be what is keeping you from completing that book, taking that flight, losing that weight.

When John (not his real name) came to me for help with his fear of flying, it was affecting both his professional and personal life.  He had to travel for work and could only drive or take the train when he had an out of town or out of state meeting.  His co-workers and clients thought this was odd, only he knew the real reason.  His entire family lives a couple of flight connections away from California.  He would have to fly on a small plane for the last leg of his journey.  He didn’t want to freak out in front of his young son.  He missed his family, especially his elderly mother.

After several sessions, John was able to easily fly for work and pleasure.  He didn’t even panic when the small plane was stuck on the runway for hours. Last Thanksgiving, John took the time to thank me for my help in changing his life.

How did hypnotherapy help John?  First, we explored where his fear of flying came from.  Why did he have a fear of flying and was this fear rational?  After some discussion, he began to realize that there was no rational reason for his fear.  The plane would land safely, the doors would open and he would be okay.  We then came up with affirmations related to his fears.  A couple were:  “I feel safe in the airplane,” “I don’t have to be in control all the time.”  Each morning he read his affirmations and each evening he wrote them in his journal, The Power In Affirmations.   In hypnosis, I suggested that he see himself as a person who was comfortable on a plane and did not need to be in control all of the time.  I gave him a recording of the hypnosis that he could listen to if needed on the plane.

For John that 1 thing has made a huge difference in his life. 

If you would like some help with your 1 thing please go to cindaroffman.com to book a free consult or give me a call at 818-929-4944.

Sincerely,

Cinda

HYPNONEWS AND RESOURCES

For a well written article concerning the benefits of hypnotherapy and how it may help you to overcome your resistance to the positive change you want, please see the following:

https://www.wellness-institute.org/blog/break-through-client-resistance-with-hypnotherapy

The Last Resort Zone - A Habit Cough or Somatic Cough Syndrome Story

Clients say all kinds of things when they first come to see me seeking help with a challenge they are experiencing or a change they want to make:

“I haven’t been able to get a good night’s sleep for years.”

“I just want to be free of the chains of smoking.”

“I’m so anxious since Covid, I can’t drive on the freeways.”

One of my favorite comments is, “I’ve tried everything else, doctors, therapists, acupuncture, reiki, TV remedies, you are my LAST RESORT.”

I had a client like this a few months ago.  He had had a cough for over twenty years and he had tried everything, including most recently, the Mayo Clinic.  He had entered what I call the LAST RESORT ZONE. His cough was serious, it seemed to start at the bottom of his chest and come all the way up.  He would have to pause, take a few minutes and have something to drink to calm down the cough.

Along the way, he had learned all about coughing.  In the medical / psychology literature, the terms Habit Cough or Psychogenic Cough have been in use since at least 2004. More recently (2015) the term Somatic Cough Syndrome was introduced. Some common causes of coughs include:

• upper respiratory infections

• asthma

• allergies

• post nasal drip

• pneumonia

• pollution

Testing can confirm or rule out these causes. However, when testing does not confirm an underlying cause, Habit Cough might be the diagnosis by exclusion.

In our first session we reviewed his history of tests and attempts to resolve the coughing; I explained how hypnotherapy works; we came up with a set of affirmations for him; we established an anchor he could use when he felt the urge to cough and I hypnotized him.

He came in for his next session a few weeks later, very surprised. His cough was gone. Gone!

Three key take-aways from this story:

• When medical diagnostic testing has ruled out underlying causes for a recurring physical symptom like a cough or stomach ache, the symptom may have become a subconsciously triggered habitual behavior for you

• Evidence based research has shown that hypnotherapy can often help to improve or even fully resolve such habits

• While it is recommended that other types and causes of coughs be ruled out first by appropriate testing, you don’t necessarily have to enter the LAST RESORT ZONE before you give hypnotherapy a try.

Is there something you have been struggling with and have not been able to take care of with traditional methods or therapies?  Why not give hypnotherapy a chance?

Sound interesting? Give me a call 818-929-4944 to set up a session or join my free Hypnotherapy Q & A every Wednesday at 10 am PST.

You can register here.

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0lfu6trjIvGNZ8XkMGblRSB97cmXEKVT6p

Sincerely,

Cinda

HypnoNews and Resources

For more information, please refer to the following excellent articles covering the history, research, diagnosis and treatment of Habit Cough, Psychogenic Cough and Somatic Cough Syndrome.

 How do you treat habit cough with hypnosis

https://www.centerpointmedicine.com/blog/how-do-you-treat-habit-cough-with-hypnosis

Somatic cough syndrome or psychogenic cough – what is the difference?

https://jtd.amegroups.com/article/view/12440

Management and Diagnosis of Psychogenic Cough Habit Cough and Tic Cough

https://www.academia.edu/15584481/Management_and_Diagnosis_of_Psychogenic_Cough_Habit_Cough_and_Tic_Cough

Freedom from Negative Habits - Tapping - Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)

What if there were a simple, easy technique that you could do in your own home to get rid of a behavior, a feeling or a craving?  EFT could be that for you.

I was first introduced to Emotional Freedom Technique, EFT, or tapping when I was a student at Hypnosis Motivation Institute (HMI).  The demonstrations were amazing!  A woman who had craved chocolate her entire life suddenly was not interested in the least.  I was curious – how to change, in a few minutes, how you viewed something you have loved your whole life.

Fast forward to last week.  I continue to struggle with maintaining a healthy weight.  I decided to try tapping on not eating carbs.  Low and behold I went to a lunch networking event and looked at the rolls and potatoes like they were foreign objects and definitely not something I would ever eat.  Dessert? Not a chance, I didn’t even check it out to see what it was.  It can be an amazing tool and I was reminded to use it with my clients.

What is tapping? 

Tapping works with the body’s energy system – the meridians that carry electrical impulses throughout the body.  These meridians were first used (and are still used) in acupuncture and acupressure.  We tap on the end-points of the meridians while repeating a problem statement (eg. My addiction to carbs). In acupuncture, you are needled on a specific point for a specific problem. In tapping, we just tap on all the upper body meridians and assume that one will be the correct meridian.  Tapping is part of a group of therapies called ENERGY PSYCHOLOGY, because they are believed to affect the body’s electromagnetic energy fields.

Where does it come from?

A psychologist, Dr. Roger Callahan, discovered tapping by accident while working with a client with a water phobia.  When she complained that her stomach hurt, he tapped under her eyes, the end point of the stomach meridian, and her stomach pain and water phobia went away.  This discovery was used by Gary Craig to expand tapping and come up with a simple system that can be used by anyone. Gary has had great success with Vietnam Vets with PTSD.  When they tell their stories while tapping the emotional intensity of the stories goes from 10 to 1 or zero.

How do you do it?

We begin by creating a setup statement: “Even though I have this addiction to carbs, I deeply and completely love and accepts myself.” At first, this negativity bothered me – shouldn’t we be focusing on the positive? I was listening to Nick Ortner’s broadcast during the 14th Annual  Tapping World Summit.  He runs Tapping World and is now a leader in the field.  He had the same question about the setup statement and he asked Louise Hay why we start with a negative. We know Louise Hay was all about positive affirmations (as am I) and I was intrigued to hear her answer.  She wisely said “If you want to clean the house, first you have to see the dirt.”

Tapping works on the theory that our unresolved negative emotions are major contributors to most physical pain, disease and anxiety. The cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body’s energy system.

We were trained to be negative from the earliest times.  Those who survived were the ones who were watching the bushes for any suspicious activity, were there tigers in the bushes? – those blithely playing in the open did not survive.

I usually do a session with my clients and then give them the recipe so they can do it whenever they want.  And when I say do a session with my clients, I tap along with them so they don’t feel silly – at first it can seem an odd thing to be doing.

Sound interesting? Give me a call 818-929-4944 to set up a session and I will teach you how to do EFT your way or join my free Hypnotherapy Q & A every Wednesday at 10 am PST.

You can register here.

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0lfu6trjIvGNZ8XkMGblRSB97cmXEKVT6p

Sincerely,

Cinda

HypnoNews and Resources

Here are some articles with more information about EFT-tapping:

From WEB MD, What is EFT tapping? 

https://www.webmd.com/balance/what-is-eft-tapping

From Medical News Today, A Guide to EFT tapping,

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326434

How Hypnotherapy Can Help with Substance Dependency

My flight home from Dallas was delayed due to an incoming tornado, so I decided to get a glass of wine in the bar. The first fun thing that happened was that I was asked for my ID.  I am way older than 21 but it sure felt good! 

Then, the gentleman sitting next to me started a conversation.  We started with the weather and then he joked, “Kinda funny, I’m sitting here with a beer and a whisky waiting for my plane to rehab.”  I must admit I was a little surprised but they had told him that whatever it took for him to get on the plane was fine, as long as he made it to rehab. 

He easily shared a little about his life. He had been drinking heavily for 34 years. He had 2 granddaughters, 1 and 3, and said he wanted to live to see them go to prom. When he talked to his family about stopping drinking, they were ALL quick to encourage him.   He had some doubts he could make it through rehab. I kept telling him I know you can do this. That seemed to help. I hope he makes it.

While substance abuse is out of scope for my work in hypnotherapy with clients, I can help with changing mindsets – encouraging clients on their rehab journey.  Affirmations can be a great help in changing your mind about who you are with and without substances.      

If you are dependent on addictive substances to help you relax or enjoy life, you may have a problem.  Along with your treatment, hypnotherapy can provide alternative ways of coping, feeling better about yourself in social situations and dealing with difficult situations.

Using addictive substances can also be an attempt to cope with a traumatic event in your life.  Again, hypnotherapy can provide another way of viewing that event, making it less impactful on your daily life.

I also encourage weight loss clients to carefully monitor their alcohol intake.  Alcohol consists of empty calories and can reduce your willpower when watching what you eat.

If you would like to discuss how hypnotherapy might be helpful on your journey, please reach out. Call for a free consultation (818-929-4944) or join my free Hypnotherapy Q & A every Wednesday at 10 am PST.

You can register here.

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0lfu6trjIvGNZ8XkMGblRSB97cmXEKVT6p

Sincerely,

Cinda

HypnoNews and Resources

Here are some articles with more information:

What to Know About Hypnosis for Alcoholism

https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/what-to-know-hypnosis-alcoholism

Hypnosis Won’t Make You Stop Drinking Overnight, but It May Help

https://www.healthline.com/health/substance-use/hypnosis-for-drinking

Five Coping Strategies for Eating Challenges During the Holidays

Welcome to the ‘December’ holiday season! Holidays come with foods – Christmas Eve/Day, eight Nights/Days of Hanukkah and New Year’s Eve/Day all have the potential for big family dinners or fun parties.  If you are trying to watch and control your weight during the holidays, here are five strategies you can use:

1.       If you are going to a party and you are not sure that there will be food on your plan, eat the food you should be eating prior to going to the party or event.  No one needs to know that you have eaten and trust me, they will not notice if you are not eating.  Parties are all about having fun and that does not need to include overeating or drinking.  If you don’t want to drink alcohol, get a fizzy beverage or volunteer to be a designated driver for the evening.

2.       Consider allowing yourself a “cheat meal” or “cheat food” that is very special to you for the holiday.  Maybe your mother’s stuffing recipe has always been your favorite memory of the holidays – enjoy that and skip other foods that may be unhealthy for you.

3.       Practice self-care. Indulge in a mani/pedi or a new outfit that makes you feel special.  Nourish yourself with care instead of food.

4.       See the holidays as separate events – one dinner at a time.  It is much easier to focus on eating healthy for shorter periods of time than the whole month of holidays. 

5.       Planning ahead is always vital when it comes to managing your eating.  This is even truer at the holidays.  Take a calendar and map out what events you are planning to attend and what your strategy will be for each event.  Having a plan gives you the ability to be in control.

If you keep an Affirmations Journal as part of your daily practice, you may also want to add some holiday season specific affirmations. Here are some samples to consider:

•   I enjoy sticking to my food plan.

•   I plan my meals ahead of time.

•   I take care of myself.

•   I enjoy being with family and friends.

For more information about how to cope with holiday eating challenges, please give me a call (818-929-4944) to schedule a free consultation or join us any Wednesday on my Hypnotherapy Q and A. You can register here.

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0lfu6trjIvGNZ8XkMGblRSB97cmXEKVT6p

Happy Holidays!

Sincerely,

Cinda

HypnoNews and Resources

Check out this article for some myth-busting!

https://www.prevention.com/health/a34384918/holiday-weight-gain-myths/

Holidays do not have to mean weight gain.  Each of these articles has more good suggestions.

https://bewell.stanford.edu/avoiding-holiday-weight-gain/ https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/yes-you-can-avoid-weight-gain-over-the-holidays-2019112518309

Three Core Coping Strategies for Holiday Stress

Welcome to the ‘December’ holiday season!  This time of year can bring opportunities for fun and joy. But for many of us the bundle of events from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day raises our stress to uncomfortable, even unhealthy levels.

Holiday season stress triggers vary from one individual to another. Some of the more common situations might include:

• Gift shopping pressure, shortages, budget challenges, inflation ·        

• Traveling to holiday destinations

• Loneliness, spending holidays away from those you love

• Obligations to plan/host parties and get-togethers

• Social pressure to overindulge in food and drink

• Conflicts with family members

When I work with a client on managing stress, we focus on their particular situation and triggers. However, I teach every stress management client about the three core coping strategies that everyone can use.

1.      Take a moment and think about what is important to you during the holidays.  What makes the holidays the most meaningful?  Is it finding the perfect present, appreciating the spiritual meaning of the holiday for you, cooking gifts for family and friends, or celebrating being together with your family?  Whatever you decide, make this your focus.  You may want to sit down with family and friends and let them know what your focus will be this holiday if it is different than usual.

2.       Practice self-care. Plan time in your schedule for a massage, bubble bath or simply relaxing.  Find a like-minded friend to do something special with.

3.       Ask for help.  If you are overwhelmed because you are the designated host for events, include others in the planning process and encourage them to volunteer to help decorate, cook, clean-up, wrap presents, etc.  They will enjoy being asked to participate.

If you keep an Affirmations Journal as part of your daily practice, you may also want to add some holiday season specific affirmations. Here are some samples to consider:

• I plan and focus on what is important to me this holiday

• I take care of myself by communicating my needs to others

• I willingly ask for and accept help  

For more information about how to cope with holiday season stress, please give me a call (818-929-4944) to schedule a free consultation or join us any Wednesday on my Hypnotherapy Q and A. You can register here..

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0lfu6trjIvGNZ8XkMGblRSB97cmXEKVT6p

Happy Holidays!

Sincerely,

Cinda

HypnoNews and Resources

Dr. Haqqani talks more about how holiday stress can affect us:

https://www.ourmidland.com/opinion/voices/article/Dr-Haqqani-The-impact-of-holiday-stress-16645608.php

From the Heart Association, more ideas for coping:

https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/holiday-stress-try-our-top-5-tips-for-a-healthy-holiday-season

Pre- and Post-Surgery Hypnosis

“Patients who utilize hypnotherapy before a surgical procedure are doing both themselves and their doctors a favor,”explains Pierre-Etienne Vannier, MSc, CHt, a French-born mind-body practitioner.  “’Before’ is a really important step because, when you're able to reduce anxiety and tension, you help your body be ready for the procedure. When you have a more regulated nervous system, it makes the work much easier for everybody.”

After experiencing pain in my thumbs that made me cry each day after work, I had surgery to fix the severe arthritis.  Before each surgery, I envisioned the surgery successfully alleviating the pain.  As I went under anesthesia, I went to my special place to become extra calm and relaxed.  The doctor was impressed with how quickly my thumbs healed each time.  Since the surgeries I have been completely pain free and have been able to resume my hobbies of knitting and crocheting.  (Last year I made over 25 scarves and hats for the homeless.)

“It’s very empowering for people to be able to be in control of their pain and recovery,” Vannier says. Feeling empowered improves healing. Carol Ginandes, PhD, a Harvard psychologist and researcher, has been studying the effects of hypnotherapy on healing for decades. In 1999, she and Daniel Rosenthal, MD, a Harvard radiologist, showed that ankle fracture patients who practiced hypnotherapy showed improvement in healing, as evidenced by medical imaging, when compared to patients who did not use hypnotherapy. The patients had quicker recovery times, greater mobility, and less pain, and therefore needed less pain medication.

I also had debilitating pain in both shoulders. I could not get dressed easily.  Exercising and moving my shoulders was very difficult and painful.  When I finally had surgery on them, whenever I felt discomfort, I sent healing light and additional blood flow to that area with my mind.  My doctors expressed surprise as they told me I was healing faster than they expected.  My mobility was much better than earlier anticipated.

Post-surgery can be a good time to pamper yourself.  Getting enough rest, eating and drinking fluids help the healing process. Let others help you.

Wouldn’t you rather heal more quickly and have better results?  If you have a surgery in your future, you can consider pre and post-surgery hypnotherapy to help you reduce anxiety and tension and achieve faster healing. Please give me a call (818-929-4944) or join us any Wednesday on my Hypnotherapy Q and A. You can register here..

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0lfu6trjIvGNZ8XkMGblRSB97cmXEKVT6p

Sincerely,

Cinda

HYPNONEWS AND RESOURCES

For more information on surgery and hypnosis, here are two articles:

https://www.reliasmedia.com/articles/63334-mounting-evidence-on-the-benefits-of-perioperative-hypnosis

https://aedit.com/aedition/hypnotherapy-for-cosmetic-surgery-sedation-recovery-pain

Nine Things You Can Do To Help Yourself Sleep Better

Recently I worked with a client who was not sleeping well.  At his second appointment, he reported that he had had his first good night’s sleep in years. If you are one of the millions of people who don’t get the sleep you need, here are some of the things I shared with my client that he could do to lock in his better sleep habits.

1. Try and get to sleep by 10 pm every night.  Your body produces a very beneficial hormone for brain function and physical endurance.  The best hours for production of this hormone are between 10 pm and 12 am.

2. Sleep in a dark bedroom.  Melatonin is produced when the sun is down and it is dark where you are sleeping.  If necessary, invest in blackout curtains or shades.

3. No screen time 90 minutes before bed.  Blue light close to bedtime suppresses melatonin production.

4. Get as much sunshine as possible during the day. This helps your body’s circadian rhythm so that your body knows when to sleep and when to be awake.

5. A warm bath actually cools you and when you are cooler you get a better night’s sleep.  For sore muscles, Epsom salts can be helpful.  My favorite – Epson salt with lavender and bubbles.

6. The old fashioned remedy of a cup of warm milk actually works – even better with raw honey, saffron, nutmeg or poppy seeds.

7. Short naps are beneficial to your health – people who nap reduce their risk of heart disease death by 37%.  Take a couple a week, but not close to bedtime.

8. Take a tip from Indian feng shui expert Michael Mastro and sleep with your head in the south or east.  This can help with blood flow, circulation and digestion.

9. Try hypnotherapy – working with affirmations and gratefulness can help get you in a better place to sleep well every night.

I’d love to chat with you about how to help you sleep better

Give me a call (818-929-4944) or join us any Wednesday on my Hypnotherapy Q & A. Register here: 
 https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tdeGtqTkuGtZCVlhQCzVEeRkxbTigRbBW

Sincerely,

Cinda

HYPNONEWS AND RESOURCES

Here’s exactly what lack of sleep can do to your body.  Lack of Sleep.  Can It Make You Sick?  https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/insomnia/expert-answers/lack-of-sleep/faq-20057757

And another one:  What Not Enough Sleep Does to Your Body, Say Doctors

www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/not-enough-sleep-does-body-110204841.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFKM2S8GTeSSuULlKf7mTCl0V3WevsouyjalpHTEwAo4q7o1W1xMLven3CGT8jW4sgWWD

Pregnancy - Preeclampsia and White Coat Syndrome

It’s 10:00 a.m. on Thursday morning. You are pregnant and on your way to a 24 week checkup with your doctor. Your mood is excited, happy and confident as you muse about cute baby clothes, a name for the baby, shopping for a crib, and taking a healthy baby home from hospital.

One month ago, however, coming home from your 20 week checkup, your mood was much more anxious and distressed. The nurse practitioner had taken your blood pressure and other vitals. The doctor came to talk with you and shared her concern that your blood pressure was higher than normal and you might have preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia or toxemia is a potentially dangerous complication of pregnancy that is usually diagnosed by high blood pressure and water retention.  Your doctor talked about possibly prescribing oral or IV medications and monitoring you more frequently. There was even a possibility that the baby might have to be delivered early.

Back at home you began checking you own blood pressure readings on various days at various times. All your readings were within normal range. Hmmm! Could it be that you have White Coat Syndrome?

Google to the rescue! You learn that White Coat Syndrome means that your blood pressure reads high when taken in the stressful atmosphere of the doctor’s office but routinely reads normal when monitored in the calm environment at home. You also learn that Hypnotherapy can be very effective in training you to better control your blood pressure in anxious, stressful situations.

If you actually have preeclampsia, you should be appropriately treated by your physician. If White Coat Syndrome is triggering high blood pressure at your doctor’s office, hypnotherapy may help you to avoid unneeded medicine and medical interventions in your pregnancy.

In Hypnotherapy, you can gain skills to cope with your stress and anxiety.  You can learn how to anchor the calm and relaxed feeling that you feel in hypnosis to a physical trigger that you can use whenever you need. 

You will discover what you are telling yourself each day about your stress and replace that self-talk with a set of positive affirmations that are authentic and powerful for your particular situation. These affirmations will be embedded in your subconscious mind under hypnosis and you will learn how to reinforce them with daily practice. 

In my practice I have worked with many pregnant women whose doctors were concerned that they may be developing preeclampsia.  These women knew that they had “white coat syndrome.”  They wanted to have their blood pressure reading at the doctor’s office be as low as it was when they were at home.  Working together, we empowered them to approach their doctor visits with calm, relaxed confidence that they could keep their White Coat Syndrome blood pressure readings in the normal range. They did and they each delivered a healthy baby at term. 

For more information about these topics please see: 

Preeclampsia defined:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/preeclampsia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355745

White-Coat Hypertension and Masked Hypertension:

https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/w/white-coat-hypertension-and-masked-hypertension.html

For a free hypnotherapy consultation you are invited to call 818-929-4944 or join us any Wednesday on my Hypnotherapy Q & A. Register here: 
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tdeGtqTkuGtZCVlhQCzVEeRkxbTigRbBW 

Sincerely,

Cinda