December 28, 2019December 30, 2019Interesting, You Can Fix That

Stop with the New Year’s Resolutions! They DON’T WORK!

Stop with the New Year’s Resolutions!

They DON’T WORK!

The new year is here and like last year, and the year before and the year before that, you’ve decided it is time to take stock of your life. So, let me guess, you’re being bombarded online, on TV, on radio, your family, your doctor… EVERYWHERE, with ads to change your life; to find love; to join this gym, that weight loss program, stop smoking programs, stopping using substances or gambling or internet addiction . Well guess what? IT’S A SCAM! IT’S A FRAUD! It doesn’t work and it never will. Sure, you may change for a short time, but it won’t last. All you will have done is thrown away more money on band-aid fixes and reinforced that voice in your head that has been telling you for years it wouldn’t work. YES… another failure and that voice is right, again!

By now, you are saying to yourself… “This guy’s a real downer!” I’m psyched up to take charge of my life and make a change and here is some clown telling me it is never going to work. THAT’S RIGHT- IT WON’T! Because if it did, you never would be in this position. This is nothing more than doing the same thing over and expecting a different result. The weight loss industry with all their diet programs, gyms with membership come-ons and up-sell programs, all these programs know this one fact to be true; your conscious mind, that rational part of your brain that responds to the slick ads is incapable of sustained change. That means they can simply rinse and repeat their ads, parade out “happy” people and know how you, the vulnerable audience is going to flock to their “new and improved” program.

ARE YOU DOOMED TO LIVING AN UNHAPPY EXISTENCE?

As you guessed, that’s the wrong question. The real question begins with “WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?” Seriously, it comes down to simply that. More importantly it is a two part question – “What’s the problem; “How do you KNOW?” You see, my experience from years as a clinical hypnotist has taught me that the “PROBLEM” is never “THE PROBLEM”. You or your friends, family, therapist or doctor have put this label on a situation, on an experience, that is driving your unhealthy, unwanted behaviors and you continue to play that script over and over. Each time you replay that failed program in your mind or life, you are not only strengthening the negative behaviors, but you are also changing them and your brain.

The issue comes down to breaking the bonds that have ensnared you, probably for a good part of your life. Things like… “I’ve always been overweight . Growing up my family was heavy. That’s just who I am! “ or “I can’t focus, I have ADD/ADHD” or “I always windup with losers and getting hurt.” aren’t set in stone. Just because that is the way it has been, does it mean that is the way it will always be? That is solely up to you. You are the only one who can make that choice. You are the only one who can make this change. Band-aids don’t fix it! Living in the past or worrying about the future can’t change it. Change only happens when you are sick and tired of being sick and tired.

A large number of clients who come to see me for change work, begin by rehashing their stories of failures and pain. They do this because they have been trained by therapists to relive and retell their “stories.” They mistakenly believe that the answer lies in some mistake they made in the past. The problem is that this approach only continues to reinforce the dysfunction and fire up neural pathways that continue to feed the issue and increase the negative states of being. This is why I too often hear new clients telling me what they don’t want. They are focused on the negative behavior, the substance abuse, the sexual trauma, the fear, the pain, the weight and not on what they want to feel like and be.

SO HOW DO YOU WANT IT TO BE?

The subconscious mind is really amazing in its ability to make rapid and dramatic changes. Being that the subconscious mind is the feeling, non-rational mind that operates without you having to think about it. Being that the subconscious mind is literal, it is not being bound by logic. Its purpose is to protect us and keep us safe. Every action has a thought associated with it. Most of the time, we are unaware of the thought. Since behavior is controlled at the cellular level, it becomes important to change the emotional attachment that the subconscious mind holds to the behavior we are looking to change.

The challenge then becomes separating the intention from the behavior. The intention is what our subconscious mind is seeking to protect us from. It is the underlying goal of the behavior. Lasting change is dependent upon getting to a place of accepting the power of the resource state that you have inside of that unwanted behavior. Then reframing and amplifying it to a new and powerful resource state. When this is done, the negative emotions that have previously been associated with the behavior are replaced with new neural pathways, positive feelings and a release.

Since imagination is more powerful then knowledge, just imagine what it would be like to be different. Imagine being present and acting, rather than reacting to situations. What would that feel like? And as you picture your new and improved self, you are already beginning to make that lasting change permanent. And that feels good.

SO WHAT’S DIFFERENT, NOW?

In part, it is the realization that what happened, happened. You are not the same person that experienced that experience which has been driving those unwanted, unnecessary behaviors. You did the best you could with the tools that you had at the time. Those unnecessary and unwanted behaviors have been responsible for pain, both emotional and physical. The false memories have been keeping you stuck and unhappy. But that is how it was. Now, you have a chance to do something different. You have a chance to take all the resources from all your experiences and power them up so they serve to move you forward and finally attain your goals of being a better, healthier and happier you.

The repeated failures to make change were the result of the conflicts between your conscious and subconscious mind. And since it is impossible to hold conflicting ideas at the same time, there must be a winner and loser in our behaviors. The winner will always be the subconscious mind. As a result, it is necessary to bring our two minds into agreement. Once you have eliminated the conflict between the conscious and subconscious minds you are able to eat mindfully, sleep better, love yourself, be more active and present. These are all benefits that come once you are living in a new mindset.

WHAT IS THAT NOT?

This is a strange question. It is not a question that you are going to answer in that gym or therapy session or weight loss program without working through the “problem” state. The answers come when you step outside of the box of usual and move to being ready to accept the change. And even more interesting, is the fact that the change you seek can take place in a single hypnotherapy session. Unlike traditional therapies that focus on the “cause” or “problem” or negative behaviors. Hypnosis restructures the associated emotions and thinking that has been hardwired and amplified by the “stinking thinking.” If trauma takes place in an instant, why should anyone believe that change should take months or years?

What is really interesting is that because you have read down to this point of the article, you know that change has already begun. You now have knowledge that you didn’t have just a few minutes ago and that is different. So knowing what you know now, you are asking yourself “Where do I go now?”

You already know that everything you need to change already exists inside of you. And knowing that, you also know that you are looking for someone who understands that you can love who you were by loving who you can become. Becoming more resourceful is powerful. Hypnosis is the most powerful path forward. So, STOP WITH THE NEW YEAR”S RESOLUTIONS and take the action right now to respect yourself, love yourself and really pay attention to your needs.

SO, WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?

Is it that you want to reach out to me but don’t know how much more you want? Or is it that you want more in your life but are not sure how to get it? Does it really matter if you change now or in a couple of days from now, knowing that you are going to change. And isn’t it exciting to know that you are finding that all those new and powerful resources that change you will make you even more amazing.

I guess it comes down to a simple thought, creating an even easier action to reach out and just ask me when that change can happen for you. And because you want to know all of that I want to make it as easy as I can for you to get your answer, now. Just click or tap this link and you too can decide the best day to change your life with hypnosis and without question. Get Started NOW - Click or Tap

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marc Marshall is a certified hypnotist, medical hypnotist and certified mind-body specialist, author and motivational speaker with offices in Summit NJ and Shaftsbury Vt. He specializes in dealing with trauma, sexual trauma, pain and works with clients to empower and teach them how to improve their lives through hypnosis and mindfulness practice. For more information or to schedule an appointment or interview, email info@hypnomarc.com or visit his website – www.hypnomarc.com

January 21, 2019January 21, 2019Interesting, You Can Fix That

Yes, You Can Overcome Performance Anxiety In 1 Session. Here Are 6 Things You Must Know First…..

People ask me all the time if they really can completely eliminate their performance anxiety( often referred to as stage fright, or fear of public speaking) and feel confident and in control when they have to express themselves in front of others such as: performing, giving a talk, a presentation or a public opinion at home, at work or in social situations.

It seems hard for people to believe that they can eliminate their performance anxiety so quickly, especially since many people have been suffering with it for so long and have attempted to get help through a variety of programs with little results.

The problem begins to look too big to solve, impossible to eliminate, overwhelming and improbable. Each time you attempt to change something in your life and don’t, the more you believe that you can’t . It’s one of the laws of our mind. “What the subconscious mind perceives to be the truth, becomes the truth.”

When you suffer from performance anxiety, you know it by your immediate physical reactions which can include (but are not limited to) feeling sweaty and faint, fear of losing control, trembling, hyperventilating, shaky voice, diarrhea, weakness in the knees, dry mouth, a desire to flee, difficulty concentrating, pounding heart, and feelings of complete terror, and panic.

These feelings occur every single time you have to express yourself in front of others, they often occur simply in anticipation of expressing yourself in front of others, even though it may be days or weeks in advance.

The truth is, you must come to that point when you are absolutely ready to change, (read that again) then you have to (take action) and then you can become the change you seek. We get positive results by getting the facts, then finding the best solution to resolve it.

Change is possible. Here are 6 things you must absolutely know before you can completely eliminate your performance anxiety and the negative and debilitating feelings associated with it.

PRACTICE DOES NOT TAKE AWAY ANXIEYT – You can’t practice your performance anxiety away. In other words, getting up in front of people over and over again, isn’t going to resolve performance anxiety regardless of what you may have read or heard to the contrary. The reason is simple. Performance anxiety is not a rational understanding by the conscious mind, it’s created by your subconscious mind to protect you from this imagined danger. ( It’s called a conditioned response) You will continue to respond to this situation exactly the same way you always have until you resolve it.

PERFORMANCE ANXIETY WON’T GO AWAY BY ITSELF OVER TIME. Simply put, you can’t ignore it, or take time off from your career or your social life and then expect your performance anxiety to have disappeared on its own when you get back.

SELF-MEDICATING WITH DRUGS OR ALCOHOL IS NOT SOLVING YOUR PERFORMANCE ANXIETY. The fact is that self-medicating with drugs or alcohol is actually making your life, your health and your performance worse. If you are self-medicating to get yourself through presentations or performances, you are throwing away your career, your health, and your important relationships and you still will not have resolved your performance anxiety. When you resolve your performance anxiety you’ll feel confident, in control and your performance will dramatically improve naturally, without the need for drugs or alcohol.

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS DON’T ELIMINATE YOUR PERFORMANCE ANXIETY. They simply help you to manage it in return for a variety of side effects that definitely diminish your performance. A lot of performers and presenters, from actors to classical musicians, to lawyers, to salespeople, talk about the use of beta-blockers and anti-anxiety drugs as a method to control their performance anxiety or( stage fright or fear of public speaking ) as it is often called. Again, the bottom line here, is that you must resolve your performance anxiety, when you do, the feelings associated with it will disappear and so will your need for prescription drugs.

AVOIDANCE IS NOT A CURE FOR PERFORMANCE ANXIETY. More often than not an individual will use avoidance as a means to manage their performance anxiety. The belief is that by avoiding such situations they are managing the problem. The truth is just the opposite, they are actually being managed by their fears and anxiety. For performers and presenters in particular, this choice can be a career ending decision. At the very least, you pay a very high price with your mental and physical well-being, not to mention all the lost opportunities.

HYPNOSIS CAN HELP YOU ACTUALLY CAN OVERCOME AND ELIMINATE YOUR PERFORMANCE ANXIETY, IN ONE SESSION. Today we use techniques that are simple, fast, relaxing and effective. You don’t have to spend months or years in therapy or thousands of dollars on programs that aren’t right for you. All you need is 1.) to understand the points I just shared with you, 2.) make your decision to fix the problem and 3.) take action by clicking or tapping this link and contact me now.

Get Started NOW - Click or Tap

About the Author:

Marc uses his skills and talents in a variety of areas that include self-improvement or clinical hypnosis, motivational speaking, and comedy stage hypnosis. He has worked with individuals and corporations throughout the United States to improve outcomes in personal lives and organizations.

As a clinical hypnotist, he has helped people resolve sleep issues, lose weight, stop smoking, deal with long held fears, deal with stress and anxiety, manage pain, improve sports performance, eliminate addictions, and improve sexual function.

His performance resume include international appearances for casinos and resorts, on live shows for Refinery29 Live and Elite Daily’s TrashED. He regularly performs for major corporations, at comedy clubs, fairs and , and for schools, proms, graduations, conferences and conventions.

Marc’s book, “Staying in the Moment – Helping Students Achieve More Through Mindfulness Meditation” helps educators, parents and students get better results in the classroom through the adoption of mindfulness exercises as part of the curriculum.

For more information about, or to book an appointment with Marc visit his website: www.hypnomarc.com or email info@hypnomarc.com.

May 8, 2018May 8, 2018Interesting, You Can Fix That

Can Your Stuttering Be Helped with Hypnosis?

For the person who stutters, the thought of having to speak in a meeting, in a classroom, or in a social situation can be paralyzing and produce incredible anxiety. People who stutter and stammer tend to have greater difficulty as they get older and continue to negatively reinforce the negative loop of stutter, stammer, anxiety, embarrassment, and frustration that ultimately leads to a lowered self-esteem and in some cases, social isolation.

Stuttering is a speech disorder in which the normal flow of speech is disrupted by frequent repetitions or prolongations of speech sounds, syllables or words or by an individual’s inability to start a word. The speech disruptions may be accompanied by rapid eye blinks, tremors of the lips and/or jaw or other struggle behaviors of the face or upper body that a person who stutters may use in an attempt to speak.(htt5)

In a 2009 Australian study by Iverach, et al., concluded “stuttering appears to be associated with a dramatically heightened risk of a range of anxiety disorders.” (Lisa Iverach, 2009). This finding is significant for a number of reasons including understanding of the looping of behaviors that compound one another. I believe it is of particular interest to hypnotherapists because of the number of clinicians that use hypnotic interventions as a modality of reducing stress disorders of clients. When applied to the stutter, it is reasonable to conclude that there will be an improvement in the quality of life in this client population.

The number of credible studies that seek to answer the question “Can Your Stuttering Be Helped with Hypnosis?” has been very small when one considers the acceptance of hypnosis by the professional medical and psychological communities. One particular study (Kaya & Alladin, 2012) did show results in improving outcomes employed hypnosis as part of the treatment protocol. The unfortunate part is that this study was flawed in design. The researchers used a number of methods in concert with one another to achieve their results. Bodson and Roberts, (Roberts, 2014) in their article presented at the 2014 ISAD Conference fault this research and tend to agree with Kaya & Alladin, that “it is impossible to know which aspect of the treatment contributed most to the progress observed (Kaya & Alladin, 2012).” Bodson & Roberts go onto cite claims made by the Banyan Hypnosis Center, either explicit or implied, as being curative for resolving stuttering. In particular, the specifically fault the script entitled “Eliminating Stuttering.” (Banyan, n.d.)

In order to understand and establish realistic expectations for results, it is important for the hypnotist to fully understand the causes of the stuttering and when hypnosis is likely to be effective. It is critical for the clinical hypnotist to not unreasonably raise expectations nor dash hopes and increase frustrations and reinforce the failure cycle that is typical in many other forms of management or remediation.

Generally, there are two distinct causes that result in stuttering/stammering. The first are those conditions which can be characterized as neuro/physiologically based. These are those resulting from conditions such as Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or anomalies of the structural sound producing mechanism within the face, neck and throat. The second basis are psycho/social causes that are often the result of [i] bullying, physical and/or psychological abuse by a parent, or another authority figure. The emotional relationship is similar to other post-traumatic stress triggering events.

The focus of this article is on the latter as the memories and memory loops reside in the sub-conscious mind and hypnosis has been shown to be a successful intervention strategy in resolving emotional traumas. Further, hypnosis can be characterized as a having similar benefits as solution focused brief therapy (SFBT)[1] in that it results in rapid change without the need to focus on the problem. SFBT is based on a theoretical foundation that the client tends to be restricted in their view of the problem. Their focus of the negative impact reinforces the negative loop responses that are consistent. The language of problems tends to be different from the language of solutions. (Nichols, 2013) And finally, “Problem talk” can be negative and set in the past; solutions is more hopeful and about the future. (htt3)

Alison Nicholas, MSc., in a presentation to the 10^th Oxford Dysfluency Conference (ODC), writes about the principles of SFBT as a treatment philosophy to resolve stuttering in children. She notes the importance of establishing goals through a series of questions which focus on future outcomes as opposed to the current problems. Her insight is one that is familiar to hypnotists. “Clients tend to frame their goals negatively” (Nicholas, 2015). As hypnotists, we confront this situation and work to reframe reference and establish positively framed outcomes. Further, we encounter clients who either through prior therapeutic interventions, or their own thinking, magnify the problem by repeatedly anchoring the negative emotions and behaviors.

The goal of the hypnotic intervention is to engage the client’s own resource states to create, reinforce and anchor the positive changes. Stuttering that is based on psycho/social dynamics requires a restructuring of thought and experience that can be traced to the original sensitizing event(s). Nicholas goes on to write a conclusion that could easily have come from a hypnotherapist: “As solutions to a client’s presenting problem are constructed using the client’s own resources, the SFBT approach builds a client’s confidence and provides then with evidence that they have knowledge, resources, strengths, skills and abilities to make the necessary changes in their life. With this perspective, the child and parent are encouraged to take responsibility for change and develop their internal locus of control which has been found to be an important factor in maintaining progress following stuttering therapy for adults who stutter (Craig, Franklin, & Andrews, 1984; De Nil & Kroll 1995).” (emphasis added)

The 2014 ODC also offered another important paper that directly addresses the topic of using hypnosis as a modality for dealing with stuttering. Although presented in abstract form, Zloof and Ezrati-Vinacour’s article Hypnosis as a Technique for the Treatment of Stuttering (Zloof, 2015) examined the impact of hypnosis through a combination implicit and explicit measures to determine whether a hypnotic intervention reduced symptom of stuttering.

The researchers employed an eight-session intervention that focused on ego strengthening, addressing past traumas, and empowering the client by improving their sense of control. Clients’ stuttering was measured at the beginning and end of each session.

The results of this study showed that the severity of the stutter/stammer, when compared to the beginning of the session were reduced. Additionally, the study also showed that some of the improvements were short-lived, while others lasted until the next hypnosis session. The study also indicated that there was an improvement in the client’s feelings about their condition. A broader discussion of these findings can be found in the International Society of Hypnosis’ Newsletter. (htt4)

The challenge for clinical hypnotists in addressing this, as well as other conditions, is in managing client expectations and ensuring that we not promise or imply results that are not supported by research and experience. A review of current research faults the methodology used to support claims of either reduction in symptoms or complete cures.

There are other challenges to the research that needs to be addressed. First, most studies on the subject tend to utilize small sample populations and fail to describe in detail the process employed. The number of adult stutters as a percentage of the population is estimated during the hypnosis session(s). Absent of replication in larger trials, claims of success are likely to be dismissed by the general speech therapy community.

This is not to say there is no benefit from hypnotic intervention. Since research has shown there to be a strong relationship between anxiety disorders, as defined by DSM IV, and stuttering, it would be wise to focus our attention on resolving the anxiety issues through hypnotic intervention. Changing the focus away from the dysfluency stops reinforcing the “problem” and begins to empower the taking back of control.

As with all forms of hypnotic intervention, the clinician should ensure they are functioning within the scope of their professional training. It is helpful for hypnotists working with dysfluency to have an understanding of the mechanics of speech production and know the appropriate questions to ask. Determining if the if the basis is generally neuro/physiological or psycho/social will directly impact the potential for success. Hypnotist should consider working on dysfluency issues collaboratively with Speech Therapists for the greatest benefit of the client.

Hypnosis is a powerful tool to resolve a host of client centered issues that tend to be resistant to other therapies. The greater acceptance of hypnosis as a mechanism to address the challenges of the stutter will require well designed studies with controls and the cessation of unsubstantiated, grandiose claims by hypnotherapists. As hypnotists, we owe it to those who engage our services to be forthcoming, open and honest about what we can and cannot accomplish. This raises the level of the science and practice and helps us to gain greater acceptance by the medical community, along who’s side we work for the benefit of the client.

Contact Marc today to schedule a no obligation phone consultation.

About the Author:

Marc is an award winning, certified stage and clinical hypnotist, author and motivational speaker with experience entertaining both large and small gatherings.

His performance resume includes appearances on live shows for Refinery29 Live and Elite Daily’s TrashED. He has performed at comedy clubs, the Monroe County Fair (MI), the Osceola County Fair (Kissimmee, FL), the Red River Valley Fair (Fargo, ND), and for schools, proms, graduations, conferences, conventions and corporations. He was a featured performer for New Jersey’s premier First Night Celebration – First Night Morris for New Year’s Eve 2018.

Marc’s book, “Staying in the Moment – Helping Students Achieve More Through Mindfulness Meditation” helps educators, parents and students get better results in the classroom through the adoption of mindfulness exercises as part of the curriculum.

For more information about, or to book an appointment with Marc visit his website: www.hypnomarc.com or email info@hypnomarc.com.

Tags: hypnosis for stuttering, stuttering hypnosis, hypnosis stuttering, hypnotherapy for stuttering, stuttering hypnotherapy, hypnotherapy for stammering, stuttering, stammering, marc marshall, hypnomarc, hypnotherapy, nasw, national stuttering awareness week

[1] SFBT was developed by Insoo Kim Berg, Steve de Shazer

[i][i] ScienceDirect_articles_25Apr2018_16-18-34.138.zip/Hypnosis-as-a-Technique-for-the-Treatment_2015_Procedia—Social-and-Behavio.pdf

Myra S. Lockhart & Alan W. Robertson (2009) Hypnosis and Speech Therapy as a Combined Therapeutic Approach to the Problem of Stammering a Study of Thirty Patients, British Journal of Disorders of Communication, 12:2, 97-108, DOI: 10.3109/13682827709011314

Definition source https://epdf.tips/the-2002-official-patients-sourcebook-on-stuttering.html

(n.d.). Retrieved from https://prezi.com/sopr_hr1xlkr/compare-contrast-presentation/

(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.hypnoses.com/content/uploads/2017/09/ish-201509.pdf

(n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.coloradostutteringtherapy.com/interesting-articles/

Banyan, C. (n.d.). Hypnosis School and Trainigng Center. Retrieved from Hypnosis Center: http://www.hypnosiscenter.com/hypnosis-scripts/hypnosis-script-stuttering-patter.htm

https://prezi.com/sopr_hr1xlkr/compare-contrast-presentation/. (n.d.).

Lisa Iverach, S. O. (2009). Prevalence of anxiety disorders among adults seeking speech therapy for stuttering. Journal of Anxiety Disorders.

Nicholas, A. (2015, July 17-20). Solution focused brief therapy with children who stutter. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences- 193, 209-216.

Nichols, M. (2013). Family Therapy: Concepts and Methods. In M. Nichols, Family Therapy: Concepts and Methods. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Roberts, B. &. (2014). ISAD. Retrieved from http://isad.isastutter.org/isad-2014/papers-presented-by/therapy-research-and-other-fun-things/the-web-of-false-claims-about-stuttering-cures/

Zloof, A. &.-V. (2015). Hypnosis as a Technique for the Treatment of Stuttering. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 193, 357.

February 20, 2018April 2, 2018Interesting, You Can Fix That

Are Our Kids Too Stressed?

– Are Kids Too Stressed? Things are just getting out of control and we need to STOP! Hypnotist, Author and Motivational Speaker, Marc Marshall, shares ways to deal with the stress that your teenager may be experiencing in light of the tragedy in Parkland. Learn what you can do to change things, NOW. Download this free Ebook .Are Out Kids Too Stressed?