Overcome Fear of Flying With Hypnosis, Part 1

Photo courtesy of Fotolia

If you are afraid of flying, hypnotherapy and therapeutic guided imagery
can alleviate your anxiety and make your journey more comfortable. 

 

                With the approach of June and the end of the school year, many people are planning and preparing for their summer vacations. Even if you plan to take a cruise, at least part of your travel itinerary is likely to be by air. If you are afraid of flying, hypnosis and guided imagery can alleviate this anxiety and help to make your journey more comfortable. In this blog, I will suggest some ideas and concepts to help desensitize you to any negative associations you may have with flying and air travel.

·         Wrong words: Airport staff, flight attendants and ground crew often make a lot of unintentional negative associations with flying: e.g., terminal (airport building), departure lounge and last and final call to board the airline, final destination of your journey. These are just words and part of flying jargon; they are not meant to imply negative consequences of flying and air travel.

·         Flying is still one of the safest forms of travel and is statistically less dangerous than driving an automobile.

·         Airplanes are constructed to have several safety (and back-up safety) mechanisms and computers to keep the crew and passengers safe throughout the journey.

·         Pilots have thousands of hours of training in flight simulators before they sit at the controls of a commercial jet; even then, they will be working with/supervised by a pilot with more experience to deal with various flight conditions, turbulence and other air emergencies.

·         Air-traffic control centers are trained to and responsible for monitoring each commercial airplane at specific parts of the flight, from takeoff until landing. The pilot, co-pilot and any other officer on board will be in constant verbal and radar contact with the air-traffic control officers that are monitoring your flight.

·         The pilot(s) and flight crew all have a vested interest to have a smooth flight and a safe (and timely) arrival. They are well-trained to handle various air emergencies and are highly unlikely to do anything to jeopardize their or their passengers’ safety.

·         Finally, since the terrorist attacks on 9/11/2001 passengers and flight crew are aware of potential risks and have proven they are prepared to physically subdue a potential or suspected threat during the flight.

 

In my next blog, I will describe some hypnosis and therapeutic guided-imagery techniques that I use to help people work through and overcome their fear of flying.

 

Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.

© 2014

 

An Ounce of Prevention

 

                On Saturday, an equine dentist examined and floated my horse’s teeth. Just like people, our animal companions need to have their teeth examined and/or cleaned to ensure that they are able to eat and digest their food. More important, these check-ups can prevent a tooth infection from spreading to the gum and into the bloodstream, which could be deadly. Looking back on the afternoon, I considered the many different things that I and other people do to prevent physical, emotional, social and practical problems from arising. What motivates us to take these precautions?

In the autumn, many people get a vaccination to prevent getting the flu later in the season. They start drinking more juice, taking vitamins and eating well to stave off a winter chest infection. When they have a cough, fever or running nose, they usually don’t need much persuasion to see a doctor and, if necessary, pick up a prescription for medication to relieve their discomfort. When we move to a new neighborhood or change jobs or schools, many people make some kind of gesture to create a social or professional alliance. My dad used to give a loaf of home-made French bread to new neighbors who moved into a home on our street; I made chocolate-chip cookies to share with my colleagues when I started a new job at the magazine. People who play contact sports usually don at least some kind of protective head gear to safeguard against concussion; many also wear other kinds of body armor to protect their limbs and chest. In each of these cases, the person makes a conscious decision to behave in a specific way that will protect or safeguard his or her well-being.

The decision to seek hypnotherapy to achieve a vocational or avocational self-improvement goal is also a conscious one. Even though I use specific techniques to access a client’s subconscious mind to effect the desired behavior change, the person must first make a conscious decision to seek this therapy. In addition to their desire to quit a habit that is interfering with their life right now, many people seek hypnotherapy to help them change a behavior that they fear will cause a bigger problem for them later on. For example, when I work with people to stop smoking or lose weight, their primary motivation to change their behavior (smoking or over-eating) is often to improve their health. Perhaps the person is at risk of cardiovascular disease or diabetes, and a doctor has advised that the best chance of increasing his or her longevity is to start following a healthy lifestyle. Others may want to increase their motivation, because procrastination has resulted in their missing deadlines at work, or failure to get their car in for a scheduled service caused more serious mechanical problems on the road. Many times, even after they achieve their stated goals, people want to continue with the hypnotherapy to help motivate them to continue to follow the new behaviors that have improved their lives.

Hypnosis and therapeutic guided imagery are effective, natural and drug-free techniques through which you can achieve these and other self-improvement goals. Whether you are ready to embark on this journey for the first time or just want to fine-tune the new behaviors or skills you have been working on to avoid temptation, I am here to help you achieve them.

 

 

Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.

© 2014

 

Tune Out the Noise

Photo courtesy of Fotolia

 

                Even if you enjoy working in a busy environment, sometimes even a little bit of noise is too much of a distraction. The sound of ringing phones, the constant thwack-thwack sound of typing on computer keyboards and the distant din of conversations in the break room are about to send you through the roof. Your project deadline is looming, but you doubt you will be able to accomplish anything at all with all of this chaos going on around you. Help!

                One of the most useful techniques I have found to facilitate working in a chaotic office environment is to simply convert the annoying external stimuli into a form of white noise that will deepen your focus and sense of calm. As soon as you enter a busy work environment and before you start to feel overwhelmed, draw several slow, deep breaths through your nose. Visualize, imagine, picture or pretend that you are inhaling the amount and kind of energy you need to focus on and accomplish your task. When you exhale, release the breath through your mouth. Focus on releasing any emotional frustration and/or physical tension you may be carrying in your body. Give yourself the following suggestion: “Every sound and everything I see around me is helping to deepen my focus and concentration and improve my attention to detail on what I am working on. I give myself permission to take regular breaks in my work so I can continue to be creative and energetic. The whole time, I am and will remain completely alert and aware of everything that is going on in my environment so my colleagues and I can and will continue to work safely and efficiently.”

                Your subconscious mind is most suggestible to you; therefore, it is important to use positive words and positive energy when you craft this suggestion. Be sure to drink plenty of water and eat meals and snacks that contain protein to sustain your energy, stamina and focus at work. This technique is not designed to help you tune-out to aspects of your environment but will enable you to continue to work well despite the environmental distractions around you. Do not use this technique while driving or operating heavy machinery.

 

Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.

© 2014

Mother's Day

 

                There is no one in the world like a mother. Today, to celebrate Mother’s Day, I would like to tell you about mine.

                When I think about my mother, I am in awe. I marvel at the things she has accomplished in her life, the challenges she has overcome and the joy she brings to my life. I am inspired by everything she is as a woman and as a mother. She is my biggest champion and my loudest cheerleader. She is always there to provide a warm, comforting shoulder to cry on or to deliver the pointed pep talk to motivate me when I need it. Her love always makes me feel protected, supported and secure.

                My mother imparts her wisdom and love in the small and in the big things she does. She prepares meals when she is tired. She smiles when she is sad. She forgives when she is hurt. When I don’t feel well, she is the first person to check on me to make sure I am drinking enough fluids and getting enough rest. If I want or need something, more often than not she surprises me with that desired object weeks or months later. By then, I have often forgotten that I even mentioned wanting or pointing it out to her, which makes her present even more special to me.

                My mother is my greatest confidant, my very best friend. She is one of the few people with whom I can sit in comfortable silence and just be in the moment. She is someone I can laugh with about the goings-on in one of our favorite television shows, compare favorite recipes and discuss the heavy issues we see or hear about in the news. She shows me by example how to give love and respect the people I care about. She has taught and continues to teach me so much about life by just watching her live hers.

                To my most beloved mother and yours, I wish you a very happy Mother’s Day!

 

 

Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.

© 2014

 

Marketing and Promoting Hypnotherapy

 

                Someone recently contacted me to find out more information about hypnotherapy and whether hypnosis could help him to achieve a particular goal. We chatted for a while, and I gave him some information about hypnotherapy and how I use hypnosis and therapeutic guided imagery to help my clients achieve various vocational and avocational self-improvement goals. At the end of our conversation, he wanted to know if there was anywhere he could read more information about my experience as a certified hypnotherapist so he could make a decision about whether to give hypnotherapy a try. I gave him my business card and brochure and referred him to my website (www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com) so he could read more about me and what I do.

                After we said goodbye, I thought about our conversation in the context of the best and most effective ways to disseminate information not just about my practice but hypnosis and hypnotherapy in general. Even though it is becoming a more mainstream therapy, I am aware that people are still a little wary about hypnosis. They want to know if they will become vulnerable to some kind of mind control or manipulation while they are in hypnosis. Will they do or say something stupid or embarrassing, or break a confidence or reveal a bank pass-code while they are in-state? (The answer is no, no, no and no.) But the fact that these concerns remain prevalent suggests to me that my colleagues and I need to continue to share the facts and dispel the myths about what we do.

One of the best ways to do this is through conversations with people about what we do. Here are some suggestions for the most effective ways that I have found to share this information:

 

·         Advertise and write blogs/articles: I limit my advertising budget to a few equestrian-themed publications. However, I write a hypnotherapy-themed blog just about every night to keep spreading the word about the many ways hypnosis and John Kappas, Ph.D.’s model, Theory of Mind, are generally relevant to daily life. I specifically tailor the topics of my essays to illustrate how the therapeutic techniques I learned or behaviors I studied during my training and continuing education at the Hypnosis Motivation Institute are relevant to my (and your!) daily life. I let people know when I have written a new blog by posting a short “announcement” about it on Twitter and on my personal and business Facebook accounts. I also provide a link that will take you directly to the blog on my website.

·         Business cards and brochures: These are still among the most effective (and immediate) ways to promote your practice. I always carry business cards with me to give out. I have “rented” space at my local tack store to display my cards for prospective equestrian clients, and my bank does this for me, for free!

·         Donate hypnotherapy session(s) or handwriting analysis: Hypnotherapy sessions and/or formal handwriting analyses are unusual (and intriguing) prizes in a silent-auction or raffle at a fundraiser or social event. The best way for people to learn about hypnosis is to experience it.

·         Dress code: Hypnotherapists, as therapists, follow professional codes of ethics and conduct. Wear clothes that best represent what you do as a therapist and your commitment to this work of helping your clients achieve their goals.

·         Marketing materials: When I am out running errands on the weekend, I typically wear a baseball cap with my company name and website on it. I want people to ask me about the words they are reading so I can tell them about what I do and how hypnosis is an effective tool to help people change undesired behaviors.

·         Network in the community: Introduce yourself to local chiropractors, masseuses, hair-stylists, yoga instructors, your bank, dry cleaners, etc. Let people know what you do, where you are located and how much you charge for your sessions. Even other hypnotherapists can be a great source of referrals if you specialize in different areas than they do: e.g., hypnosis to improve sports performance versus smoking cessation.

·         Professional affiliations: Keep up your professional affiliations, such as the American Hypnosis Association, the Hypnotherapists Union, your local chamber of commerce, etc. In addition to providing professional support these organizations will often “link” the website for your practice with theirs. (Be sure to return the favor!)

·         Professional referrals: At some point in our career as a hypnotherapist, we may need to refer a client to a licensed medical doctor or mental health worker for further evaluation or to provide assistance that is out of our scope of expertise. Similarly, once the physician has ruled out any medical causes of his patient’s headache, he may refer the patient to you as a hypnotherapy client so you can help him manage the stress that causes his pain.

·         Promote your practice through social media: I am active on Twitter and Facebook and write/post about various topics. Of course, I have provided information about my practice, Calminsense Hypnotherapy®, on these accounts. However, it is not necessary to “talk shop” all the time to get attention for your practice. Several of my Twitter followers have become specifically interested in what I do, but only after we had been communicating about our mutual interests for many months.

·         Website: A good website goes a long, long way to “market” you to a wide population. Be sure to update the site periodically by posting new client referrals, updating your professional certifications and even changing the photographs or design to refresh the search programs.

 

 

Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.

© 2014

 

The Elevator Lesson

Photo courtesy of Microsoft

                “Hello? Hello!” When there was no answer, the thrum of persistent knocking. Finally, the shrill sound of a ringing bell similar to noise of an old-fashioned alarm clock rang once, twice. Then the cycle repeated; this time, the voice sounded more plaintive, more panicked.

                “Excuse me? I think someone is stuck in one of the elevators,” I told the receptionist.

                The woman cocked her head in the direction of the elevators and picked up her phone. “I’ll call security,” she told me with a calm smile.

                It seemed like ages until someone finally showed up to help get the passenger out, although probably only a few minutes had passed from the time I alerted someone about the stuck elevator until the problem was resolved. The whole time, I battled my own wave of panic and concern for the person stuck inside while sending these mental messages: “Help is coming. You will get out soon.” It was 3 p.m.—well past lunch-time—but what if he or she had not eaten anything since breakfast? I knew from my hypnotherapy training and personal experience that hunger and low blood-sugar levels can bring on or exacerbate anxiety and trigger symptoms of nausea, dizziness and weakness. I have helped my clients work through phobias that were created by subconsciously associating the physical symptoms of having a low blood-sugar level with an object or some event going on in their environment. Since the person in the stuck elevator was also actually experiencing this event, it would be reasonable if the person developed a legitimate fear of elevators after today. What if he or she already had a phobia of elevators….? But, I was getting ahead of myself.

                 Of course, the building’s security officers showed up and got the person out of the elevator. He seemed no worse for wear and was even laughing about what had happened. I wondered what I would or could have done in his situation. Like this passenger, I would have called out for help and activated the alarm, like he did. Then I would have worked on calming down (and remaining calm) by doing diaphragmatic breathing so I could focus on possible options to resolve my problem. Once I established that there was cellular reception from where I was, I could call someone in the office I was visiting in that building to let them know there was a problem with one of the elevators and ask them to send help for me. Alternatively, I could have called a friend or family member to look up the phone number of a general manager of the building and raise the alarm. I could have even called 911.

                I think the thing that most disturbed me about the incident was other people’s response to it—or lack of response. Even if I was the only person who initially heard the person knocking and calling for help, which I doubt, the alarm bell was very loud. The receptionist didn’t seem too concerned when I told her that I thought someone was stuck in an elevator; it was as if one or the other machine malfunctioned on a regular basis and this was another daily inconvenience. People continued to walk past, chatting on their mobile phones or with a friend. Some pressed the call button to summon the other elevator to take them back downstairs. But no one seemed particularly worried, curious about or interested in the shrill rings that cut through the air every few seconds. It was like they didn’t want to get involved. Maybe they didn’t, and that scares me more than the idea of being stuck somewhere. I just find it very sad and disheartening that we can no longer generally count on the kindness and awareness of strangers for help and support during a crisis or an emergency.

 

 

Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.

© 2014

 

Energy Vampires

                Vampires are very popular these days. They show up as main characters in popular television series and movies. They are heroes (or anti-heroes) in novels for young-adult and adult readers. The Count on Sesame Street teaches young viewers about numbers and counting. Finally, vampires represent a powerful metaphor to describe a person who literally drains someone else of positive energy and emotional fortitude. Maybe you even know or have someone like this in your life. Like the creatures represented in literature and on film, emotional vampires “prey” on just about anyone they can sink their emotional fangs into. Just like Kristen Wiig’s character of “Penelope” on Saturday Night Live, they are very needy individuals who try to one-up every other person in the room in order to feel more confident and in control of their lives.

However, like the supernatural creatures they represent, emotional vampires share specific characteristics and must also observe certain behavioral protocols that make them easy to recognize and defend against.

 

How to recognize an emotional vampire:

·         Emotional vampires have a lower vibrational energy than others around them.

·         They are often in the middle of or just getting through some kind of emotional disaster. Part of their charm or attraction is that they give off a lost or needy vibe that motivates others to want to just look after them during a crisis. By then, of course, you are already “hooked” and eager to offer more support when another problem develops.

·         They often revel in their negative experiences or other people’s disappointments.

·         When you share a painful confidence with this person, he or she seems to be in competition with you to describe an even more distressing experience: “When that happened to me….” When you interact with an emotional vampire, you actually feel worse about what is going on in your life than you did before.

·         An emotional vampire’s negative energy literally “sucks” out and dampens the optimism, good mood and spiritual/psychic energy of everyone else in his or her environment.

 

How to defend against an emotional vampire:

·         Remember: Just like the vampires in horror movies, an emotional vampire must be invited or welcomed into your emotional/personal life. Whenever you feel uncomfortable in someone’s presence, pay attention/listen to that emergency alert from the primitive part of your subconscious mind, warning you to stay away from someone who could be emotionally (or even physically) dangerous to you.

·         Be a true friend to one or several people and surround yourself with individuals who are true friends to you. These are people who like, trust and respect you. They are individuals with whom you share various mutual and separate interests. They may challenge you, but their support does not waver. They celebrate your successes with you, but they do not insult or ridicule you and they do not try to make you bad or worse about a misfortune. They look out for your best interests, and you do the same for them. They also “close ranks” around you and try to shield you from the negative energy of others who try to bring you down.

·         Participate in activities that you enjoy doing and make you feel relaxed, happy, positive and self-confident. The more positive energy you give off, the more positive energy you will attract!

·         Use your positive energy (attitude) to neutralize  negativity in your environment. See my “Energy Exchange” blog (January 3, 2014) for more information about how to raise the energy level in your environment.

·         Finally, try this cool imagery exercise (one of my favorites!) to create a protective energy shield around you. Visualize, imagine, picture or pretend that you are surrounding yourself with silken strands of pure, positive energy. This energy is manifested as the most delicate strands of gold and silver light, more delicate than the silk of a spider’s web but millions of times stronger. (Remember: silk from a spider’s web is already proportionally stronger than steel. In other words, very strong!) Gradually wind these gold and silver strands around yourself, starting with your feet, and work your way up your body. These strands appear invisible to you and everyone around you, but only until the emotional vampire tries to get to close to you. Unlike a traditional spider’s web, this silk repels rather than ensnares the threat. These strands of beautiful, pure energy encase you like a knight’s armor. They are strong as iron but slippery as soap or ice. Since there is nothing for an energy vampire to hold or sink his or her fangs into, this person has no choice but to is go away and find another “victim.”

 

 

Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.

© 2014