Waterford Hypnosis Blog

Thursday, 7 August 2014

Stress and Hypnosis Part 1 - Good Stress, Bad Stress and the Dangers

Welcome to the first of a five part series on 'Stress and Hypnosis'. Over the course the series I will be having a look at the dangers of stress - especially 'continual' stress, while giving some tips and recommendations on how to manage and reduce stress. Join me over the next few blogs as I have look at why, in a five year period my 'Reduce Stress and Increase Confidence' program has become my most popular hypnosis program. In the current economic climate negative thoughts are abound caused by money, work, etc., and many stresses often result. Studies have shown that 75% to 90% of all doctor's office visits are related to stress.

The good news is that I will be showing you that everything is not outside of your control and how you can gain control of your thoughts and emotions; How hypnosis can help reduce the chances of health risks, emotionally, mentally and physically, so that you can live a fuller, a richer and a more expressive life. And finally how you can increase the effectiveness in which you cope with the stressful world that surrounds you. Even though I cannot snap my fingers and make your problems go away, I can help and show you how to be more resourceful to meet any challenge that may come your way.

There are two types of stress - 'good' and 'bad' stress. Yes amazingly sometimes a small amount of stress can actually be good! This stress, called 'Eu-stress', helps us learn new things, adapt to change and engage in creative thinking. We all experience good stress on a daily basis. An example of good stress is the stress that it makes us aware of danger - yes good stress can literally save your life. 'Eu stress', pronounced YOU-stress, is a term coined by endocrinologist 'Hans Selye' who studied the impact of stress on the mind and body. Eu comes from the Greek meaning well or good and suggests that there is indeed such a thing as healthy stress.

excited, thrilled, proud, resilient, determined, fulfilled or in a state of flow. Distressing and tough circumstances can also lead us to experience healthy eustress – as we learn to cope and develop greater strength, determination and courage - See more at: http://www.thecoachingtoolscompany.com/eustress-stress-we-may-need-more-of/#sthash.9niutjBY.dpuf

Eustress, pronounced YOU-stress, is a term coined by endocrinologist Hans Selye who studied the impact of stress on the mind and body. Eu comes from the Greek meaning well or good and suggests that there is indeed such a thing as healthy stress. - See more at: http://www.thecoachingtoolscompany.com/eustress-stress-we-may-need-more-of/#sthash.9niutjBY.dpuf

However, 'bad stress' can kill you. Here is why this is so: The human bodies 'stress' reaction, "The flight or fight response" is inbuilt into us to protect us. The almost primeval instinct that thousands of years ago protected us from danger. But when it is constantly on alert, this 'continual stress' can have a severe impact on our health. Science is now coming to understand the vastly complex connection of our biology and our emotions, the endless ways in which our thoughts and feelings both reflect and influence the events in our bodies. The understanding is that extreme stress can adversely affect us. In short - stress can make you sick - and even kill you. In fact many of the damaging diseases of today can be either caused by or made far worse by stress. The long term activation of the stress response system - and the subsequent over exposure to cortisol and other stress hormones - can disrupt all of your bodies processes. There is a good reason that 'stress' is sometimes referred to as 'the silent killer'.

Here are some of the risks and dangers of bad stress:

- Stress is linked to the six leading causes of death: Heart disease, cancer, lung aliments, accidents, liver cirrhosis and suicide.

- Stress can lead to 'hair loss' - can being up to three months after a stressful event.

- Stress can lead to high blood pressure and chest pains.

- Stress alters the neuro-chemical makeup of the body. This can for example affect fertility in a female, as it effects the release of the human egg, while also causing the uterus and fallopian tubes to spasm, all of which of course affect implantation. For males, stress can lower sperm count and cause erectile dysfunction. In fact stress many account for 30% of all infertility problems.

- The stress hormone 'cortisol' causes abdominal fat to accumulate and enlarges individual fat cells, leading to what is commonly known as 'diseased fat'.

- Stress worsens (and in many cases causes) 'Irritable Bowel Syndrome' (IBS) a condition that irritates the large intestine and causes constipation, cramping and bloating.

- Stress can lead to chronic insomnia (caused by the hyper-arousal of the body's stress response system).

- Stress weakens the body's immune system.

Therefore it is essential to take steps to control your stress. As a Consulting Hypnotist I help my clients focus, programming and reinforcing healthy habits with hypnosis, so as to help reduce and prevent the harmful results stress can cause.

I really hope that you enjoyed the first part of this series and found it informational. Tune in again soon when I will be discussing how important it is to have a positive 'thought process' and how that leads to putting you in control of your feelings and emotions. I will also be showing some easy, safe and simple ways to reduce stress, that literally everyone can learn and use. Everyone can benefit by reducing and managing their 'bad' stress. My Hypnosis Stress Reduction-Confidence Building Program is 3 sessions over 3 weeks and costs 195 euros.

My name is Trevor Eivers and I am based in Waterford, Ireland. I am a Certified Consulting Hypnotist (since 2010) with the National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH), which is the largest hypnosis body in the world with over 14,000 members in 83 different countries worldwide. I am also a Certified NLP practitioner. I love my job in which I help everyday people with everyday issues. Contact me at 086-8211677 or check me out online at waterford-hypnosis.com or Facebook at : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trevor-Eivers-Hypnosis/177881245578285

Friday, 11 July 2014

Hypnosis and Fears

Welcome to my 17th blog post. Wow time has flown since I started this blog in April 2013. It just shows how many things hypnosis can be used for; when I am just getting around to talking about 'Fears' now, which is the third most common reason people book an appointment with me. Fears are quite common, with people coming to see me for help with a 'fear of spiders'; 'fear of flying'; 'fear of dogs' and even 'fear of having a fear'! Some famous people even have debilitating fears including Dutch footballer Dennis Bergkamp (flying); Blink182 drummer Travis Barker (flying); Nicole Kidman (Butterflys) and Johnny Depp (Spiders), to name a few.

None of us are born with 'fears' (except the fear of falling and the fear of loud noises). Fears are actually something that we 'learn' (usually from parents) and take on as we grow up and experience life. Last Halloween for example, a group of children knocked on my door playing 'trick or treat'. They were wearing the scariest masks you ever seen .... and I answered with my 6 month old daughter in my arms, and unlike me, who for a split second was admittedly taken aback by very real masks of werewolves, witches and Jason from Friday the 13th!, my daughter playfully attempted to grab the masks that they were wearing, while wearing a big smile. No fear at all.

Unfortunately we pick up a lot of fears from those people that influence us at that very suggestible age between 3-10. A few months back I witnessed one of my family members screaming 'SPIDER! SPIDER! SPIDER!' in the presence of her little son, who looked very afraid. At that point I stepped in and told him that 'the spider was lost' and 'he is much more afraid of us than we are of him', and 'shall we bring him home to his mommy and daddy who will be worrying about him?' I then proceeded to get an empty glass and a piece of paper and, gently removed our eight legged friend from the wall and placed him safe and sound out in the back garden. All the while the fascinated little boy, following me to see what I was up to. A few weeks passed and I then heard back that all of a sudden it seemed that for the while it seemed like this little boys mission to save spiders!

In saying all that above, it might surprise people that on most occasions I do not do an age regression back to the (usually uncomfortable) situation in which a person picked up a fear. Instead I help people detach from the emotions of their fears, making them seem insignificant. Just thinking about it differently in the present moment. Helping people to have a new automatic way of thinking and therefore feeling. Change is permanent because it happens at the subconscious level. I also teach my clients techniques like 'mindfulness' and a simple 'breathing exercise' to help them be in control in any vulnerable situations. Even using a hypnotic induction like 'progressive muscle relaxation' will help my clients to take control over their bodies. Whatever technique I use, they usually see a dramatic improvement in their ability to function and think regarding the fear situation.

It is important to note though that we all have fears at some level and sometimes they serve a purpose and keep us out of harms way. However the key is that fear should be our 'servant' and not 'our master'. In many cases I am not looking to remove the fear completely (although if that happens great!), but instead to reduce it, by 20% or up to 80%, sometimes more. For someone with a 'fear of spiders' for example, I am not asking them to go to the pet shop

and buy a pet tarantula once the session is finished. What is important is that the majority of my clients notice that they are less fearful and can control their thoughts and emotions. What's important is that we have utilized the trance state to address their fear.

My 'Hypnosis for Fears' program consists of 3 sessions and costs 195 euros.

Well folks that is all for this time around. I hope you enjoyed reading my blog and please tune in soon for my 18th blog post.

Thursday, 19 June 2014

Hypnosis Can Help You Reach Your Ideal Weight - For Good!

Recent studies have shown that the Overweight and Obesity problem in Ireland is getting worse. A report produced by the national task force on obesity from the Department of Health, reported that in Ireland at the present time, 39% of adults are overweight and 18% are obese. This research provided evidence that foods that are high in fat, sugar and starch are the most significant promoters of weight gain, as well as lack of exercise. Looking around during the current spell of good weather it seems to me, at times nearly every second person (as the research indicates) is overweight at some level.

The current obesity problem is a sad reality in the current world we live in. It is not easy for people to make the correct choices with the constant bombardment of advertising for fast food, fizzy drinks and the rest. However there are solutions! I give regular talks in the Waterford area, at which I always give a few tips for weight loss. The first of these tips is to look for ‘permanent change’ and 'hypnosis' can help find the key to this change. Most people look for ‘quick fixes’ and there are many diets out there that fit the bill. Unfortunately, diets mostly fail because it promotes a short term mind set, disregards physical activity and makes you feel hungry and tired. The old habits and lifestyle choices soon return and so does the weight.

The second tip I gave is that all tastes are ‘learned’. When we are born, we just have a taste for mother’s milk, but every taste from that point on is learned and acquired. So we can develop tastes for anything. Try eating a food that you don’t like for 21 days and by the 22^nd day I bet you will have acquired a taste for that food! Our taste buds are constantly regenerating and go through a life cycle where they grow and then die away. In other words your preferences are not set in stone. Therefore it is possible to acquire tastes for healthy foods and 'hypnosis' can help fast track that change.

Hypnosis is a great tool to help you develop new healthy habits and lifestyle choices, as well as acquire a taste for healthy foods. My four session weight loss program is designed to empower people to achieve permanent change. It is not so much about getting to a figure, but developing a lifetime of making healthy lifestyle choices. Each session focuses on a different aspect of weight control, from eating the right foods to physical activity. It is a process of self-empowerment, assisting people by helping them discover the resources, wisdom and solutions, that are already contained within them. As a Consulting Hypnotist I provide you with the map, showing you the way to your ideal weight. Once the required steps are followed you will easily achieve success.

I recently helped this lady, who done her own video report on her first hypnosis session:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWBK3R-4zNg

Here is some more information and testimonials on my weight control program:

http://www.waterford-hypnosis.com/weightcontrol.html

My name if Trevor Eivers and I am based in Waterford, Ireland. I am a Certified Consulting Hypnotist (since 2010) with the National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH), which is the largest hypnosis body in the world with over 14,000 members in 83 different countries worldwide. I am also a Certified NLP practitioner. I love my job in which I help everyday people with everyday issues. Contact me at 086-8211677 or check me out online at waterford-hypnosis.com or Facebook at : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trevor-Eivers-Hypnosis/177881245578285

Friday, 6 June 2014

Trance States & Hypnosis - An Everyday Experience!

One of the most common questions I get is: 'Is there such a thing as 'trance' and 'is it real''? My answer is always absolutely 'yes'! However we often misunderstand what trance actually is. Trance is not about being a mindless zombie as portrayed in some Hollywood movie. Trance is something we experience everyday, as our brainwave activity cycles from high levels to low levels. We are actually in some kind of trance most of the day. Whether it be a work trance, parenting trance, doing the housework trance and even while you are reading this - a 'reading trance'. In fact all habits are really just a person stuck in a repetitive trance cycle which because of repetition is a deeply ingrained at the subconscious level of the mind.

When people come to my office, most are actually in a trance already. Whether it be a smoking trance; an over eating trance; a stressed out trance or a fear of flying trance to name a few. Hypnosis is the utilization of trance states towards a specific outcome. It helps snap people out of unproductive trances by changing their thinking and thought process at an automatic (subconscious) level. They commonly notice a dramatic improvement in their ability to control their thoughts and emotions in such an empowering way, adapting more positive trance states such a 'confidence trance' or 'eating healthy trance'! One of the ways I help them achieve this is to teach them 'self hypnosis', which literally means my clients are able to program themselves in so many helpful and productive ways. After all. 'all hypnosis is really self hypnosis'.

Yes life is hypnotic! Everything that occurs in hypnosis occurs in real life as well. For example have you ever had the situation where you could not find the keys of your car? And you searched high and low for them but to no avail? And then, just when you get fed up looking for them - you see them sitting on the kitchen table where they were all along? This is commonly referred to as 'negative hallucination', where literally we don't see something that is actually in front of us all along. Stage hypnotists tap into this natural phenomenon all the time. Daydreaming, watching TV or driving your car are other everyday examples of trance states and hypnosis. So to summarize, hypnosis and trance are a natural process that when utilized correctly provides so many benefits, from removing an unwanted habit, to increasing performance to eliminating a fear. Don't just take my word for it, check out here the many studies that show hypnosis works:

http://subliminalscience.com/research-studies-on-the-effectiveness-of-hypnosis.html#13

You can also read some of my many testimonials here:
http://www.waterford-hypnosis.com/testimonials.html

I hope you have enjoyed my latest blog and that it has given you some more insight into hypnosis and trance :)

Thursday, 8 May 2014

Hypnosis 'Programs' are much more effective!

I am going to take the opportunity in this blog post to answer a common question I get asked: "Why I no longer offer 'single' hypnosis sessions but instead offer multi session 'hypnosis programs'"?

I completed my National Guild of Hypnotist (NGH) training in November 2010 and when I first set up my hypnosis practice is December 2010, nearly every time I seen a client, it was for a one off session. I found the results mixed, some great, some good and some disappointing. Back then (as now) I was putting a huge effort into every session, looking at improving them all the time and making sure that I was continually up-scaling my skills to ensure I was providing the best possible service and experience to my clients. Of course since then I have obtained invaluable experience and I feel now that I providing a much better service than I was when I started. However one of the main factors contributing to this improvement has been because i now offer 'hypnosis programs' rather than 'single' sessions.

Here are a few of the many reasons that multi session 'hypnosis programs' are much preferable over 'single' sessions:

1. Multi session programs create a fantastic dynamic, as it shows that a person is willing to work with me to achieve a goal. I have found that with multi-sessions people commit to the hypnosis process a lot more. Most people understand that "Rome wasn't built in a day" and that the number one factor to success is how they commit to the process. As I mentioned in my last blog post - it would be unrealistic of me to expect that I would become an expert after just one piano lesson. Then once a person pays up front for the program we can then get down to work.

Single sessions create a 'quick-fix' and 'give it a go' half hearted dynamic that I am not looking for. Now even though results with hypnosis can be very quick, this is not the case for all. This is because everyone is different and people learn at different rates. In the general public there is always going to be a big variability in; among other factors: their motivation; commitment to the process; level of determination to succeed; ability to relax; ability to use their imaginations; and ultimately ability to be hypnotized. Multi

session programs allow me time to address all of these potential issues and gives time for a person to become comfortable in my hypnotic environment!

2. Even though I find that I can build up a rapport with most people when they come in for a first session, no two people are the same. The facts are, that it can take time to gain a persons trust/confidence and get to know someone. It can be a big ask (and a bit scary) for say an older person to come into see me and then relax and 'let go' beside a hypnotist that they have just met 30 minutes before. The more a person trusts me the more results that we can achieve. But this can take time. A multi-session approach allows all parties to relax and enjoy the process.

3. One of the elements that sets my hypnosis program apart is that I teach my clients many skills such as 'Self Hypnosis' and 'Mindfulness'. What I am really doing is empowering people to help themselves so that when they leave my office they can continue to 'program' themselves in so many helpful and beneficial ways. Once I teach a person a new technique, I always get them to practice it between then sessions. The multi-session approach gives me the opportunity to get feedback from the client, find out what techniques worked, what didn't, and then focusing on getting them right.

4. The three main hypnosis programs I offer are (1) Weight Control (4 sessions) 2. Stress Reduction/Confidence Building (3 sessions) and 3. Stop Smoking (2 sessions). I have put a lot of thought and effort has gone into the structure of these programs and what they contain. All of which of course is difficult to incorporate into a 90 minute single hypnosis session (which is the approx. time for the first session; all other sessions are approx. 60 minutes). But even then no two programs are the same. I adjust and tailor each program to fit the needs of each individual client. Depending on what comes out of the initial talk with the client (termed 'pre-talk' in hypno speak), I then decide on what on strategies and suggestions will work best to have a happy successful client leaving my office!

I hope you have enjoyed my latest blog and that it has given you some insights into why 'hypnosis programs' are much more effective than 'single' sessions. I am seeing great results from my hypnosis programs, so tell your friends that I can help them be successful too :)

Tuesday, 22 April 2014

Breaking Down The Barriers

A study done back in 2004 (Potter, 2004) found that 'public perception' is the greatest barrier to progress in the development of hypnotherapy, particularly due to the use of hypnosis in entertainment. This is confirmed by Modlin in 2004. Ten years later and it seems that that perception IS improving, but has still along way to go. I gave a talk on hypnosis recently in Ferrybank Library in Waterford. While promoting the talk I put together some posters and in the days preceding it went around to the local shops and businesses asking them to put up the posters. Now most people were great and very obliging; but I did come across this one lady who, after looking at the poster skeptically, proceeded to tell me all about her misinformed view on hypnosis. How it is 'spooky' and something to do with 'mind control'. After all she had seen that Keith Barry on the TV and he made someone do funny things ....

Thankfully, I find that most people in this day and age are fairly aware of what hypnosis is, and what benefits hypnotherapy can offer. But at the same time if I had a penny for the amount of people that have said to me 'Don't look in my eyes' I would be a rich man. For my part, I have done everything I can to dispel the myths and misconceptions around hypnosis. The last three years I have given over thirty public information talks in the South East area on 'the truth about hypnosis' and 'the many benefits' that it offers, from removing a habit to reducing stress to helping people relax. Research from around the world continues to demonstrate all these benefits. So that is what makes the misconceptions unfortunate - because they prevent people from obtaining these benefits.

Consulting Hypnotists teach people how to be successful with their lives in so many ways. We help them to create new behaviors and empower them to transform their lives. I say it at all my talks because it is so true that 'all hypnosis is self hypnosis'. That is why I teach 'self hypnosis' to all my clients. After they leave my office, not only have they been hypnotized into that creative focused state of mind we call hypnosis; and have received the helpful and beneficial suggestions they want me to give them (as well as any other hypnotic techniques I feel might be needed such as 'regression' and I will explain that in detail in a future blog), but are walking into the future ready to program their minds every day using self hypnosis. This leads to them feeling better in every way both physically and mentally.

Hypnosis is not a quick fix. It is a learning process. All the time when you are using hypnosis you are developing new neural pathways in your mind and building yourself up from within. So for example, coming to see me for my 'weight control' program, what you are really doing is 'learning how to live a lifestyle that leads to permanent weight loss'. I am learning the piano at the moment. I did not expect to get just one piano lesson and become proficient at it. I understand that to become really good on the piano I need to practice every day. Just like I would ask my clients to practice self hypnosis and the other techniques I teach them. To develop any new behaviour is the same. Can you see the parallels here?

If you 'practice' great accomplishments will occur. Unfortunately if people come to see a Consulting Hypnotist and do not follow instructions or practice what they are taught their successes will be limited. They are wasting my time and their own time. But when they commit to the process they are always more than happy with the results. Of course I am also always there to support my clients once the hypnosis program is completed. Clients with a weight loss issue or confidence issue are always assured that they can come in once a month for maintenance. I find that clients love to know that they can come back if they choose and that once their program is officially completed they are not on their own. They can continue to be successful.

I believe continued research will allow hypnotherapy to become a more mainstream tool and continue to develop and change the public perception. In the meantime it is up to us Consulting Hypnotists to spread the good news. I hope by reading this blog you have a better understanding of a hypnosis program and what it entails. Remember that hypnosis is a natural process which can really bring so many positive changes to your life. What's not to like?