Anxiety Control Center

In this post I’ve combined a number of email’s  from my online coaching students.  They have been learning and enjoying the benefits of using the mind in a positive, enhancing way, as the excerpts below will show.  For me as their teacher and mentor it brings me so much joy as I watch them move from feelings of anxiety, self blame and depression to blossoming as they find their wonderful inner capabilities. Over the past weeks as we work together there are so many other benefits as my students are learning to find there inner voice and are learning to accept the positive things in themselves.

Instead of repeating many of the similar positive statement I’m posting a collage of some of the emails that I feel will be of interest.  I looking forward to hearing from all my readers and student with your comments, questions, concerns or just a hello to let me know you are out there.

Student email collage excerpt:

Hi Audrey.
I know why now I wasn’t giving myself credit.  When someone criticizes constantly they fail to see the good in things.

As you know I’ve been working on releasing old negative messages and replacing them with positive, enhancing statement.  Over the weeks that I’ve been coming to your coaching sessions, I’ve found that I have been able to let to of old criticisms.  Especially those from my “friend” who used to constantly criticize me.  If almost seems as if this new positive “habit” is working without any effort.  My subconscious helped me to take my ex-friend that constantly criticized me out of my head about a month ago.

I now am using your words about “giving myself credit” even if it seems like a small “win”.  This came into play a few days ago.

Okay, so  I realize that I’ve made many mistakes and still make mistakes.  But, the great thing is that now I can also admit that I’ve done good deeds, selflessly. I know it is amazing that I had such a hard time allowing myself to see my positives.  I’m now beginning to recognize that my accomplishments also deserve credit, no matter how small they are.  And the most positive thing is that as I give myself credit my depression is lifting, and I feel more courage to do things.

The other tip that I am putting into place in my life if what I took that from what  you said when you told us “if worrying solves the problem then worry, but if you done all you can, then worry serves no further purpose”. Thanks Audrey, for your wise insights.

All the techniques, skills, and your insights are like seeds planted in our minds…  when we add water to the seeds they are able to grow and florish. (I’m paraphrasing)

I’m beginning to understand how to balance the parts I like and don’t like.  It makes me feel more self worthy. For example. I recognize that I have not been able to give financial support to my family or friends.  I havn’t been able to visit with them because of my agoraphobia, but, I now can give myself credit as I recognize the “good” I have done.   I have given them my time over the phone, offering guidance, and reaching out for them where it mattered the most, emotionally and spiritually.  Yes, I now say to myself  even though I wasn’t there physically, I was there emotionally and spiritually.

You better believe I’m giving myself credit now. Once I started to recognize the good, I remembered that I also there was a time when I was there physically…there was a time in my life that I did travel by myself and helped others in person. Thank you for getting me back on the positive track.

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Continued from July 1st post:

Why would a person want to use hypnosis for anxiety, panic or stress relief?   One reason is that hypnosis works quickly, even with long standing issues.  You might wonder how hypnosis helps?  Hypnosis helps you to go into an inner directed state, also called a trance state.  The trance state enables you to gain access to you own very powerful unconscious mind.

Since I specialize in helping people with anxiety, panic, and phobias and most of these people do not want to feel out of control. I use a type of hypnosis where my clients can be in total control, even when in a “trance” state.  Even while awake and aware a person can use self-hypnotic techniques to get to the very root where the patterns of reacting with anxiety and panic, are stored.

You might be wondering why it is important to use a trance state.  For most people the programs that determine our reactions to life are set up before the age of 6.  Since we have gained more information since the age of 6 it is worthwhile to be able to access and correct programs that aren’t working anymore. In order to do this hypnosis is used to develop an inner directed or trance state.

You can learn how to easily get into a trance state.  The easiest way to start the process is to change your breathing pattern.  As you can do this easy breathing pattern it helps you to shift effortlessly into a trance state.

If you would like to receive the instructions for the breathing pattern
go to www.actionendsprocrastination.com
You can watch the video showing this technique
or sign in for the written directions.

Would you like to have the opportunity to be coached by
one of the top hypnotherapist at the Anxiety Control Center?
Learn how at
actionendsprocrastination.com
while you are there take a moment to receive your
free copy of 2 mind calming exercises.

Audrey Sussman, PhD, LCSW, LMHC, NBCCH
is a hypnotherapist with offices in Cherry Hill, NJ and NYC.
She specializes in helping people to get relief from
panic, anxiety and stress.
Her years of research and practice led to her development of
the Transformation System
which combines Cognitive and Behavioral therapy,
with Neuro-Linguistic Programming
and two types of Hypnosis for almost “magical” relief.

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For many the thought of being hypnotized is something that causes fear.  What most are fearful of is of being controlled by the hypnotist. In this article you will learn more about what hypnosis can and can’t do.

Although hypnosis can help people to achieve almost magical results, hypnosis itself isn’t magical.  And no hypnotist no matter how well trained can make you do anything that is in conflict with your values.  If you would never want to do something in a conscious state, you will NOT do it in a hypnotic trance.  When you see a stage hypnotist having people act silly, these are people who enjoy being the center of attraction, and would even in a conscious state be willing to do the things the hypnotist suggests.  The reason why they seem to be able to do things they didn’t know how to do normally, is that they are more open to their own potential when in a hypnotic state.

Continued tomorrow:

To receive the instructions for a
breathing Pattern that calms the mind
and gets it ready for entering a trance state.
Go to www.actionendsprocrastination.com
sign in for the video showing this technique as well as written directions.

Would you like to have the opportunity
to be coached by one of the
top hypnotherapists
at the Anxiety Control Center?
go to actionendsprocrastination.com
for information.
Audrey Sussman, PhD, LCSW, LMHC, NBCCH
is  the director of the Anxiety Control Center.
She is a hypnotherapist
with offices in Cherry Hill, NJ and NYC.
Specializing in the relief from panic, anxiety and stress
using the Transformation System
which combines Cognitive and Behavioral therapy,
with Neuro-Linguistic Programming and two types of Hypnosis.

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I decided to share some of the Action Steps I’m working with on my students in the Online Coaching class.  I hope you find them helpful.  If you have questions sent the to me here.  If you would like to join us there is still room for 2 more students. You also be getting the added a bonus session with an associate of mine who is a impressive energy healer, she be showing you how to use your own energy to create healing.

Here a part of the Action Plan, I’ve sent to my coaching students.

A  In order to get the most from this workshop we want to set up the baseline for the challenges and issues you face.

B  Step One: List all the challenges or emotions that are getting in your way:

1. Use specific situations:
2. Examples of challenges: fear, sadness, anger, panic attacks, low self esteem, social phobia, fear of speaking in public, fear of needles, test anxiety, flying, etc

3. Make sure you state the details of the situation, not just the emotion.
a. Where does this problem occur?
b.  Who is there in the situation.
c . What specifically is happening in the situation.
d.  What are you saying to yourself, see if you can “catch” the thoughts moving through your mind when you think of the situation?

This is an important exercise. You can do it quickly or take your time. The important thing is to have something written down.  In this class we will be working on one of the top 3 issues you choose to work on.

In our next class on June 23rd I’ll give you the questions to help you focus inward. We’ll use these questions to get to the real desires, and to unearth things that is getting in the way of you achieving your goals.

For now just write down you list and pick 3 that you want to work on.  I’ll show you how to use the information in the next workshop.  This is an important piece of the blueprint for change from the Transformation System used at the Anxiety Control Center.

Benefits of setting a baseline:

C  When you set up a base line of challenges and issues you get 3 benefits
1. Choices will become clearer.
2.  You will feel more in control, by having a place to start.
3.  You will be able to measure the changes that happen.

Want to learn how to create a “filter” so you can
automatically filter out harmful “advice”
Would you like to learn how to stay centered and calm?
Begin today by downloading your first “tool” for
getting your own mind into a calm receptive state.
And then join us for the coaching class that shows you how.

Sign in at the top right side of this page

You will get the instructions to 2 exercises.
1. A powerful breathing exercise
to change your state of mind,
2. A second exercise
to help change negative thinking.

So do this now, download
the easy to learn exercises
by signing in at the upper right side of this page.
You will be sent the written instructions as a PDF.

If you would like to learn
using other techniques from the Transformation System
to quiet stress and anxiety
go to action ends procrastination

Our next class is on
July 15,  2010.
Looking forward to you becoming a part
of 
this supportive online community.

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continued from Volcanic Ash causes Panic Attacks (April 25):

Were you stuck in the airport because of the volcanic ash keeping planes from flying.  Did you feel helpless, angry, stressed or even panicky?  If you are someone with panic disorder this “act of nature” might have brought on a full blown panic attack.

For people with panic disorder being stuck anywhere can be a horror.  Without the skills to bring down panic, the feeling of being out of control continues to build, making you feel helpless to stop the onslaught.

There is a way to stop panic in its tracks.  There are techniques and skills you can learn to get back in control of your mind.  Having a mental “tool kit” can help to normalize the chemical reaction happening in your body whenever there is a stressful event.

Even if you don’t have panic disorder, the stress of being stuck can cause terrible distress. Although there may be nothing you can do to change the situation, there is one thing you do have control of, the thoughts that move through your mind.

Thoughts have power.  They can create physical reactions that can either add to your stress, or create a state of calm and serenity.  Once you learn how to harness your thoughts, even the ones that move through your mind so quickly you can be back in control.

There are many skills you can learn to stop the stress reaction.  Skills that can reinforce positive feelings no matter what is happening in life.  The following exercise provides a tool you can add to “tool kit” of mental skills, to change stress reactions.  It gives you a way to start the process of changing negative thoughts into positive calming ones.

1. Imagine a big red stop sign.
2. In your mind “shout” the word “stop”.
3. Use your imagination to create possible positive outcomes.  Create thoughts of what you would like to see happening, rather than negative possibilities.

Example: Think about going somewhere peaceful.  You have memories of places that created peace or joy.  One of my clients used the memory of holding her baby for the first time.  She went back to that memory and immediately felt joy bubble up.  That was a much better state of mind to be in as she waited in the airport.

4. So find someplace in your imagination that is peaceful.

Another technique I teach my clients is to imagine yourself a few month after the situation.  Imagine the event is already over, you are safely home.  Perhaps having a cup of tea talking to a neighbor.    Talking about the airport situation that is long past.   Use your imagination to create positive images of what you will be doing as you are  safely home.

5.  As you use your mind in this way,  notice how different this experience feels.

This simple use of your imagination, is one to keep in you “tool kit” so you can have courage in the face of panic.  Once you have a “Tool kit” full of skills it will be like a security blanket you always have with you, where ever you go.

Learning how to create positive images and thought will help in gaining control of your reactions.    For more information on learning how to using your mind to work for you, instead of against you sign in at the top right side of this page.

You’ll receive 2 exercises.
These exercises are the beginning steps
to stopping obsessive thinking and
to creating a calming state of mind.

Download an easy to learn mind calming  exercise

by signing in at the upper right side of this page.
After you sign in you will be sent the written instructions

We still have 4 spots open for our online coaching course.
Go to actionendsprocrastination
for information and sign up to be part of
this supportive online community.

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Stuck in the airport and can’t get home.  Airplanes not flying, your dream vacation is ruined.

The Volcanic ash caused so much upset for anyone traveling at the time. As I listened to the news about all the people stuck in airports because of the cloud of volcanic ash, I began to hope that none were sufferers of panic attacks.  Although being stuck in an airport is difficult for anyone, for people with panic, it can become a horror that effects them long after the planes are flying again.

I decided to write about the “tool box” of skills that can be prepared so panic doesn’t traumatize you when you are stuck somewhere.  Anyone with panic attacks would benefit by being able to use their mind in a way so they could decrease feeling of fear and panic.  With practice this “tool kit” can help to stop panic completely.  Imagine how much more comfortable and safe you would feel with a “tool box”  of skills you could choose from to stop panic symptoms.  You’d be prepared to deal with the stress of being stuck anywhere.

I know this “tool box” of skills works because ,I only received one call from a client who needed a bit of reassurance.  Many of my clients have let me know how their “tool kit” was a “life saver.”  So preparing by learning skills before talking a trip, or doing anything that causes panic symptoms makes a lot of sense.

In tomorrow post I’ll discuss some “tools” that I believe are essential for your “tool kit” for panic relief.

Until then you can start with the
Breathing for Calm Exercise that is a gift
for signing in at the upper right side of this page.
After you sign in for  the written instructions,
you can go to my actionendsprocrastination to watch
the video of the breathing for calm exercise.

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