And the World Continued
Photograph by mr.beaver
My morning rituals have gone astray. I put on the kettle for tea, fed the cats, and began to think about this post. Then the kettle whistle blew and I took it off the stove burner. I fumbled for a tea strainer and put in a teaspoon of Jasmine tea and thought about having leftover cake for breakfast. But instead, I went back to my email. Soon I realized I needed a sip of tea. I went back to the cup and what to my surprise, there was no tea. I had not poured the water through the strainer and into the cup. Oh woe!
Now I have it together and the refreshing scent of hot tea lingers beside me. All is well. So, while I was retreating last week, the hypno world continued to revolve. Funny how that happens. LOL.
The Scientifically Good
A recent study was conducted by the Institute of General Practice and Community Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway about “the effect of a standardized hypnosis treatment used in general practice for patients with chronic widespread pain (CWP)”. The results of the study indicated that those who received the hypnosis support for dealing with their pain improved, as opposed to those who did not receive hypnosis support. For those who are curious, the hypnosis was done once a week for 10 weeks. Each session lasted about 30 minutes and utilized relaxation techniques, ego-strengthening, and increasing one’s own ability to release their own pain. (7th Space Interactive and ClinicalTrials.gov).
Two other studies have been completed to explore the use of hypnosis in helping with gastric issues. The first was done to see if hypnosis could increase gastric acid. It did (by 89%). The second study was to see if hypnosis could be used to decrease gastric acid by allowing the participant to focus on relaxation rather than hunger. This also worked with levels becoming 39% lower. (Natural News).
The Yin Yang Effect
Hypnosis was the subject of an article in Vindy.com. It was very positive about hypnotist Auggie Ruggiero’s practice. However, there was a quote from Dr. Harvey Kayne that was fairly negative, though it attempted to give a reasonable spin on hypnosis. To me, it sounded like another slam from a threatened counselor who fears to use it for a number of reasons (doesn’t take as long as talk therapies, fear that people who are not qualified in hypnotherapy are doing it, yahda, yahda, yahda). The quote reads:
“Right now hypnosis is very, very out, but that doesn’t mean it’s not useful for some people,” he said. “If you look at the literature, I’m sure you’ll probably find that hypnosis is about as effective as anything else, but not superior.”
The Good
But before I can get all out of shape over a psychologist’s quote, I came across another psychology-based person - Lisa Smith who owns Cre8tive Solutions. The South Florida Times did an article about her hypnosis practice. This article mentions that crux of our profession - most people see the medical world for lifestyle or behavioral changes, rather than hypnosis. She hopes to change that (as most of us do).
Dr. Tom Smith was diagnosed with cancer and had the experience of seeing such a disease from the other side of the operating table. However, in the process he began to use self-hypnosis, which really helped him. His story was published in the Lancashire Telegraph.
Sometimes I think the most interesting stories come straight from the hypnotist who has used hypnosis to help themselves. Natural News has published an excerpt from an interview with hypnotist Tellman Knudson and his use of hypnosis to help those with Attention Deficit Disorder.
For those of you who have missed the notion for using hypnosis to help you through the child-birthing process, there is an article about it and Caroline Stewart’s ideas as a practitioner in the Times Colonist. She is located in Canada.
Charlene Ackerman works with phobias. You might just find that she has helped someone just like you…read the article in the Janesville Gazette. The writer, Marcia Nelson, also had Ackerman work with her son on releasing a fear of needles. She wrote a separate article here.
The Bad (super duper cool)
Sam and Max, the video game is coming to the wii in October. The first game episode features a hypnosis conspiracy. (File Factory Games).
The Poll
The Aliens have landed. With 17% of the poll particiapants stating that they were aliens, it is hard to believe that there is not another species among us. :) The poll asked about encounters. Though 47% of the participants would want to remember an alien encounter, no one responded to actually remembering such a moment. Granted 17% perferred not to remember, 10% did not believe in alien abduction and 7% did not believe in aliens, and 7% said they had been abducted but cannot remember.
