The following article first appeared in the Daily Mirror written by Dr Miriam Stoppard. Her description of the benefits of hypnotherapy for menopause symptoms is very easy yo understand and concise so if you would like to read the article here it is...

Hypnotherapy is great for using during childbirth. Most Women find it amazingly helpful and the research is very robust. Now this easy to learn technique could prove a book to women with menopausal symptoms. What’s more, it’s massively superior to herbs, ginseng, soya, evening primrose oil, yoga and acupuncture – all of which are unproven despite their popularity.

Many women might shy away from using hypnotherapy for menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats, but a report suggests that of all the alternative treatments available – from herbal supplements such as black cohosh to acupuncture – hypnosis is almost uniquely effective in alleviating symptoms of the menopause.

As the menopause approaches, oestrogen levels drop, the ovaries cease production of an egg every month and menstruations stops. As well as the embarrassment of hot flushes, sleep is often interrupted by night sweats, mood swings are common and vaginal dryness and a loss of libido affect a woman’s sex life. However, fewer that one in 10 women seeks medical advice. Dr Janet Carpenter, who led the expert panel for the North American Menopause Society said: “Many women try one thing after another. This information (about hypnotherapy) will be critical before they stumble on something that works”

The panel of experts commissioned by NAMS reviews the results of rigorous clinical studies on Hypnotherapy. They concluded that there was solid evidence that using this, and also cognitive behavioural therapy, were beneficial for menopausal symptoms. One study showed that women who had hypnotherapy five times a week had a dramatic reduction in the number and severity of hot flushes.

So how does hypnotherapy work? It’s a powerful, natural and safe state of profound relaxation that you allow yourself to enter. You remain in control of your body and mind and you can come out of hypnosis at any time.

We all experience a state of hypnosis many times a day – you drive to work but on arrival you have no recollection of the journey for example. Hypnosis allows you to visualise your body without troublesome menopausal symptoms. Body and mind are linked.

Your body doesn’t know the difference between imagination and reality so imagining that you can control your hot flushes becomes what you experience.

It will empower you to trust your body and have confidence controlling it. You can be taught by a hypnotherapist. Try one of two weekly sessions to see if it helps you.

If you would like to contact me about an appointment you cal email me at  [email protected] 

or call me on 07980 233160

Any parent will know that wanting the best for your child is right at the top of your priority list. If you have an anxious child then there could well be a solution that means something fluffy and bouncy that you can add to your household may well make a surprising change to the stress levels of not just them, but everyone else too.

A study in New York of over 600 children in a paediatric clinic threw up a result that could well make you think about getting a pet differently. Published in the journal of preventing chronic disease parents surveyed were asked about the lifestyle, daily behaviours, habits, BMI and general health of their children.

Get a dog and get less stressed

They found that an interesting pattern emerged between the children who suffered from a certain level of anxiety and those that, interestingly, lived with a dog.
 
Out of the 58% of the children who had a dog in their family home, just 12% were likely to experience childhood anxiety. This was compared to 21% of children who don’t have dogs. Nearly half as many stressed children were living in the homes with dogs !
 

How does having a dog help your child learn to relax and let go?
 
Having a dog seemed to show  an increase in stimulating conversation in the children which in turn transfers on to the children as they grow up and become more sociable as adults. This can lead to a decrease in instances of worry which could in turn help prevent social anxiety.
 
The impact dogs can have on adults’ anxiety is less researched. However, if having a dog can encourage an adult to be more sociable, leave the house to take them for a walk, and promote the emotional responsibilities of looking after another being, it could possibly have similarly positive effects.

So, next time you have the conversation with your child where they ask for a new puppy then it could be time to think about all of the benefits.

And to show that I practice this already...here’s my own dog Coco !