Knowing the Market

Although the frequent subject of dispute, many experts welcome conversational hypnosis and programs like Underground Hypnosis as powerful procedures. You probably know that you can efficiently speak to the unconscious mind in this fashion, but you might not appreciate that you can alleviate troubles, whether mental, physical, or even emotional. So you can add work to overcome mental disorders or smoking addiction to any imagined frat-party humorous high-jinks and similar antics. I do understand how what you’ve heard might worry you, but experienced practitioners know exactly what to do and create almost no difficulties.

As with most hypnosis, the goal of conversational hypnosis is the induction of a trance state in the subject. The depth to which the subject falls into trance depends on their personality, emotional status, and hypnotist’s ability. As you first establish the trance state, their minor muscle systems start to relax as a result of unconscious instruction. They feel drowsy, though not drained. Many subjects feel like their eyelids are becoming heavier. You can watch hands unclench and shoulders slump as this pleasant relaxation washes through the subject with remarkable speed.

A skilled practitioner can lead subjects down to trance states so deep that the only sensory input received is that made by the hypnotist. Once they’re are this stage, the subject will experience the power of suggestion and governed by their subconscious. At greater depths it becomes possible to block recollection of given situations — or to suppress physical sensation, with the result that you’ll fail to experience pain from a given area.

Strong hallucinations begin to appear the farther the subject descends into trance, and eventually the subject will arrive at a state comparable to that experienced under general anesthetic. People might undergo one of several medical procedures in this state without anesthetic or painkillers. You won’t learn how to achieve that level via Underground Hypnosis, but remember, naturally, you’d almost never require it. In most instances, the lower degrees are more than sufficient.

It’s now time to explain that the power to do this is available to anybody enrolling for Underground Hypnosis. By spending a little time reading and a little more time honing your strategy, you’ll rapidly develop into quite a talented hypnotist — skilled enough for the usual pastimes. That’s all there is to it — nothing to disturb you.

Certainly the circle itself as an image is never-ending, it’s a complete continuum. That’s not a value judgment, that’s the essence of what the form does. That’s a description of the form. Beyond that, it’s all you. It’s all what you put into it. And so, if you think about what you were talking about, the pot boilingand that’s the way the most of us are, we think that in order to transform I have to suffer, I have to burn myself, I have to face these things with great anxietybut really what happens is, what we’re learning is, you don’t have to suffer to transform. In fact, suffering doesn’t necessarily transform you, because it puts you into defense and so you’re running away again.
And then you’re into something my teacher called ‘rebound,’ where you’ve made some great breakthrough but, because it’s been so traumatic, then you bounce back into it.

So, what we’re really working with isand this is the peaceful, the Everyday Sanyasin, the Ease of Being waythat I’m creating a form, I’m creating a visualization that resonates with my heart. And because it resonates with my heart, my heart can open up to it, because I feel the resonation. So my heart opens up to it, and I’m sitting there looking at it, and I’m going, “Wow, I feel love.”

I can say, “Okay, I want to show some sense of manifestation, of the quality of love and the circle around it.” And it could become radiating waves of golden light. It can be flames, it can be all kinds of things. And then I say, “What does that form indicate to me in terms of qualities of manifestation?” I’m working with myself, but it’s all this wondrous discovery. We’re not in a pain of transition, of transformation, at all. We’re opening up our hearts, which is really a fun thing to do.

What we would tell our readers at this point is that, all this information we’ve discussed today and some of the experiences I’ve had with youtalking with you today, Seanit can have all these various elements. Radical change can have elements of nurturance, of taking one’s past and integrating it with the present, andas you said in your last phrase thereit can all be fun. And, you know, you’ve been a very fun fellow to talk with through these series that we’re doing. The fun part of it is the festive atmosphere that you create when we speak. I want our readers to really realize that that is a Direct Experience of the Everyday Sanyasin, and that is the kind of Deity practice that you’re teaching.

Yogi Sean is the student of Swami Ramananda and the author of Dancing in the Fire of Transformation and The Everyday Sanyasin.

How to survive a depression

Dealing with depression is not easy. Lots of individuals feel exhausted and low and find it tough to deal with everyday living and its usual problems.

Depression is a severe malady.

It is deeply unlike from just having the ‘blues’. It is natural to feel lousy and sad when you go through hardship and deprivation. The anguish of an unhappy relationship, unemployment or bereavement can corrupt your mood for some time. When you are mourning for any of these reasons, you don’t ordinarily come to a complete stop. Even though ‘your heart isn’t in it’, you still cope to carry on with everyday activities and relish the positive things in life.

Sadness and bad modes will eventually perish. If you have severe grief, sharing your troubles with others can assist you to come to terms with and manage with the sorrow.

To be “naturally sad” is not a disease, but clinical depression is! It is a significant sadness that can destroy your quality of living. It is an intense feeling that you can’t cope. It can last for weeks, months or even years. If you suffer from anxiety, you can no longer master your humor or feelings. In clinical depression, the depressive emotion has become lasting; or lasts for a long time.

Depressive Disorder can be handled and subdued
Individuals having from depression need handling. If you suspect that you or someone you know suffers from depression it is fundamental that intervention is sought. Make an engagement to see your doctor, talk to a friend or kinfolk member.

There is a great range of effective treatment choices for depression. Patients usually make a full recovery. Seeking assistance if depression is surmised is the most important first step on the road to recuperation.

Acute handling covers the time period from starting your medicine until the depressive signs have fully gone away. After the acute treatment you should feel completely well. The acute treatment typically lasts one to two months.

Sustainment handling is essential to keep you well. For some time you will be more endangered to slide back into depression. Therefore continue the treatment and take your medicine as prescribed by your physician.

Communication is the means to get things done and an indispensable medium for human relationships. It is an essential ingredient in providing the important services of organizations, as well as a basic source of personal satisfaction. Yet, although communication is the single most important factor in relationships and work success, it is the least taught and most neglected skill we use. We tend to take it for granted because too often we think that communication means, “You listen and I talk.” Or “I am talking, you listen.”

Real communication takes place when the listener understands the meaning of what the speaker says. While understanding the real meaning of the message being sent is essential to communication, it is not easy to accomplish.

Miscommunication is more prevalent than ever imagined. In fact miscommunication is so frequent it can be said to be a normal occurrence. Therefore, any work to create effective communication needs to start with that premise. Thus with that in mind, I will discuss four highly effective tools to ensure that we have understood the meaning of a message or delivered the message we intended to deliver. If any one of these tools is neglected, communication may break down.

The primary tool in communicationmaking sure the listener and the speaker have the same frame of reference.

The second important communication took is asking clarifying questions.

The third toolparaphrasing is essential. In paraphrasing, the listener rephrases what s/he has heard the speaker say. Paraphrasing serves two purposes. When the listener paraphrases, the speaker can verify that the listener has understood the message. The speaker can also verify that the intended message has been sent, because sometimes the speaker says something different from what s/he really meant.

The fourth took in effective communication is vital in developing and maintaining close personal and professional relationships. This tool is listening for the words behind the words, which translates into understanding the feelings behind what is being said. The speaker often does not overly state the feelings associated with a message. However, the feelings are being conveyed through tone of voice and body language. The listener can pick up those non-verbal messages and convey to the speaker that the intimate meaning of the message has been heard.

In summary the four essential tools in effective communication are:

1. establishing a frame of reference;

2. asking clarifying questions;

3. paraphrasing; and

4. listening for the words behind the words (understanding feelings)

It may seem that these communication tools are for the listener alone and that the listener has the major responsibility in making sure that the message is understood. In reality, communication is a 100% responsibility for both the listener and speaker. If you, as the speaker, want to be sure your message is understood, you can use the same four communication tools. Check with your listener to verify that your frame of reference is understood. Invite your listener to ask clarifying questionssuch as: When? Where? How? What? Who.” Ask your listener to paraphrase back to you what has been understood. Taking responsibility for one’s feelings and conveying them with the message will make your communications more meaningful and rewarding. It is also helpful to convey your feelings by making “I” statements. For instance, saying, “I am feeling embarrassed at blowing it,” takes the burden off the listener in reading non-verbal messages. Whether you are the speaker or the listener, it is your responsibility to use the communication tools conscientiously if the message is important to you.

Communication is a more complicated medium than we perceive it to be. Whether listening, reading, speaking, or writing, we have selective listening (reception) and selective speaking (transmission) processes operating at all times. As you read this article, you are selectively hearing my message and I am selectively sending it based on past experience, needs values, images and the language I use. These can all become barriers to effective communication.

As you listen, you filter information in or out based on your evaluation of what you are hearing and your determination if it has value. “Do I need this? Will it give me what I want? Is it important?” If the answers to these questions are “Yes,” you will make more effort to be sure you have understood. If the answers are “No,” You won’t take as much time and effort. Since these questions are usually asked on an unconscious level, you may often allow past experiences to determine what you listen to in the here and now.

As a speaker, you ask, “Is it important to have my message understood? What will I gain if the listener understands?” The greater your need to have your message understood, the more time you will spend making sure you are heard.

The value you put on the information being conveyed also has a great deal to do with how well you communicate. As a listener, the value you place on the speaker’s information will determine how conscientiously you use good listening skills. If you don’t agree with the basic premise or if you believe it isn’t important, you may begin to evaluate the message before the speaker has finished speaking. You may then begin to daydream or mentally formulate a rebuttal.

As a speaker, the greater the value you put on the information the more time and effort you will spend conveying it. If you want your message to be understood, it is important for you to determine what is of value to the listener and deliver the message based on the listener’s values.
When listeners are aware that you place importance on their values, they are usually willing to hear the significance of your message on a cognitive and affective level.

The image that you, as a listener, have of the speaker also determines the level of attention you will give him/her. If you image is one of respect, acceptance, or understanding, you will be more conscientious about making sure the message is heard. If the image is a judgmental oneDoes he know what he is talking about? He doesn’t have a PhD, how can know enough to teach me?you will not spend adequate time using effective communication skills.

The same is true if you are the speaker. If your image of the listener is one of respect, understanding, or acceptance, you will spend time making sure the message has been understood. If you lack the self-image and self confidence necessary to convey your message to doctors, lawyer’s or some other group with whom you may feel inadequate, you will fail to use the communication skills and will not communicate in depth or adequately.

These barriers are in operation constantly on the part of both listener and speaker. In order for effective communication to take place, these barriers need to be checked out. If the listener has an unfavorable image of the speaker, the speaker needs to address that issue and resolve it. The speaker can change a perception someone has by clarifying a misunderstood action or reaction and by sending the message in a way that will meet the needs of the listener.

The language you use to convey your message is important, too. Any information can be conveyed in an infinite number of ways. As the speaker, you need to use words the listener will understand. Jargon can be a problem; therefore, avoid using professional argot, regionalisms and ethnocentrisms. You run the risk of losing the listener’s interest. If you are the listener and do not understand the words being used, ask the speaker to explain.

To further create effectiveness in the communication process, you need to be aware of other processes at work within the listener. Developing a frame of reference does not mean simply gathering information so that you can drop the right word at the right time in conveying a message. A person perceives messages in a style unique to that individual’s development. Does the person understand information better when it is presented in a logical, straightforward manner or when it is offered with descriptions and allegories which can be visualized? Or would a combination of both the logical and descriptive styles be more appropriate?

When we communicate, we too often make the unfortunate assumption that people are logical at all times. Such, however, is not the case. Behavioral scientists have long known that we sometimes have trouble reconciling our emotions and our logic. One does not need to be a disciple of Freud to know that our emotions interfere with our ability to reason.

There are physiological reasons to explain the frequent dichotomy between our emotional and rational capabilities. The brain of the Western World human clearly delineates or lateralizes emotions and logic and assigns these activities to opposite sides of the cerebral cortex. The ‘emotional side’ is housed in the right cerebral hemisphere and the ‘logical side’ is found on the left. A muscle mass known as the corpus collasum connects the two hemispheres or ‘brains,’ allowing messages to travel back and forth so that the activities of both can be integrated.

The left brain allows one to be logical; it controls analytical ability, order and sequence, mathematics, problem solving, decision making, and formal language. To address the logical brain exclusively, however, is to do injustice to the whole person’s perception, capabilities, and preference in understanding information. Equally as strong, though perhaps more amorphous, is the emotional brain, the right brain. The right hemisphere allows one to have imagination, draw analogies, and be intuitive, artistic, and creative. Since both the emotional and the logical side are involved in your communications, it is critical that you become aware of the role of each and learn ways to appeal to both. You can use analogies to paint a picture which will appeal to your listeners’ artistic, creative inclinations. In addition, you can analyze your rationale for a decision, appealing to their problem solving, decision making abilities. In this way you can assure that you are communicating with the whole person’s perception capability and preference. This double-pronged approach increases the likelihood that ore of the message will be received on both cognitive and affective levels.

We have discussed the importance of conveying the meaning of your message. How do you do so? Again, it seems so simplethrough words, of course. Actually, however, words have the least impact on how your message is ultimately understood. A study done at General Electric reveals that over half the messageapproximately 58 percentis conveyed by body language; 37 percent of the message is conveyed by tone of voice; and a mere 5 percent of the message is conveyed by the words used. In order to send a congruent message, the words, tone of voice, and body language need to be sending the same message. If the words say one thing and the body language says something else, the body language is believed to be the real message.

It is often said that body language doesn’t lie. This is true because body language is an unconscious process interpreted by the right brain of the receiver. Yet it is difficult to interpret body language because a slight variation can mean many different things to different people.

One can, however, make accurate inferences from many body gestures. The eyes and facial expressions convey the majority of body language messages. Flirting is a universally understood form of communication. Since the eyes and mouth are the most distinctive, it is important to study what you are doing with them when making statements. For example, when you say, “No,” you need to give firm, direct (not staring or glaring) eye contact and form the word “no” with the lips wide open and pushed forward, squeezing in the corners of the mouth as the “O” sound finishes. Your tone of voice needs to be firm and at a slightly lower register than normal conversation. Using a lower register does not mean speaking more quietly. It means using a slightly baritone sound. Women have the most difficulty in effecting this sound. Speaking at too high a register sometimes undermines women’s credibility and may cause their statements to be considered insignificant or not worth taking seriously.

Men, on the other hand, have a tendency to speak too harshly, using sharp, hard tones even when the situation doesn’t require it. Men naturally have deep voices; therefore, they seldom need to lower their voice inflection to convey a firm message. Men do need to be aware that their natural tone of voice can often intimidate. Thus, they may need to soften and relax their delivery.

These are generalizations and need to be experimented with. You will need to get feedback from others to determine how your delivery is being perceived. Get several opinions from male and female friends, colleagues, superiors, subordinates, and acquaintances. Although you will receive slightly different reactions, a pattern will emerge which will give you an idea how to ’specialize’ your presentation when interacting with specific individuals or groups.

Learning to send a congruent message which appeals to the whole person’s perception capability and preference takes time and effort. For those who are concerned that it will take too much time to learn to send a congruent message, think of the time you spend redoing, re-explaining, or rehashing an issue that has gone astray, or the damage that is done when there are misunderstandings. If one aspect is not attended to, the communication process breaks down. In more complicated forms of communication it is paramount that all skills for effective communication are employed.

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, Entrepreneur, personal and professional Life Coach has 25 years experience. She has consulted to Fortune 500 CEO’s, Vice Presidents, business owners and people of all walks of life. http://www.drdorothy.net

Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Chronic or Treatment-Resistant Depression

About Vagus Nerve Stimulation(VNS)

VNS is not brain surgery, although it is a treatment that affects the function of the brain. Vagus Nerve Stimulation uses specific stimulation of the vagus nerve to send stimulation to specific parts of the brain that are involved in mood. It is not like Electro-Convulsive Therapy (ECT), a treatment that involves stimulation of the entire brain and induces convulsions in patients. In fact, patients may not even feel the stimulation from VNS since the vagus nerve does not have the type of nerves that carry pain signals. Nor does VNS interfere with drugs, and patients having Vagus Nerve Stimulation can continue taking their other drugs without worrying about side effects or interactions between drugs.

What is the Vagus Nerve ?

Vagus means “wandering” in Latin, and is the perfect description for the vagus nerve, the longest nerve in the body. It averages almost two feet in length and “wanders” throughout the upper body. The vagus nerve starts in the brain, goes down the neck and into the body where if affects the vocal cords, the acid content of the stomach, the heart, the lungs, and other organs. In the brain it projects to areas believed to be responsible for seizures, mood, appetite, memory and anxiety (note 3). However, the vagus nerve cord does not have many pain nerves, so stimulation of the vagus nerve is not painful, although some patients may feel some sensation when electrical pulses are generated.

The History of Vagus Nerve Stimulation

Vagus Nerve Stimulation has been used to treat epilepsy patients for years; the first human clinical trial was in 1988,(note 1) and the FDA approved VNS therapy for epilepsy in 1997 (note 2). So far over 22,000 people worldwide have had VNS therapy (note 3), and it has proven to be a safe and effective treatment for epilepsy. These patients have reported minimal side effects, which have tended to decrease over time. The efficacy of the treatment has also been shown to increase with longer treatment time (note 1).

When Vagus Nerve Stimulation was first approved for epilepsy, some patients reported an improvement in mood. Researchers decided to design a study specifically to measure changes in a patient’s mood and depression due to stimulation of the vagus nerve. In 1999, scientists began the first open label (no placebo group) study for depression with 60 patients. This first study found that there was indeed an improvement in mood for depressed patients. Based on this study, a more detailed and thorough study was designed to determine if Vagus Nerve Stimulation would be a safe, tolerable and effective treatment for chronic depression.

The recently completed one-year, double blind, placebo controlled trial had 235 patients from 21 participating hospitals in the United States, and showed clinically significant improvements due to treatment compared to baseline (note 2). The acute (short-term) phase lasted three months, during which half of the patients received stimulation (treatment group) and half did not (control group). The long-term phase of the study lasted an additional 9 months (for one year total treatment) of stimulation. The HRSD-24 (24 item clinician-rated Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression) improvements observed over the first year were highly significant. The results of this long-term, pivotal study were submitted to FDA in October 2003; the FDA’s decision on the use of Vagus Nerve Stimulation for depression is not anticipated before October 2004 (note 2). Of note, Vagus Nerve Stimulation therapy was approved for use in patients with treatment resistant depression in the European Union in March 2001, and in Canada in April 2001 (note 2) .

How Does Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy work ?

The Pulse Generator (battery) delivers a small amount of electrical current to the vagus nerve intermittently (30 seconds on and five minutes off ) (note 3) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for up to 10 years. The stimulation is delivered automatically, so the patient does not have to do anything. Because there is nothing to remember, compliance is assured. The stimulation is not supposed to be uncomfortable, and some patients do not even feel the stimulation. A nurse at the doctor’s office can adjust the level of stimulation (amount of electricity delivered) if the patient ever feels uncomfortable. In the study currently being reviewed by the FDA, researchers noted several similarities between epileptic and depressed patients (note 4).

One of the most important similarities is that Vagus Nerve Stimulation treatment efficacy improves over time. The longer the patient receives stimulation, the better the results. In addition, both populations of patients share the following:

Assured adherence to treatment regimen
Safety of the procedure
Safety of the therapy
High continuation rates
No drug interactions

What is the surgery like?

Vagus Nerve Stimulation is NOT brain surgery, even though it is an invasive surgical procedure that changes the function of the brain. The stimulator is a pacemaker-like device that generates electrical pulses (Pulse Generator); it is implanted under the skin in the left chest through a small incision. While this may sound like a serious or dangerous procedure, it is not. The FDA has approved the use, and confirmed the safety of this procedure, and 22,000 patients have received the implant to treat epilepsy. The Vagus Nerve Stimulation surgery involves two small incisions, one in the chest and one at the lowest part of the neck. At no time is the brain physically manipulated by the surgeon.

The surgery to implant the NCP System takes 45 minutes to two hours. Local, regional or general anesthesia (putting the patient to sleep) is used during the surgery; the doctor and anesthetist determine which type of anesthesia is best for each patient. Most Vagus Nerve Stimulation patients will have outpatient surgery, (note 3) but some patients may need to stay in the hospital overnight, and in that case they will need a family member or companion to take them home from the hospital.

Learn more about this remarkable device at www.VagusNerveStimulator.com

Charles E. Donovan

Author

Out of the Black Hole: The Patient’s Guide to Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Depression

http://www.VagusNerveStimulator.com