[eric]

I started Mike's tapes last night and want to say somethings at this point.I am building his new website for him,so people know. I also have his tapes on my site,if people didn't already know, but I am just starting them now because I did not have a cassette player,which I bought yesterday.I am saying this so it's up front with people,I am in no way trying to pray on my fellow IBSers, I believe that would be lower then I can possible say,and I want to be up front with this for this reason. I have tried to earn people's respect in everything I do and feel that everyone has supported me and my website. I have also made alot of friends here and I would never intensionally steer anyone the wrong way,but in order for me to give everyone progress reports I feel I need to say this up front.With that said, I am looking forward to this and am already impressed. The opening of the tapes bring up some very good points and already has given me somethings to think about. If anyone else has them I would be interested in sharing their experience with me.One thing I thought about before I listened to them and was gonna post(and he confirmed this), was when I first wake up in the mourning, to start right away with positive thoughts(usally I don't),I have had this for so long it is part of my whole being to have negative thoughts and I feel conditioning for this will help, I thought I could do it on my own, but that has only helped alittle and I feel that positive reinforcement will help me.At this point I want to say something about the BB. Just as a reality check, I feel the BB can reinforce some negative thoughts as well,by thinking everyone else is this way,and so am I, so it should be this way. I don't believe this is true,I love this BB and it has helped me,but I think its important once in a while to think about,is it effecting me negatively and be aware of this. Something to check with yourself sometimes and just a thought.I also want to add, if you have only had this for a short time,the Hypnotherapy or some equivalent therapy is a good way to go before the negitive thoughts such as mine, settle in and become part of you, I actually wish I would have started something like this awhile agkay, I have said my peice. It doesn't matter how you accomplish this, you may think I am bias because I am working with Mike, but that is not the case. I am just going to report as I go, and you will have to trust me and take my word for it,which I assure you is honorable. I hope someday soon we are all eating the food we want and using the bathroom like normal people. Peace and Health

!

 

[luckylou]

Great interesting post Eric. I took Hypnosis at Night School, was one of the most interesting and most helpfull courses I have ever taken. I can well imagine the tapes would be very helpfull for a lot of people. From the course I took, I can still (after over 20 years), focus on one part of my body and completely relax whenever I feel stressed. Also, was taught to get up every morning with a positive thought, it is a great way to start the day, live the day, and end the day. So enjoy the tapes, let us know when you are finished how they helped you, would be very interesting. ")

 

[JeanG]

Hi Eric:Let us know how the tapes go.You're right that positive thinking has a lot to do with the way we feel. When I told my daughter that I was trying to destress more, she pointed out that all I was doing was surfing the internet medical boards to read up on illness! Which was true, and not very relaxing. I do tend to go overboard on things.So, tapes with positive messages would be a great help. Re: Relaxation and positive messages. I bought a chime alarm clock called the Zen Clock which wakes you up with progressive chimes over a ten minute period. The chimes start at four minutes apart until they are chiming continuously. Its a great way to wake up. Anyway, the company also sells alarm clocks that you can program with affirmations and positive thoughts to wake yourself with. I thought of getting one for myself, but I don't want to hear my own voice. I want a sexy, French, male voice. Hahahaha. That would sure destress me.Seriously, let us know how the tapes turn out! Jean

 

[Guest]

eric,I think you have earned the respect of everyone on this board and we know you would not steer us wrong.....It will be interesting to hear how it's going with the tapes.luckylou,Your post is an interesting one. Glad to know how the hypnosis helped you. I have never done that. Jean,Your Zen chime clock sounds good. Let us know if you get the alarm clock with the sexy, French male voice. I don't need an alarm clock, but I could get one of those anyway.....------------------LET'S ALL PRAY FOR A CURE TO THIS IBS SOON!BETTIE

 

[JeanG]

Hi Bettie:No, the alarm clock doesn't come with the sexy, French, male voice. I would have to find a Frenchman to do it for me, and I don't know one. Sigh. But it would be a nice idea. It would sure lift up my spirits! Just think how happy I would be going in to work each day. HAHAHAHAH. Jean------------------"Never let the fear of striking out get in your way." Babe Ruth. And I'm also Praying with Bettie for a cure for this NASTY IBS! Jean

 

[eric]

Thanks everyone, I have bettie's number, but Jean if you send me yours I can wing it."Ah Mon Cherie, come with me to the casba together and we shall make beautiful music" Oui Oui LOL

 

[Guest]

Jean,Maybe we could get eric to program one of those alarm clocks for each of us---sounds like he has the positive thoughts......Guess the tapes are taking effect already for eric......What will he be like when he listens to more of them????? I'll stay tuned to find out, won't you???------------------LET'S ALL PRAY FOR A CURE TO THIS IBS SOON!BETTIE

 

[JeanG]

I think you're right Bettie. He sounds pretty happy!How long have you been listening to the tapes, Eric?Bettie, we could start the day laughing!!! Jean------------------"Never let the fear of striking out get in your way." Babe Ruth. And I'm also Praying with Bettie for a cure for this NASTY IBS! Jean

 

[eric]

You two crack me up, if we all lived close by you'd both be my dates on a Saturday night!What do you think Disco,Tango,Cha Cha?

 

[JeanG]

How about the Y2K Shuffle? Jean------------------"Never let the fear of striking out get in your way." Babe Ruth. And I'm also Praying with Bettie for a cure for this NASTY IBS! Jean

 

[Guest]

Jean,Guess that leaves me out---all I remember is the two step and the waltz. Maybe the tapes would help me......------------------LET'S ALL PRAY FOR A CURE TO THIS IBS SOON!BETTIE

 

[JeanG]

Don't feel bad Bettie. I never did learn how to dance. We can fake it though. Jean------------------"Never let the fear of striking out get in your way." Babe Ruth. And I'm also Praying with Bettie for a cure for this NASTY IBS! Jean

 

[Guest]

To the top for eric's interesting info on the tapes.......------------------LET'S ALL PRAY FOR A CURE TO THIS IBS SOON!BETTIE

 

[Guest]

Hi. I'm kind of interested in these hypnotherapy tapes but from the website I can't really tell what they do. If they're for IBS are they just telling you to calm down (helping with anxiety) or are they targeting certain aspects of it and trying to alleviate them (like being D or C all the time)? Since IBS is functional I don't see how hypnotherapy can help except for the anxiousness and depression. I would appreciate any kind of clarification on this since anxiety and depression isn't something I particularly care about curing.

 

[Persistance]

Eric -- Glad to hear you are finally able to start with Mike's tapes. Of course I'm sure everybody is hoping for progress reports through the months This would be an invaluable service. Quite a committment, as I think it takes four months of listening to a tape 35 minutes a night? I wish you didn't have to add all the disclaimers about non-bias, etc. As Bettie said, we already know and respect you for your sincerity (especially now, since you're going to be our guinea pig!) I guess it's one unfortunate aspect of the board that sometimes people touting a product or a service become targets of suspicion, justified or not. Hopefully, although you've had IBS a long time, your motivation will factor heavily in your success. LawStudent, hypnotherapy has proved very successful with IBS in at least one large recent study here. In Great Britain, where Mike practices, it's far more widespread and accepted (and I think, paid for?) by the government. Hypnotherapists dealing with IBS (as well as other problems), have to go through several years of training -- not always the case with hypnotherapists here, who often advertise "catch-all" cures for everything from smoking to weight problems and anxiety. Whole different ballgame. Should be very interesting. We'll expect bi-monthly reports!!!P.S. One of the reason it works -- let's see if I can get it right -- is that, by current theories, IBS is a condition of the nervous system within the gastrointestinal tract, and involves colon "memory." Since the colon literally "forgets" how to function normally in this "disconnect" between the brain and the colon's nervous system, it can, the theory is, be retrained to function smoothly by reimagining it back to another, better time. I don't know if the process involves visualization of a smooth colon, but it's specific to IBS. Calm Colon, btw, is said to work by changing colon memory, too. [[This message has been edited by Persistance (edited 11-15-1999).]

 

[jessi]

Eric, thanks for being upfront with us. I checked out your website and unless I missed something, you never gave the impression you were using the hypnotherapy tapes. Please do keep us updated on your progress(hopefully). I have been interseted in hypnotherapy since WD40 posted and said it helped with gas. I was really hoping that I would be hypnotised not to worry anymore and than all of my problems would be gone. Guess it's a little more involved than that. Well good luck to you.

 

[eric]

Thanks for the responces here,day three and I am enjoying the tapes very much,it does relax me and I must say has already helped some, I heard some bones in my neck crack and feel my body already starting to relax(the bones in the neck crack was a good thing,I think some of my pent up stress is slowly easing itself out of me.) It has also given me new ways to look at things which I find very comforting

!It is a commitment to start this, but is easy really and you can drift off to sleep sometimes, and Mike voice is very calm and relaxing( I also like the English accent.)I also emailed Mike to respond to this thread,as he is the expert and people have questions it would be better for him to answer.I will keep you posted as I go, and so people know it doesn't make you a zombie or anything not that you would really think that, its more like Mike guiding you through your own way of relaxing and letting go as well as helping in making yourself aware of your own body. So far so good...

 

[Guest]

Hi all,Just a few comments regarding the tapes.The IBS Audio Program 100, is a structured program to help IBS sufferers which uses a period of 100 days as its time horizon. That is the time it usually takes to structure and develop the new thoughts and changes.The whole program therefore uses 14weeks and 2 days. Tpae length varies from 25mins - 36 mins ( plus a few seconds ). It is important to also knwo that in the 100 days are 20 REST days, where no listening is required. The program which constist of 3 double sided audio tapes contains a clear introduction and 5 different hypnotherapy processes, each one building on the previous.With the audio tapes also comes a small A5 booklet, which contains amongst other things a listening schedule and symptom checklist/progress log.The progress log, tells the user which tape to listen to on which day. this shoudl be followed very closely, becuase it has taken me years to work this out!!Also these rest days are very important, becuase not only do they give the listener time away form the tapes, but also gives the subconscious time to learn and understand the suggestions made.The 100 days are split such:In the first 50 days the listener has 7 days of non listening.In the second 50 days the listen get 13 days of non listening.Again this is for a reason. During the first 50 days the listener has to work a little harder, becuase you are learning a new skill - we have to learn the basics before we can move forward. However non of this is difficult in the academic sense, only quite and calm and some time is needed.By the second 50 days, the subconscious is used to listening to suggestions, progress is usually being made, and therefore the belief system not only believes that change is possible, but this belief is reinforced by the physical changes usually being enjoyedby this time.Becuase of these changes we can, shorten the tapes, shorten the time spent listening, and still gain benefit and move forward.I accept that 80 days ( 100-20 rest ) is a long time, but for most sufferers this is a drop in the ocean compared to the time of having the symptoms of IBS.For me, as a therapist, one of the best things that has been said about the tapes, was from a lady who had had the symptoms for many years, she said " While there maybe no magic wand for this,I think I have found the next best thing" - which for me, that one comment seemed to make all the work worthwhile.Lawstudent99,The processes are based on the belief that every thought we have, produces a physical response. The tapes do address anxiety etc, since I have never had a patient that does not have some degree of this. However th eprogram also guides the user through specific hypnotherapy processes to let go of baggage of anxiety and show how to use the suggested imagery, to speed up or slow down the digestive system. The fact that it is a functional disorder works for us. Imagine th edigestive system being much like a wave down a catapillars body. If this wave goes to fast or to slow our digestve system is affected. This is what happens if we have to stand up in front of a crowd, if were not used to it, if we are placed in situations where demands are made on us which we have to deal with. We all have had th eexpereince IBS sufferers and others alike that our digestion starts to play up when we are called upon to do something which we are not comfortable with. If our minds do this to our bodies on a negative front - it makes sense that by using different thoughts we can have the opposite effect. These are the messages the tapes teach.Becuase of this, the tapes have proven effectice in sufferers of of 3 different variations of IBS ( C,D & CD ). Constipation, Diahorrea and Alternative bowel movement between C&D.Regarding hypnotherapists, many on this board will know that I am concerned about hypnotherapists in the US & UK, who seem to advertise a whole catch all panacea to all ills. Every week I see patients who have previously been ripped off financially.Of course there are good Hypnotherapists, who know IBS, not just the buzz words, but the indepth approaches, but in my opinion they are few. As a guide if you are thinking of visiting a hypnotherapist, as your Doctor or go by word of mouth.Luckylou, found the benefits of hypnotherapy 20 years ago, and its still helping - a wonderful testimony.I hope this makes things clearer. I do drop by the BB every few days to catch up. If there is anything I can help with please let me know, and I will try and answer the best I can.RegardsMikeAs

 

[eric]

Ya, gotta love email that was fast!Thanks Mike, I would not have been able to explain it in depth as well and wanted it explained right.

 

[Guest]

Mike,That was very informative. Thanks....------------------LET'S ALL PRAY FOR A CURE TO THIS IBS SOON!BETTIE