Change of Mind, Change of Habit: NY Reporter Relates How Hypnosis Changed His Penchant for Postponing

Whether you call it dilly-dallying, or dawdling, lollygagging or loafing, procrastination is something we all dabble in. But some don’t just dabble in it; they immerse themselves in procrastination, embodying the antithesis of Edward Young’s old adage (i.e. “Procrastination is the thief of time”)

There are a number of psychological studies on the genesis of procrastination, why it’s a prevalent part of so many people’s lives and whether or not the Art of Putting Off is just an inconvenient habit or a legitimate disorder.

These findings have yet to be determined. What has been determined, however, is the powerful impact hypnosis has in reversing procrastination.

No matter how you slice it, procrastination—intentionally delaying or putting off an activity—has an impact on our lives. Some argue that procrastination can be a good thing. Proponents of prolonging the inevitable believe that actively putting tasks off for another day leads the said person to act and perform at a higher level of alertness because of the “rush” that he or she gets from performing under pressure or deadline. For the most part, however, procrastination is a bad thing that inevitably rears its ugly head.

For instance, Canada’s Toronto Star newspaper reports that approximately 1.7 million Canadians were late in filing their tax returns in 2003, forcing some late filers to pay double their tax bill because of interest and penalty fees.

And according to a Procrastination Research Group study in the same year, students who put off studying in favor of “cram sessions” are far more likely to catch cold, exhibit flu-like symptoms and have greater stress levels than students with healthy study habits.

Procrastination is also a problem in the work place. Business owners and human resource studies on the topic point to procrastination as the number one culprit for lackluster business development and job performance. In fact, in Wednesday’s New York Daily News, reporter Robert Dominguez decided his procrastination had gone on long enough and decided he would take a pro-active approach in reversing it.

Dominguez decided he’d attend a hypnosis luncheon he’d heard a lot about called “Hypno Lunch” at Positive Changes in Manhattan. Dominguez admitted to being a skeptic to hypnotherapists and their abilities to cure vices, but the Positive Changes director assured Dominguez that the session “would help diminish [his] tendency to procrastinate.”

The result spoke for itself:

“Stanford (the hypnotherapist) slowly pulled me out of the trance by counting to 10. I snapped out of it feeling focused, refreshed, stress-free and clear of mind—and hell bent on changing the way I approach my story assignments (New York Daily News ‘Taking a Trance’ July 5, 2006).”

Now, Dominguez says, the overdue bills that were lying unpaid on his desk are now in the mail—two weeks early, no less. Furthermore, his editors that used to nibble at their fingernails wondering if his stories would reach their desk before deadline now expect his stories to be on time due to his change of ways.

As miraculous as Dominguez’ new outlook may be, though, he accurately points out that several sessions are often required before a person’s lifestyle is changed for good. But his personal account is proof positive of the immediate impact hypnosis has for those who act on changing their procrastinating ways now rather than later.

Steve G. Jones, Clinical Hypnotherapist http://www.betterlivingwithhypnosis.com/

Hypnosis Lends Relief to IBS Sufferers: Studies Reveal Hypnosis Sends IBS into the "Bowels" of the Earth

If you are one of the approximately 20 percent of the country who are living with IBS, this message is for you. According to recent studies, hypnosis helps alleviate the symptoms that accompany IBS! But before I get into the details, allow me to explain to those who don’t know just what IBS is and what a pain it can be—literally.

To start, IBS stands for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, a long-term disorder that results when there are persistent pains in the intestines. Symptoms of IBS include bloating, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal cramps, and mucous or blood in the stool.

The good news for those who suffer IBS—if there can be any good news—is that it isn’t a progressive disorder, nor does it result in more serious diseases like colon cancer or some form of irritable bowel disease. But this isn’t much of a consolation to those who live with it on a day-to-day basis. As aforementioned, IBS is long-term and can significantly alter people’s lives, simply by having to be in the bathroom throughout the day. To the non-IBS sufferer, it may be hard to understand how going to the bathroom “significantly alters people’s lives.” But the next time you exercise, watch a movie, or sleep, go to the bathroom several times in the middle of jogging, tense action sequence or dream—it just might illustrate how IBS alters your life.

The symptoms for IBS can range from mild to severe, but whatever they are, they affect a significant portion of the country. According to the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, (1) up to 20 percent of the population is afflicted with IBS, (2) is the most common disorder diagnosed by gastroenterologists and (3) is one of the leading disorders treated by physicians.

One of the most frustrating things about IBS is that the exact cause is unknown. It’s a generally accepted belief, however, that IBS sufferers’ brain-to-intestine interaction altered at some point. The alteration can result from a number of factors like high stress levels, hormones, the body’s immune system or a combination of them all. Whatever the exact cause, though, the abdominal cramps and other symptoms that result are downright painful.

But these painful side-effects may be a thing of the past. According to a recent study by Edinburgh University in the United Kingdom, hypnosis reduces symptoms of IBS. The 75 people who participated in the study (20 men, 55 women) all reported that they experienced “significant improvement in their physical and emotional symptoms,” according to The Scotsman newspaper.

To further corroborate this independent study, doctors recently convened at the annual World Congress of Psychosomatic Medicine meeting to discuss the two decades worth of research and evidence showing how hypnosis not only lessens IBS symptoms, but alters the symptoms that cause IBS in the first place.

Findings and studies on the effectiveness of hypnosis in treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome has led doctors like Cynthia M. Yoshida, MD, a gastroenterologist and director of the Women’s GI Clinic at the Digestive Health Center of Excellence at the University of Virginia, to say simply this:

“I’m a believer.”

Steve G. Jones, Clinical Hypnotherapist http://www.betterlivingwithhypnosis.com/