Afternoon Talk in aid of Forest Holme Hospice

Here is the press release for my charity talk this afternoon:

Wednesday 12 October 2011 Afternoon Tea in aid of Forest Holme Hospice
Branksome Beach Restaurant

Poole-based hospice Forest Holme, will be serving up a hypnotic cream tea this autumn.
To help raise funds for the 10-bed hospice, which is dedicated to caring for patients with cancer and other life limiting illnesses, there will be a delicious afternoon tea served up with a lively talk by local hypnotherapy expert, Andy Cox.

Andy Cox runs Assured Effects Hypnotherapy, based in Poole and covering the whole of Dorset. He trained as a clinical hypnotherapist at the Surrey Institute of Clinical Hypnotherapy and is a member of the National Council of Hypnotherapy. He is also the resident Clinical Hypnotherapist at The Wimborne Clinic. Andy has lectured at Bath University and performed charity work in South Africa which was recognised at a reception at Buckingham Palace last year.

Andy's talk will reveal all you wanted to know about hypnosis but were afraid to ask! This event takes place at Branksome Beach Restaurant on Wednesday 12 October at 3pm. Tickets cost GBP 12 from Friends of Forest Holme Tel: 01202 670644.
www.friendsofforestholme.org.uk

Hypnosis Snippet

If something scares you the subconscious mind will seek to avoid the same or similar situations

Agoraphobia snippet

Agoraphobia may arise by the fear of having a panic attack in a setting from which there is no easy means of escape.

Healthy body - healthy mind!

People who take regular exercise during their free time are less likely to have symptoms of depression and anxiety

Hypnosis snippet - weight control

Obesity costs the British economy over £2bn every year
http://tinyurl.com/2dh8dve

Problems Losing Weight? Sleep On It!

The BBC reported this week that scientists in the US have found that in order to combat obesity we should manage our sleep and stress levels. The study of 472 obese people over a six month period showed people were less likely to lose weight if they got too little or too much sleep.

And the advice by a UK sleep expert is people need to eat less, move more and sleep well to have a healthier life.

The size of the problem is that around 25% of adults in the UK are clinically obese (having a Body Mass Index greater than 30).

Andy Cox, clinical hypnotherapist and Assured Effects Hypnotherapy in Poole, Bournemouth, Dorset said “The connection between sleep, stress and weight loss is very well known. If we suffer from stress our sleep naturally suffers. When we our tired we boost our energy by snacking and over-eating. We also use treats such as chocolate and cake to combat stress and anxiety in a hope that they will make us feel better. And of course then when we put on weight we lower our self esteem, increase our stress and then our sleep suffers more. Also being overweight can have a detrimental effect on our sleeping patterns so it is a vicious circle”

“The good news is that hypnotherapy is proven to be very effective in stress reduction, weight loss and combating insomnia. This all helps to make us feel a whole lot better about ourselves!” 

Over 3,000 Twitter Followers!

3,000 Twitter Followers - Thank You!
www.twitter.com/AssuredEffects

Hypnosis snippet - smoking

Hypnotherapy for stop smoking takes only one session of 2 hours.
 http://tinyurl.com/252hx44

Hypnosis Weight Loss Snippet

Official statistics suggest an obese person dies on average 9 years earlier than somebody of normal weight http://tinyurl.com/33tnk8w

Presenter Gives Up Smoking With Hypnotherapy

Risk of psychosis goes up with cannabis use

A report published in the British Medical Journal last week showed that teenagers or young adults who used cannabis increase their risk of developing psychoses. The study spanned ten years and tracked1,900 people.

It has long been known that there is a link between cannabis and psychosis but what wasn’t clear was that cannabis can trigger the disorder, and that cannabis use comes before the symptoms of psychosis as opposed to people using the drug to null the symptoms.

The report showed that cannabis use significantly increased the risk of psychotic symptoms even taking into account other factors such as the use of different drugs or socio-economic status.

Hypnotherapy can help by tackling smoking cessation and cannabis use together.  It will also address the root cause of the problem which may well involve psychological and emotional reasons for cannabis use,

Andy Cox, clinical hypnotherapist at Assured Effects in Poole, Bournemouth, Dorset explains “Hypnosis can help by re-programming positive new goals and habits rather than leaving a user to just reply on their willpower.”

Assured Effects Hypnotherapy: Good Night, Sleep Tight, Have You’ve Had Your Meds...

Assured Effects Hypnotherapy: Good Night, Sleep Tight, Have You’ve Had Your Meds...: "A staggering one in ten people in the UK take medication to help them sleep; research released this week has shown.The survey by the Univers..."

Good Night, Sleep Tight, Have You’ve Had Your Meds Tonight?

A staggering one in ten people in the UK take medication to help them sleep; research released this week has shown.

The survey by the University of Surrey analysed the sleeping habits of 14,000 households and was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. Also a mass of data was collected from a study of 40,000 UK families’ sleep data over many years.,

So what did the study conclude other than 10% of us rely on medication to help us sleep. Well it also showed that one in eight people get less than six hours' sleep a night. And this goes against experts’ advice that a good night's sleep is essential to a healthy lifestyle.

The survey also showed there is a difference in sleep patterns between genders. Women are less likely to drop off to sleep within the first half an hour than men - 24% compared to 18%. To balance things out 30% of men said that snoring or coughing disturbs their sleep - compared to 20% of women.

And age makes things worse! The survey showed that 25% of women over 85 took medication to help them get to sleep on three or more nights a week, compared to 15% of men.

It’s okay quoting these statistics but does it help us understand the causes? Well the study established the link between work and sleep patterns. Unsurprisingly, it showed that job satisfaction affects the quality of sleep - 33% of dissatisfied employees slept poorly, compared to just 18% of satisfied employees. If you are unemployed you are over 40% more likely to have difficulty staying asleep than those working.

Can hypnotherapy help? Andy Cox, hypnotherapist at Assured Effects Hypnotherapy in Poole, Bournemouth, Dorset is convinced the answer is yes! He explains “We are all born with the natural ability to fall asleep easily. By teaching you relaxation techniques to help your mind slow down at the end of each day, hypnotherapy can seek out and address the root cause of your sleeping problems.”

“Hypnotherapy can also teach self-hypnosis techniques to improve your ability to relax, reduce anxious thoughts, and prepare your body for sleep. In most cases insomnia can be viewed as a bad habit. Like all bad habits, with the help of hypnotherapy it can be unlearned and replaced by a good habit such as falling asleep easily and enjoying a good night's sleep every night.”

No Smoking and the Bay 102.8

Hypnotherapy session with LISA RUDGE drive time presenter from The Bay later for quitting smoking! Details to follow on The Bay - tune in!!
http://www.poolehypnosis.com/smoking.html

Hypnosis Snippet

Hypnotherapy is used in treating anxiety by changing the thought processes that lead to anxiety and panic. http://tinyurl.com/3498vml

Hypnosis Quote of the Day

You cannot always have happiness, but you can always give happiness ~Author Unknown http://tinyurl.com/3af9lhn

Smoking - AMAZING official statistics for the UK!

Below are the statistics from the NHS Information Centre, Department of Health, the Office for National Statistics and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs: 

Key facts

§  In England in 2008 21 per cent of adults reported cigarette smoking, the same as in 2007 and lower than 39 per cent in 1980. Prevalence continues to be higher among men than women, though the difference in 2008 is reduced compared with recent years, with 21 per cent of men and 20 per cent of women reporting cigarette smoking.

§  In England in 2009 three in ten secondary school pupils (29 per cent), had tried smoking at least once and 6 per cent were regular smokers (smoking at least one cigarette a week). Girls were more likely to smoke than boys; 10 per cent of girls had smoked in the last week compared with 8 per cent of boys.

§  In England in 2008/09 two thirds (67 per cent) of current smokers reported wanting to give up smoking, with three quarters (75 per cent) reporting having tried to give up smoking at some point in the past. Around two thirds (69 per cent) of adults report that they do not allow smoking at all in their home, an increase from 61 per cent in 2006. Four in five people (81 per cent) agree with the smoking ban in public places.

§  In England in 2008/09 an estimated 462,900 hospital admissions of adults aged 35 and over were attributable to smoking. This accounts for 5 per cent of all hospital admissions in this age group.

§  In England in 2009 an estimated 81,400 deaths of adults aged 35 and over were attributable to smoking. This accounts for 18 per cent of all deaths in this age group

BAD TIME FOR BEING A BLOKE – DEPRESSION ON THE WAY

According to a recent article in the British Journal of Psychiatry, male depression in the UK is likely to increase significantly in the coming decades. This is due to the fact that economic and social changes will erode traditional sources of male self-esteem. And this will have a significant impact on the mental well-being of men as they try to come to terms with the shift away from traditional male and female roles.

This is a major move away from the current male to female ratio of stress and depression in the UK. Currently women are almost twice as likely to develop major depressive disorder in their lifetime as men.

So why the big shift to male depression in the near future? Well, primarily, traditional “male jobs” such as manufacturing or physical labour are being lost due to improved technology or jobs moving to other countries. The psychological effect is that male self-esteem is set to plummet as they no longer fulfil the role of main bread-winner in household.

So can the male adapt to these sociological changes and avoid a depressive illness?  Andy Cox clinical hypnotherapist at Assured Effects Hypnotherapy in Poole, Bournemouth Dorset believes so. Andy explains “Hypnotherapy is very effective at help changing some of our deep-rooted sub-conscious beliefs.  Many of us are adverse to change because we see it as a threat.  And when we are under threat our body reacts to give us a heightened anxiety state – the classical “fight or flight” response is triggered. This is not at all helpful when the threat is not physical.  Hypnosis can help us change our beliefs and adapt to changes in our lives in a relaxed manner.  We are then able to see the future as exciting and bright!”

To find out more contact Andy on 01202 696622 or visit the website at www.poolehypnosis.com.

Hypnosis snippet

Whether slim or fat, a person leading a sedentary lifestyle has similar chances of dying young to a smoker http://tinyurl.com/2dh8dve

Hypnosis snippet

Phobias are the most common mental illness among women in all age groups
 http://tinyurl.com/2c8jd84

OBESITY - 30% rise in hospital admission rates in just one year!

So here’s the bad news. The NHS has released figures this week that show that the number of people admitted to hospital in England for obesity-related reasons rose by more than 30% last year.

Any good news?  Well, NHS statistics also show the increase in obesity rates in adults may be flattening out in recent years. But what the figures don’t show, and it is too early to say, whether obesity rates are likely to decrease.

So what are the figures? The number of bariatric hospital procedures (weight-loss operations) carried out in England rose by 70%, from just over 4,200 in 2008/09 to just over 7,200 in 2009/10.  A staggering 80% of these operations were carried out on women. And this is true pretty well across the board in England although more were carried out in the East Midlands and London than any other regions.

A glimmer of light on the horizon is that the NHS estimates that between 2008 and 2009, the percentage of obese men fell from 24% to 22%, while in women the figure went from 25% to 24%.  But this still means that one in four adults in England is obese. And the health watchdog NICE recently advised that more cases of serious obesity should be treated in hospital putting more burden on the NHS. And this is at a time when hospital admissions topped 10,000 for the first time in the last financial year.

The obvious answer to reducing obesity is to tackle weight control before hospital admission is necessary. Andy Cox clinical hypnotherapist at Assured Effects Hypnotherapy in Poole, Bournemouth, Dorset explained how hypnotherapy can help “Using hypnotherapy we can ask the subconscious to modify your lifestyle without undue stresses or distress. Factors such as old behaviours, feelings and emotions, habits and exercise level can be altered during the hypnotic process.  This is achieved through the use of hypnotherapy and teaching self-hypnosis, so that you can continue to succeed for the rest of your life.  If you know what you should be eating and what exercise you should be taking you don't need to be educated on how you should eat and exercise to lose weight.  Hypnotherapy simply removes the subconscious programming getting in the way of your success”.

Hypnosis snippet

If you blush and it bothers you why not do something about it. Hypnotherapy is very effective against all types of social phobia.

Andy Cox live on the radio today!

I'm live on the radio today -Lisa Rudge's Drive Time from 5pm talking hypnotherapy to 
listener's of the Bay FM! Tune in!

Hypnosis Snippet

Becoming physically active at any age can reverse the health risks of sedentary living

http://tinyurl.com/2dh8dve

Hypnosis Snippet

All hypnosis is self induced hypnosis, but external suggestion can trigger it.
http://tinyurl.com/33tnk8w

Hypnosis Snippet

It is a myth that in hypnosis you lose your critical judgement

http://tinyurl.com/33tnk8w

Hypnosis Snippet

Britain is the fattest country in Europe and part of the problem is people don't realise they are overweight http://tinyurl.com/33tnk8w

Hypnosis Snippet

Hypnosis can create or increase positive moods or feelings (joy, enthusiasm, etc.).
http://tinyurl.com/33tnk8w

"Negative experiences can stop painkillers working" - BBC Health

The BBC reported today that "A patient's belief that a drug will not work can become a self fulfilling prophecy, according to researchers.

They showed the benefits of painkillers could be boosted or completely wiped out by manipulating expectations.

The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, also identifies the regions of the brain which are affected.

Experts said this could have important consequences for patient care and for testing new drugs.

Heat was applied to the legs of 22 patients, who were asked to report the level of pain on a scale of one to 100. They were also attached to an intravenous drip so drugs could be administered secretly.

The initial average pain rating was 66. Patients were then given a potent painkiller, remifentanil, without their knowledge and the pain score went down to 55.

They were then told they were being given a painkiller and the score went down to 39.

Then, without changing the dose, the patients were then told the painkiller had been withdrawn and to expect pain, and the score went up to 64.

So even though the patients were being given remifentanil, they were reporting the same level of pain as when they were getting no drugs at all"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12480310?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Hypnotherapy Quote of the Day

A Freudian slip is when you say one thing but mean your mother.  ~Author Unknown
http://tinyurl.com/3af9lhn

Hypnosis Snippet

Because we need food to survive, our brains tell us that eating is pleasurable
http://tinyurl.com/2dh8dve

Hypnotherapy Quote of the Day

Footprints on the sands of time are not made by sitting down. – Unknown
http://tinyurl.com/3af9lhn

Hypnotherapy Quote of the Day

Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important ~Janet Lane
http://tinyurl.com/3af9lhn

Open your eyes – this is going to hurt!

Ouch!  That hurt!  But if it will hurt less if you look at!  That’s the amazing finding of Patrick Haggard at University College London.  When you knock your elbow, graze your knee, bruise your finger, or - wait for it - even have an injection, if you look at the site of the pain it will hurt less.

This amazing finding will turn traditional advice on its head. And what’s more the harder you stare at the affected area, the more your mind is capable of turning down or reducing the feeling of pain. The good news continues - if you magnify the image of the site of the pain then this has the effect of reducing the feeling of pain still further.

During Patrick’s experiments on 18 participants his team found that when applying pain to hands using a painful laser, if the participants could see their hand then they actually felt less pain. And when their hands were magnified using mirrors, the pain reduced still further. Conversely reducing the image of their hand increased the pain experienced.

This has marked implications on the traditional advice given to patients “to look away” when they need an injection.  But for those of you who still don’t feel brave enough to look at the needle then the advice is to view a thing of beauty such a picture of a loved one or a favourite scene, as this will have a pain reducing effect. Distracting or overloading the senses with video games and tasty treats will also help reduce the experience of pain.

The above research helps to support the growing body of knowledge that the power of the mind alone can be the perfect anaesthetic agent.  In hypnosis we can focus the mind to change or modify our feelings on a temporary or permanent basis. For example, hypnotherapy is very successful in dumbing down our “emotional” pain from past events. Equally, it is used very successfully to manage acute “physical” pain situations such as when experiencing dental work, natural birthing, and minor or major surgery.

Andy Cox, clinical hypnotherapist at Assured Effects Hypnotherapy in Poole, Dorset explained “We have known for centuries that the mind has the remarkable ability to control pain.  What I love about this recent research is that it demonstrates we all have this innate ability to turn down our or remove our discomfort, but that few of us choose to use it, and society encourages us not to!  During my hypnotherapy sessions I train my clients to use self-hypnosis and this is instrumental in them controlling both acute and chronic physical pain, and the accompanying anxiety that goes with it.”

Hypnosis snippet

Many people eat in response to negative emotions such as boredom, sadness, or anger. http://tinyurl.com/2dh8dve

Quitting smoking - the good news!

Within 48 hrs of quiting smoking there is no nicotine left in the body and taste and smell are greatly improved

Hypnotherapy Quote of the Day

QOTD: I've developed a new philosophy... I only dread one day at a time.  ~Charlie Brown (Charles Schulz)  http://tinyurl.com/3af9lhn

Help with stopping smoking

Hypnotherapy for stop smoking takes only one session of 2 hours.
http://tinyurl.com/252hx44

Walking helps Memory - reports the BBC

The BBC reported today that "Walking for 40 minutes a few times a week is enough to preserve memory and keep ageing brains on top form, research shows.

Moderate exercise increased the size of the hippocampus, an area of the brain that makes memories, in 120 volunteers.

The year-long trial, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showed performance on memory tests also improved.

Exercise may buffer against dementia as well as age-related memory loss"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12325285?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Hypnosis snippet

Outgoing people appear to suffer worse from the effects of lack of sleep http://tinyurl.com/2usa9vk

Re: Year's New Solutions!

If your New Year's Resolutions have got in a bit of a jumble or you have fallen by the wayside, take heart and read on!

Each new year 40% - 45% of adults make one or more resolutions or goals for themselves. But research has shown that by mid-January, 30% of “resolutioners” have scaled back their resolution efforts; by June, most have given up their resolutions altogether.

Surprisingly 50% of people making resolutions feel confident about the success of their NYRs, yet only 10% actually achieved them. So why is this?

The reason why most people fail to keep resolutions is that for the majority of time they don’t think about them ... and this is natural. The behaviours we want change are unwanted habits and these are controlled by the sub-conscious mind.

Andy Cox, Clinical Hypnotherapist at Assured Effects in Poole, explains “It is very difficult to break habits because when we have performed a behaviour for several years we seemingly act entirely automatically and can have a cigarette or chocolate bar in our hands without even consciously thinking about.  People are too hard on themselves when they lapse and think they need to go back to square one – this is not true. They just need a new approach”

Hypnotherapy can change our sub-conscious beliefs and habits and get rid of our unwanted habits for good.

Hypnosis snippet

Teach yourself relaxation techniques to help your mind slow down at the end of each day  http://tinyurl.com/3af9lhn

Insomnia can damage relationships - BBC Health

The BBC reported today that "Lack of sleep needs to be treated as a major health issue, according to a report published by the Mental Health Foundation.

The Great British Sleep Report suggests a link between insomnia and poor relationships, low energy levels and an inability to concentrate.

Poor sleep has already been linked to depression, immune deficiency and heart disease.

The report calls for GPs to have more training to recognise the symptoms.

The number of adults suffering from insomnia in the UK has previously been estimated at around 30%."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12287535?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Hypnosis snippet

Hypnotic suggestions can change or release unwanted behavior patterns. http://tinyurl.com/33tnk8w

Hypnosis snippet

Phobias are more than extreme fear, they are irrational fear.  http://tinyurl.com/2c8jd84

Hypnosis snippet

Current hypnotherapy techniques enable persistent or lifelong conditions to be treated rapidly and for good  http://tinyurl.com/3af9lhn

Hypnosis snippet

Hypnotherapy is used in treating anxiety by changing the thought processes that lead to anxiety and panic. http://tinyurl.com/3498vml

Quote of the day

QOTD: Worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do, but it gets you nowhere.  ~Glenn Turner http://tinyurl.com/3af9lhn

Hypnosis snippet

Unlike many kinds of medication, hypnotherapy has no unpleasant side effects  http://tinyurl.com/3af9lhn

Hypnosis snippet

Did you know that there is a 'fear of phobias'- phobophobia! http://tinyurl.com/2c8jd84

Hypnosis snippet

Many fears and phobias can be cured in just 2 or 3 hypnotherapy sessions. http://tinyurl.com/2c8jd84

Hypnosis snippet

Self-hypnosis happens when a person hypnotises himself or herself, commonly involving the use of autosuggestion. http://tinyurl.com/3af9lhn

Having the lights on before bedtime could result in a worse night's sleep report BBC

The BBC reported today that "Having the lights on before bedtime could result in a worse night's sleep, according to a study to be published in the Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism.

The research shows that the body produces less of the sleep hormone melatonin when exposed to light.

Sleep patterns have been linked to some types of cancer, blood pressure and diabetes.

The US researchers also found lower melatonin levels in shift workers.

Lifestyles may have moved on from a day/night rhythm, but it seems the human body has not.

The pineal gland produces melatonin through the night and starts when darkness falls.

Researchers have shown that switching on lights in the home switches off the hormone's production"

Hypnosis snippet

Hypnosis is a non-addictive power for the good and is a natural manifestation of the mind at work  http://tinyurl.com/3af9lhn

Hypnosis snippet

Hypnosis was approved for use by the British Medical Association in 1955 http://tinyurl.com/3af9lhn

Hypnosis snippet

While you ares in a hypnotic trance, you find it easier to accept beneficial suggestions http://tinyurl.com/3af9lhn

Hypnosis snippet

Hypnosis translated from Greek (Hypnos) means 'to sleep'  http://tinyurl.com/3af9lhn

Hypnosis snippet

Hypnosis can not MAKE you do anything. It can make the changes you desire happen easily and fast.  http://tinyurl.com/3af9lhn

"A fat tummy shrivels your brain" - report the New Scientist

The New Scientist reported today that "HAVING a larger waistline may shrink your brain.

Obesity is linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, which is known to be associated with cognitive impairment. So Antonio Convit at the New York University School of Medicine wanted to see what impact obesity had on the physical structure of the brain. He used magnetic resonance imaging to compare the brains of 44 obese individuals with those of 19 lean people of similar age and background.

He found that obese individuals had more water in the amygdala - a part of the brain involved in eating behaviour. He also saw smaller orbitofrontal cortices in obese individuals, important for impulse control and also involved in feeding behaviour (Brain Research, in press). "It could mean that there are less neurons, or that those neurons are shrunken," says Convit.

Eric Stice at Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, thinks that the findings strengthen the "slippery slope" theory of obesity. "If you overeat, it appears to result in neural changes that increase the risk for future overeating," he says. Obesity is associated with a constant, low-level inflammation, which Convit thinks explains the change in brain size."

http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20927943.000-a-fat-tummy-shrivels-your-brain.html

"Obesity linked to money insecurity in affluent nations" - report BBC

The BBC reported today that - "People in wealthy countries with "free market" economies are more likely to become obese, an Oxford University study says.

Money stresses in countries like the UK and US could explain their higher obesity levels, compared with countries such as Norway and Sweden.

The study, in Economic and Human Biology, compared obesity in 11 affluent countries from 1994 to 2004.

The researchers said the study showed obesity had "social causes".

Researchers set out to discover why Americans and Britons are heavier than Norwegians and Swedes.

Taking into account research into animal behaviour which shows that animals increase their food intake when faced with uncertainty, the Oxford researchers believed that stress could be a factor in causing people to overeat."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12135537?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Hypnosis snippet

One of the most effective cures for sleep problems is hypnosis  http://tinyurl.com/3af9lhn

Hypnosis snippet

Approximately 90% of people report being aware of everything that happens during hypnotic trance http://tinyurl.com/3498vml

Hypnosis Snippet

Hypnotherapy is an ethical therapy as therapy does not question your belief system  http://tinyurl.com/3af9lhn

Hypnosis Snippet

The things that are subconsciously bothering us can be directly accessed with hypnotherapy http://tinyurl.com/3af9lhn

Hypnosis snippet

During hypnosis if you are uncomfortable at any stage you can open your eyes and you will be awake http://tinyurl.com/3af9lhn

Hypnosis snippet

Hypnosis can decrease the stress one feels about IBS and help a person realize and explore new thoughts and strategies

Hypnosis snippet

Hypnotherapy is safe for all ages, and works on 90% of the population. http://tinyurl.com/33tnk8w