Navigating the challenges of parenthood can be daunting, often leading to stress and anxiety. Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal shares her journey towards finding calm through various relaxation techniques, ultimately discovering the transformative power of hypnosis. With the help of an interactive self-hypnosis app, she has improved her mental well-being and presence in parenting. Dr. David Spiegel elucidates the benefits of hypnosis, explaining how it enhances focus and promotes cognitive flexibility, facilitating personal growth and stress management.
Finding Balance in Parenthood
Embarking on the journey of parenthood can often feel overwhelming, with stress and daily challenges quickly taking center stage. The mental burden can become quite heavy. In an insightful piece for Parents magazine, Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal opened up about her experiences. “Before I even became a mother, seeking inner peace was a crucial part of my self-care regimen. I tend to be anxious, perfectionistic, and easily overwhelmed,” she shared.
The Search for Calm
In her quest for tranquility, Lauren explored various relaxation techniques but found little success. “I experimented with acupuncture, reiki, yoga, and meditation in hopes of calming my nerves and quieting my racing thoughts. While these practices sometimes provided temporary relief, allowing my body to relax and my mental load to lighten, it was fleeting,” she reflected. “I would find myself struggling to maintain this ‘calm’ state, as my mind would flood with worst-case scenarios, often leaving me feeling more agitated and stressed than before.”
However, everything changed for her when she discovered hypnosis. Feeling guilty about not being fully present for her 9-year-old daughter, Lauren stumbled upon an innovative app: “This interactive self-hypnosis app allows me to focus on the specific issues I wish to address, whether that’s anxiety, depression, concentration problems, sleep disturbances, or more. This app has truly transformed my parenting experience,” she expressed.
Dr. David Spiegel, a pioneer in the field of hypnosis and a professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, explains that “hypnosis is a highly concentrated natural state of focus.” His acclaimed book, Trance and Treatment, is utilized in medical schools nationwide. “It heightens our ability to immerse ourselves in activities, enhancing our focus while reducing distractions,” Dr. Spiegel elaborated.
He likens self-hypnosis to becoming so captivated by an engaging film that you momentarily forget your surroundings, entering a captivating imaginary realm. “It’s akin to using a telephoto lens on a camera, where you capture intricate details while becoming less aware of the bigger picture,” he added. Another element of hypnosis known as ‘dissociation’ allows individuals to push aside awareness of distractions, creating a deeper connection between the mind and body, enabling better management of pain and stress responses.
Lastly, Dr. Spiegel discussed ‘suggestibility,’ which many misinterpret as a trance-like state leading to unusual behaviors. “In reality, it represents cognitive flexibility. During hypnosis, you release your typical beliefs about who you are, opening the door to transformative therapeutic opportunities,” he explained. He concluded with an important insight: “Psychotherapists aim to foster openness to change, which is also a desire shared by their patients.”