PAIN IS A BEHAVIOR
Although some people's behavior may be a pain (couldn’t resist), I have come to think of the experience of pain as being an "expression", either of some disturbance within the physical body, or some disturbance in the thought process. I'm convinced that people can get into the habit of having a pain on cue, so to speak. They can literally program themselves to get the pain at certain times and in certain situations. In that way, it might very well be thought of as a learned behavior.
Recently I saw an ad in a magazine that I had to cut out and use in classes. I MUST share this with all of you. It was for a new migraine medication and showed a pondering woman at her work desk with bubbles of thoughts above her head. The sequence went like this:
Bubble #1: "If I get a MIGRAINE (their emphasis) tomorrow......"
Bubble #2: "I'll never make it through that two-hour recital....."
Bubble #3: "But Kate's counting on me to be there....."
Bubble #4: "Plus, I've got that presentation for work due Monday....."
Bubble #5: "Somehow I'll have to get it done."
Then the ad states the following:
"Thinking about migraines even when you're not having one? Maybe it's time for a change. TxxxxxX can help stop migraines before they start so you can get fewer of them to think about......"
Tell me that ad agencies don't know something about the power of suggestion. And by the way, how do you "STOP" something that doesn't exist…yet???
I'm working with a gentleman who fell off a ladder 3 1/2 years ago and had part of his brain removed. His wife was told he would be a quadriplegic the rest of his life and never regain his body or brain functions, and that she should put him in a nursing home and get on with her life. She didn’t listen. When she called me in to work with him on pain and attitude about 5 months ago, he had recovered a remarkable portion of movement of most of his body. He still must be lifted in and out of wheelchair, but is walking between bars with a physical therapist and astounding the doctors.
On my first visit, he had some pain going on in his back. On a scale of 1-100, with 100 being the worst, it was at about 70. Just talking with him and getting him to create some imagery to represent releasing endorphins from his brain and sending them down his back, he was able to immediately take it to 40. A few minutes later it was insignificant. His mind envisioned the endorphins as musical notes, so that is what we have used since.
Sorry to be so wordy (you know ME), but back to the point. In speaking with him, it became obvious he had come to “expect” that whenever he sat for over ½ hour, the pain would show up. I think pain comes from our belief system. As a matter of fact, I would go so far as to say that ALL of our problems, conditions, painful memories, diseases, etc., are caused, exacerbated or affected by our belief system. That may be a radical stretch for some to accept, but as long as I hold that “belief” in my energy when working with clients, I somehow seem to be able to help them consider that possibility, and sometimes that alone facilitates profound changes that help them to move forward. The reason I believe that hypnosis and NLP are so powerful in dealing with the experience of pain is that it allows the person to go inside to discover the source of what really needs attention. Change the beliefs and the expectations, and you can change the expression and experience of pain.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
"MEDICINE OF THE MIND" AUTHOR, DR. PRESTON, SURPRISES ME!
This has been an exciting week, culminating in an unexpected hour-long telephone call with Dr. Michael Preston, author of "Medicine of the Mind". I studied extensively with Dr. Preston in the early 1990's and haven't seen or spoken with him in many years. Since he was in his 70's when I studied with him, I wasn't even sure if he was still of this world. An interesting twist of fate that included someone "borrowing" my cherished signed copy of "Medicine of The Mind" about 2 years ago and never returning it actually laid the groundwork for this amazing phone call. For a long time I felt very upset and even angry that someone would keep something that meant so much to me. I thought I knew who borrowed it, and put the word out to many people in order not to embarrass the person, about how important this signed book was to me. A few weeks ago I came to terms with the fact it was probably gone forever, and decided to wish the person well and hope the book helped them or someone else. Funny how as soon as you decide to "let go" of old resentments, the universe offers unexpected rewards.
Dr. Preston said he did remember me and my ex-husband, Ernie, who accompanied me to those trainings in Phoenix. I originally attended to support Ernie, who had Lymphoma, and was immediately enthralled with the field of Medical Hypnotherapy and made it my specialty. Ernie used the techniques he learned from Dr. Preston for many years, and I'm convinced this significantly prolonged his life. Ernie died about 1 1/2 years ago of a different disease. During the phone call, Dr. Preston offered me bits of insight about working with what he calls "patients", and I refer to as "clients". I told him, ironically, I will be presenting a seminar based on his "Library" technique next month in Orlando for the Hypnosis Education Association, and he began to review his technique over the phone. I wish I had been able to record this phone call, but alas, it is only recorded in my mind and in the scribbles of furious notes I was taking.
Dr. Preston has been very ill for about 6 years now, following a fall from a ladder. Interestingly, I remember the very first seminar I attended in Phoenix with him. He was telling us a story about falling off a ladder a couple of years earlier (remember he was in his 70's at that time!) and as he lay unconscious in the hospital, having lost an enormous amount of blood, the doctor told his son not to be too optimistic because of his fathers age. Little did that doctor know that as soon as Dr. Preston fell and cracked his head open, in the unconscious state he began to give orders to his body to stop the bleeding and start the healing process. Being a doctor, he knew the precise directions to give his mind/body, and a few days later when he came out of the coma he began yelling at the doctor and repeating every word he had said to his son. The doctor was shocked, needless to say, as Dr. Preston lectured him on never using such negative language in the room with someone who is unconscious, because they DO hear every word and not everyone is trained as he is to ignore such limiting comments. After telling the class this story, he went on to convince us that there is absolutely no reason we can't live to 126 and beyond.
I found it interesting that his latest illness was caused from "falling off a ladder", and all I could think was, if I were Dr. Preston I would definitely stay away from ladders! He has evidently extended his previous forecast, in spite of his current condition, and said several times during our conversation that "400" years old is his expectation. I thought I had been optimistic by taking his "126" prediction and adding years every year since then to arrive now at an estimation of "187". Guess I need to readjust my expectations.
The wonderful result of this phone call is that Dr. Preston is sending me another signed copy of his book, and I also ordered 10 more books to make available to my students at UP Hypnosis Institute. I believe this new "reconnection" with Dr. Preston was destined, and I plan to do whatever is necessary to introduce my students and other audiences to his skills and techniques.
Dr. Preston said he did remember me and my ex-husband, Ernie, who accompanied me to those trainings in Phoenix. I originally attended to support Ernie, who had Lymphoma, and was immediately enthralled with the field of Medical Hypnotherapy and made it my specialty. Ernie used the techniques he learned from Dr. Preston for many years, and I'm convinced this significantly prolonged his life. Ernie died about 1 1/2 years ago of a different disease. During the phone call, Dr. Preston offered me bits of insight about working with what he calls "patients", and I refer to as "clients". I told him, ironically, I will be presenting a seminar based on his "Library" technique next month in Orlando for the Hypnosis Education Association, and he began to review his technique over the phone. I wish I had been able to record this phone call, but alas, it is only recorded in my mind and in the scribbles of furious notes I was taking.
Dr. Preston has been very ill for about 6 years now, following a fall from a ladder. Interestingly, I remember the very first seminar I attended in Phoenix with him. He was telling us a story about falling off a ladder a couple of years earlier (remember he was in his 70's at that time!) and as he lay unconscious in the hospital, having lost an enormous amount of blood, the doctor told his son not to be too optimistic because of his fathers age. Little did that doctor know that as soon as Dr. Preston fell and cracked his head open, in the unconscious state he began to give orders to his body to stop the bleeding and start the healing process. Being a doctor, he knew the precise directions to give his mind/body, and a few days later when he came out of the coma he began yelling at the doctor and repeating every word he had said to his son. The doctor was shocked, needless to say, as Dr. Preston lectured him on never using such negative language in the room with someone who is unconscious, because they DO hear every word and not everyone is trained as he is to ignore such limiting comments. After telling the class this story, he went on to convince us that there is absolutely no reason we can't live to 126 and beyond.
I found it interesting that his latest illness was caused from "falling off a ladder", and all I could think was, if I were Dr. Preston I would definitely stay away from ladders! He has evidently extended his previous forecast, in spite of his current condition, and said several times during our conversation that "400" years old is his expectation. I thought I had been optimistic by taking his "126" prediction and adding years every year since then to arrive now at an estimation of "187". Guess I need to readjust my expectations.
The wonderful result of this phone call is that Dr. Preston is sending me another signed copy of his book, and I also ordered 10 more books to make available to my students at UP Hypnosis Institute. I believe this new "reconnection" with Dr. Preston was destined, and I plan to do whatever is necessary to introduce my students and other audiences to his skills and techniques.
Monday, May 26, 2008
GRATEFUL MOMENTS!
Waking up on this beautiful Memorial Day in sunny Florida, I am filled with a sense of gratitude and appreciation for so many things. First, for my 86 year old Dad, a war veteran and the most patriotic person I have ever known. He is no doubt taking part in some festivities at the VFW in Troy, Illinois, where he lives and where he (& I) was born. Second, for the amazing IACT/IMDHA conference in Daytona Beach last week, where I had the priviledge to interact with and learn from some of the most gifted people in the world of Hypnosis & NLP, and where I took morning walks on the beach and watched the sunrise.
Today I am also thinking about my brother, Joey, who was a Vietnam Vet and who died almost 4 years ago. Interestingly, the last time (only other time) I was ever in Daytona Beach before last week's conference was with my brother, who was giving me the grand tour of Florida by car on a visit about 10 years ago. His car broke down in Daytona Beach and we were "stranded" there for about 4 hours, walking on the beach, eating crab rangoon, and browzing a "Parrot Head" shop.
Mostly I feel grateful for LIFE. All I have to do is look around me, and I immediately find countless blessings. All I have to do is look UP into the sky, and feel in awe of the beauty and magnificence of life itself. When I encounter someone feeling DOWN, I want to encourage them to lift their eyes and look UP, lift their body and stand UP, and use their mind to "THINK UP!" If it sounds too simple, that's probably because it is.
Today I am also thinking about my brother, Joey, who was a Vietnam Vet and who died almost 4 years ago. Interestingly, the last time (only other time) I was ever in Daytona Beach before last week's conference was with my brother, who was giving me the grand tour of Florida by car on a visit about 10 years ago. His car broke down in Daytona Beach and we were "stranded" there for about 4 hours, walking on the beach, eating crab rangoon, and browzing a "Parrot Head" shop.
Mostly I feel grateful for LIFE. All I have to do is look around me, and I immediately find countless blessings. All I have to do is look UP into the sky, and feel in awe of the beauty and magnificence of life itself. When I encounter someone feeling DOWN, I want to encourage them to lift their eyes and look UP, lift their body and stand UP, and use their mind to "THINK UP!" If it sounds too simple, that's probably because it is.
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