I was thrilled this week to hear about the safe delivery of William and Kate's baby, Prince George. I know that there has been probably a little too much coverage of the event, but there is nothing like the arrival of a new baby to warm our hearts.
I do wish the royal couple well - they seem like a really sensible pair, determined to bring their baby up as 'normally' as they possibly can, and I do hope that the press give them space to do this.
New parenthood is really quite a scary prospect - there is really nothing that can truly prepare you for the arrival of a baby, as I can well remember when we had our first son, Olly, now nearly 20. Everyone wants to give you advice, from feeding to bathing, to changing nappies and the whole thing can seem quite overwhelming. Looking back, I think the best advice I can give to new parents is to go with your own gut instincts, as these are often the most reliable. There really is no right or wrong way, and as long as you are doing what you feel is right, then that's the best thing you can do.
There is an advert at the moment which I love which is actually for a certain brand of formula milk (and I'm not going to get into that argument) it shows new mums coping with looking after a baby, and the end shot is a frazzled woman soaking in a bath picking up one of the baby's bath toys - which I think is one of those turtles that move around. The end comment is something like 'take it from us, you're doing great' and I love the sentiment behind this, that its not easy being a new parent, its a huge adjustment, so cut yourself some slack, be kind to yourself and go with the flow.
Perhaps most of all, enjoy this time, that baby smell does not last for long - I should know, having recently had a houseful of teenage boys ...
To all new mums and dads, my warmest wishes,
Wendy x
Friday, 26 July 2013
Monday, 15 July 2013
Hypnotherapy for post-traumatic stress
It has been recently reported and will be investigated on Panorama tonight that the number of servicemen and women who committed suicide last year exceeds the number who were killed in combat. This would suggest that the armed forces are not managing to care well enough for those who fall prey to mental illness whilst on service, or indeed when they leave. Post-traumatic stress disorder is a very real condition which, according to statistics given by 'Combat Stress', affects between 4 and 7 percent of soldiers at some time or other. There may well be a number who fail to report their symptoms, but suffer nonetheless.
It is vitally important that effective treatment be given for PTSD, as the wrong type of help could possibly make things worse. Endless counselling sessions can sometimes result in, at best, feeling no better, but at worse finding that symptoms increase.
In my hypnotherapy practice I have seen and treated people suffering from PTSD, who then go on to find lasting relief from their suffering. Treatment is very relaxing and often the client feels the benefit straight away. Certainly there is no need for numerous lengthy sessions of therapy - I find that between 3 and 6 sessions is normally enough to restore a feeling of wellbeing. In order to reinforce the work that we do in the sessions, I also provide a CD to use at home, as well as teaching simple techniques such as self-hypnosis and mindfulness.
If you, or a loved one are suffering from PTSD and would like to try hypnotherapy, then do contact me on 01449 780352 or 07817158429.
Best wishes,
Wendy x
It is vitally important that effective treatment be given for PTSD, as the wrong type of help could possibly make things worse. Endless counselling sessions can sometimes result in, at best, feeling no better, but at worse finding that symptoms increase.
In my hypnotherapy practice I have seen and treated people suffering from PTSD, who then go on to find lasting relief from their suffering. Treatment is very relaxing and often the client feels the benefit straight away. Certainly there is no need for numerous lengthy sessions of therapy - I find that between 3 and 6 sessions is normally enough to restore a feeling of wellbeing. In order to reinforce the work that we do in the sessions, I also provide a CD to use at home, as well as teaching simple techniques such as self-hypnosis and mindfulness.
If you, or a loved one are suffering from PTSD and would like to try hypnotherapy, then do contact me on 01449 780352 or 07817158429.
Best wishes,
Wendy x
Tuesday, 2 July 2013
Looking after teenagers
I have just started watching BBC3's new series 'Don't call me crazy' which focuses on a teenage mental health unit in Manchester. It makes for fascinating but also extremely sad viewing.
These are young people suffering from a host of different problems including depression, anxiety and hallucinations which then result in negative behaviour patterns such as self-harming, eating disorders and suicidal tendencies.
Some of the teenagers are sectioned which means that they cannot leave the unit, or at least only for very short periods of time. One of the patients, Beth, a strikingly pretty girl who suffered from an eating disorder, had appealed against her section and was expecting to be able to leave the unit, but had her appeal refused. It was all the more distressing as another patient, Gill, was taken off section that same day and - like any teenager really - was celebrating loudly without showing any sensitivity to Beth. Interestingly, Gill had responded very well to mindfulness therapy.
Many of the patients seem to have suffered some sort of trauma during childhood, and this could be neglect, abuse or family break-up. Their resulting difficulties in adolescence are then quite simply self-protecting strategies which they have developed during their childhood in order to be able to survive.
I really liked the comment made by the head of the unit when he said that their aim was not to create 'the perfect teenager', but to equip these young people with new, more healthy and positive strategies which they can use in times of stress, instead of resorting to negative behaviour patterns.
When I think of my own lovely, but sometimes difficult boys, I feel so blessed that they are well and reasonably happy with life. It is difficult as a parent, but if you can support and encourage them and help them to find ways of dealing with life's challenges in their own way, then you are not doing too badly.
If you feel that your teenager needs a little bit of support, do contact me as hypnotherapy has great results with this age group.
Best wishes,
Wendy x
These are young people suffering from a host of different problems including depression, anxiety and hallucinations which then result in negative behaviour patterns such as self-harming, eating disorders and suicidal tendencies.
Some of the teenagers are sectioned which means that they cannot leave the unit, or at least only for very short periods of time. One of the patients, Beth, a strikingly pretty girl who suffered from an eating disorder, had appealed against her section and was expecting to be able to leave the unit, but had her appeal refused. It was all the more distressing as another patient, Gill, was taken off section that same day and - like any teenager really - was celebrating loudly without showing any sensitivity to Beth. Interestingly, Gill had responded very well to mindfulness therapy.
Many of the patients seem to have suffered some sort of trauma during childhood, and this could be neglect, abuse or family break-up. Their resulting difficulties in adolescence are then quite simply self-protecting strategies which they have developed during their childhood in order to be able to survive.
I really liked the comment made by the head of the unit when he said that their aim was not to create 'the perfect teenager', but to equip these young people with new, more healthy and positive strategies which they can use in times of stress, instead of resorting to negative behaviour patterns.
When I think of my own lovely, but sometimes difficult boys, I feel so blessed that they are well and reasonably happy with life. It is difficult as a parent, but if you can support and encourage them and help them to find ways of dealing with life's challenges in their own way, then you are not doing too badly.
If you feel that your teenager needs a little bit of support, do contact me as hypnotherapy has great results with this age group.
Best wishes,
Wendy x
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)