STOPTOBER 2017

Stoptober kicks off on 1st October.  Over 1 million people have taken part in the campaign since its launch.

Smoking is the biggest cause of preventable deaths in England and nearly 80,000 people die of it every year.  1.5 million people have a smoking related disease (NHS).

In reality, statistics like this don't really have a huge impact on smokers.  In my hypnotherapy practice the issues that drive clients to stop are usually quoted as:

• my health is actually being affected - I am out of breath, less fit and coughing

• the cost is getting difficult to manage 

• my teeth are becoming discoloured

• it smells

• it is making me look older than I am

• it's no longer doing anything for me - its just a habit now that I don't really enjoy

If you smoke 20 cigarettes a day and you stop smoking on 16th October, by Christmas you will have saved £700! 

If you feel ready to quit, try hypnotherapy.  It is easy, pleasant and effective.  Two things are required:  1 - you need to want to stop (I'm not bothered if you think it will be difficult or you are not sure if you can - I will deal with those in the session). 2 - you still need a bit of will -power.  I can't take away that last little bit of free will but I will get as close as I possibly can!

I am a Certified Smoking Cessation Specialist (Cert SCS).  I am a Senior Qualified Specialist on the Central Register of Stop Smoking and the Fylde therapist for National Stop Smoking Centres.

Try hypnotherapy and make a huge change to your life and your health.  Contact me for more information or to make an appointment.

Generalised Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety has almost certainly been part of our human existence for ever. The Greeks and Romans began to identify phobia and anxiety and these "afflictions" as they were called, are documented by Hippocrates and Cicero.

Everyone feels anxious at certain times in their life such as during exams, in an interview or in difficult work situations.  Anxiety at these times is normal and the shot of adrenaline that you feel can actually boost your performance. This type of anxiety is short-lived and passes once the event is resolved.

However, some people can feel anxious most days and often for no identifiable reason.  If these feelings go on for months, then you could have Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD).

The symptoms of GAD are:

• restlessness

• a sense of dread

• feeling constantly "on edge"

• difficulty concentrating

• irritability

• dizziness

• tiredness

• trembling

• feeling sick

• palpitations

• dry mouth

• muscle aches

• pins and needles

• shortness of breath.

If you have these symptoms you should consult a GP who will talk to you and find out if you have GAD.  They may then offer counselling and possibly antidepressants.

GAD can be very difficult to live with and also hard to explain to others, who often give advice to "stop worrying because everything will be alright" which consciously you might know but subconsciously can seem like such a huge hurdle to overcome. Each day can be filled with "what if...?" and chronic uncontrolled worrying which interferes with everyday life.

Hypnotherapy can be effective in GAD by helping you to relax mentally and emotionally and helping your brain process information about the world around you in a different way.  This leads to greater feelings of calmness, well-being and positivity. 

Get Fit and Healthy in 2017

Public Health England warned yesterday that fast food, desk jobs and the daily grind are all taking their toll on our health.

According to PHE:

"Eight in every 10 people aged 40 to 60 in England are overweight, drink too much or get too little exercise."

They want people to turn over a new leaf in 2017 and make a pledge to get fit.  Although we are living longer than ever, we are in worse health due to the lifestyle that we lead, especially in middle age.

Hypnotherapy can help you eat healthily - not diet - but change your eating habits so that you eat a variety of food in the right amounts, stopping when you are full and, importantly, eating only when you are hungry.  Modern life is extremely demanding and difficult for most people and hypnotherapy for weight control also looks at ways to help you deal with stress, low self-esteem and the general feeling of being overwhelmed or out of control.  

Some people also want to reduce their alcohol intake or stop it altogether and perhaps begin an exercise regime or do some regular walking.  It is never too late to start and it is a lot easier to make these changes with help and support.

Let 2017 be a fresh start for you - give hypnotherapy a go to help you get back on track and turn over that new leaf.