Anxiety Control Center

The following is a question I received from Pete (factitious name).  He came to see me for hypno-therapy recently, after years of struggling with frustration, and feeling stuck.   In the next few days I will post some of the answers and exercises I suggested to Pete’s request for help.

First a little background about Pete: Over the years he’s gone from therapist to therapist in an effort to get back in control of his life.  Although he has great insight into where the problem comes from, it hasn’t changed his feelings of helplessness.

Many of my clients come to see me after going for different types of therapy,
(talk therapy, cognitive, behavioral and even classical hypnotic therapy).
Many come in with great insight
but still suffering or not getting the changes hoped for.

Gaining insight can be helpful in gaining an understanding of why you react the way you do.  But insight alone typically isn’t enough to correct the reaction. The reason that persistent problems can not be solved using the conscious part of the mind is because the root of problem, is held in old unconscious memories.

When a problem persists I teach my clients how to get to the core of the problem and make the changes at the root where the problem actually lies.   By using the Transformation System I developed, which included two types of hypnosis, NLP in combination with Cognitive and Behavioral therapy, clients and go deeper into the unconscious where they can unravel what holds unwanted reactions, and patterns of behavior. When emotions are released it is not necessary to try to change things on a conscious level.  Releasing emotions at the root of a problem brings true lasting change, without any conscious effort.

Learning to combine self-hypnotic techniques of Ericksonian and Classical Hypnosis with NLP has proven to be the answer for my clients.  The unconscious is the place where old emotions and limiting beliefs can be healed giving true, lasting relief.

The following is the question that Pete sent to me yesterday.

Pete’s Question: I find that when I am beset with anxiety and fear I feel two things:
1. helpless to do anything and
2. angry at that helplessness.

At that point I have a choice what to tell myself, but I come up empty.  I have been helpless in dealing with my strong emotions for most of my life, and when they come on me I don’t know what to do.  Even as I am seeing the emotions and telling myself that I am experiencing them and knowing where they came from, at the same time I feel intensely helpless and my free will eroded.  How can I talk to myself in those moments?

In tomorrow’s post I will continue with my answers:

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Here is the first in our series of weekly posts to answer your questions.  Keep sending your questions to askdraudrey@gmail.com or go to anxietycontrolcenter.com and leave a comment.

(Excerpt from email)

Dear Dr. Sussman,
I thoroughly enjoyed your seminar this Saturday and would love to meet with you for a consultation. . .
There were also a few questions I was unable to ask at the seminar. . .

QUESTION: If you fall asleep during a hypnotic therapy session do you wake us in order to move forward, meaning is there an awake participation that is required throughout the therapy session?

ANSWER:  During the hypnotic work we will be doing, you will be awake and aware, just in a slightly altered state so we can access information from the unconscious.  It is similar to when you are watching TV and you’re “in the action” so to speak,  but if someone asks you for the time you would be able to respond easily.

QUESTION: Do you practice EFT at all?

ANSWER: I am familiar with EFT and do some techniques that are similar.  But, I like to be able to “see” what is changing, and discuss it with you.  There is a lot of interaction as you watch the changes happening in the old emotions.  Your be amazed as new learnings, and beliefs are incorporated on your time line, all the way to “the present.”

QUESTION: My insurance company allows for so many visits a year for mental health, would this be a part of that? Do you submit to any insurance companies?

ANSWER: As for insurance.  The way we work it you pay as you go, then you submit a receipt to your insurance company and they reimburse you, whatever your plan provides for.  We can give you some codes so you can check with your insurance company.  HMO type insurance typically does not cover.

QUESTION:  Are there any books that you recommend? I already had written down your book, the Power of Thought.

ANSWER:   There are many great books I recommend.  I am happy that you felt stimulated to continue your education, that was the second goal of the workshop on Saturday.   As we work together I’ll talk to you about specific books that you’ll find helpful in continuing your education about he power of your own mind.

Some books are very scientific somewhat technical, and others are helpful and easy to read.  And of course many along the spectrum.  My book “Power of Thought, untold secrets of the unconscious” can only be ordered through me at this time. For a scientific type of author look of Ernsest Rossi. For books on NLP look for either Bandler or Grinder, they have some great books on NLP.  We we speak I’ll give you names of books and authors that are specific to your needs and learning style.

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HOW TO CHOOSE A THERAPIST

There are many therapists and many specialties. So many in fact, that it might seem a daunting task to choose one.  To make this important task easier, follow these simple steps.

1.  Seek a person who specializes in the issue you are dealing with.   If you have anxiety, panic attacks,  have a fear of flying, speaking in public or of going over a bridge and driving, you want to find a therapist  who specializes in the treatment of Anxiety Attacks and Phobias.

2.  There are many different techniques and types of therapy available.   Ask the therapist questions about which ones they feel most comfortable using.  These are some of the therapies you can start asking about. Cognitive/Behavioral techniques, which are useful for beginning to change patterns using a change in the way you process information and creating new behaviors.  Some therapist still use talk therapy, this is helpful to gain insight but the drawback is that it can take many, many years to get results. Some therapists use Classical Hypnosis, which is great for relaxation.  Others use Ericksonian hypnosis and NLP, which speeds up the therapeutic process by getting to the root of whatever challenge you are facing. I believe a combination approach such as the Transformation System enables the therapist to use the best techniques from each modality. You have the right to know what issues the therapist specializes in as well as the techniques they use.

3.  Ask for an idea of how long it will take for you to start to feel a change. And how the sessions are set up.  For example I start my clients with weekly sessions, then at the 4th session we move to every other week and then as symptoms are changing we move to monthly, then every 3 months and then as needed.

It is important to have a rough indication of how long it will take for you to notice results.  I do not believe that any therapist can tell you exactly how many sessions it will take to reach goals.   Since most of my referrals are through “word of mouth”  I explain that we work as quickly as possilbe to get results.  The unconscious part of the mind can create major changes for you in an instant, once the root of the problem is cleared.

In general most of my clients tell me that they feel new hope within their first session, and that they start to experience a change within the first 4 sessions. Many get total relief of symptoms within 10 sessions.  Although for some it may take more sessions to reach the goals. As a person feels better the sessions are spaced further and further apart, so the unconscious has time to continue the changes between sessions.

4.  What should you expect before setting the appointment?

Talk to the therapist on the phone before you set your first appointment. You’ll know when you have found someone you will feel comfortable talking with when the therapist patiently explains their system to you, and you feel respected from the first phone call.  Remember,  sometimes therapist get very busy seeing clients, so be patient and call at different times of the day to reach them in person.

Your have a right to  be told what to expect, in a way that you can understand.  If it seems the therapist is caught up in big words and fancy sounding systems ask for explanations. A good therapist will offer at least a 10 minute free telephone consultation.  During this conversation both you and the therapist will get an idea if there is a match, in what you desire and what they can provide.  It is appropriate to ask for any information about the system the therapist uses.  Most importantly you want to feel comfortable talking to the therapist, and they should be patient and friendly. Trust your instincts,  this is important you cannot get better by talking to someone who intimidates you.  But, it is also important to remember that a good therapist is usually a busy one, and may not be able to talk for long periods of time.

5.  I have heard about TeleSeminars, what is that?

A TeleSeminar is a presentation or a workshop.  It can be accessed by getting a link for a number to call by phone, or a link for an internet connection.  The beauty of teleseminars is if you call into the live call, you can ask questions an interact directly with the presenter..  Another benefit of a teleseminar is that the cost is usually a lot lower, because the presenter serves as a coach, rather than a therapist.    Many time a presenter will supply a link for a replay of the call, so you can listen to the replay as many times as you  desire.

I have found that people like our monthly Question & Answer TeleSeminar.  During this 45 minute call people can get a sense of what techniques are available and get questions answered.    To become a member and get the link to the next free TeleSeminar, go to the contact me tab on the right of this page. Click on the “contact me” tab and it will send you to  my personal email.  Once there just put in your email address,  first name and one or two questions.  You will then get the  link to the information about the next call.

6.  Once you find a therapist or coach with whom you are comfortable, schedule an appointment.  I hope you call and schedule with us at the Anxiety Control Center for therapy, hypnosis, coaching or to gain tools for moving past challenges.   By setting an appointment you are making the decision to continue your education, to learn more about using the wonderful asset of your own mind.  There are many therapists out there who can help you.  Don’t suffer with panic attacks, worry, procrastination, anxiety, migraines or IBS for one more minute!  Pick up the phone and call!  Signing off for now Audrey Sussman, director Anxiety Control Center.

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Creating Powerful Attitudes

Remember those times when you were confident, calm, energetic or motivated? You can learn to tap into the positive resources you have within you and gain a wonderful ability to control how you feel at any time. Although there are certain circumstances you can’t control, you can do something to change the way you feel. Doing these techniques will put you back in control of your own thoughts. They enable you to do something about what you are feeling.
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Skills for Powerful Attitudes

22. “No Blam-er” - This will enable you to leave the hopeless state. You will take responsibility and create what you want. Now the weight is off your shoulders and you are back in control.

23. “Facts From Fiction” – The first step is knowing that we truly can’t read another person’s mind. Learning to differentiate the facts of a situation from the negative stories we make up will get you on the road to taking control. It’s our brain and we can create and stories we want. I would rather make up positive ones that keep me happy and relaxed than negative ones that cause me to be upset. It is much easier to deal with people who are in a happy mood. This is a great technique for enhancing relationships. People will want to be around you!

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“Using these techniques, I was able to improve my golf performance. I found I was able to intergrate my golf lessons more quickly using relaxation techniques as well as visualization of how I want to see the shot. Since learning these techniques, my handicap has dropped ten strokes.” LM

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