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Friday, 25 August 2017
Friday, 7 July 2017
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
tel: 0752 135 3787 (24 hours)
twitter: @smith_mgs
Thursday, 15 June 2017
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.
Sunday, 28 May 2017
Get Rid of Your Unwanted Habit
Do you have an unwanted habit? Do you wish you could stop over-eating, tackle your eating disorder, make sleep problems a thing of the past, rid yourself of a fear of spiders, mice, flying etc?
Or do you want to stop smoking and have tried everything - but nothing works?
Hypnotherapy could be the answer you are looking for. Over the past year, Mind Generating Success has helped many people with weight loss, eating disorders, phobias and sleep problems. MGS has also helped people finally stop smoking - one client, who had smoked for over 20 years, stopped after just one session.
Unlike stage hypnotists, hypnotherapy does not mean you are put to sleep. You are awake and in control throughout. Sessions are conducted by a fully qualified hypnotherapist.
To arrange an initial, no-obligation consultation contact me on 07521 353 787 or email me at mike.smith@mgs-hypnotherapy-services.co.uk today.
Evening and weekend appointments are available. Home visits by arragement.
Take the first step to changing your life.
Friday, 5 May 2017
Monday, 17 April 2017
Over-Indulged on Chocolate This Easter? Help is at Hand!
Have you had a good Easter?
How many chocolate eggs have you consumed? You can tell us, we won’t tell
anyone!
Many of us over-indulge at
Easter (as we also tend to do at Christmas) which can be demoralising if one is
trying to lose weight. Have you been on a calorie-controlled diet with the
daily battle to try and lose a pound or two a week? If so, you may recognise
that, at the end of the week, you step on to the scales, possibly with some
trepidation, to discover you have lost a couple of pounds. Great! Then you
decide to ‘treat’ yourself to that chocolate bar (or Easter egg) that’s been
tempting you all week or that brightly coloured cake that’s been winking at you
from the baker’s shop window every day when you go to work. Thus, all your hard
work is undone….
Many
of us enjoy a wee indulgence occasionally. However, for many, snacking
can evolve from a wee indulgence to a regular way of managing emotional
problems. How often have you said, ‘I know I shouldn’t but it’s been a tough
week/I need some comfort/just one won’t hurt me?’
Or
how often have you phoned your partner on the way home from work on a Friday
evening after a tough week and said, ‘do you fancy a chippy tea?’ as you really
can’t be bothered to go to the effort of cooking anything? Aye, I’ve got the
tee-shirt (previously XL but now Medium)
This
psychological drive to consume unhealthy, sugar coated food such as chocolate, biscuits,
cakes etc. or fried food such as chips can be worsened by the addictive aspect
of such foods; thus, begins a vicious circle where you eat because you feel
stressed – subsequently you put on weight – therefore your stress increases….
Does
this sound familiar?
If
it does, don’t worry - you’re not alone. It’s part of our culture to ‘reward’
ourselves with food and even to mark celebrations such as Easter, Christmas, birthdays,
anniversaries etc. When this is done on moderation it’s perfectly fine. If
you’re a member of a gym, going out for a meal on a Friday night can be
balanced by an hour or so at the gym on a Saturday morning. It becomes a
problem when this behaviour becomes excessive and/or regular and you begin to
‘reward’ yourself with food more often than is healthy for you. Then it becomes
more difficult to keep your weight under control.
So,
okay, smart-Alec, I hear you ask. What’s the solution? Well, it’s worth
considering that everyone is different and what works well for one person may
not work at all for someone else. What you need to consider from a personal
point of view is the deep-rooted reasons for you snacking as this works in
cahoots with your subconscious mind. And this is where hypnotherapy can help.
Perhaps
your snacking habits developed as a child. Did your family ‘reward’ you with a
bag of sweets for doing well at school or learning to ride a bicycle or learn
to swim? Did your grandparents always ‘treat’ you to some sweets when they saw
you? As a grandfather to four little brats young
people, I stand guilty as charged over this – my two daughters lecture me about
how I should take round some fruit for the wee ones rather than chocolate,
cakes etc. And, of course, they are quite right.
So,
how can hypnotherapy work to help you stop snacking?
Rather
than attempting to work with your will power – which may be a losing battle -
hypnotherapy will work with the main cause of your snacking habit and
re-educate your brain with different, positive thoughts.
A
hypnotic approach helps people shed unwanted weight and stay slim for the
foreseeable future. This is done by using the power of positive suggestion. You
will be in a conscious, yet deep state of relaxation. No, you’re not put to
sleep and made to dance like a chicken around the room like some stage
hypnotists. You are awake, aware and in control at all times. I can help embed
new strategies to replace the old, habitual snacking process which has
developed over the years.
After
a few sessions, your aim will be to decrease your wish to have snacks, meaning
that healthy diet plans are much simpler to sustain.
I have had great success with
clients who have come to see me with weight management issues. One client has
lost nearly three stones in five months.
Interested?
Contact me at Mind Generating Success today I can start helping you to re-educate your brain and make
snacking history.
Weekend and evening
appointments available. Home visits by arrangement. If you’re a public sector
employee and a member of Premium Benefits, you’ll get 20% off each session.
Phone me on 07521353787 (24
hours)
Tuesday, 28 March 2017
How Was Your Day?
How
has your day been at work? Tough? Do you feel unable to cope with the demands
being placed on you? Stress, including work related stress, can be a
significant cause of illness and is known to be linked with high levels of
sickness absence, staff turnover and other issues such as a lack of confidence
and self-esteem.
Stress
can hit anyone at any level of the business and recent research shows that work
related stress is widespread and is not confined to any particular sector, job
or industry.
If
you are fed up with your lot, you may be looking to change jobs or even change
your career. With application forms and CVs submitted, the first hurdle is
getting short-listed. When you get that email or letter inviting you to attend
an interview you get an adrenalin rush and are on a high. But then you read
that, as part of the interview, you have to give a presentation. Perhaps you
revel in this. Or perhaps – like many people – you panic at the thought.
You
really want this job. And to have a chance of beating off the undoubtedly stiff
competition, you know you will have to give a good presentation. But if you’re
someone who is lacking in self-confidence, you may be in self-defeating mode
even before the interview begins.
I’ve
had clients tell me ‘I’m no good at presentations. I know what I want to say
but it just doesn’t come out right’. Or
‘I hate talking to a group of people, particularly people I’ve never met
before’. Or ‘I know I can do the job but I’m not sure I can talk the talk’.
Self-doubt
takes over. Self-confidence dips. This can affect not only your presentation
but your interview particularly if the presentation is at the end of the
competency based questions – and the presentation has been on your mind so much
you haven’t been able to fully concentrate on the rest of the interview.
So,
what can you do to overcome this dilemma?
Hypnotherapy
can help. I have been asked to help clients who dread having to give
presentations, whether as part of a job interview or in their existing role.
Hypnotherapy can increase self-confidence and self-esteem – and it has worked
for clients who have approached me in the last year.
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