Testimonials? Will hypnosis help me?

[ULTRALYONS]

Hello.

Any testimonials out there? They always tend to cheer me up.

I have been suffering from Graves disease (2 years) and depression :( (5 times since I was 11) and would like to know if hypnosis has helped anyone else.

In general, I am indecisive, can't handle responsibility, dependant (I am a twin, also have trouble adjusting to new situations), have very low self esteem (I was bullied as a kid), and really wonder if it is all worth it. I also have no idea what I am doing here.

I would appreciate any advice. Also, if I am on anit depressants, does that mean I cannot be hypnotized? That is what I have heard.

Thanks for the help.

Matt

[Annie]

Hi Matt,

You said you had no idea what you are doing here, but yes you do as you asked some very good questions ! - and us folks here will be more than happy to present you with positive directions, helpful suggestions and encouragement for helping yourself, as well as enlisting further help from others.

While Pharmaceuticals can interfere with some trance states to a degree, it is incorrect that you can not be hypnotized while under their influence. (also please realize, there being 2 major schools of thought just what "hypnosis' is, the more prevalent-practiced of the 2 is likely where you got the erroneous info from - but like I said, *Yes : you will be able to be hypnotized as well* :)

In our school for instance, we teach " Pain "-classes, meaning we help individuals, who are on all sorts of "Prescription/Otc - analgesics, and their goals are reached just fine. (tho, done without hypnosis)

Reading what you just wrote in Reverse- order, starting (even prior to) : (I was bullied as a kid), have very low self esteem, depression :( (5 times since I was 11) and suffering from Graves disease (2 years) and really wonder if it is all worth it - - - understand that for your developing problems, or challenges: you can be easily and quickly guided into *using wonderful Healing-resources inside of you* for creating the kind of fun-filled, fulfilling, life you want ! :)

And you asked for " always cheer me up Testimonials * : Well, I've helped people get off Full life-support, Cerebral palsied -individuals in wheel-chairs gain lower-limb mobility to some extent thus far, suicidal teenagers get their life back, a woman escape a (what was approaching for her) Life- sentence from a state mental hospital, just to mention a few - commencing with myself healing from Leukemia. But you know what, none of those are near as inspiring as ...

the truely wonderful life you can yet Realize for yourself, my friend !

Go for it : you have everything of Joy & good health to gain :D


Annie

[ULTRALYONS]

Annie,

What you have said is all and good, and it would be great if it was that simple. Are you a hypnotherapist? Could you recommend a therapist near Boston, MA that could help? I am a bit leary about stuff like this, I tried NMT for my graves and it didn't do anything.

One of the results of my current depression is that I am reviewing everything in life I have done with skepticism. I went to college, got a degree, got married at 24 (only 3 girlfriends). When I look back I don't want to say I made mistakes, but did what I had to do at the time to cope. This is a hypnotherapy board, not counciling site, I should stick to the purpose here.

A referral would be great. Do I need a referral from an MD? It will be a month and a half until I can see a psychiatrist or psychologist and they might say hypnotism is just a bunch of malarchy.

Thanks for the help...

Running in Place...

[skip]

Dear Ultralyons,

First, yes hypnosis can help. I am not overly framiliar with Graves, but the Google search I did, indicates this is a pretty rare from of hyperthyroidism. Even more rare in that you, as a male, have it. Less than 1/4 of 1% of the population has it, and even then it predomonantly affects females.

Hypnosis can be used successfully to alter unconscious (read involuntary) body processes, like metabolism, hormone levels, and so forth. So I am confident that hypnosis could help your body to come into the proper balance.

That said, because of the rarity of your affliction, I seriously doubt you will find a Hypnotherapast who can say, "Sure I have worked with Graves." You will more likely find someone like me, who can say, "I havent worked with Graves, but from my other work with things, I am confident I can be of benifit."

But you also have some other issues, and from what you have said I would limit my search to a Hypnotherapast, because of the associated problems you mention.

You are correct in that your MD or Psychologst might debunk the idea of using Hypnosis, even though hypnosis has been recognized as a valid form of theraputic intervention by the AMA since 1958.

Thats OK, let them debunk, as you continue to insist they give you a referral.

If you feel compelled, you might even point out to them that they have done little to cure you, so far, and you do not simply wish to medicate your symptoms away, you want something more. And even if hypnosis doesnt help, you are no worse off than to continue to take scripts and advice, which isnt working, from them.

Well actually you might be a bit more gentle than that, but you know what I mean.

There is a group called "The Boston Sleepwalkers" which is a group of hypnosis devotees who meet regularly. I would contact them to request a referral to a hypnotherapast in your area. Here is a website via which you can get in touch with them

http://www.thehypnosisclub.com/html/join_now.html

I wish you well,

skip

[Don]

Hi, Matt.

One of the problems with asking for testimonials is that it fits into a way of thinking, a paradigm, which does not always fit the hypnotherapeutic model. In hypnotherapy, although there may be similarities between people, each person is considered a unique individual and should be treated as such. Thus, even though two people have what appears to be the same problem, the treatment may be totally different. This, of course, counters the western medical belief that one treatment should help everyone with the same problem because people are basically machines and the "gears" and "oil" that work in one should also work in all others.

So I would respectfully suggest that hearing about others who have been helped might have no relationship at all to your situation. BUT, as Skip has pointed out, the great news is that hypnotherapy can help you. The only way to find out is to visit a hypnotherapist.

In your question you pointed out that you have several problems. My guess is that you have more than one doctor treating you, however, even if you have only one physician, my guess is that the doctor is treating each symptom separately from the others. That is, Graves is being treated, depression is being treated, and other things are probably not being treated at all. Now here are some questions for you to ask yourself: is it possible that they are related? If so, what is the relationship? If there is one source, would discovery of the source and relieving that make a change in your life? Is simply giving you medications for Graves, depression, etc. simply trying to cover up symptoms and not really healing?

I hope this starts you thinking. IMO the mind and body are not simply filled with replacable cogs and fluids. Rather, it is a unique whole. Changing any part has an effect on everything else. A hypnotherapist can help you. I would respectfully suggest that you consider giving it a try.

And yes, you can be hypnotized.

[ULTRALYONS]

Thanks all for the suggestions. When I meant testimonials, I just generally meant whether hypnosis broadly worked for graves or depression and especially self esteem.

Graves disease is autoimmune when you body starts attacking itself, most likely due to some sort of emotional or physical stress. I agree with you it could be connected with how I handle stress (physically and emotionally). Because I know I cannot handle stress properly. I fear it will be a can of worms.

I will try the link for referrals and I think I shall try going once, but I am still a bit leary, I spend $500 on NMT with no results, so you can see why.

?I am also afraid that hypnosis will change me for the good. And/or how I will feel the change. My life is the way it is because I made choice based on how I handle stress and being shy, for example. Will hypnosis make me an extrovert or will it make me a more successful introvert?

Thanks for the help

ULTRALYONS

[Annie]

Hi ULTRALYONS,

You said : What you have said is all and ' good ', and it would be great if it was that ' simple '.

Hey, I understand your position well. When we feel " stuck, with or inside a problem " it all seems terribly ' difficult ', doesn't it ? And don't get me wrong, having worked inside the Medical-arena for 30 years as I have as a Licensed nurse (covering the entire life-span from Pre-natal hi-risk through Geriatric hospice), I know only too well how an ever-growing # of "chronic"-conditions will continue being pursued by Medical-science from the stand-point of needing " curing " = but that mainly is helpful preserving corpses & ham, etc).
Now,
where would we be *physically* today without such Scientific-advances as Sanitations, effective Microbial-protections, and Emergency-procedures of various kinds - so, obviously Medicine will continue playing a useful Life-saving measures in all of our lives.
Yet, more " chronic "-conditions than not, have their Cause in Negative *emotions*, or perceptions of such events 2ndary to erroneous Imprinting.

So, from my vantage-point of having already helped people free themselves of such conditions, what you're after is
not being " cured, via Outside sources being brought to bear " but -
being taught * how to activate your own Self-healing resources*. And yes, that simplifying the process greatly, speeds it up as well.

Why make things more difficult than they, really, are ?
~





You asked : Are you a hypnotherapist ?

My Teaching-partner and I have availed ourselves of the best of Hypno-trainings available, yes ; and from these, more successful methods have been, and will continue developing.

Tho, both of us feel drawn towards, and motivated to Teaching people more successful skills, so we operate our own school, teaching classes in subjects we both perceive there being a Need, plus sometimes in response to sufficient student-Requests.
~

You asked : A referral would be great. Could you recommend a therapist near Boston, MA that could help ? I am a bit leary about stuff like this, I tried NMT for my graves and it didn't do anything.

Right, " NMT " isn't capable of laying your Graves "-symptomology " to rest; and I fully understand you being " leary " : after multiple successive failures, that is only to be expected. And unfortunately, we can not recommend most " hypnotherapists" , as having applicable skills.
~

You asked : Do I need a referral from an MD ?

YES - you should, not ever, engage a journey/Learning-process (surrounding any commonly-perceived Medical-challenges) without a Medical doctor's referral. Always obtain one !

~

Thinking about your requests for Help, we can network who might be able to - *help you make what Beneficial changes in your life you seek*, ok ?

Annie

[Don]

Hypnosis has a long and successful track record for quickly and successfully treating depression and self-esteem issues. It also has a long record on working with various auto-immune diseases with the level of success generally depending upon a variety of variables.

Before you begin any course of hypnotherapy, start by talking to a prospective hypnotherapist. Make a list of every question you have.

You are already off to a great beginning by acknowledging that your life is the way it is because of choices you have made. You are accepting responsibility for yourself (you'd be surprised at how few people are willing to do that).

Will hypnosis make you an extrovert or will it make you a more successful introvert? Hypnosis will not "make" you either. Rather it will help you become what you want to be. So the real questions are, "Do you want to be an extrovert?" "Would you prefer to be more successful as an introvert?" "Would you prefer something in between?" And how do you think your life will be different after you make the change you want? Are you realistic in that? Are you prepared for the changes?

You have so many opportunities ahead of you! Hypnotherapy won't make you do anything. It can help you succeed in achieving the changes you want and obtaining your goals.