When faced
with a war, you want
multiple
weapons
in that
war chest.
I am not here
to replace any
of your weapons...
only to
show
you
a powerful one
to add
to
your arsenal.
Arm yourself
in this battle and
attack it
from all angles.
The reliance
on alternative
practitioners
including
homeopaths,
hypnotists, and herbalists
has
grown
by nearly 50% during the 1990's.
More hospitals
nationwide are building
integrative
medical
departments
and offering
such things as
biofeedback,
acupuncture,
and hypnosis.
Even the
United States
Congress
is involved in
this
movement.
In 1998,
Congress established the
National Center
for
Complementary
and Alternative Medicine
(NCCAM)
at the
National
Institute
of Health (NIH).
The purpose
of the NCCAM
is to stimulate,
develop,
and support
research
on complementary
and alternative medicine.
A survey
published in 1994
reveals
that more than
60%
of doctors from a wide
range
of specialties
recommend
alternative
therapies to their patients
at
least once.
In addition,
47% of the
doctors
in this
study
reported using alternative therapies
themselves.
The Mind Connection
When discussing the mind model,
I must give
credit
to Gerald Kein,
a master hypnotist from Florida
who is
responsible for making
such
a
complicated
system
as the
mind,
easy to
understand.
The easiest way to explain it
is to
view the mind
as 2 parts,
the outer stoic
conscious
mind,
and the inner emotional
subconscious mind.
Let's concentrate on the part
of the mind
the hypnotist
specializes in:
the inner mind.
The subconscious, is a very powerful
part
and
plays a
crucial
role
in chronic illnesses.
As you
read about
its functions,
keep in mind
that hypnosis
allows us
to access this
"inner mind".
Since we live
in a high-tech world,
I'll use the
computer analogy.
Think of the
subconscious
mind
as your
inner organic
computer.
When you
are born,
this computer
has no
programming,
it only
has the
operating system.
As you
begin your
journey in life,
this computer
receives
programming
from your environment and
through your
senses.
This
programming
makes
you
who you are today!
The subconscious mind is also
responsible
for your
permanent
memory.
Everything
you've
ever known or
experienced
is stored
in that
memory,
whether or not
you
recall
it consciously
is a different matter.
The subconscious
mind
is goal
oriented,
stick a goal in
front
of it
and
it will
relentlessly
work
24hrs/day,
7 days/week
to achieve it. It will not stop until
that goal is met,
regardless of how long it may take
or what
that goal
may entail.
Your habits and
self-perception
are
also
stored at this inner level.
Finally, your automatic body functions
take
place
at
the subconscious level:
breathing,
circulation, healing,
digestion,
and elimination.
Manifestation of an illness
This concept is best explained
by the
model
set forth
by
Stephen Parkhill,
author of
Answer Cancer
The Healing
of a Nation.
He is a hypnotist from Florida
who has
worked
with thousands
of chronically ill
clients
and has led
many of them
onto
healthier lives.
An illness
is born
with what
we call
an
initial sensitizing
event
(henceforth referred to as an ISE).
This event is the original seed
planting
of the
condition.
The
ISE
is simply an event
the person was
involved
in
where
they
lacked
sufficient
resources
to deal
with the
situation at
the time.
Some
of the resources they may
have lacked include:
their ability to fight back,
age,
coping
mechanisms;
there are
hundreds
of others.
There is a
"gatekeeper"
which stands guard
at the
subconscious level.
It's called
the critical factor and protects
the subconscious
mind from
incoming suggestions and programs
that are not in line
with its belief system.
The ISE
is able to
bypass the
critical factor (usually
because they
didn't have one
at the time,
they may
have been
too young,
or because
of the
intensity of the
event
and lack of resources)
and a
program
is embedded.
According to Mr. Parkhill, the ISE
of any
negative
symptom
carries
a program that is
self
destructive
in nature.
The ISE
is then
reinforced and compounded
through a series
of subsequent
sensitizing (SSE)
that are usually
negative in nature.
Remember that goal achieving
subconscious
mind,
it's also
very
opportunistic
in nature.
When the
opportunity arises,
the
self-destructive
program
manifests itself
into a
physical
or
mental symptom.
Some people have difficulty
accepting the
idea that
your
mind can create
physical changes,
but has
the following
ever happened
to you?
Have you ever
gotten the "butterflies"
before
a very
important event?
Has your face ever blushed in a
real
embarrassing situation?
Did you
ever drive yourself into a
fever as a
child
in order
to miss
that dreadful math test?
These are
just small examples
of the mind body
connection at work.
As you probably already know, many
chronic
illnesses
involve more than
one symptom.
Think of the
layout of
bowling pins.
The ISE (original event)
is that
lonely
bowling
pin in the front,
the SSE
(following events
that
reinforce
the original)
make up the
middle
portion,
and the symptoms
make
up the back row.
Our medical
community
does its best
at addressing the symptoms.
They may
go after the symptoms
through different
combinations
of drugs,
physical therapy, and in some cases
surgery.
This can sometimes
bring on
relief of the
symptology
although the side effects
in the
case
of drugs
can sometimes be
hefty
and intolerable.
There are times
when a symptom can be eliminated,
yet another may pop up
in its place.
What is happening here?
The original
event
has
not been addressed.
The original seed
of self-destructive
behavior is still
in force and
flexes its might
by producing
a
different symptom,
or by
making the original
even more
severe.
Our mental
professionals
(psychiatrists,
psychologists, counselors) work
with the rational part of your
mind which is
located at
the conscious level.
They try
and help
you determine why you do
the things you do.
By addressing
the subsequent events
that occurred
in your
life
they may
help you
deal with those
clusters
of emotions
that
are
attached
to your
illness and stuck
in that vicious cycle.
Then finally, there's the realm
of the hypnotist.
Hypnosis allows us to sneak past the
critical
factor (gatekeeper)
and access that inner mind.
The hypnotist
is able to take a
person back
to the original
event
and with the help
of the
client,
change its perception
thus destroying
the root of the symptom.
This
tears
out
the self-destructive
program
and can put the client
on the path to wellness
and
improvement of his condition.
It is equivalent to bowling
a strike
and hitting
that 1st pin
head on,
the rest of the
structure goes down with it.
Some of the other professionals I
previously mentioned
understand the
power of this, and have
incorporated
hypnosis
into their practice.
However, this
technique
remains the
bread and
butter
of every
skilled
hypnotist
specializing in the
mind body connection.
The skilled hypnotist also has other tools in his
war
chest
to address issues such
as secondary gains.
Secondary gains are the benefits that a person
may receive for having the symptoms.
Although
consciously we probably
want
to be healthy,
your
subconscious mind
may interpret neglected duties,
extra attention,
and monetary compensation from an
injury
as a great thing.
The illness
gets perceived
as a benefit.
This is
an issue
that would
most likely
have to be dealt with.
Finally,
the hypnotist can
use the suggestive
approach
as the "icing on the cake"
by offering
positive suggestions
for health and well
being
to the
client
so that it will become part of his
belief system.
Thanks to Hollywood films and the stage show
hypnotists,
there are lot of misconceptions
about
hypnosis
and its use.
Most
people don't realize
that hypnosis
is a natural state
that we experience
on a
daily basis.
Everybody
can experience this
natural
phenomenon providing
they
have no fears
or misconceptions and want to be
hypnotized.
It is
the duty of a properly
trained
hypnotist
to explain that
during the process
you are
completely conscious
and in full control
at all times.
The American Medical
Association ,
American Psychiatric Association,
and the
British Medical Association
have all approved
hypnosis
as a viable therapeutic tool.
Taking Responsibility.
The role of a patient in the doctor and client
model should properly be viewed as
a partnership.
Remember the old saying:
"Money can buy you
anything except your health."
That's a very powerful
statement.
Think of how
powerful money is, yet,
all the money in the world
meets its limits
when faced
with certain health issues.
There is
hope
though, and that hope comes
in the
form of knowledge.
Knowledge
is power.
Learn everything that
you can on your
condition
and don't be afraid to discuss
it with your doctor.
Remember
what I stated
early on in the
first
article about
that war chest,
fill it up!
Don't limit
yourself,
find out
what else
can help you
in your fight
and use it
to
your advantage.
Gain access
to cutting edge conventional
care
and technology
through the
medical community,
coupled with a
more
holistic approach
that
emphasizes
the mind/body connection.
You
now understand the role the
mind
plays in an illness.
This is your time to take back
control in your life,
instead of
letting life control you.
You take power
away from your
illness
just by
taking a step or
steps
to be back in control.
Talk to your doctor
about the benefits
of
easily overlooked ideas such
as
more sleep,
healthy diets,
supplements, exercise,
and the elimination
of addictive substances.
Ask him/her to help you some of these
topics,
you'd be amazed
at the progress you can make by
taking
initiative in your path to a
healthier life.
Robert Espinosa is a Certified
Hypnotherapist/Hypnocounselor
in Clifton, New Jersey
and the Director
of the
MINDsolutions
Hypnosis Center.
He specializes in helping people
that suffer from fibromyalgia,
chronic fatigue,
cancer,
and other
chronic illnesses
upon medical referral.
For more information you can write to \
Mr. Espinosa
at 65 Van Riper Ave,
Clifton, NJ 07011.
By email: [email protected].
By telephone: (973) 253-9706.
You can also visit his website
http://www.hypnotize.bigstep.com
From the Owners and Operators Of
Our Chronic Pain Mission ®. Copyright © 2000
Please note that all material contained herein is provided for informational purposes only and
should not be considered as medical advice or instruction. Consult your health care professional for
advice relating to a medical problem or condition.
EMAIL US AT:
[email protected] |
[O.C.P.M. All rights reserved]
From the Owners and Operators Of
Our Chronic Pain Mission
®. Copyright © 2000
Please note that all material contained herein is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice or instruction.
Consult your health care professional for advice relating to a medical problem or condition.
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