Atlantic Complementary Blog

Not too long ago, I was very excited about health care reform because our President declared that it would encourage the use of interventions that WORK.  That’s good for me since Hypnotherapy works, has only positive side effects, helps many people who were given little help or encouragement by Western Medicine and is affordable.  I now realize that this battle is about dollars and cents.

So, I haven’t been writing about this topic.

Two days ago, David Leonhardt wrote an article in the NY Times that’s worth reading.  It takes a look at the impact of health insurance on innovation and economic growth in the US.

He suggests that 1.5 million people are making career decisions based on health insurance benefits.  This means they may not be choosing a company where their expertise and skills can make the most difference.

This scenario coincides with a decade during which time the US has had “the slowest economic growth since before  WWII. The No 1 reason, I’d argue, was our innovation deficit.”

Take a minute to check out this well thought out article ending with comments by some well known economists about both the House and Senate versions of the health care reform bills.

Ode Magazine has a rather lengthy but informative article about focusing on prevention rather than treatment  of disease and integrating both lifestyle changes and complementary healing modalities to reduce health care costs.

According to this article “Health care costs are continually rising but people are not getting any healthier. Any reform that does not address this fact will fail.”

The article refers to a study recently published in the Archives of Internal Medicine of over 20,000 Germans. Non-smokers who maintain a healthy weight, healthy diet and exercise 30 minutes a day reduce their risk of developing diabetes by 93%, heart attack by 81%, stroke by 50% and cancer by 36%.  In a country where about half the population has a chronic illness (that would be US) making these changes could take bring us a lot closer to having an affordable and effective health care system.

Ode Magazine Article

What a wonderful day. I’m spending the day in the comfort of our motor home, in Meredith,  Lakes Region of New Hampshire. Rain is falling gently on the roof and I’m feeling very grateful as I contemplate the passage of time, growth, and the changing seasons.

Summer has transitioned into autumn. As shadows grow longer, days shorter, air so cool and very clear, I’ve been thinking about the summer that was filled with friends, family, fun and learning experiences.

Each July, we have a family vacation at a kid friendly campground in Freedom, NH, Danforth Bay Campground. This July was no different. It’s so much fun watching the kids enjoy the swimming, kayaking, biking, making tie dye shirts and roasting marshmallows over the campfire, getting so exhausted that they collapse into bed at night.

Then there was a beautiful August.   My friend Toby, invited me to “Crew” on his sailboat. This must be a sign of desperation since sailing is totally new to me. I  love being on board the sailboat and I’m happy to pitch in to keep it moving forward. But, there is a steep learning curve.

Toby has the idea that if I can drive a motor home on land, I can sail his sailboat. It could be true. I’m not yet sure. There are some major differences. It’s a good thing that Toby is a very patient man.

The moment you set foot on the dock, many things change. Ropes become “lines”. Words I’ve used for years such as “Right, left, back, front” are just never heard. There are all sorts of fasteners for fenders, steps, those handles you switch from one side to the other depending on what sail you want to adjust. Nothing like driving.  Using what I learned in kindergarten, I can just “stay in the lines” with the motor home. There are no “lines” in the ocean. Red and green corks bounce in the waves where the fog lines should be.  There are hundreds of lobster pots to dodge. And, while Toby raises the mainsail, It’s my job to aim the 30+feet of Sabre into the wind. While he is raising the jib, my assignment is to keep it heading any direction except into the wind. Can you guess how I know?? Picture sitting totally still…. in irons?? even more jargon. I offered to start the engine.  That seemed to be the wrong answer.

The joys and fun of summer have been replaced by the cool, clear autumn air, the crisp, sweet taste of fresh apples, and the promise of winter to come. I am cherishing this time to move forward with optimism, hope and joy. I hope you are too.  There is always  next year to continue learning that new language and keep the Sabre on course.

How is life treating you? Many women feel pressured by a combination of home and work demands — responsibility that creates a lot of stress.

According to an American Psychological Association online study, 77% of those polled said they experienced physical symptoms of stress during the prior month; 73% experienced psychological stress during that same time frame. If you’re experiencing stress, you’re not alone.

Enter an ancient art and medical practice called hypnotherapy. Hypnosis and hypnotherapy have been around for as long as people have been sharing stories to encourage or inspire others. It remains a simple, cost effective, evidence based tool that is far underused.

Can hypnosis help you? Probably.

First, hypnotherapy is fabulous for reducing stress. Most stress has an external component-what is going on outside of you- and all stress has an internal response- how you respond. Emotions are created by the subconscious mind and not totally within your control.

For instance, if you watch a sad movie, do you choose to cry? Not usually. It just happens. It’s the emotion that our subconscious chooses based on our past experiences.

Hypnotherapy is a powerful tool to reframe your past simply and easily and allow you to experience relaxation even in the face of challenges.

Take, for instance, the female executive responsible for 125 employees who sought help for managing stress. Supported by three group hypnotherapy sessions, she was able to accomplish the very unpleasant task of staffing cutbacks and remain appropriately relaxed.

Another young woman who sought help for PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) experienced positive changes in every aspect of her life. After 15 years of traditional psychotherapy with minimal results, hypnotherapy was able to allow her to sleep at night, drive a car without fear, enhance her public speaking abilities, successfully change careers and become financial successful.

We create a belief system based on our experiences and then build a protective barrier around our beliefs. Hypnotherapy relaxes that barrier allowing limiting beliefs to be changed and reducing the emotional impact of challenging experiences we’ve had. The process is simple and comfortable. In a quiet, safe setting, the hypnotherapist, acting somewhat like a tour guide, speaks using a calming tone and carefully chosen words. Past events may be reframed; direct suggestion may be used. The barrier is bypassed and changes happen.

It is important to remember that your beliefs control your actions and accomplishments. If, in the back of your mind, you have negative beliefs about sales people, your sales success will be limited. If you have experienced embarrassment speaking to others, your public speaking abilities are impacted. Conversely, if you believe you are capable, knowledgeable and hugely successful, you will be. If you feel you are worthy, you will fulfill your potential.