I’ve always wondered what it would be like to be hypnotised. We’ve all seen those stage shows on the TV, where people are ‘put to sleep’ and then made to look like complete and utter twats. I, like you probably thought: no bloody way! Because you can bet your ass that I’d do something that I could never, ever recover from. So this, along with the fact that I have only ever come across 2 hypnotists in real life: 1 who gave me the creeps and I wasn’t quite sure what might happen to me whilst in a sleepy state and the other was a 6 foot, fit and muscly personal trainer and I wasn’t quite sure what I might do to him in a sleepy state. My wondering what hypnosis would be like was put on hold.
That was until I exposed my pen chewing habits to the world through a photo on Facebook and a hypnotherapist called Claire came to my rescue and said that she could cure my disgusting habit with hypnosis. (Claire didn’t call it disgusting – number 1 friend whom I share an office with did).
So I rang her: Hi, is that Chrissie? No. Oh, erm sorry, Christine? No. Who do you want? The hypnotherapist (I couldn’t think what else to say. This wasn’t going too well). Yes, that’s me: Claire! (I had liked the idea of having a hypnotherapist who I didn’t know, but it would have helped if I had at least known her name…)
Anyway, Claire forgave me and made me feel instantly relaxed on the phone, as she asked me about my fear. I had decided to talk to her about my fear of flying. She explained what the therapy would involve: that she would take a brief medical history, ask me about my fear and what had triggered it. She would then talk about the safety aspect of flying and we would put the negative thoughts I had in a drawer. She asked me to think of somewhere that I felt safe and comfortable and said that she would take me to that place under hypnosis – the idea being that I associate flying with positive images in the future, rather than the negative ones that are filed away.
It all sounded pretty straightforward to me and at £35 for the session, which I would be able to record for future use, I thought very reasonable too. Although not cheaper than the alternative: Valium, certainly the better option.
Claire had asked on the phone whether I wanted the session to take place at my house or hers. At the time of her asking, dog 1 was trying to get into the room I had barricaded myself into, the Love Island final was blaring out from a couple of telly’s, partner was shouting upstairs if someone could feed the cats and the doorbell went…I said that for the full effect, it might work better at hers.
So I pitched up there this morning. I was rather excited and couldn’t help being a bit surprised when there was no psychologist style couch, nor did she dangle a gold watch on a string and say: look into my eyes. No, she fulfilled none of the cliches and after a good 20 minutes background chat, during which I went into more details about when this fear started and how it made me feel, I pressed record on my phone and the hypnosis began.
She started relaxing me by talking me through my body from head to toe. She then took me down 10 steps to my special place of comfort and then…well, to be perfectly honest, I can’t really say what she talked about, because I zoned in and out. I know that she told me how safe flying is and I know that her voice is incredibly lilting and relaxing and calm, but with emphasis where a little more drama is required (when I was nodding off probably!) I know that I felt incredibly relaxed and comfortable. My body felt heavy and I can best describe it as when you fall asleep in the car, but you are dozing and you can still hear the kids (arguing).
I was brought around after 30 minutes, which incidentally felt like 10, by walking back up the steps and being asked to open my eyes at the top. Afterwards I still felt incredibly relaxed…until I walked back through my own front door to the dogs barking, the hall being decorated, a delivery arriving and the phone ringing.
So did it work? Well, I don’t fly until the end of August. However, when partner asked how I feel about flying now, my reply was: ambivalent. Even me just saying that makes me think there has been a gear shift in my brain. Claire has asked me to listen to the recording (for which there is no charge) a few times over the next few weeks to reinforce what happened today. She didn’t push for me to book another session, although I think that I may, just before I fly…mainly because for £35 I’ll get an hour’s peace…I wonder if she could give me a spray tan, cut my hair and trim my bush at the same time?
If you fancy giving hypnosis a go and you live in the Sevenoaks, Kent area, then contact: Claire Feasey on 01732 741275
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I will be very interested to see whether it has got rid of your fear of flying – I am a little skeptical about these kind of things. Let us know! #ablogginggoodtime
I’m a real skeptic too. However, Claire said it works on skeptics! Initial signs are good, but I will certainly do an update when it’s really put to the test.
So interesting! I am literally waiting on a phone consultation with a hypnotherapist about my sleep issues and so I am really curious to find out if this works for you when you fly! Thanks for linking up to #coolmumclub lovely x
Ooh good luck! I am looking forward to putting it to the test, so in a way, I guess it has already done something. I’ll certainly keep you posted.
That’s a pretty impressive result after just one session – how exciting!! Haha does she do extras?? I tried hypnotherapy before with someone who was recommended to me but it didn’t really have any effect. My Mum found it very helpful to get her through a difficult event and my cousin quit smoking through it so I guess it was just me! Fingers crossed it will have a long term effect for you x #ablogginggoodtime
I really am crossing everything. Wouldn’t it be great if you could come up those steps tanned and waxed as well! What a shame it didn’t work for you. Maybe it would work if you tried again…x
This was fascinating. I am a nervous traveler myself. I may give it a go! Hope it works for you. #ablogginggoodtime
I’m interested to hear how this turns out. I’ve considered this as a means of quitting smoking for good, but the whole idea of somebody messing with my mind kind of freaks me out #blogginggoodtime
She said that she only does it on smokers if they really want to quit themselves, not because someone else has told them to. To be honest, I quite like the idea of someone messing with my mind, because it was so warped in its irrational fear, I was sick of it. I’ll keep you posted – don’t fly until end of Aug.
I was thinking of trying hypnosis for weightloss as a few people have mentioned it so it is definitely interesting to hear your take on it. Let me know how it pans out and I really hope it works for you – rescue remedy is also good if youre feeling anxious!
Thanks for linking to #ablogginggoodtime
Thank you, fingers crossed. I will let you know. I have tried rescue remedy in the past. I think I’ll take some with me this time too – just in case.