Conscious –v- Subconscious
There has been much discussion over the years as to what exactly the subconscious mind is, as opposed to the conscious mind. There are even those who argue that there is no such thing as consciousness at all. The analogy that I use, with my clients, is the computer. To me the subconscious comprises of the thousands of programs & files that mostly lie dormant, or are doing activities in the background. The conscious mind is the desktop, where you call up one or more programs to work on. It has a limited capacity, which varies from computer to computer, so that if you get to...
Read MoreWhy Kindness Is Good For You
Tuesday 13th November 2012 is World Kindness Day. There has been extensive scientific research detailing the positive effects of kindness on our health – both psychological and physiological. Performing an act of kindness – in particular one that involves a positive social interaction such as eye contact, bonding, or making a connection with someone – causes our body to release the hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin has been credited with numerous body-and-mind benefits, including: giving us healthier hearts; improving our relationships with other people; making us feel happier; and...
Read MoreChild birth study
A study on expectations of labor pain included postpartum women who had delivered single infants at term in one of two hospitals, one in the Netherlands and one in Iowa. Within 48 hours of delivery, they were asked about their prenatal expectations of pain in labor and measures available for pain relief, and then about their memory of labor pain, and whether or not they had received pain medication. The Iowa women were significantly younger than the Dutch women (mean age 24.7 as compared to 28.9 years). The number of primiparas in each population was similar (52.2% of the Iowa group and 45.5%...
Read MoreResearch demonstrates effectiveness of hypnosis for labour
Research demonstrates effectiveness of hypnosis for labour An article in The Independent in 2007 summarised some research in Australia: Research at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide, where hypnosis is used for women in labour, shows it is highly effective. A study showed that women taught self-hypnosis reduced their need for analgesia by half, epidurals by 70 per cent, and were more than twice as likely to be satisfied with their pain management in labour compared with other women. Some other research: In Toronto, a city-wide retrospective survey compared low risk...
Read MoreConfident Childbirth
MIND AND BODY TOGETHER FOR CONFIDENT CHILDBIRTH Say the word “childbirth” and what immediately comes to your mind? I’ve asked this question of many groups of expectant parents, and there are no prizes for guessing what ninety per cent of them say. “Pain”. Isn’t this sad? Mightn’t joy, happiness or achievement be preferable? Women are very good at swapping birth horror stories and our culture perpetuates the idea that suffering in childbirth is a woman’s lot. This means that most mothers approach labour and delivery in a...
Read MoreAPRIL IS NATIONAL IBS AWARENESS MONTH
How Cognitive Hypnotherapy can help control the symptoms of IBS Its thought that between 10-20% of people experience IBS at some point in their lives (NHS Choices web site). Although this illness is not fatal it is, nevertheless painful and embarrassing for those who suffer. People with IBS tend to fall into sub groups and experience a variety of symptoms including abdominal pain, constipation and/or diarrhoea, abdominal bloating and excessive wind. Many patients find their pain is worse when constipated, and it may be relieved by opening the bowels or passing wind. In women there may be a...
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