Covid Vaccine - Overcoming a Fear of Needles

 

A fear of needles is, perhaps, intensified for many with the rollout of the Covid vaccine. Hypnotherapy can help you overcome this fear. Message me to arrange a free consultation - by Zoom - if interested - or email mike.smith@mgs-hypnotherapy-services.co.uk.

Change Your Life For the Better

 

Did you know that 80% of New Year's resolutions fail? You probably aren’t surprised by that figure. The champagne pops. Everyone is celebrating the arrival of the New Year. There is a euphoria in the air. You vow that this year you'll pursue your passion, quit smoking or lose that extra body fat.

In January you make some serious changes. You hit the gym or start to speak with people about your new project. Then February comes, and you find yourself losing fuel. In March there is only a sense of regret and melancholy at what is left behind those resolutions. It's one of those painful facts.

After the trauma of Covid-hit 2020, what would make 2021 amazing for you?

If you would write a bucket list knowing that everything is possible, what would be the top three items on the list? Do you want to lose weight? Stop smoking? Increase your confidence or self-esteem? Finally conquer that phobia? Or get rid of any other unwanted habit that has been holding you back?

Mind Generating Success, a successful hypnotherapy practice can help.

Look at these proven success stories:

• Client A lost three stones in less than six months.

• Client B finally stopped smoking for good after smoking 20 cigarettes a day for 30 years.

• Client C conquered her 20-year eating disorder.

• Client D overcame her fear of flying and now goes on holiday stress-free.

There are many others for whom hypnotherapy has dramatically improved their life.

If you feel you need your resilience, or self-esteem boosted or if you wish to seek help with anxiety or stress issues, please get in touch.

Similarly, with the new year fast approaching, if you want to give up smoking, drinking alcohol or feel the need to lose weight after the excesses of Christmas please contact me to arrange a free consultation.

During Covid restrictions all sessions are conducted via video link – usually by Zoom – so you can experience the life-changing benefits from the comfort of your own home. And you can do this from anywhere in the world – so if you’re reading this in the USA, Australia, New Zealand or wherever, email me to arrange your free consultation!

Email or text me to arrange a suitable date and time – and begin to change your life for the better!

Email: mike.smith@mgs-hypnotherapy-services.co.uk

Telephone or text: 07521 353 787

When the Rock Slips and You Need Support

Use your imagination for just a moment. Imagine that your best friend walks up to you in your garden one Saturday and asks you to do him a favour. You have some free time, and so you agree to do it. He walks over to his car, opens the trunk, and produces a thirty-pound rock.

Now here’s where you’re really going to have to use your imagination. At this point he hands you the rock and says, “I really need you to stand here with this rock until I return.” He explains why it’s important that you stand in that one spot with the rock and promises to return shortly to retrieve it. It’s a strange request, and his explanation doesn’t make a lot of sense, but this is someone you trust, so you agree. At this point he thanks you with extreme gratitude and then gets into his car and drives away.

An hour goes by. And what started out as a reasonable favour is beginning to get a little hard. But after all, this is your best friend, so you resign yourself to continue on and stand there. Another hour goes by and your arms are starting to ache. Everything in you wants to sit down, but you made a promise. Then suddenly, to your relief, your friend pulls in the driveway, jumps out of the car, and runs in your direction. You’re so relieved. If you weren’t holding the rock, you’d hug him.

But your joy is quickly crushed. Instead of relieving you of your burden he says, “I told you I was coming right back. But I need to run one more quick errand. If you’ll keep holding the rock, I’ll make it up to you when I return.” Once again, you trust that what you’re told is true. If your friend needs to run one more errand before relieving you that is just the way it is. So you agree. As he turns to go you can’t help but yell out, “Please hurry.” Off your friend goes and there you stand.

Another hour goes by. The sun begins to set. Your muscles are aching to be able to drop the rock. But you refuse to give in. You’re committed to holding up your part of what you promised. Besides, your friend said he’d make it up to you. You aren’t sure what that means, but it must be something good. Thirty minutes later a car pulls up in the driveway. Someone you don’t know is driving. This person walks over and informs you that your friend has been delayed. “Would you mind holding the rock for just a little while longer?” he asks.

You experience a mixture of pain and anger. You manage to mutter, “Just tell him to hurry.”

Away the person goes and there you stand. It’s dark now. The streets are empty. The neighbours are at their windows watching you stand there, wondering why you’d put up with being treated like that by a “friend.”

Another hour goes by. You begin to lose your grip. Your arms begin to fall. You tell yourself to hold on, but your body just won’t respond. Down goes the rock. And just as it hits the pavement and breaks into a hundred pieces, your friend pulls up in the driveway. He jumps out of the car, runs over with a look of panic on his face, and says, “What happened? Did it slip? Did somebody knock it out of your hands? Did you change your mind?” And as he looks for an explanation as to why you suddenly dropped the rock, you know that it was a long time coming.

Your mental willingness was overcome by your physical exhaustion. You wanted to do what you were asked to do, but after awhile you just couldn’t do it anymore. Add to that the frustration of not knowing how long you’d have to stand there. But even if the aggravation is put aside, at some point you just weren’t going to be able to keep holding on. No amount of love, dedication, commitment, or selflessness was going to be able to make up for the fact that your arms were worn out.

There’s a point at which that mental willingness isn’t enough to hang on. With a literal rock, mental willingness is eventually overcome by physical exhaustion. With an imaginary rock, mental willingness is eventually overtaken by emotional exhaustion. And when that happens, the rocks come tumbling down.

There’s always a final straw: a comment, a phone call, a tired explanation, a no-show, a forgotten birthday, or a missed game. Some little thing that pushes those we love past their ability to hold on. And to the uniformed, unsuspecting spouse —to the husband or wife who has lived with the fantasy that everything is just fine-it seems like a huge overreaction. They think: ”All I said was.” ”All I did was.”

But it wasn’t the moment. It wasn’t the phone call. It wasn’t the fact that the big hand on the clock was on the six instead of the twelve. It was weeks, months, or possibly years of waiting for things to change. The rock finally slipped out of their calloused hands. 

If you feel the rock is slipping from your hands there is support available. Contact me at Mind Generating Success to arrange an initial discussion about what hypnotherapy can do for you. 

You can email me at mike.smith@mgs-hypnotherapy-services.co.uk or call or text me on 07521 353 787. Evening appointments available. Home visits by arrangement.

Visit my website for more information here

The Cost of Smoking

Despite nearly 100,000 people in the UK dying from smoking-related illnesses each year, nearly one sixth of adults are still smokers.

While it wasn’t until the early 20th century that the harmful effects of smoking were explored, studies continue to expose the dangers of the habit. Quitting smoking is a big challenge for a person to face and they will often need more than just willpower. For many people, hypnotherapy is an effective solution.

• Nearly 50 per cent of all smokers die prematurely due to smoking-related diseases.
• The life expectancy of a smoker is about 10 years less than that of a non-smoker.
• In the UK is it estimated only half of long-term smokers live past the age of 70.
• Up to 17,000 children under the age of five are admitted to hospital each year as a result of passive smoking-related illnesses.

It is important for the person to know why they want to quit before any successful attempts can be made. It is common for people to relapse if they are quitting for somebody else. If the individuals are making the decision for themselves, the chances of success can improve.

Why stop smoking?

Smoking increases the risk of developing a wide range of health ailments and diseases. But the habit does not only harm the smoker’s health, it can also have a negative impact on the people around them. Children and babies living with people who smoke are vulnerable to many health problems. This includes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and an increased risk of cot death.

Some of the most common smoking-related illnesses include:

• Infertility - Smoking affects the fertility of men and women, making it difficult to conceive.
• Gum disease - As well as staining your teeth, smoking can cause premature tooth loss due to gum disease.
• Heart disease - This is considered the UK’s biggest killer. Nearly one in six cases are smoking-related.
• Lung cancer - More than eight in 10 cases of lung cancer are directly related to smoking.
• Other cancers - This includes mouth, throat, nose, blood, cervical and pancreatic cancer.

Adults who endure passive smoking for a long period of time are also at an increased risk of heart disease and lung cancer. Tobacco is also an irritant; therefore it can make conditions such as asthma worse.

Hypnotherapy for smoking

A great number of people find hypnotherapy for smoking an effective treatment. The method works to break the negative behaviours and thinking patterns associated with smoking. The thoughts and behaviours the smoker holds is often what prevents them from successfully giving up.

When a person makes the decision to stop smoking, the key aspect is to let go of the routine and change their perspective of cigarettes. Breaking an addiction like this is a challenge. Many people find changing how they think about something difficult. As hypnotherapy focuses on this change, it is fast becoming one of the most popular forms of treatment.

When considering stop smoking hypnosis, the first thing the person has to do is make sure they are choosing to quit for themselves. Hypnosis for smoking has been found to be most effective when the person really wants to quit.

How Much Does it Cost?

Hypnotherapy for smoking cessation is usually done in just one session which costs £95. Now if you think you can't afford £95 think about how much money you're spending on cigarettes. Do you know if you smoke 20 fags a day you're literally burning at least £3,000 every year? 

Think what you could do with this money? And think also of the health benefits. It's really a no-brainer.

What Should I Do?

To arrange an initial discussion, please contact me on 07521 353 787 or email me at mike.smith@mgs-hypnotherapy-services.co.uk 

This initial discussion costs just £10 - and if you decide to proceed this is deducted from the cost of your session. 

More information is available at the Mind Generating Success website.

Mike Smith Hyp CS

Mind Generating Success

Craiglockhart

Edinburgh EH14 1DJ

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Fear, Phobias - And Freedom!

Have you ever tried to lose weight but found that diets don’t really work - and you blame your lack of willpower? Or you really want to give up smoking but, again, find that nothing works? Are the words ‘I’ve tried but I just can’t do it’ familiar to you? 

Do you feel your self-esteem is quite low in these difficult times and you are lacking in confidence? Perhaps you have an important presentation to make, or job interview looming or have an exam to take and you think your self-confidence could do with a boost.

Perhaps you have a phobia with a fear of spiders, wasps etc or you’re in desperate need of a holiday - but can’t face flying? Do you feel despair because you think nothing helps? 

Well, a hypnotherapy practice based in Edinburgh may be able to help. Mind Generating Success can show you a perfectly natural process to overcome issues such as these mentioned above. And the beauty is that hypnotherapy – the power of the mind – can help you thanks to your mind power! 

The reaction of many people when I tell them I am a fully qualified hypnotherapist is somewhat inevitable. They wear a look of surprise, there’s an audible gasp and a somewhat predictable ‘oh, look into my eyes’ reaction whilst waving their fingers in my direction. Given television shows such as Back in the Room on ITV, this is no real surprise. Hypnotherapists can be perceived as magical wizards who sit in a therapy chair dangling a swinging watch, putting people into a trance like state where they lose all control. In reality, hypnotherapists can help people transform their lives – and the client is fully aware and in control at all times.  And if I tell you just how many different issues hypnotherapy can help with you may be surprised. 

Hypnosis is an altered and heightened state of awareness that is sometimes referred to as a trance state. Most of us slip in and out of trance states throughout the day in everyday life. Has anyone ever said to you ‘Hey – you’re away in a dream!’ in an attempt to get your attention? When you day-dream you are at your most relaxed and comfortable. This is often when the best ideas 'pop' into your mind – they certainly do in my case! 

You may be aware there are two parts to the mind, the conscious and the subconscious. Many therapists use the term 'unconscious' instead of 'subconscious', and many describe the workings of the mind in great detail. My explanation is very simple:

The Conscious

You are aware and in the present with your conscious mind. It’s the part of your mind that reasons and makes decisions and choices. It acts as a filter to thoughts and suggestions, deciding whether to keep them in the forefront of your mind, or put them ‘on hold’, or to dismiss them altogether. When a thought or suggestion is put ‘on hold’, it goes straight to the subconscious where it is filed away. 

The Subconscious

The subconscious is a container for your thoughts. Amongst other things, it houses all the information your conscious gives it to store, like memories and things it can't deal with immediately. 

Unlike stage show hypnotists, during hypnotherapy you are fully conscious and aware at all times. You will never be asked to do anything you don’t want to do - so there will be no flapping around the room believing you are a chicken! You are in control and hypnotherapy sessions give you time for you and no one else; a chance to indulge in the freedom that having time to yourself give you. 

Okay, I hear you ask. What can hypnotherapy do for me? 

Well, that depends on you. Hypnotherapy gives you time for one of the most important things in your life – you. With relaxing techniques tailored to suit you, you will feel calmer, more relaxed and have a better understanding of your life, needs and aspirations as well as others.  

So, dear reader, if you are someone who wants to lose some weight or stop smoking but find your willpower evaporates after a few weeks; if you feel a distinct lack of self-esteem or self-confidence; if you are someone who has a phobia whether this is of spiders, wasps, general ‘creepy-crawlies’; or even if you’re thinking about going on holiday to sunnier climes but have a fear of flying - contact me to arrange an appointment. After a no obligation initial consultation, we can decide together the best way to enable you to achieve your goals.

The cost of a consultation is just £10 and this is deducted from the cost of your first session. Sessions are £60; for smoking cessation – which is usually a single session -  it’s £95.

Phone or text me on 07521353787 (24 hours) to arrange a date and time for an initial consultation or email me at: mike.smith@mgs-hypnotherapy-services.co.uk

Evening and weekend appointments are available. Home visits are available by arrangement.

Whether you wish to stop smoking, lose weight, increase self-confidence or overcome a phobia why don't you contact me to arrange a consultation and take the first step to overcoming this by natural methods - the strength and power of your mind - by contacting me for further information. 

We have but one life – so why not try and change your life for the better?

Mike Smith Hyp CS

Mind Generating Success

tel: 0752 135 3787 (24 hours)

email: mike.smith@mgs-hypnotherapy-services.co.uk  

twitter: @smith_mgs 

Obesity on Rise as Quarter of European Teens Eat Sweets Daily

A World Health Organisation (WHO) report paints a 'bleak picture' of young people eating and drinking too much sugar and spending too much time sitting down

A quarter of adolescents in England and Wales eat sweets or chocolates every day and 14% have a cola or other sugary drink daily, according to the authors of a report that shows obesity rising among teenagers across Europe.

Even more adolescents in Scotland have a sweet tooth, with a third eating some sort of confectionery and 23% having a soft drink every day. And across Europe, adolescents spend 60% of their time sitting down.

The findings are part of a big new report on adolescent obesity in Europe, compiled by researchers at the University of St Andrews for the World Health Organisation. Gauden Galea, director of the WHO's division of non-communicable diseases which includes obesity, described the findings as "a bleak picture".  Too many young people are in a harmful cycle, he wrote in a foreword to the report. "Most young people will not outgrow obesity: about four in every five adolescents who become obese will continue to have weight problems as adults."

Across Europe, the issues are the same. Young people are eating and drinking too much sugar and too little in the way of fruit and vegetables. They spend too much of their lives sitting down - most often at a computer screen.

Across Europe, 4% of adolescents were obese, says the report - although data for nine countries including those in the UK was not included because it was not complete. Nearly one in five adolescents (19%) was either overweight or obese. The highest levels were found mainly in southern Europe.

In 2014, only about a third (38%) of adolescents aged 11, 13 and 15 years from 40 countries and regions in Europe reported consuming fruit daily, while 3% claimed to never eat fruit. Boys ate significantly less fruit than girls, and as adolescents got older, their consumption dropped. Those living in wealthier families in all countries ate more fruit. A third (36%) of adolescents reported consuming vegetables daily, but 5% claimed never to eat vegetables.

Across Europe, 19% on average had a daily soft drink - the UK figures were higher - and a quarter (26%) ate sweets every day.

Physical activity levels were low and get lower as adolescents get older. "Young people spend approximately 60% of their waking time sitting, which makes sedentary behaviour the most common behaviour (besides sleep) in children and adolescents," says the report.

"Despite sustained efforts to tackle childhood obesity, one in three adolescents is still estimated to be overweight or obese in Europe, with the highest rates found in southern European and Mediterranean countries. What is of particular concern is that the epidemic is on the rise in eastern European countries, where historically rates have been lower," said Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO regional director for Europe. She called for ambitious action by governments.

"High rates of overweight and obesity among many countries in Europe are an important public health concern," said Dr Joanna Inchley from St Andrews, the coordinator of the study, called health behaviour in school-age children (HBSC). "Obese young people not only have a higher risk of developing chronic health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, but also face psychological issues such as low self-esteem, depression and social isolation.

"The proportion of young people who achieving the recommended level of daily physical activity remains stubbornly low in most European countries, suggesting that habitual forms of physical activity such as walking, cycling and active play have largely disappeared from adolescent's lives."

The Obesity Health Alliance, a coalition of more than 40 organisations, said: "Obesity, especially in young people, is a major cause for concern across Europe just as it is in the UK.

"The next government needs to prioritise tackling childhood obesity with measures like the soft drinks industry levy, Public Health England's sugar reduction programme and tighter regulations on junk food marketing to children, to give our young people a better chance of a healthier life."

Thanks to the National Hypnotherapy Society for this article. Hypnotherapy is a natural and holistic method to help reduce and cut out snacking. For further information and details about the life-changing benefits of hypnotherapy, visit Mind GeneratingSuccess.