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Asthma is a common inflammatory disease that affects the air passages of the lungs. Symptoms vary; episodes of wheezing, coughing, tightness in the chest and shortness of breath.

With the constant increase in environmental pollution, the number of diagnosed cases of asthma worldwide is on the increase.

Modern medicine treats the condition with an array of orally administered medication. The centre of treatment is relieving the symptoms, or at best, reducing the frequency in which they occur.

Research suggests that more and more sufferers are turning to alternative treatments to address underlying causes. Complimentary approaches range from dietary, breathing exercising and psychological, to acupuncture and homoeopathy.

*It is important to point out that you must discuss treatments you wish to undertake with your doctor first.

• Clean Up Your Diet:

As with any inflammatory problem, diet is important.

• Avoid foods that irritate the immune system (dairy, wheat, preservatives, and additives.)
• Eat more antioxidant-rich foods (vegetables, fruits, and berries), and drink natural (water, natural fruit juice, herbal tea and coconut water).
• Up your intake of Magnesium and vitamin D (A good multivitamin will help).

• Clean Up the Environment:

Asthmatics need to optimise the cleanliness of the air they breathe. Air-borne pollutants are found in every place we go it; house dust, smoke, animal hair/skin, exhaust fumes, chemical sprays, etc. Where possible it is best to avoid these as much as is possible.

• Breathing Exercises:

Breathing techniques are commonly used in the treatment of asthma. Belly or deep breathing involves breathing through your nose rather than the mouth and using abdominal muscles.

Two specific techniques are Butekyo and Pranayama (yoga). Many studies have shown that these exercises improve symptoms.

• Acupuncture:

Originating in China thousands of years ago, Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine needles into the skin at specific points of the body. Some studies show that this treatment, when performed by a qualified practitioner, is very safe and effective.

• Herbal Treatments:

Used for centuries, herbs are still a primary asthma treatment in many countries. Herbs used include; Ephedra, Green Tea, Ginger, Rosemary, Schizandra, Ginkgo Biloba and Boswellia. Generally, more than one herb is used as this has proven more effective.

*Some herbs can interact with prescription medications. Do consult your doctor before taking.

• Homoeopathic Cures:

Homoeopathy stimulates self-healing using a dose of substances. For asthma, homoeopathic remedies are made from substances that generally trigger asthma reactions (pollen, weeds, etc). The amounts used are so small that they will prevent rather than trigger an attack.

• Relaxation Therapy:

Meditation, Hypnosis and muscle relaxation are typical therapies used to treat asthma. These techniques reduce stress, relieve symptoms and promote a sense of well-being. In Psychogenic asthma (emotionally induced), these methods have been proven highly effective.

A team of psychologists from the University of Derby and Nottingham has conducted an online study to discover the association between smartphone use and personality traits. The study consisted of 640 smartphone users aged 13 to 69 in the UK.

It was found that those who have mental health issues are more likely to use their smartphones as a form of distraction therapy.

Anxiety correlates directly with smartphone use, supporting past research of not only these devices changing how we perceive the world but also on how we perceive ourselves relying on likes and shares to validate human existence.

The study found that people were more closed off and secretive when engaging with their phones.

Paranoia surrounding allowing another person to use their phone was very prevalent in the study. Many users who allowed this eagerly overlooked every detail of actions taking place on their phones despite having nothing to hide. It was commented that allowing another person to use your phone was like loaning out your firstborn.

In addition to the findings it was found that the top three applications used were; social networking at 50%, followed by instant messaging at 53%, and music applications at 19%.

Our anxiety levels increase the more we engage in these devices:

As demonstrated on Panorama (4th June 2018, 7.00 pm BBC One), separation anxiety causes the user’s heart rate to rise dramatically when a person is separated from their device. The experiment showed a woman attached to a heart rate monitor watching a video whilst her smartphone (placed behind her) was bombarded with messages. At the end of the short experiment, it was clear to see that her anxiety levels rose dramatically each time a message was received. The participant commented that she felt she was missing out each time her phone made a noise, which made her feel anxious and somewhat isolated.

Apps are deliberately made to be addictive:

Social media company insiders have said that they make their apps addicting so they can sell our time. The longer we spend on these apps the more time they can sell and the more money they can make.

“It’s as if they’re taking behavioural cocaine and just sprinkling it all over your interface and that’s the thing that keeps you like coming back and back and back.”

Former Mozilla and Jawbone employee Aza Raskin

In another part of the program, it was suggested that social media is very similar to slot machines in America. It is cheap, flashy and everyone can easily access it. The business model is simple yet ingenious; entice the world in with an app, keep them hooked with bright colours and noises, and sell their time to advertisers.

Facebook said their goal is solely to “bring people closer to their friends, family and the things they care about”.  At no point has Facebook ever mentioned their platform being addictive or the need for it to be so in order to remain profitable but it is clear that selling space, and your time is a huge factor in its continued success.

In Brittan, teenagers spend on average over 18 hours a week on social media:

With the ease of access comes the desire, even addiction, of checking social media platforms for the latest news. It is easy to see the correlation between these platforms and an overall decline in mental health amongst teens and young adults. Many admit that they feel down if something they have posted does not get as many likes or shares as their peers. Sadly, this desire to be popular online has led some to take their own lives.

Addiction experts and therapists have seen a dramatic increase in clients with smartphone addictions over the past ten years. Typically, they come in with;

Stress | Anxiety | Depression | Anger | eating disorders | Self-harming.

All of which is related to the use of mobile phones.

Many professional experts including medical and digital, say that a smartphone is no different from giving a person a gram of coke.

Although much research is needed, and smartphone addiction is not officially recognised, it is clear that we have a problem and the sooner we accept this the better it will be for us and future generations.

Do you, or someone you know struggle with an addiction? Contact us today to discover how hypnotherapy, counselling and massage therapies can help.

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It seems everyone is posting soothing pictures with “be mindful” as the caption in their social media accounts these days. Ok, so wellness has reached the masses but that doesn’t mean everyone knows what it is. What is the difference between meditation and mindfulness?

Meditation…

This is when you intentionally set aside time to be with yourself. There are several types of meditation from relaxing to exercise meditation to clear your mind. Meditation increases your awareness of the mind bringing you in touch with your feelings and innermost desires.

Mindfulness…

This is just being aware. Mindfulness can be both formal and informal. With informal mindfulness, you are more aware of the things you do. This is often referred to as mindfulness meditation, and this is where the confusion comes from. Formal mindful meditation involves focusing your mind on the present, the here and now. This form has proven to improve mood, decrease stress and boost immune function. The point is to remain in that moment until you feel complete control of your being.

Relationship Stress

Relationship stress is very common and all relationships will have episodes of stress at some point. Both partners must approach the situation properly to resolve it.

Supporting your partner when they become stressed is a key feature in a relationship but how you manage and reduce it is important. One of the first things to remember is to understand why they may be stressed in the first place and rather than going all-in with negative thoughts, it is better to improve their emotional state first. This can be done through supportive communication and gestures which act to calm tension. This is because when someone is stressed they find it difficult to interpret messages therefore, being specific and showing eye contact shows you are engaged in them.

Reducing stress in a relationship

• Acknowledge the reason for stress ‚ by familiarizing yourself with the problem it generates a better understanding of how to manage it. If the reason for stress is something you are both going through, then it is likely to be of higher quality communication.
• Using ranges of communication ‚ listening and asking questions helps to engage in the communication by allowing the other person to open up more about their reasons for feeling stressed.
• Support Validation – When people feel stressed they often require emotional support rather than advice unless they specify otherwise.
• Adjustable Approach‚ it may be important to find out what will help your partner to feel more relaxed and what they find helpful for them rather than examining possibilities.
• Activity Planning – It is an important part of a relationship to spend time together, whether it is taking a walk, bike riding, having a game night or even baking together. This brings laughter, happiness and a chance to communicate just with you two.¬† [activecampaign form=3]

Walking is arguably one of the best and easiest forms of exercise. Not only does it strengthen your cardiorespiratory system and maintain the function of your body, it is also great for boosting your mood.

Just 30 minutes a day, five days a week can improve overall health.

The steps you take throughout your day can soon add up. To add a few more here are our top tips:

1. Walk to/from work

Ok, so this isn’t always possible for those who commute but alighting a stop before your regular one will increase those steps.

2. Invite friends/family for a picnic

Instead of spending Saturday morning in your PJs on the sofa pack a lunch and invite some friends/family out for a walk. We are not talking hiking across Dartmoor here, unless that is what you like do to’ but meeting up for a leisurely hour walk, a pit stop for lunch and a walk back is not only a great way of getting those extra steps but also a great, and free way to catch up.

3. Utilise your lunch break

Now the weather is finally warming up, why not eat your lunch outside? Almost all of us have a nearby spot outside where we can eat lunch, take advantage of this and breathe in some fresh air. If you are one of those that don’t, simply take a short stroll around before returning to work.

4. Park once

Going shopping? Park your car midway through your usual shopping route to increase those steps. Why not park at the start you ask? Well, those bags can get rather heavy so to lighten the load drop them off mid-shop. Chances are you will enjoy your trip more knowing that halfway through you won’t have to lug those bags around.

5. Children’s activities?

Instead of sitting in the car or the changing room, go for a walk. You don’t have to go far, just around the block. This way you are still close should you be needed, and you will be adding to the step count with minimal effort.

6. Create a walking challenge

Now the sun has made a lasting appearance getting out is both cost-effective and a great activity for everyone. There are many walking groups on social media, but you can create your own by simply inviting a few friends along. Once a week pick a time and destination to meet and get walking! South Devon offers lots of beautiful walking areas that are easily accessible, pram friends and free.

Most experts agree that any amount of walking is beneficial. Walking is not a competition of who can do the most but who enjoys it the most.

Determined athletes are driven to find anything that will increase their ability over their competition and help them perform optimally. Athletes use Hypnosis and imagery to improve their skills and game. Some of them consider hypnosis as a magical effect and a legitimate form of treatment which many have said to of been very effective in promoting a positive attitude and a change into developing new habits and behaviours whilst also releasing the negative thoughts and behaviours. Even such famous athletes have participated with highly trained hypnotherapists to help them achieve increasingly significant gains and improve their personal performance despite their sport.

What does Hypnosis do?

Beliefs and behaviours are constituted between the force of the unconscious mind, by using a technique such as hypnosis which examines the change at an unconscious level means the effects will be highly effective. Hypnosis helps athletes to develop self-worth and overcome self-doubt in order to increase their performance, so they are able to move on to achieve higher skills. Many of the skills athletes possess are increased during treatment such as having a higher level of self-belief and becoming more confident in succeeding beyond what their previous intention was. Hypnosis can also help an athlete acquire intense focus which is crucial at the height of their sport. Not only does hypnosis help an athlete to overcome performance anxiety or pre-nerves but what makes the difference between winning a gold medal and coming 5^th place is the ability to feel confident and have the determination to fulfil their passion.

One of the major famous athletes which have used hypnosis is Tiger Woods who went on to achieve an incredible level of success in golf. He has reportedly been participating in influential self-hypnosis techniques since his early teens. Not only has he used it to visualize every swing and stroke in his mind before carefully executing it on the course, but he also uses it to “feel in the moment”. Using self-hypnosis methods, as many successful athletes, it has helped to quiet his mind, release anxiety, and become completely focused when he begins his course. It is important for a golfer to maintain focus since supporters can often become very distracting. Since showing how such powerful hypnosis can be used to develop a stronger positive mind, he is able to achieve extremely high levels of success.

Success Stories

As Tiger Woods would say, imagery (or visualization) is an effective self-hypnosis technique that can help athletes perform better. Other examples are that gymnasts may visualize themselves continuously going over every aspect of a routine. A basketball player may visualize themselves making a perfect basket over and over. By using imagery or visualization, these athletes are challenging their minds and bodies to carry out the movements which they have performed hundreds of times in their minds. Mary Lou Retton reported using visualisation to help win the gold medal in gymnastics at the 1984 Olympics.

Athletes will most commonly use imagery and visualization just before their event to achieve their desired goal. By closing their eyes and focusing on achieving their goal, they can improve their performance. Once something has been pictured in the mind there is more initiative to proceed into succeeding it and therefore athletes often imagine themselves winning and having the determination to succeed. Utilizing this technique is especially beneficial when the sport requires a brief burst of energy.

Pain and injury are also common queries athletes endure during hypnosis. It helps them to deal with whatever pain or injury they have or have had previously. Learning to dissociate from the pain will help them to be able to cope with it better when participating in their sport. One of the processes used is a relaxation method which is also helpful when it comes to managing pain which is a crucial part of most sports. Hypnosis can also help athletes recover more quickly from a sports injury and help them to generate positivity after the initial experience. By accelerating the recovery time, the athlete can return to practice and competition more quickly, which can be very important for athletes competing at the highest levels.

Hypnosis can help in a variety of ways, even if the athlete is not training for the Olympics or other professional events, it merely helps to attain higher levels of performance in any given sport. Working with a hypnotherapist, listening to hypnosis CDs and learning various self-hypnosis techniques will help to improve any performance.

For more information contact Chris Fleet on 01803 500300