A note to ALL DO-GOODERS and people who want to change the world by Michael Harris, PhD

Greetings fellow wizards,

Anyone who knows me or reads my stuff on the web, pretty much knows that I am incurable "do-gooder" and positive expectation freak. I'm only interested in making this planet a better place to live in and work tirelessly to that end.

This morning while I was opening my mail I came across a strange letter. This letter was from Mumbai, India so I knew it couldn't be from a client or ex-girlfriend.. I looked at it for a couple of minutes with a great deal of curiosity. The letter was from someone I friended on LinkedIn and the sent me a "thank you" letter, thanking me for "friending" them.

They went on to tell me that they had gone to my website, listened to my recordings, read my articles (on this blog), watched my youtube videos and pretty much "gushed" appreciation for all things that I do, which seemed kind of strange because this is what I do, daily.

It took a couple of minutes to realize that this is exactly what impact that I'm trying to make on this world we live in. All you have to do is watch the news for a couple of seconds to notice that we have problems out there. But we also have beautiful people doing wonderful things everyday; it's that, that type of information doesn't sell newspapers so it isn't reported.

I thought I'd jot down a couple of lines today to remind you that this a wonderful place to live and you need to LIVE YOUR DREAMS. It's obvious that people are out there searching for answers so if you're in the business of making dreams come true, making people laugh and forget about their troubles... KEEP DOING THAT... you never know who you will impact in what corner of the world. My faith in the dream has been revitalized and the person who sent the letter, (you know who you are)THANK YOU!

Sometimes it's a nice thing to know that you're having an impact. I'm reminded of Nelson Mandela, the Nobel Prize Winning Leader, who spend 27 years in house arrest, and ended Apartheid. This is paraphrased..."It isn't that we live too big, it's that we live too small".

Make this day the day you recommit to your dreams

talk soon
M

Your Life After Trauma and PTSD with Michele Rosenthal by Dr Michael Harris

Listen to internet radio with Dr Michael Harris on Blog Talk Radio

Your Life After Trauma and PTSD with Michele Rosenthal

by Dr Michael Harris

About Michelle Rosenthal:
In 1981, Michele was 13 years old when she found herself struggling to survive Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Syndrome, a freak allergy to a medication that turned her into a full-body burn patient almost overnight. It didn’t take long for insomnia, intrusive thoughts, nightmares and flashbacks to set in. She was determined to go back to who she’d been before her illness and ran as fast as she could into the future.
Within 5 years she was a complete and total insomniac, anorexic, melt down mess. The therapists forced her to see and recognize her classic symptoms of PTSD.
Receiving the diagnosis was only the beginning of her healing journey. Literally, the journey took her from New York City to Palm Beach, Florida. In the end, it required 10 modalities and quite a few practitioners to get her to where she is today: 100% PTSD-free.
Michelle learned a lot during her PTSD recovery. She learned about the importance of hope and belief and we can harness its strength and apply it to PTSD recovery.
Read about my personal posttraumamatic stress disorder history and mission.
check out Michele's website - www.healmyptsd.com

DO COMPUTERS NEED THERAPY by Ray Zukowski

I came across this wonderful article and I just had to share it... Happy reading
talk to you soon
Michael

I wonder if our technology hasn't gone too far. I have been noticing more and more quirks on my computer lately. When I ask my printer to print it asks if I really want to print. Like "Are you talking to me!". Then it prompts me again before it really does it. Is it question my ability to choose to print or is it too busy in its own thoughts to do the job. Couldn't we just talk it out between us.

When I am looking for music, Itunes opens and it always tells me that it is not my main music program. Would I like it to be? Does this program feeling insecure about its place in the world. Does it need therapy for this insecurity about being number two? Maybe some confidence building is in order.

My Moviemaker software is always in some kind of conflict with Quicktime. Is this just sibling rivalry? Do I have to worry about anger management issues between these two programs.

Sometimes programs have there own inner conflicts. I worry. They may go haywire someday unexpectedly and who knows what it might do? My computer tells me that they have an issue that cannot be resolved. Would regression therapy to core cause help?

Even the equipment has issues. The other day my hard drive said "Main Memory is failing." Can computers have Alzheimer's? If i get its memory wiped will past life issues still remain?

It seems the very worst is when the computer is feeling really bad and it expresses the feelings with a full blue screen. How sad. A total melt down. Usually means a break in our relationship. How could I have prevented this kind of emotional problem.

Well, maybe there is a new profession coming. Therapy for computers and the programs in it or is it a wicked plot to take over our minds through kitchen appliances by aliens. No, that's another topic.

Just my thoughts today.
Ray Zukowski
Mentor Director
IMDHA Peer Network

Independance Day 2012

I'd like to extend my wishes for your 4th of July holiday.
The fourth of July has always been special to me. In addition to being the anniversary of our country's birth,
it holds special meaning as the anniversary of my parents wedding day. Today would have been my parents 59th celebration of that event if my father were still alive.

So I'd like to give you a gift to celebrate this day. I'm giving you an audio to download and share if you like.

The Authority audio is my gift to you and  it's own my favorites. I discovered the need for this audio while I was creating "Sleepnosis"  hypnosis CDs and I discovered that many people just simply don't have permission from themselves to create and keep changes.

Personal changes, career changes, relationship changes all change begins with the decision to make a change that will be for the greater good. Once that decision is made rest is simple.

Here's your audio 

Have a wonderful holiday and I will speak with you soon

best regards,
Michael

Yes Virginia… there is a dark side to hypnosis by Michael Harris, PhD

Because of the people involved, I won’t be discussing any specifics of the case just some generalities so that you can get the scope of what has occurred and perhaps by reading this you may be able to avert any situations that could cause yourself or someone you know harm. HYPNOSIS WORKS.

I had an opportunity the other day to work with a client on a pretty scary subject and yes, I’m talking about HYPNOTIC MIND CONTROL. You hear about it on the news, you see what Hollywood wants to produce in movies but most people never get to see it. The appointment was right out of the same place where people like Charles Manson or Jeffery Dahmer live aka crazy land. Only this wasn’t on the news… it was in my office.

I also find it interesting in light of the recent media fervor over a stage hypnotist that recently had a problem after doing a hypnosis stage demonstration at a girl’s school. I’m not a fan of hypnosis used as an entertainment tool for this reason. The poor guy was doing what he normally does and things went wrong, very wrong.

The subject came in and at my request, brought a friend to sit in on the session.

The short version is that this person, a female subject had met a man who has a least a understanding of how hypnosis works. The subject who had a boyfriend was having some relationship issues and the man offered to “listen” to her issues.

One day, the man offered to do some “relaxation” techniques so that the subject’s headache would abate. From this point forward, the man regularly did hypnosis with the subject over a period of about 6 months. It might be also worth mentioning that in the 6 months period she broke up with her boyfriend and guess what? That’s correct. She began a relationship with the “friendly man” who was just trying to help her with her headache.

When the subject came into the office, she was very easy to induce into trance. I found it interesting that even though she was very frightened, she was still extremely suggestible. We methodically when through the last six months of her life and the subject discovered that she had been programmed (these are the exact instructions) to CRY, TO BE USED and TO BE ABUSED. We also discovered that the subject had been programmed to be in a heightened sexual state at any time that she was in the presence of, or thought about this man. Apparently, the goal was to condition this woman to be his sex slave and to be so broken that she could not leave him.

We were able to undo all of the programming and the subject is living FAR AWAY from the man. So the question you may be considering is… HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? The answer is very easily.

About 5% of the U.S. population is VERY SUGGESTIBLE and the rest of us are equally susceptible to a wide variety of hypnotic techniques like REPETITION, AUTHORITY FIGURES, TRUSTED RESOURCES and plain old-fashioned GULLIABLITY.

For most part, we as humans have a desire to believe others, to accept what they say is true and in general have a positive expectation that what people are telling you is the truth or what they believe is the truth. What happens when you meet someone who knows about that? You get situations like the one described above.

The dichotomy is this. How do you life your life with an expectation of a safety and simultaneously protect yourself from predators? My answer is with some difficulty and a degree of vigilance.

According to Martha Stout, author of “the Sociopath Next Door”, approximately 1 person out of every 25 has the capacity of being a sociopath. I find this ratio to be alarming and based on what I do for a living I also find it to be fairly accurate. So what do you do?

I like the “Ronald Regan method” TRUST BUT VERIFY. You cannot spend your whole life checking out everything that every person tells you but you do have INTUITION, NATURAL INTELLIGENCE and an innate ability to sense when people are “blowing smoke up your skirt. If what someone is saying sounds like B.S. you’re probably correct. The question is, is what the person is telling you going to affect your life? Your life decisions? Your health or career? If yes, it may be time to investigate a little further.

Let’s get back to the topic at hand. HYPNOSIS WORKS! The subject, I had in my office, the other day is going to be an isolated incident and I may or may not ever see this type of client again, but they are out there. There are bad people who use hypnosis and other mechanisms to control others. The media and advertisers have been using these techniques for decades the only reason there isn’t a public outcry is NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

Just remember, HYPNOSIS ISN’T A TOY OR AN ENTERTAINMENT DEVICE. Do not let people “practice” hypnosis on you. If you have a problem or an issue that you believe can be solved using hypnosis or you think someone is messing with your head, GET A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL to help you.

There are a great many organizations that produce high-quality hypnotists and NLP practitioners. If you need a name or a referral to an organization email me and I’ll be happy to send it to you. You also have my permission to forward and re-post this article to anyone you think will benefit from this article.

About the Author:

Michael Harris, PhD, internationally known hypnotist, transition coach, speaker and author is an expert in language of communication of Sensory Stacks.
He is active locally and nationally, including private and public speaking on the Mind/Body Connection, Hypnosis and Sensory/Learning Styles. See his latest video on youtube and on BlogTalk radio To make an appointment call or just to ask a few questions call - 214-702-3774

Mindfulness can help cancer patients with anxiety and depression

Another great article on "Mindfulness" which is another way of addressing the Mind/Body Connection.To me there is no difference between meditation and what some folks call hypnosis or "trance".
I'd be interested in you opinion if you like to post it, hunt me down on facebook or email me


thanks for reading,
Michael
 
Mindfulness can help cancer patients with anxiety and depression

When being diagnosed with cancer, people will naturally worry about their future, their family and about dying. Actually, no less than 35-40% of cancer patients suffer from significant anxiety and depression symptoms. An interdisciplinary research project carried out between Aarhus University, Business and Social Sciences and Aarhus University Hospital and the Danish Cancer Society now shows that mindfulness can help cancer those patients suffering from anxiety and depression.

During his PhD programme, Jacob Piet, psychologist and PhD student at Aarhus University, Business and Social Sciences, Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, has studied the effects of mindfulness-based psychological therapy. In collaboration with Bobby Zachariae, Professor at Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital, and Hanne W-rtzen from the Danish Cancer Society, he has, in particular, studied the effect in cancer patients with symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Mindfulness focuses on the present
Mindfulness-based psychological therapy is rooted in Buddhist meditation techniques and includes the programmes mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). Training and exercises in mindfulness teach the cancer patients to be more conscious of life as it happens instead of worrying about the past and the future. This may be thoughts about their past behaviour having contributed to their disease and fear of what will happen to them in future, including worries about death.

Mindfulness is a special way of being attentive. Mindfulness teaches you not to judge and evaluate yourself, your thoughts, feelings and physical sensations.

Mindfulness is believed to help by improving attention control and gaining greater acceptance. The resulting effect is less negative thoughts and worries and therefore reduced anxiety and depression, explains Jacob Piet.

Groundbreaking results
The research is based on a meta analysis of 22 studies of mindfulness-based therapy and involves more than 1,400 cancer patients. Jacob Piet and his colleagues' summary of the study findings shows that mindfulness has a documented effect as an effective and inexpensive therapy method for cancer patients with anxiety and depression symptoms. The positive effect was not only seen immediately after therapy, but was maintained for at least six months following the therapy.

The meta analysis is important as this is the kind of analysis doctors and health boards will typically study, says Jacob Piet.

The findings have been published in the most prestigious international journal within clinical psychology research, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology.

Depression affects course of cancer

The prevalence of depression  is significant in cancer patients. Actually, no less than 35-40% of cancer patients suffer serious anxiety and depression symptoms. In the first year after having been diagnosed with cancer, almost 50% of patients meet the criteria for severe depression. They suffer from very low mood and an aversion to activity, and, in addition to being the disorder associated with the greatest loss of quality of life, depression is also associated with a high risk of suicide.

It has also been documented that depression in cancer patients results in prolonged hospitalization and increased mortality. The depression  simply predicts the progression of the course of cancer. This clearly demonstrates the great benefits associated with identifying methods - such as mindfulness-based psychological therapy - which help cancer patients suffering from anxiety and depression.
FACTS about mindfulness:

• Mindfulness-based psychological therapy includes the programmes mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT).
• The therapy takes place in groups with eight weekly sessions.
• As a key element of the programme, the participants are asked to practise the mindfulness techniques as their daily homework.
• Mindfulness-based therapy has proved effective in handling stress, anxiety and depression symptoms as well as in preventing relapse in persons with recurrent depression. In recent years, a number of researchers have specifically studied the effect of the method on psychological problems among cancer patients.

Source: Aarhus University

A friend of mine forwarded this article to me give a read and tell me what you think.

I'll talk to you soon

Michael

 
'Mindfulness' Grows In Popularity _ And Profits

by The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio June 11, 2012, 03:06 am ET

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — In what's become a daily ritual, Tim Ryan finds a quiet spot, closes his eyes, clears his mind and tries to tap into the eternal calm. In Ryan's world, it's a stretch for people to get this relaxed. He's a member of Congress.

Increasingly, people in settings beyond the serene yoga studio or contemplative nature path are engaging in the practice of mindfulness, a mental technique that dwells on breathing, attention to areas of the body and periods of silence to concentrate on the present rather than the worries of yesterday and tomorrow.
Marines are doing it. Office workers are doing it. Prisoners are doing it.

The technique is drawing tens of thousands to conferences and learning experiences across the nation and world, and studies have shown it to reduce the symptoms of certain diseases and conditions.
Ryan has written a book, "A Mindful Nation," pushing mindfulness as an elixir that can tone down political divisions in Washington, get American schoolchildren learning better, and return the country to an era of richer personal experience.

"You still forget your keys, you still call people by the wrong name, you still stub your toe, but you can train your mind to be more in the present moment," Ryan said.

Benefits in stress reduction and improved performance have prompted U.S. corporations including Google, Target, Procter & Gamble, General Mills, Comcast, BASF, Bose and New Balance to offer mindfulness training and encourage its use at work.

The practice's critics, including some psychologists and religious scholars, say the approach is little more than Buddhist meditation repackaged and rebranded for a secular, and often paying, audience.

"The commercialization of Buddhism has been happening as long as Buddhism has existed," said Rachelle Scott, an associate professor of religion at the University of Tennessee and author of "Nirvana for Sale."
"It's problematic, because most Americans who are engaging in these activities don't know the cultural backdrop to that, so in order to gain access they have to go to one of these retreats, and they are expensive," she said.

Of the $34 billion Americans spent on alternative medicine in 2009, $4.2 billion — about 12 percent — was spent in sectors that included mindfulness concepts, such as meditation-related classes or relaxation techniques, according to federal data. Participation in meditation therapy by U.S. adults rose 6 percent a year on average from 2002 to 2007, according to a study by the research group SRI International.
Marine 1st Lt. Scott Williams, 32, of Lancaster, Calif., said skills he learned through Mindfulness-based Mind Fitness Training — known in the military as MMFT or "M-fit," — allow him to transition rapidly from one focus point to another, to rid his mind of negative thoughts, and to recover more quickly from emotional experiences.

"As an infantry officer in the Marines, the mental agility gained by conducting mindfulness exercises could potentially be the difference maker as I lead men through chaotic and uncertain environments in Afghanistan," he said.

The technique has also reached prisons, where it is being used to reduce stress, anxiety and violence.
Ryan, a Democrat from Youngstown, learned the technique at a retreat two days after the 2008 presidential election — the end of a stressful campaign period and the beginning of another.

"I was to the point where I was OK, but I thought, 'I'm going to be fried by the time I'm 40; I'm just going to be burnt out,'" said Ryan, who was 35 at the time of the election.

For Ryan, a former high school quarterback, the feeling he gets during mindfulness meditation reminds him of the utter concentration and single-mindedness athletes feel when they're "in the zone."

In fact, it was Phil Jackson, the legendary NBA coach, who was among the first to legitimize mind-body techniques in popular culture as he led the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers to 11 titles from 1989 to 2010.

Jackson was nicknamed the "Zen Master" for a holistic approach to coaching that drew upon Eastern religious philosophy. Over the same period that Jackson was winning titles, brain science was beginning to validate what practitioners found evident: The brain can be trained to de-stress, and the body will perform better.

For many, it was a wacky, or at least unconventional, idea — departing from the wisdom of the day that the brain was more or less fully formed by the time a child hit kindergarten.

The growing body of research showing the brain has the capacity to change throughout life is bringing mental fitness onto the same plane as physical fitness, said Georgetown University associate professor Elizabeth Stanley.

Stanley, who runs MMFT and conducts research for the Army and Marines, said mindfulness meditation "isn't touchy-feely at all" in its new uses.

"There's something very empowering about learning how and why the body and mind respond under stress," she said.

Stanley said studies involving subjects engaged in repeated mindfulness have shown that it changes the way blood and oxygen flow through the brain, leading over time to structural changes. The practice can shrink the amygdala, which controls our fear response; enlarge the hippocampus, which controls memory; and make the insular cortex that regulates the body's internal environment more efficient, according to recent peer-reviewed studies by Stanley and others.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are touting several recent studies that have found the technique can reduce the severity of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms in women and reduce stress and pain in chronic sufferers of fibromyalgia and depression.

Google spokeswoman Katelin Todhunter-Gerberg says the company's "Search Inside Yourself" mindfulness class is among its most popular. It enhances awareness and performance, which improves productivity and morale, she said.

One Google lawyer, she said, was able to use her training to stop taking things so personally, reduce the irritability sometimes evident in her emails, and elicit immediate kudos from customers.

Not everyone is sold. In her self-help website Mindful Construct, psychology master's student Melissa Karnaze worries that mindfulness runs the risk of encouraging participants to suppress valid emotions.

"To imply that typical forms of human judgment are somehow inferior to a particular type of attention referred to as mindfulness — with regard to mental health and well-being in general — is a broad sweep," she said in an email. "We rely on various types of judgment for survival, and context matters."

Ryan wants to see fellow politicians embrace mindfulness and abandon the aggressive, around-the-clock grind.

"Nobody enjoys it; nobody likes it. It's become a mess," Ryan said. "Look at the approval ratings from the American people, look at how the people who are inside these institutions feel about the gridlock and the inability to get things done, and the constant campaigning, and the amount of money that's involved. We're not going to solve the problem by doing more of it."