Lakeland and Bay Therapy Blog

March onwards and upwards

2012-02-29T01:43:00.002-08:00

March On

Recently I have been walking around the area where I live in the South of the Lake District. I was delivering leaflets and as I was walking around it set me thinking about the ups and downs of our lives. Some of us are buried in the details and others are perched above able to see the bigger picture.

Some of the roads were small and narrow and others were wider. So is our map of the world limited to the small pathways of beliefs and awareness or is it expanded to take in the wider routes with more choices? When we meet a crossroads in our lives are we flexible enough to make those choices? It also reminded me of the many roads and pathways we walk along in our lives. Are we moving away to avoid situations or are we moving forwards in a positive direction of travel?

Action

As I walked around I was amazed by the contrast in the places I visited. Some were well taken care of, clean and tidy and organised. Others outwardly looked cluttered. Again it set me thinking. How do we achieve order in our lives given the pressures we place on ourselves? Or do some of us just focus inwardly? We’ve given up on using our potential. Perhaps we feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to begin. Do we act to avoid and move away from situations or do we act to address our issues and so move forward?

Resources – reflection and rejection

As I walked around it was as though all the pathways to all the houses and dwellings was like visiting some of the many resources we have within us, within our map of the world. Just imagine your street, neighbourhood, village or district with each house being a resource to be used. Then all of a sudden as we picture that we realise we have lots of personal resources. Instead of dismissing them outright, be more reflective, consider your achievements, skills, knowledge, expertise, know how, experiences. Be open to what other resources you will have within you which you have not yet explored and perhaps your map of the world will expand a little more.

Just imagine going up in a balloon to survey the landscape. How many roads would you see? How many paths? How many shortcuts? My my! Just look at how many there in your map. So why limit yourself to the byroads? Reflection lifts us out of the details. If we go high enough even a dull day will be brighter with all the various colours around. There are parts in sunshine, not clouded over. Just reflect on the resources you have and let them rejuvenate you once more.

Contemplate and commit

Just focus on your breathing right now.

Listen as you breathe in.

Listen as you breathe out.

How does the air feel going in?

How does it feel going out?

How deeply can you breathe in? Down to the abdomen? Just close your eyes for a few moments and just focus on breathing, perhaps for a count of ten breaths. How does that make you feel? What happens to your heart rate? Any lower? Good.

For just a moment you forgot about everything. You just let it go. So you were in the here and now.

How good does that feel? So just do it each day. Contemplate and reflect. Commit to completing a small ten minute task each day. Perhaps relax for 10 minutes, or walk or some simple cleaning. Ten minutes is not a long time but what a difference it makes. So just commit yourself to making small positive changes because small steps are achievable. When you reflect on the good things each day you will surprise yourself. Commit to making small positive changes.

Highway or low way.

As I walked around delivering leaflets sometimes I took a high route and sometimes I took a low route. The low route can be beautiful and interesting and sometimes it is a good thing to take the low route because you see the detail a little more. This is especially useful if you usually take the high routes of life because we become too general in our ways of thinking.

Occasionally it is good to take the high route where we can see the bigger picture of the world around us. Perhaps we will appreciate seeing the bigger picture because it will help us to expand our personal horizons. Perhaps we may be able to alternatives routes. So if you are the kind of person who gets buried in the details of life, or just bogged down, just now and then take the high way, go up and then look out. It is good to try alternatives.

So this is March.

Motivate yourself.

Be active.

Be resourceful and reflective.

Contemplate and commit daily to small changes.

Occasionally just take a different route to achieve your goal – high way or low way.

Move onward just one step at a time. The journey of a 1000 miles begins with the first step.

Take that step today.

Being Whole Again

2012-02-02T01:57:00.000-08:00

Wellbeing
Healthy Body
Outlook and opportunities
Learning and problem solving
Evaluation - feedback not failure

Wellbeing leads to being well. That means being well in the mind, body and spirit. As the late John Horner of Witherslack Group of Schools put it ' head,heart and stomach'. When all three work together in harmony they function positively and we are at our best. If any one of the three is experiencing discomfort then we will experience disharmony which restricts the benefits of our wellbeing.

Healthy bodies are the result of eating natural foods and having a wide variety of such foods,including fruit,veg,seeds, nuts, etc and reducing and eliminating our intake of processed foods which do not promote a healthy wellbeing. It also includes drinking plenty of water, the latest thinking being about 30ml for every kg you weigh.In addition taking part in daily activities promotes a greater sense of being well. Think of a rainbow for healthy eating and of the natural foods to be found within each colour. Having such a focus provides learning, interest and variety. Taking just ten minutes a day of activity such as walking is a good place to start, especially if you have not done anything for a while. If you like it then repeat three times a day and gradually build up the amount of time. Just a warning if there are any health issues just check with your GP first.

Outlook and opportunities.

What's on the balance sheet ?
When we are outgoing and positive we have a great foundation for wellbeing. If we feel negative then this limits our wellbeing potential. Just try this exercise if this is how you feel.At the end each day for a week, make a list of all the good things that you have seen, heard, felt, touched or tasted. The list may be small but it's a start. The more we look ,reflect on and record the more positive we will become. This exercise will also help with our sleeping patterns.
Look for opportunities to be positive, look at the flowers growing, listen to the birds singing and feel the sun's rays on your skin. by looking for opportunities each day we will find them.

Learning something everyday happens because our unconscious mind takes in millions of bits of information each second.So when was the last time you completed a quiz,or crossword? Exercising the brain is just as important as exercising the body. The more we learn new things the better our brains will function. Why not learn one new fact each day ? Take up a new hobby or pick up an old one that you once did. Try problem solving as well because it gives our brains a good workout.

Evaluating what we do is not about success or failure but about feedback. So as January ends and February begins what have we done to be more wholesome in 1/12th of 2012 ?

Realistically what happened to all the resolutions we made - fell by the wayside?

It takes the whole of us ( mind, body spirit) to make ourselves whole. It requires being healthy,eating naturally, daily activities, having positive outlooks and outcomes,learning and evaluation.

We can't not change !

What could we learn from our experiences in life so far?

Answer

A.R.V.E.L.P

Be active
Learn to relax.
Visualise more.
Eat healthily and drink plenty of water.
Learn more each day.
Problem solve regularly.

Will we be more wholesome in this an Olympic year?
Will we achieve what we set out to do and more?
Yes we could.
By doing each of the ARVELP suggestions our wellbeing will be much improved.
It starts right now, for now is all we have.

Welcome 2012

2012-01-02T06:23:00.000-08:00

So
Here we are again, the end of one year and at the beginning of another.
It feels different this time because this year is a leap year and we are hosting the Olympics.
Is it new you or same old same old ?
Perhaps it's time to consider what potential a leap year could offer.
L - look at and listen to yourself
E - Examine and evaluate your life
A- Activate your mind to take action
P - Possibilities exist for a positive outcome.

L
Take a good long look at your personal situation. Are you well emotionally, physically,socially and are you performing at your best ?
Yes to all these situations ? Sure ?
No - then listen to your inner voice as you take a long hard look at your self.

E
It's time to examine and evaluate what is happening for you in your life situation. Is it time for a change ? What would you like to achieve in 2012?
See the picture of what you would like to achieve. Make it bigger, brighter ,colourful and focused. Put yourself in that picture you created. Are you calmer, healthier, interacting better, achieving your goals?
IT IS POSSIBLE !
YOU CAN'T NOT CHANGE !!

If it looks right, sounds right and senses right ....... then do it.

A
Take action to achieve what you pictured before. That means having realistic goals; it means planning the steps to achieve them;what will it feel like when you have achieved them ,what will you gain, what will you lose; what is the next smallest step that you need to take towards achieving your first goal ?
P
There are endless possibilities which could be achievable by you.With a positive outlook working towards a positive outcome who knows what you could achieve.

Too much.
Baa humbug! Bah humbug !
Seek help and advice if you want to succeed.
There are key things for a healthier new leap year.

DAILY ACTIVITY - RELAXATION- VISUALISATION - LOW GI DIET.

Making that New Year's Resolution may be not quite be as great a leap as you think.

Let
Each
Action be achievable
Positive and successful

The journey to a healthier YOU begins with the first small step.

You can
Emerge as an
Achiever by making the
Right decisions.

2012
Add the digits together = 2+0+1+2 = 5

5

This could be part of your 5 STEP PLAN

Active more - as little as 8 mins daily- think of five daily activities you could take part in at home
Relax more - think of 5 ways to relax
Visualise more - picture yourself how you would like to be- and go for it
Drink water more often - we are after all made up of over 70% water
Eat a low GI diet - cut the sugar and salt out and eat more natural foods.

Have a healthy and prosperous New Year.

Happy Christmas ?

2011-11-24T04:28:00.000-08:00

So.
The countdown has begun.
Has it not ?
Lights are going up in our towns.
Music is alreday filling the air.
Adverts persuade us to buy the lastest.
Looking forward with anticipation ?
or
Looking back with painful memories ?
For some it will be a time of excitement.
For others it just raises anxiety and stress.
In any crowd there is a sense of loneliness.
There will be those for whom Christmas just brings back dark memories.
Perhaps a breakdown in a relationship.
The break up of the family.
The loss of a loved one.
The loss of status.
The loss of a job.
As the time approaches so the anxiety and stresses increase.
The thought of being with relations ... but...
the fall out still remains.
Anxious about getting things ready .. perhaps it will be different this year ?
Perhaps ?
Stressed out because this is meant to be a happy time .
Meant to be ?
But the Christmas story is about a journey.
A journey with unknowns and with uncertainties.
A story about hardship in a crowded town.
About knock downs and rejection.
Trying to make the best of the situation was not easy.
Yet...
The story shows the kindness and compassion....
of a complete stranger
The innkeeper. who offered all that he had left.....
a safe place ... a shelter..
Perhaps the image of a child shows our own vulnerability in the world.
Our dependence on others.
It reveals aspect of of our human needs ..trust, care, compassion, security, safety, protection and positivity.
As children we come into the world and we are shaped by the world in which we live.
As adults our map of the world may be radically different.
Perhaps we can't trust ... because we've been hurt in the past.
We don't care ... because others don't seem to care for us.
We don't feel safe .. because someone let us down.
We don't feel positive because we are criticised all the time.
But for the rest of the year we muddle through somehow.
And then..
It's Christmastime once again.
So
The old anxieties begin to rise and the stresses increase.
We just allow this to continue again ... and .. again.
WHY?
Perhaps now is the time to reflect on what specifically is the issue which causes that anxiety or stress.
On our journey through life we may need our own innkeeper... a person as yet unknown to us... to help us and to guide us.
So.
Happy Christmas ?
Or not .
Maybe.
Maybe it's time
Maybe it's the right time to talk.... about the specific issue or issues that cause you anxiety and stress.
Maybe it's time to learn new strategies.
You have a choice...
which is good .. is it not?
You can continue as you are
or
do something about it.
A healthier christmas ?
Yes.
It is possible.
But...
Now
That's up to you.

Stress Part 2

2011-11-10T08:35:00.000-08:00

This follows on from my previous blog about stress. In recapping then there are certain categories of stress such as inherited from family situations,type A personality, stress from fears,awfulising and 'shoulds' and stress from inescapable pain.
You might experience stress because you repress and refuse to accept your feelings of anger, hurt or sadness.
You deny negative emotions. You do not acknowledge your true feelings. If it remains repressed the stress will become an influential factor of your life.
You experience stress because you are exposed to a specific incident or stimulus that overwhelms your physical, mental and emotional capabilities.
Expectations of you are seen as demands but you are incapable of fulfilling them. It may be part of your job or life that you feel unfulfilled. Or it may be a combination of several causes which become so monumental to cope with.
You may experience stress because of a dietary deficiency.
Certain foods cause our emotions to soar then dip eg sugar,caffeine and alcohol. A lack of vitamin B makes you more irritable. You may have a hit and miss diet from poor eating habits.
If you are female you may experience stress as part of PMS.
Between 38% and 50% of women aged 18 yrs - 45 yrs experience Premenstrual Syndrome. The physical and emotional symptoms show themselves between 7-14 days prior to the onset of the period. Physical symptoms include sugar cravings, fatigue, headaches,weight gain and bloating. Emotional symptoms include anxiety, confusion, temporary memory loss and mood swings.

How can hypnotherapy help ?

By pinpointing the when, where and why of the stress, you become more aware of your response patterns. Thinking of positive, realistic replacement responses helps the subconscious mind so that it can be reprogrammed. In this way you can manage your stresses in a better more meaningful pattern because you have a far greater understanding of the underlying causes.

I am now offering talks to interested groups.

So if this seems a good idea to you , sounds sense and you feel good about hearing more about the potential benefits of hypnotherapy,psychotherapy and NLP then just contact me.

In the meantime..... take time to .......de - stress ......yourself.,.......... and have a more stress free life.

NLP is great news

2011-11-03T03:12:00.000-07:00

I've just completed by training as a Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming with Sugar NLP in Kendal with Ben and Neal. It was a fantastic experience both in terms of personal growth and professional development. I believe that NLP has given me a very powerful box of tools to help prospective clients with a range of issues. The most wonderful thing about using NLP is the speed with which change is possible and using it alongside pyschotherapy and hypnotherapy is a very poweful combination indeed.

I can now offer help and support using NLP within a variety of presenting issues which fall within the following categories:

unwanted behaviours,symptoms or habits
unwanted negative memories
conflict
not knowing what to do next
not being able to use skills in different situations
limiting beliefs
anxiety,fear or phobia
lacking confidence about the future.

So if you or someone you know needs help either now or in the near future just give me a call on 015395 65893 or email me at info@lakelandandbaytherapy.co.uk

Stress

2011-10-25T06:29:00.000-07:00

Certain forms of stress are good for you e.g. anticipating a reward. However stress which begins to affect you is undesirable. Such a condition needs change. Although we can not change the world we can change how we react to it.

The first step is to look for the cause or causes of your stress reaction. There are 100's of stress factors and even though you may not know what causes your particular stress it will probably fall into one of the following major categories.

* You have inherited a model for stress.

You learn how to behave from watching others and what situations produce predictable behaviour patterns. If family members showed stress you would inherit it by copying the model.

* You experience stress because you have a type A personality.

Prone to your own overachievement
Habit of forcing yourself to work towards unrealistic goals
Consistently competitive
Constantly aware of time and prone to rushing
Quick to show anger
Cynical

Recognise yourself yet?

You are addicted to stress and such stress could act as a start for illness, particuarly heart attacks.

*You experience stress because of fears, awfulising and 'should'.

You focus on nightmares, catastrophising, worst alternatives produce a continual stress. 'Shoulds' are disruptive to emotional wellbeing. They are rules you believe you must live by: you punish yourself with condemnation eg ' I should be perfect'. You are living with an invisible list of burdens.

* You experience stress because of inescapable pain and discomfort.

This type of stress comes from a real cause. Both physical and emotional sensations are felt. You feel set apart, isolated, perhaps guilty and angry at being the 'sufferer'.

How can hypnotherapy help?

By pinpointing the when,where and why of the stress, you become more aware of the response patterns. Thinking of positive, realistic replacement responses helps the subconscious mind so tha it can be reprogrammed. In this way you can manage your stresses in a better more meaningful pattern, because you have far greater understanding of the underlying causes.

For further help with stress phone 015395 65893.

What is anxiety ?

2011-10-10T07:14:00.000-07:00

Contrary to popular belief anxiety does not arise directly out of dangerous or painful situations. Anxiety actually arises out of the thoughts in a given situation. It is the thought of the potential danger, not the actual danger that produces the symptoms of anxiety.

The model of anxiety is the situation (A) which gives rise to the thought (B) that produces the symptoms (C).
This ABC sequence can increase itself in a sort of loop, going round and round like a roller coaster. The feeling of anxiety itself becomes the stimulus for further catastrophic thoughts.

We make a second prediction for ourselves eg "I feel scared." This new catastrophic thought makes us feel even more anxious. This emotional escalation is less easy to stop in situations we can not avoid. We feel that we are not in control and the situation might overwhelm us.

Our anxiety can be managed as long as the thoughts about the situation are realistic and accurate. If we overestimate the danger, our anxiety will increase. We predict danger when none actually exists.

Escalation of anxiety has four distinct phases.

1. We make unrealistic self statements that keep us in a constant state of alrm.

2. We begin to fear fear itself.

3. We reject our own feelings as the fear escalates.

4. We avoid any situations,persons, or things that create feelings of arousal or anxiety.

Fortunately there is a way to cope with the nightmare of anxiety and panic.

Hypnotherapy helps you to relax, accept the alarming symtoms, replace old irrational beliefs with new responses and shuts off anxious feelings.

For further support just contact me using one of the following options below.

Tel: 015395 65893

http://www.lakelandandbaytherapy.co.uk/

email: info@lakelandandbaytherapy.co.uk

Mental health awareness is being raised this week.

If you have issues that affect your mental health and well being such as anxiety and stress than take action now.

potential benefits of hypnotherapy

2011-10-04T04:26:00.000-07:00

So once you've relaxed using hypnosis what are the potential benefits which hypnotherapy could bring to you.

The following is a list of possible benefits which professional, ethical hypnotherapy could give you:

it improves anaesthesia in the body
it improves sleep
it reduces stress and anxiety
it helps to control painful symptoms
it can help in the control of bleeding
it helps to control the heart rate
it is useful in partial age regression
it develops the ability to concentrate
it increases the capacity to learn
in compresses thinking and recall.

There are other benefits when using hypnotherapy

weight management, stop smoking
treats habits and phobias
helps with self esteem, confidence and motivation
helps with anxiety and panic
it helps with abuse,loss and separation
it can be useful in surgery and dental work
it is helpful with mild depression

What can hypnotherapy do for you ?

2011-10-02T09:34:00.000-07:00

Hypnotherapy can be used to improve your general functioning to make you feel better mentally, physically, emotionally and socially.

It is not harmful in any way. I am sure that you feel uncertain sometimes about hypnosis and hypnotherapy. Perhaps friends have warned you about being controlled. Youcan not be made to go against your own values, beliefs.

The trance state can be ended by you the client. You choose to enter into it willingly so you can chose to leave it. The trance state of hypnosis is safe and the agreed suggestions which form part of the hypnotherapy have many benefits to offer.

The best thing to do is try an hypnosis taster.

That way you will experience it for yourself and can come away feeling completely safe with assurance and a better knowledge of what hypnosis is about and how hypnotherapy could help you.

For further information just go the website address below:

http://www.lakelandandbaytherapy.co.uk/

What is hypnotherapy ?

2011-09-15T07:34:00.000-07:00

Ever driven a car ?
Have you gone from one to another along a familiar route ?
Perhaps you asked yourself 'how did I get here through all that traffic?'
Simple.
You were in a trance created by a familiar route.

Do you watch television ?
Missed the programme because your thoughts were elsewhere?
Simple
You were in trance.

We all have the resource of hypnosis within us.

Using hypnosis allows us to switch from our conscious minds to our unconscious minds.

Very important to remember.

You are always in control.

The real benefits come from being with a professionally qualified hypnotherapist who will use hypnosis .

I am a qualified hypnotherapist.

I have helped many clients to achieve their outcomes.

Want to know more?

Just ask.