A Few Thoughts on the Mind

I'll never forget what a neurologist said in an interview on an episode of the television show "Nova", that "an inherent characteristic of the brain is the inabilty to understand itself." That struck me as a profound statement, not really knowing why, but a statement that has returned to mind on many, many occasions as I work as a psychotherapist, counselor, therapist, what have you. The mind/brain processes data looping back and forth from the seeming infinite locations in the body, sorting information and transmitting encoded impulses to various organs, in multidinous processes that somehow work in unison with the others. And it's all done automatically, as I understand automation. And as the body, with the facilitation of the processing unit of the brain, seeks homeostasis of its internal events and processes, all is not well in that, as the neurologist said, "a life-threatening immunological crisis developes and resolves itself about three times every hour."
I, frankly, am not surprised what with all the complex processes that would, in comparison, make a major oil refinery look like a game of "Mousetrap!". As in refineries where things occasionally go wrong and engineering sets out to isolate the constellation of pertinent variables and devise measures to return the refinery to a safe level of functioning, so the body experiences variable conditions and events that spin temporarily out of balance; and all the while the brain automatically registers, sorts, and processes the multitudinous permutations of hazardous events and inexplicably returns the body back again to an optimal level of functioning. www.gordonleith.com

Speaking to an audience

Dr. Weil mentions in his blog some things that help one to help allay fear resulting in making a better speech (http://www.drweilblog.com/home/2010/8/9/5-ways-to-minimize-public-speaking-fears.html), namely, "consider drink passionflower tea, don't drink caffeine because it can make one more anxious, breathing exercises, consider supplementing with B vitamins and magnesium, and consider seeking professional therapy", he says. I always appreciate his knowledgeable words. As a professional counselor, I would like to add that hypnotism can be a useful weapon in the armamentarium to combat anxiety and thereby help one speak more effectively to audiences. In hypnotism that I facilitate, I have the person (while in a deep trance) visualize/project onto a screen themself speaking in front of an audience. Their anxiety level may rise some even while in an entranced state, but his or her memorization faculties imprint the experience during this relaxed state and transfer the calmer experience to the individual's conscious state while speaking. Hypnotism is a tool, not a panacea, but a power tool indeed it is.

Gordon Leith: Hypnotism

Gordon Leith: Hypnotism: "Hypnotism is an effective tool for so many challenges: smoking/chewing/snuffing; weight control; bladder control; insomnia; and others. I h..."

Hypnotism

Hypnotism is an effective tool for so many challenges: smoking/chewing/snuffing; weight control; bladder control; insomnia; and others. I had an interesting discussion with a client today who is an avid reader. He mentioned that he believes for hypnotism to work, one has to believe it will work. Which is why I like hypnotist clients, because they believe it will work. There is something that motivated the person to trust another human being to facilitate the process of hypnotism to assist them in accomplishing the goal they have in mind. My hypnosis includes progressive muscle group relaxation in the first stage, simultaneously woven in and out with breathing rhythms conducive to relaxation, cognitive-imagery (thought-pictures) and, finally, relaxation reversal toward alertness.