Yes, it's true. Gisele Bundchen had a painless childbirth using hypnosis, meditation and deep breathing techniques.
As a hypnotherapist, I have only had a few women who have asked me to help them make the childbirth experience more comfortable. And, in my limited experience the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
There are hypnotherapists who specialize in what is called “hypnobirthing”, which involves teaching clients relaxation and hypnotic pain control techniques. A few of the advantages of hypnobirthing are that the mother can be fully conscious, relaxed and even comfortable during the birth. She learns too that she can control pain at will. Of course, suggestions are give that if anything abnormal or dangerous is happening, the mother will experience enough pain to alert her doctors and herself that something needs to be attended to.
The way that hypnosis works for pain control is different than drugs. Drugs alter the chemistry of the nervous system to reduce of eliminate the production of pain impulses. Hypnosis simply eliminates any awareness of pain. The pain receptors of the body are sending signals. They just do not ever come into conscious awareness.
Hypnosis is not equally effective for all mothers for pain control in the birthing process. Some mothers get no little or reduction of pain, and it is important that they be taught that using drugs is perfectly all right if they are needed. Typically, lesser amounts of drugs are needed for mothers with hypnosis training for childbirth. And, of course, some mothers complete labor in minimal or no discomfort after being trained to use the self hypnosis techniques of hypnobirthing.
Hypnosis is a great alternative for mothers to be who do not tolerate drugs or who just do not want them to be a part of the birthing process. The vast majority of women who try hypnosis to prepare for labor report being glad that they did, even if they eventually opt for drugs to assist the birth.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
She Went From Bad to Unconventional in One Conversational Hypnosis Session
The married man man had broken off the affair with my client, who was also married. She had been satisfying an emotional need for a kind of intellectual meeting of the minds with her lover that was unavailable from her husband, who she loved. She wanted me to use hypnosis to help her move on.
My client repeatedly referred to herself as “bad”. This seemed like a terrible bit of self hypnosis that would certainly get in the way of her letting of her inappropriate partner and changing her pattern of having affairs. “Bad” people do bad things, and thinking of herself as “bad” reinforced the very behaviors that caused her so much distress and shame.
Of course the positive intention of labeling herself as “bad” was for her to be motivated to be “good”. It is a common misconception that self punishment is an effective way for people to force themselves into acceptable behavior. Perhaps you have had the experience of criticizing yourself harshly many times only to do the same negative behaviors again. Unfortunately, the kind of self judgmental statements that my client was using actually made it harder for her to change.
It works this way. When someone repeatedly tells themselves that they are “bad”, “stupid”, etc, they start to believe it, and act on those beliefs. A “bad” person is going to act out in “bad” ways. Someone who thinks that he of she is “basically good” will admit to human weaknesses, but have faith that he or she can get back on course with effort and good intentions. No amount of polishing will turn a brick into a mirror. But, with enough work and effort, it is possible to turn a rough chunk of glass into a perfectly functional mirror.
So, the solution for my client's poor self talk was simple. First I offered her a metaphor. Dr. Kinsey's research showed that there are such a wide variety of ways that people express their sexuality that there is no way to define any one set of sexual expressions as normal.
I went on to explain a little about the impact of words on our beliefs and feelings. Then I asked her to substitute the word “unconventional” for the word “bad” when she described herself.
Her response was dramatic and delightful. She sat up straighter, smiled and looked much more relaxed. When I saw her the following week she said that she had realized that she could get her intellectual needs satisfied by a simple friendship with a man without needing to get physically intimate. It was “unconventional” of her.
And, that is the story of how a little good hypnosis happened one day in an unconventional conversation in the office of an Atlanta hypnotherapist.
My client repeatedly referred to herself as “bad”. This seemed like a terrible bit of self hypnosis that would certainly get in the way of her letting of her inappropriate partner and changing her pattern of having affairs. “Bad” people do bad things, and thinking of herself as “bad” reinforced the very behaviors that caused her so much distress and shame.
Of course the positive intention of labeling herself as “bad” was for her to be motivated to be “good”. It is a common misconception that self punishment is an effective way for people to force themselves into acceptable behavior. Perhaps you have had the experience of criticizing yourself harshly many times only to do the same negative behaviors again. Unfortunately, the kind of self judgmental statements that my client was using actually made it harder for her to change.
It works this way. When someone repeatedly tells themselves that they are “bad”, “stupid”, etc, they start to believe it, and act on those beliefs. A “bad” person is going to act out in “bad” ways. Someone who thinks that he of she is “basically good” will admit to human weaknesses, but have faith that he or she can get back on course with effort and good intentions. No amount of polishing will turn a brick into a mirror. But, with enough work and effort, it is possible to turn a rough chunk of glass into a perfectly functional mirror.
So, the solution for my client's poor self talk was simple. First I offered her a metaphor. Dr. Kinsey's research showed that there are such a wide variety of ways that people express their sexuality that there is no way to define any one set of sexual expressions as normal.
I went on to explain a little about the impact of words on our beliefs and feelings. Then I asked her to substitute the word “unconventional” for the word “bad” when she described herself.
Her response was dramatic and delightful. She sat up straighter, smiled and looked much more relaxed. When I saw her the following week she said that she had realized that she could get her intellectual needs satisfied by a simple friendship with a man without needing to get physically intimate. It was “unconventional” of her.
And, that is the story of how a little good hypnosis happened one day in an unconventional conversation in the office of an Atlanta hypnotherapist.
Getting Past the Past With Hypnosis
Some of my hypnosis and NLP clients seem to have picked up the bad habits of the mythological birds that only flew backwards. Those curious birds had become so interested in where they had been that they forgot to notice where they were going.
That is a large part of the way that those clients generate and maintain their problems.
They keep their awareness on their past. And, not just any part of their past. They dwell on the hurts and seeming limitations they experienced. Of course, when they dwell on the past that way, they feel stuck. Because, since they all believe that it is not possible to change the past, there is nothing they can do about it.
Recently, I worked with a client who was still harboring resentments for the relentless messages of disappointment during his childhood from a deceased parent. I asked him, “How much anger do you need to feel before you're done, and you can get on with your life?”
That question caused some confusion, of course. How does one measure that kind of thing? And, it presupposes a number of useful ideas:
1.Enough anger would solve his issues with his parent. My Client is way too intelligent to believe that, so the question started to destabilize his certainty that he needed to, or had to stay angry.
2.An end to his anger is not only possible, it would actually be a solution to his issue.
3.Getting on with his life means that he will have let go of the anger.
As a result of my asking that and similar questions mixed in with a little informal hypnosis in the form of stories, the next time we spoke my client was noticeably less angry about his parent and noticeably less angry in general.
That is a large part of the way that those clients generate and maintain their problems.
They keep their awareness on their past. And, not just any part of their past. They dwell on the hurts and seeming limitations they experienced. Of course, when they dwell on the past that way, they feel stuck. Because, since they all believe that it is not possible to change the past, there is nothing they can do about it.
Recently, I worked with a client who was still harboring resentments for the relentless messages of disappointment during his childhood from a deceased parent. I asked him, “How much anger do you need to feel before you're done, and you can get on with your life?”
That question caused some confusion, of course. How does one measure that kind of thing? And, it presupposes a number of useful ideas:
1.Enough anger would solve his issues with his parent. My Client is way too intelligent to believe that, so the question started to destabilize his certainty that he needed to, or had to stay angry.
2.An end to his anger is not only possible, it would actually be a solution to his issue.
3.Getting on with his life means that he will have let go of the anger.
As a result of my asking that and similar questions mixed in with a little informal hypnosis in the form of stories, the next time we spoke my client was noticeably less angry about his parent and noticeably less angry in general.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Is California Using Conversational Hypnosis to Attract Tourists?
I was sitting in my home in an Atlanta suburb innocently watching television when it happened. During a commercial break sneaky California tourism promoters slipped in a little piece of conversational hypnosis aimed at covertly hypnotizing me into visiting California.
In my twenty-two years as a hypnotherapist, I have become sensitive to hypnotic language, and how it is intended to unconsciously affect minds. So, California's new tourist motto really caught my attention.
Hypnotists have discovered through centuries of experience that “artfully vague” language will tend to be more effective at getting someone to go into hypnosis. And, those same sentence structures can be used to give effective suggestions even when there is no formal hypnosis, as in advertising or even normal conversation.
So, just how sneaky is California? California's new tourist motto is “Find yourself in California”.
One moment I'm putting on my socks in Atlanta, the next I find myself in California! Whoa! How did that happen?
Of course, there is more than one meaning to the motto, which is part of what makes it artfully vague enough to work as hypnosis. The phrase could also mean that I will find my true identity in California. If I become confused about my life, or who I am, all I need to do is to go to California and I will find myself there. And, come to think of it, that is a pretty nice little hypnotic suggestion too, isn't it?
“Find your self in California” is intended to influence people to visit California. If it is repeated enough, it will begin to affect unconscious minds and travel choices. If you are feeling a sudden urge to go to San Francisco or Hollywood right now, you know the hypnosis is working.
In my twenty-two years as a hypnotherapist, I have become sensitive to hypnotic language, and how it is intended to unconsciously affect minds. So, California's new tourist motto really caught my attention.
Hypnotists have discovered through centuries of experience that “artfully vague” language will tend to be more effective at getting someone to go into hypnosis. And, those same sentence structures can be used to give effective suggestions even when there is no formal hypnosis, as in advertising or even normal conversation.
So, just how sneaky is California? California's new tourist motto is “Find yourself in California”.
One moment I'm putting on my socks in Atlanta, the next I find myself in California! Whoa! How did that happen?
Of course, there is more than one meaning to the motto, which is part of what makes it artfully vague enough to work as hypnosis. The phrase could also mean that I will find my true identity in California. If I become confused about my life, or who I am, all I need to do is to go to California and I will find myself there. And, come to think of it, that is a pretty nice little hypnotic suggestion too, isn't it?
“Find your self in California” is intended to influence people to visit California. If it is repeated enough, it will begin to affect unconscious minds and travel choices. If you are feeling a sudden urge to go to San Francisco or Hollywood right now, you know the hypnosis is working.
Monday, March 8, 2010
How Would Someone in Deep Hypnosis Respond to a Fire Alarm?
The answer may surprise you.
If you were to see “Joe” in deep hypnosis or trance he would look as if he is asleep or unconscious. But, that is not the case. A hypnotized person is aware of and responsive to their environment.
Trance can be defined as a state of single minded focus or narrowed awareness of attention on a single idea. The sounds and sights may recede from a hypnotized person's conscious awareness, like the sensations of the back of your neck as you are reading this, but those sensations are there none the less.
In the case of a fire alarm, experience has shown that Joe would get up and calmly walk to the nearest exit in a way that is more efficient and direct than if he had been in the normal waking state. The unconscious mind is in charge while someone is in hypnosis, and will protect the person from any harm or potential danger in the same single minded manner that it responds to the suggestions of the hypnotist.
If you were to see “Joe” in deep hypnosis or trance he would look as if he is asleep or unconscious. But, that is not the case. A hypnotized person is aware of and responsive to their environment.
Trance can be defined as a state of single minded focus or narrowed awareness of attention on a single idea. The sounds and sights may recede from a hypnotized person's conscious awareness, like the sensations of the back of your neck as you are reading this, but those sensations are there none the less.
In the case of a fire alarm, experience has shown that Joe would get up and calmly walk to the nearest exit in a way that is more efficient and direct than if he had been in the normal waking state. The unconscious mind is in charge while someone is in hypnosis, and will protect the person from any harm or potential danger in the same single minded manner that it responds to the suggestions of the hypnotist.
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