Hypnosis & Italia

So, Easter holidays are over, and University work has started again!

We have just started 5 weeks of 'Special Study Modules'; basically an opportunity to do something not on the Wards and not with patients.
Apparently to 'broaden our horizons' or something :-)

There was all sorts of things on the list for us to choose from; from French to research on gigantism, and one of my choices was Clinical Hypnosis, which is what I was allocated to.

So now I am coming to the end of the first week of 5 looong weeks of Hypnosis!

Don't be freaked out; it's not at all what I thought it was going to be like.
It's not your stereotypical "stare into my eyes....you are feeling sleeeepy....sleeeeepy...."

Basically, 'hypnosis' just involves verbally enouraging people to become very physically relaxed and comfortable, while their mind is alert, focused and attentive. They are totally in control of themselves, and, contrary to what stage hypnotists may make you think, noone can make them do anything they don't want to do. They are alert, can hear and remember what you are saying, can open their eyes and get up at any time they wish.

Basically, the point of it is that while they are in this physically relaxed and calm state, without any anxiety or nervousness, you can work with them to help them deal with specific medical problems; for example, like quitting smoking, or controlling their weight, or getting rid of phobias, or stage-fright, or bad anxieties or boosting self-esteem and things like that.

At worst, I would say hypnosis does nothing. From what I have seen thus far of Clinical Hypnosis, it certainly won't do any harm, and from what our lecturers have told us, it is apparently very very helpful for things like smoking cessation and anxiety disorders etc.


As part of our course we have to practice our hypnosis skills on 20 people, and so Chris has already recruited me to hypnotise the rest of the guys in his rowing boat to make them improve their rowing technique and get them out of some of their bad rowing habits !!


So, where am I going with this....

because hypnosis is is not (as anyone could guess) a very strenuous subject, for some reason they have given us the whole of next week off!!

No lectures, no practicals, nothing!!

So, I have decided to take advantage of this rare occurance of having an ENTIRE week off, and have booked myself flights to Italy!
I leave tomorrow for the rest of the week. I'm going to go and stay with my Aunt, and see my cousins and stuff. It will be nice as I haven't seen anyone there since the deaths of my Uncles.


Coincidently Chris is also leaving tomorrow for a 2 WEEK conference in CHILE!!
*all expenses paid-for* thanks to his phD sponsors.
I'm not convinced how much of a 'conference' it is though, because they have loads of sight-seeing tours down on their schedule, including a steam-train ride through the vineyards of Chile to enjoy some wine tasting!!

hmmm....'conference'....read: 'excuse for a free holiday'!!

Anyway, I hope you all have a very pleasant week!

See you soon,

God Bless

-x-x-