So, Why Don’t We Talk About Chewing Tobacco? Part 1

It’s called smokeless tobacco because smoking is bad. But chewing’s OK.  We chew gum; we chew our food; maybe, we even our fingernails.

Chew, dip, snuff, it’s out there but we seldom talk about it. Compared to cigarette smoking there really isn’t a lot of information available about smokeless tobacco.  As a society we focus on Smoking Tobacco and Stop Smoking Tobacco Programs and not so much on smokeless tobacco or programs to help people stop chewing tobacco.

Chew Cover copy

Here are some sobering facts about chew from the Surgeon General and the American Cancer Society:

  • The 12th  Report on Carcinogens (ROC), (2011) indicates an estimated 10 million users of smokeless tobacco in the U.S., and of that number approximately 3 million users are under the age of 21.
  • The National Cancer Institute’s fact sheet, “Smokeless Tobacco and Cancer” states there are at least 28 chemicals in smokeless tobacco that are known to cause cancer.
  • Long term snuff users may be 50 percent more at risk for cancer of the cheek and gums.
  • Nicotine is just as addictive as heroin and cocaine, and teens are more sensitive to nicotine and can become dependent on it quicker than adults. Surgeon General 2012 Report.
  • 13.4% of high school boys (and 2.3% of girls) are current users of smokeless products; among high school seniors who ever used smokeless tobacco products, almost 75% began by the 9th grade.
  • Of female smokeless tobacco users, some 42% also smoke.

It doesn’t help that state-enforced smoking bans influence the use of smokeless tobacco. In response to these bans, tobacco companies have been marketing smokeless tobacco products more heavily. They are advertising smokeless tobacco products as alternatives to cigarettes in places where smoking is not allowed.

Most people who want to chuck the chew think it’s totally disgusting (along with most of the general public).  But there aren’t a lot of resources explaining what smokeless tobacco does to your body and why it’s so darn difficult to stop the habit. Not only does it make your teeth yellow (worse than cigarettes), it messes up your gums and your smile and it’s the leading cause of oral cancer. Plus, there’s always this hunk of shredded crap in your mouth.

Dipper’s have to have someplace to spit that liquid yuck, swallowing is a “no no” besides, it can make a person very sick.  Sometimes they spit on the sidewalk or the street, maybe the toilet, or the back yard. Could be that they spit over the fence into the neighbor’s yard to hit that dog that just won’t shut up.  Some chewers pride themselves at the distance they can spit.

I remember, when I was about seven, knowing Willis Lee, a loose acquaintance of my father’s.  Dad smoked three packs of Tareyton’s a day, but he didn’t chew tobacco.  Willis and his family lived in a small house off a county road in Central Washington. I played with his son Brett, my same age, once in a while and sometimes at their home. There was a hole in the floor in the living room.  Willis would sit in his chair, watch TV and spit chew into that hole. He didn’t always hit the hole, and yes, it was gross.  Then there is the can.

My brother used an old Coke can as his portable spittoon.  He carried it with him everywhere but instead of taking a sip, he was spitting.  I recall one really gross episode when I watched someone accidentally pick up the wrong can and take a swig thinking it was a refreshing Coke but got a mouth full of my brother’s tobacco leavings.

Like cigarettes, there’s a lot of stuff in that package besides tobacco.  Let me give you a partial list and maybe in your mind you can justify these ingredients.  I know I can’t.

  1. Cadmium: NiCad batteries, pigments, solution stabilizers; toxic to humans
  2. Formaldehyde: embalming fluid, sterilizer, a carcinogen
  3. Lead: batteries, fuel additive, toxic to humans
  4. N-Nitrosamines: cleaning solvent, reacts violently with water (that’s nice) cancer-causing chemical
  5. Polonium 210: used in anti-static devices, highly radioactive
  6. Acetaldehyde: use in making poly vinyl, a carcinogen
  7. Uranium 235: used in nuclear power stations and nuclear weapons
  8. Fiberglass and Sand: abrasives
  9. Nicotine: Insecticide, highly toxic (three times more poisonous than strychnine) 

So, all this stuff is in chewing tobacco and yet people still put it in their mouths. Why? And why can’t they easily stop?

I’ll answer that question next week.

CALL NOW to Schedule your FREE Stop Chewing Tobacco Screening and learn about Our Stop Smoking Hypnosis Package: 503.319.7142

The Best Way To Stop Smoking

There are a lot of different ways to stop smoking.  You can try cold turkey (12% success rate). The patch, gum lozenges or sprays ( 25% to 33% success rate)  However, a study found that 93% of over-the-counter NRT (Nicotine Replacement Therapy)  users relapse and return to smoking within six months.

nosmoke

Then there is Chantix. Chantix is prescribed by a Doctor.  Chantix has some side effects, this list is from Chantix.com:

What are the most Common Side Effects

In clinical trials, the most common side effects of CHANTIX include:

  • Nausea (30%)
  • Sleep problems (trouble sleeping, changes in dreaming)
  • Constipation
  • Gas
  • Vomiting

These are not all the side effects of CHANTIX. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information. Further on the site is this paragraph.

Important Safety Information

Some people have had changes in behavior, hostility, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts or actions while using CHANTIX to help them quit smoking. Some people had these symptoms when they began taking CHANTIX, and others developed them after several weeks of treatment or after stopping CHANTIX. If you, your family, or caregiver notice agitation, hostility, depression, or changes in behavior, thinking, or mood that are not typical for you, or you develop suicidal thoughts or actions, anxiety, panic, aggression, anger, mania, abnormal sensations, hallucinations, paranoia, or confusion, stop taking CHANTIX and call your doctor right away. Also tell your doctor about any history of depression or other mental health problems before taking CHANTIX, as these symptoms may worsen while taking CHANTIX.

Wow.

What About Hypnosis to Quit Smoking?

Hypnosis, on the other hand, is extremely effective when used as a Stop Smoking Program.  Most clients stop smoking in one or two sessions. Sometimes it takes a bit longer, but not often.  Hypnosis, when used in conjunction with support materials, can lock in the results.  Of course, there must be commitment on the part of the smoker.

I always ask my clients: “Have you reached a point in your life where instead of trying to quit smoking, you’ve decide to stop?” When I get a “YES” we’re good to go!  Gresham Hypnosis Center offers a Hypnosis Stop Smoking Program with a guarantee. You’ll stop smoking and have unlimited follow up sessions as long as you want them.

Generally, there is no jail time involved.

CALL NOW to Schedule your FREE Stop Smoking Hypnosis Screening and learn about Our Stop Smoking Hypnosis Package: 503.319.7142

Does hypnosis really work?

Hypnosis has been used for centuries.

That’s a pretty bold statement, right?

Throughout history we see evidence to support this statement. Many ancient civilizations and cultures used hypnosis as a therapeutic device. The Ancient Egyptians, in perhaps the first written record on hypnosis, the Ebers Papyrus (c. 1500 BC), wrote of hypnosis formulas and techniques. Further, the Greeks, Romans, Chinese, Persians, Indians, and Sumerians show extensive studies in hypnosis.

The British Psychological Society recently released a report about the effectiveness of hypnosis. Referencing this report, the Washington Times states; “The report went on to say hypnotherapy is beneficial for a wide range of issues encountered in medicine, psychology and psychiatry with regard to stress, anxiety, pain, and psychosomatic illnesses. Some illnesses described are insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches and migraines, asthma and a variety of skin maladies. Weight reduction was also cited as benefiting from hypnotherapy.”

Hypnosis has so many applications.  If you want to quit smoking, stop your chewing tobacco habit, lose weight, reduce stress or know someone who does call Gresham Hypnosis Center for a free Hypnosis screening.  503-319-7142

Click below for the whole story

So, does hypnosis really work? Science says “YES!”

CALL NOW to Schedule your FREE Stop Smoking Hypnosis Screening and learn about Our Stop Smoking Hypnosis Package: 503.319.7142

Learn Hypnosis for $1.98, postage paid!

Remember those wild and weird ads in comic books?  You know, the ones for X-Ray Specs or Sea Monkeys?

Well, in 1957, there were ads hawking Hypnosis too!

Comic Ad

A neighbor was clearing house and I was bequeathed some of his extensive library. One of the books happened to be:

 Cover

 These books are a kick to read but really do little to actually teach hypnosis.

 Step Eight

 

This Sunday marks three years since the passing of one of the greats in modern hypnosis, Gil Boyne.

Today there are Schools of Hypnosis all over the country and they don’t even advertise in comic books!

Gil Boyne was Founder and Executive Director of the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners as well as Director of the Hypnotism Training Institute of Los Angeles.

From his obituary: “Gil believed that the best “protection of the public” was primarily achieved by proper training of therapists and by informing the public how to select, evaluate and if necessary, make a complaint about a therapist.”

It’s important, as a consumer, to qualify your hypnotist.  Don’t hesitate to ask for credentials, certifications and educational background.  A qualified hypnotist will gladly share all this information with you. Heck, most of us proudly display all our accomplishments on our office walls!

So, if you happen to find one of these treasures boasting “You Can Hypnotize Anyone”. Take your time and enjoy it or grab a comic book and order those X-ray specs.  You know, just in case.

 

Phobias, what’s there to be afraid of?

What do people fear most? There are about 500 documented phobias and the list is growing.
The following phobias are the most common fear-objects that lead to symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, and breathlessness. In some cases, these symptoms escalate into a full-blown panic attack.

Social Phobias, The fear of social situations. In many cases, these phobias can become so severe that people avoid events, places, and people that are likely to trigger an anxiety attack.

Arachnophobia, The fear of spiders. Ophidiophobia, The fear of snakes. Acrophobia, The fear of heights. Agoraphobia, The fear of situations in which escape is difficult this may include crowded areas, open spaces. Approximately one third of people with panic disorder develop agoraphobia. And by the time you’ve read this far you might even have Phobophobia, the fear of phobias.

But let’s talk about Glossophobia, a social phobia, the fear of public speaking. This fear is ranked higher on the scale of fears than death. Some people are more afraid of speaking, out loud, in public than dying. That’s a pretty heavy duty fear.

So, let’s see what happens; you’ve been asked to give a presentation, just a little talk at the office or for your local club. You’ve prepared for several days going over all the details; you know exactly what you’re going to say. The big day arrives and you’re ready. Then, you remember that time when you were in school and made a small mistake, you miss-pronounced a word or got tongue tied. Your classmates all laughed and you felt horrible, you got real nervous and started to sweat, you couldn’t breathe, you just stood there, frozen with fear. It happens now every time you step in front of a group of people numbering more than two and in truth you might not even remember the school incident, you’re just scared to death of speaking in public.

To better understand how this happens let’s look at how we know the brain works. First it’s important that you imagine the brain as having several compartments or areas of expertise. Now some of these areas work well together and some…not so well. But, it’s not their fault, it’s how we’ve evolved, beginning with the fight or flight response.

We have four key players or experts in our drama: The amygdala, the sensory thalamus, the sensory cortex and the hippocampus. It’s not necessary for you to know where these players reside specifically in the brain just that they do

The amygdala – did you ever see the movie “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”? In the scene where the trio of escaped convicts is hold up in the loft of a barn and the law has found them, Everett scurries around saying, “Damn, we’re in a tight spot!” Well, the amygdala is that character! It is the scaredy-cat part of the brain; always monitoring what’s happening around you to see if you should be afraid or not! But it doesn’t do that alone, it needs some help. This is where the sensory thalamus comes along.

The sensory thalamus – this part of the brain sends information to the amygdala about what’s happening around you, but it does it in a very child-like way, leaving out much of the detail and consequently the full picture of what’s happening isn’t conveyed. The detail is left to the sensory cortex.

The sensory cortex – The amygdala needs help in processing the information that it gets, so it sends information to its friend, the sensory cortex, to shed some light on what’s happening around it. The sensory cortex works out in detail what exactly the information means to the body and then sends the answer back to the amygdala.

The hippocampus -This is where, in simple terms, the memory camps out. When any information comes to the amygdala, it asks the hippocampus if it remembers it; have we seen this before, is it a threat or not? The hippocampus, being a good friend, tells the amygdala all it knows. It also cross-checks with the sensory thalamus to make sure it is getting its facts right. But as we’ve already seen, that can be very unreliable!

So, you might ask, “Can phobias be cured?” Yes, yes they can, and very quickly. Enter Hypnosis, and NLP. The American Medical Association in 1958 recognized hypnosis and hypnotherapy as a viable scientific modality, and a useful and powerful complimentary therapy. And in 1962 the American Psychiatric Association recognized that hypnosis was a viable modality for effective change. The types of phobias that can be treated with hypnosis therapy are limitless.

Most people who undergo hypnosis for phobic disorders will experience a diminished or non-reactive response to the stimuli. Without paralyzing fear, life once again becomes a joy to experience. So, again I ask; “Phobias, what’s there to be afraid of?”

Smokers, have you finally decided to stop?

You already know smoking is bad for you so I don’t have to tell you that cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. And that each year, smoking causes approximately 400,000 deaths in the United States or that smoking causes more deaths each year than HIV, illegal drug use, alcohol use, motor vehicle injuries, suicides, and murders combined. And you may already know that according to the CDC and the National Cancer Institute, cigarette smoking increases your risk for developing and dying from several diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and lung diseases and that for every one person who dies from smoking, there are 20 people who have smoking-caused disease and disability.

OK, so smoking is bad because of all the tar and the 43 known carcinogens and all that other toxic stuff, but with the new e-cigarette, all you get is the nicotine, and that’s what you really want, right? So, what about nicotine?

Here’s a little quiz:

Which of the following poisons is the most deadly?

1. Arsenic
2. Strychnine
3. Nicotine

If you guessed # 3, you are correct. The lethal dosage for a 150 pound adult is 60 mg. The lethal dosage for # 2 is 75 mg and the lethal dosage for # 1 is 200 mg. In other words, nicotine is three times as toxic as arsenic and one and one half times as toxic as strychnine. (source: Poisoning/Toxicology, Third Edition, Jay M. Arena, B.S., M.D.)

Nicotine is a poisonous alkaloid and at high dosages has been used in everything from insecticides to darts designed to bring down elephants.

According to the PBS program NOVA, most cigarettes for sale in the U.S. today contain 10 milligrams or more of nicotine.

You probably already know all this. And you probably know that within 20 minutes after your last cigarette your blood pressure, pulse rate, and the temperature of your hands and feet will all return to normal. And in 8 hours the remaining nicotine in your bloodstream will have fallen to 6.25% of normal peak daily levels, a 93.25% reduction. After 12 hours your blood oxygen level will have increased to normal and carbon monoxide levels will have dropped to normal. And that 72 hours, just three days, after that last cigarette your entire body will test 100% nicotine-free and over 90% of all nicotine metabolites (the chemicals it breaks down into) will now have passed from your body via your urine.

So you know all this but did you know you can get 100% reimbursement for your Smoking Cessation Hypnotherapy Programs with an I.R.S. Tax Credit! Yes, that’s right because Tax laws passed for 2003 onwards mean you can get a tax credit that reimburses you 100% for money paid for smoking programs. Talk to your tax accountant for more details.

So, you might ask, “Can I really stop smoking, not just quit but really STOP?” Yes, you can, and very quickly. Enter Hypnosis, and NLP.  The American Medical Association in 1958 recognized hypnosis and hypnotherapy as a viable scientific modality, and a useful and powerful complimentary therapy.

And in 1962 the American Psychiatric Association recognized that hypnosis was a viable modality for effective change.
Most people who undergo hypnotherapy for smoking cessation will walk away smoke free, a totally tolerant non-smoker. It may take one session or it may take several depending on certain factors, the most important being that you want to stop and you’re doing it for yourself and not because someone else wants you to stop smoking. So, stop smoking, breathe deep and enjoy life.

Sleep, who needs it? You do.

Stress, economic woes, and personal issues can disrupt sleep patterns. But, you might ask, who needs good sleep and why is it so darned important?

Did you know sleep disorders affect millions of people?  According to a national survey, 54% of adults said they have experienced at least one symptom of insomnia. Good sleep is as important to good health as diet and exercise. Poor sleep can lead to depression, health problems — even accidents.

Andy Capp

Getting less than six and a half hours of sleep at night decreases our ability to fight stress says Dr. Daniel G. Amen M.D. in his book Making a Good Brain Great.  He goes on to say, “Lowered sleep has been associated with diabetes and obesity.  In our fast-paced society, we are often sleep deprived.  In 1910 adults got and average of nine hours of sleep each night; in 1975 it had decreased to seven and a half; and in 2000 it has decreased further, to seven hours.”

Dr. Neil B. Kavey, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City has this to say about quality sleep “…sleep is an anabolic, or building, process. And we think it restores the body’s energy supplies that have been depleted through the day’s activities. Sleep is also the time when the body does most of its repair work; muscle tissue is rebuilt and restored.”

One of the ways we have of understanding why we need to sleep so much is to look at what happens if we don’t get enough sleep. It affects our personalities and our sense of humor, try telling a good joke to someone that hasn’t slept in a couple of days. We may become irritable and less tolerant and more likely to make errors. What parent hasn’t noticed their little one crankier without that afternoon nap?

Sleep disruption is technically called insomnia — a term used broadly to define “difficulty with sleeping” — and can take many forms.

There are three basic types of insomnia:

  1. Transient insomnia lasts only a few nights. It is often caused by jet lag, temporary stress, excitement, illness, or a change in sleep schedule.
  2. Short-term insomnia lasts up to three weeks. It often results from more prolonged stress or worries, such as financial troubles, death of a loved one, job change, or divorce. If not addressed, short-term insomnia may escalate into a chronic problem.
  3. Chronic insomnia, also known as long-term insomnia, lasts more than a month. It can occur every night, most nights, or several nights each month. Chronic insomnia is often caused by a medical problem; treating the underlying problem may alleviate the insomnia. Chronic sleeplessness may also be caused by bad sleep habits.

One of the most effective ways to treat sleep disorders is through the use of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy.  The American Medical Association in 1958 recognized hypnosis and hypnotherapy as a viable scientific modality, and a useful and powerful complimentary therapy. And in 1962 the American Psychiatric Association recognized that hypnosis was a viable modality for effective change.

The basic technique used in hypnotherapy for sleep disorders is to teach and reprogram the unconscious mind (the body’s control center) about having a really relaxing night’s sleep and suggestions (the primary tool of hypnosis and hypnotherapy) are given to your body to wind down as you prepare for sleep.

Most people who undergo hypnotherapy for sleep disorders will experience improved sleeping patterns. The changes in mood, personality and energy you feel as you wake up will be highly improved and chances are you’ll enjoy that joke just a bit more.

Would you like to learn how to help people with insomnia and other health issues?  Become a certified hypnotist.  Visit www.oregonhypnosisschool.com and register today!