Feb 2013

Feb 2013
Diploma awards

Friday 11 June 2010

Hypnotherapy helps dementia sufferers, claims study

Research from the University of Liverpool has found that hypnotherapy can help those suffering from dementia retain and improve their quality of life.

The Daily Mail reports that forensic psychologist Dr Simon Duff investigated the effects of hypnosis therapy on dementia sufferers in comparison with conventional health-care methods, as well as in comparison to group therapy. According to his research, hypnotherapy helped dementia sufferers retain their mental faculties in comparison with those who received standard treatment.

According to Dr Duff, "those having regular hypnosis sessions showed real improvement across all of the areas that we looked at [whilst] the group who received 'treatment as usual' showed a small decline over the assessment period."

He says that dementia sufferers who received hypnotherapy showed an improvement in concentration, memory, socialisation, relaxation, motivation and daily living activities.

"Participants who are aware of the onset of dementia may become depressed and anxious at their gradual loss of cognitive ability," said Dr Duff, adding that hypnotherapy could help sufferers relax so that they can concentrate on positive activities. The Daily Mail reports that Dr Duff is now conducting further research into how hypnotherapy can help treat dementia patients to establish how effective it is in the long term, particularly as the illness progresses.

Thursday 10 June 2010

wellerassociates launch stress management programme for UK carers in conjuction with Guideposts Trust

Stress help for Carers
http://www.dementiaweb.org.uk/carers-stress-management.php
No matter how deeply you care for the person you are caring for, the fact is being a carer is stressful. Stress is damaging in the long term because it can lead to illness, depression and exhaustion. You may feel you are coping with your caring role, however there may come a time when you experience higher than normal levels of stress.

To enable you to continue your caring role effectively and also to ensure your own health does not suffer it is important to be able to deal with stress in a practical and easily applied way.

Whether the person you provide care for has a mental or physical disability makes very little difference, it is the continual and constant having to care for them that can be so physically and emotionally draining. This may lead to an inability to break a smoking habit. Click here to stop smoking.

Why does a carer become stressed?
The cause of your carer stress might be complex. You could be worried about the health of the person you love and care for, or the attitudes of other members of the family. You may well feel guilty about the way you feel sometimes.

Stress can potentially put a strain on relationship due to the continual stress experienced by the carer and possibly the perceived lack of support from the partner. Lack of support and feeling totally isolated in your role a carer can all play a part in making you feel worse. Carers have to maintain relationships with other people outside the home.

Stress may also be the reason why your weight may fluctuate due to your relationship with food. Click here for weight loss.

Common feelings to carers
The pressure of being a carer may lead to anger and a feeling of a loss of control. This can be very damaging. Sometimes it can be very hard to cope with these feelings as well as having to care for someone. You may well feel guilty for feelings of anger towards the person you are caring for.

Stress symptoms
As a carer you may not have the time to think about how you are coping and how you are feeling. Symptoms of stress include irritability and generally feeling more emotionally drained and perhaps tearful, lack of appetite or perhaps eating too much and putting on weight. Not being able to sleep or waking up early. General feelings of feeling anxiety. A suppressed immune system can mean, more virus infections than usual, lack of energy, short temper and raised blood pressure.

You might feel isolated, pessimistic and almost overwhelmed as a carer. All these raw emotions create stress. When your body is stressed you have more stress hormone called cortisol in your body. If levels of cortisol are too high for too long then blood pressure goes up, digestion is suppressed causing stomach problems and sleep is driven out. Stress is not only harmful to your health and well-being, it can also damage your relationships, so it's vital to identify the causes of stress and be able to tackle them as soon as possible in a practical and cost effective manner.

Stress and the cure
If you are a carer for someone else then chances are you are neglecting your own needs to some extent. You have needs for:

•To be able to relax.
•Quality sleep and rest.
•Quality relationships.
•Feeling safe and secure.
•A sense of connection to your family and community.
•Be able to enjoy yourself.
•Achieving your own goals in life.

Your caring role may prevent you getting some of your needs being met. Being able to relax is so important. When you relax your stress hormone levels level out, your blood pressure becomes normal and your immune system works better.

To enable you to feel relaxed and cope as a carer Wellerassociates working in partnership with Guideposts Trust have produced a range of MP3s and CDs.

50% of any income generated goes back to the Trust to support Guideposts charity work.

All you have to do is sit back and listen in the comfort of your own home at a time of your choosing.

A comprehensive stress management online support programmes will also be included as part of the overall stress management package for carers. Including all the latest stress management techniques, as well as the well established ones.

Hypnotherapy has long been used to help reduce stress levels and anxiety. You will be able to relax, refresh and recharge every step of the way.

Sam Weller who has devised the programme has been a hypnotherapist since 1989,with extensive experience of stress management. As part of his working arrangement with Guideposts Trust Sam will be accessible in person to answer your questions and provide an ongoing counselling and support service when ever needed, and for as long as needed.

Sam is available for 1to1 hypnotherapy at the carers Nuneaton Café and has worked extensively within the Guidepost Trust Regions running stress management courses for staff.

Some further comments

"I listened to the relaxation and confidence CD this afternoon - it was brilliant - it was just as if I was sitting with you in your room!"

Charles Landless
Farmer
Glos.

"I was delighted to have discovered Sam Weller's Hypnotictracks hypnotherapy downloads to recommend to my clients. The versatility of a MP3 download, or CD availability format, makes them readily available to everyone. The quality of the recording and the relaxing deep tonality of Sam's voice is something to be experienced. Not only are they effective in producing positive self-changes, but also they provide a half an hour of wonderful deep relaxation, to be cherished. Something not to be missed. Full marks Sam for a great product."

Jon Margetts
Hypnotherapist

Foreword by David Beck CEO of Guideposts Trust.

"Guideposts Trust and Dementiaweb are implementing a number of sites across the UK to help provide stress management care for carers.
Intergral to this is the work Sam is doing with us.
Each purchaser will receive a back up programme from emails with online coaching and direct access to Sam himself.
Also included will be a specially crafted newsletter for carers.
All in all the complete stress management programme.
Very effective and very affordable."

DementiaWeb.org.uk : funded and managed by Guideposts

Wednesday 2 June 2010

stress management for carers Warwickshire

First site launched today
http://www.dementiawebwarwickshire.org.uk/
More county sites to be launched through UK including National site.
Stress management section run by wellerassociates.
News International will be running features this month