Issue 2 November 2005
take Control of your life
DANIEL A. ZELLING, M.D. 2850 W. Market St. AKRON, OH 44333 330-867-6677
HE’S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS
Some people believe that health leads to happiness and that is not true. Happiness leads to health and not the other way around. How many people do you know who are in good physical health and are really happy? However, many people can regain health through happiness. Norman Cousins wrote about this in his now famous book, The Anatomy of an Illness. He made himself happy. He believed in happiness and a near fatal disease was averted and he felt fine. When health falters, as Bernie Siegel describes in Love, Medicine, and Miracles, getting a happy mind set changes the disease process and has even aided in curing cancer.
A Jesuit priest, Father Tony Malindas, was a Thalidomide baby. Thalidomide is a sleeping pill that was given to many pregnant women forty years ago and led to many birth defects. In his case, it caused his arms not to grow. He was born without arms and learned to play the guitar with his feet. He brings the house down when he plays his guitar and sings: “ He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” The man is happy, he is healthy, he is productive and he’s got no arms.
So many disease processes only last a certain amount of time, like the common cold only lasts about a week. Some diseases last longer than a week; some diseases last years. But most diseases have a beginning and an end and a return to health. A disease like schizophrenia, one of the most dreaded diseases in mental health burn out after 30 or 40 years, as the recent Swiss studies have proven, and the patient regains a state of relative normal mental health. The process of healing can be speeded up by a change in attitude. A wholesome, healthy and happy attitude; an attitude of living in the here and now and not dwelling on the past. Frequently it is necessary to find out where something started in the past so we can finally put it behind us, and when it has been found, we don’t have to look back (either consciously or unconsciously).
We live in a wonderful age. All the new discoveries. The new explorations of the heavens’ the exploration of the minutiae - atomic and subatomic exploration. A wonderful age of spiritual awakening. We can improve our own life. We can improve our lives by tuning in to all the positives that are around us. Even the darkness of the night has its beauty. For there will be no sunset and no sunrise without the darkness of the night. And on a clear, dark night you can see the stars - so many, so beautiful. We need to become aware of our inner healing - the healing that’s going on inside of us. This wonderful process of inner healing. Healing mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Healing that is going on twenty-four hours a day. We can learn to see every cell of tissue, our bones, our joints, our arteries, and all our organs – healing. Beautiful, God –given, continual healing. The visualization of seeing things smoothing out. Seeing the organs healthy, the muscles strong, and the bones and joints free of disease. Every little improvement leads to another. You can learn to sense it, feel it, and observe it, creating an increased sense of healing inside of you –growing –peaceful in harmony and peace and health. “A peace that passes all understanding.” You learn to feel that healing now and continuing day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year. Fear needs to be replaced by faith. Anxiety needs to be replaced by calm. It is appropriate at this mid-winter celebration of the return of light to remember: “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.”
THE NICOTINE ADDICTION HOAX
Nicotine, psychopharmacologically, is a neuro-stimulant and it is true that we can addict a lot of laboratory animals to become addicted to this neuro-stimulant. People, however, in 99.9% of cases smoke tobacco to relax, which is the opposite of the pharmacological effect of nicotine.
If smoking really was a physical addiction, then we would have revolutions on airplanes and airports, which is not happening. The state of California, New York and the city of Boston have outlawed smoking in hotel lobbies, restaurants and bars. Smokers in California did not rebel. My wife and I were in San Diego a few months ago and we saw an occasional person outside a bar having a cigarette. That’s all.
Nicorete gum, the nicotine patch and the nicotine inhaler only have a seventeen percent success rate, same as the placebo. Low dose Wellbutrin, marketed as Zyban, does not really do any better, aside from the tremendous amount of side effects. High power marketing sold a lot of patches, gum and nasal inhalers, but nobody asks the patient if they were smoking three packs of unfiltered Camels a day or a half pack of Carlton. Giving nicotine to overcome “nicotine addiction” makes just as much sense as giving alcohol (other than orally) to an alcoholic.
Smoking is a psychological addiction and is curable using hypnosis on an individual basis and the concept has to be: not just stopping smoking, but never starting again. Group hypnosis, as practiced by the American Heart Association, can be helpful to some people, but the reason one person smokes is different from another person. We see our patients on an individual basis, a minimum of five sessions, each of one hour in duration; treating our smoking patients three times in one week is very effective, however, we insist after those three visits we see the patient one week later and again two weeks after that for reinforcement to assure the patient will not start smoking again.
With this protocol our success rate is eighty-two percent. After three years, sixty-four percent remain non-smokers.
We have moved! Our office location is: 2850 West Market Street Suite 100 Akron, Ohio 44333.
We are located directly across the street from The Fairlawn Towne Center.
Our office phone number is the same 330-867-6677.
MIDWINTER BLAHS
The National Mental Health Association estimates that around 30% of our population suffer in Fall and Winter from seasonal affective disorder. S.A.D.
Here we go again, another alphabet syndrome like I.B.S., G.E.R.D. (gastroesophacal reflux disease), TMJ, DVT ,PTSD, etc. and the pharmaceutical industry wants us to believe if you have a disorder we got a pill for you.
Depression is not really a disease; the feeling is sadness. Sadness has a reason and nine times out of ten the reason for sadness is a loss and with seasonal affective disorder it is the loss of sunlight and outdoor activity. There is more depression in Alaska than in Florida or Alabama. The rate of suicide is three times higher in Denmark and Norway compared to Jamaica. It is not just the cold but the dwindling of sunlight that leads to depression. If you talk to your local undertaker, he will tell you that the busiest season is December and January not because of suicides but ill people are more willing to give up.
The seasons are explained in Greek Mythology where the goddess Persephone had to go to the underworld. When she went “down there” it was winter; coming back gave spring and summer. Knowing that she had to go “down there” gave fall, and when the lovely goddess was gone it was winter again.
Light does help. Change all your 40 watt bulbs in the house to 75 watts and the 75 watts to 100, preferably full spectrum light. Go for a walk, bundle up warmly but get out at least 20 minutes every day. Eat foods that are high in Tryptophan like soy, peanuts, bananas, almonds, turkey, and yogurt. Take extra vitamin B1, B2, B6, folic acid, vitamin D (400 I.U.), selenium 200mcg. Light boxes have been used since 1982. Dr. Dan Krepki of the university of San Diego has been using light therapy not just for S.A.D. but also for standard depression. Before deciding to use light therapy on your own be sure to get a complete eye exam.
Eating fish like Haddock or Atlantic Salmon can be helpful. There are some studies that show that omega-3-fatty acid can be of remarkable benefit to some depressed patients.
The pharmaceutical industry wants you to take a pill called an antidepressant. Because of the side effects, I highly recommend you do not. I do recommend finding some activity that you enjoy doing and do it. Preferably not watching T.V. Use your self-hypnosis and visualize yourself in a pleasant place, maybe swimming in the ocean, climbing a mountain, or in a meadow amid wild-flowers and remember: starting December 21st the days get 2 minutes longer everyday. Another thing to remember is we get one thaw in January, two in February, three in March and then its spring again.
TOUCHING EVERY FACET OF OUR LIVES
As we learn more about the power of the subconscious mind, we can see just how Hypnoanalysis can improve the quality of our lives both physically and emotionally. Some of the areas that can be successfully treated by Medical Hypnosis and subconscious analysis include:
* Anxiety, Depression. Low Self-Esteem
* Migraine and Tension Headaches
* Phobias, Fear of Flying, Agoraphobia, Fear of Public Speaking
* Eating Disorders
* Sleep Disorders
* Pain Modification
* Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
* Impotence and Anorgasmia
* Visualization and Mental Imagery
* Success Programs: Sales, Sports, Study
Daniel A. Zelling, M.D. founded the Ohio Institute of Medical Hypnosis, Inc. in 1974. He is a physician and psychotherapist with over 30 years experience in Medical Hypnosis. First in family practice and later in his chosen specialty of Medical Hypnosis. He is board certified in Medical Hypnoanalysis. He has published many articles on Medical Hypnosis and Hypnoanalysis. Dr. Zelling is committed to the care and well-being of his patients and to their successful treatment. He believes that the whole person is capable to rally all of his/her resources; physical, mental and spiritual, to achieve better health, to live a quality life, to relate better to others, and to compete successfully in this competitive world.
WHAT IS MEDICAL HYPNOSIS?
In 1958 hypnosis was recognized by the American Medical Association as a legitimate, safe approach to medical and psychological problems. Today more people recognize that the mind and the body interact.. Mind and body are integrated parts of a whole being; change in one part affects the other.
Hypnosis is a normal state of consciousness. Hypnosis can be defined as concentrated and directed daydreaming. A person in hypnosis is aware of his surroundings in a detached sort of way and is more receptive to acceptable suggestions.
There are many misconceptions about hypnosis. Hypnosis is a natural state that we have all experienced. An example of this is whenever it is important for you to get up at an unusual time and you wake up ten minutes before the alarm goes off you are responding to a post- hypnotic suggestion. A mother who sleeps through a thunderstorm but awakens when her sick child moans, again, responds to a post-hypnotic suggestion. Actually, all hypnosis is self-hypnosis. Anyone who wants to be hypnotized can be hypnotized.
A hypnotized person will not accept any idea or suggestion that is against his/her religion, upbringing, morality, or against “his grain”. The patient achieves his/her own hypnotic state. The medical hypnotherapist is merely a guide.
Issue 3 November 2008
take Control of your Life
DANIEL A. ZELLING, MD 2850 W. Market St. Akron, OH 44333 330-867-6677
We are spiritual beings, you know, when you are born, you contained a certain amount of elements in your system: calcium and phosphorus and copper and carbon atoms. Now, plants take elements out of the soil. Animals eat plants and we eat plants and animals and the atoms in our body are exchanged. All the carbon atoms, phosphorous, copper, and all the other atoms in our body are exchanged so that by the age of seven, we don’t have the original atoms in our body anymore. And again they continue to exchange and by the time we are fourteen, what we had at seven is gone and it’s all new atoms. And something stays the same—our spirit. Just from plain physics we can prove that we are spiritual beings. But there is more.
When we really let go and open up we get inspiration—that’s how we breathe in our connectedness with the energy of the universe. Everything is in that energy. And once you realize that inside of this physical body that your call “me” - that physical body, there is a spiritual being. And that spiritual being is timeless… just as the energy of the universe is timeless. We have become accustomed to linear thinking… and we are discouraged from cosmic thinking...Oh, we start out that way. We start out thinking cosmically—with our right brain. But then we are taught. We are taught that seeing is believing. Have you ever seen a good magician?... You see it, but you can’t believe it. You begin to see it when you believe it—it is the other way around. People believed in depression and there was a Depression. Were there any less resources in the country? Not really. The resources were there. Nothing really had changed. It’s what you believe. And what you allow yourself to believe. We are on this planet to create. We are co-creators… I’m always reminded of Marty Feldman. He had such an ugly face: bulging eyes, crooked nose. And one day he put his face right in front of the camera so that his face filled the whole screen and he said as he laughed: “I am created in the image of God—now you know what God looks like.” God is energy. It is creative energy. And we are created in his image to create. The materials for the chair you are sitting on was here, but somebody had to put it together and make it and create the chair you are sitting on. And we advance the planet by our creations and we can go two ways. We can choose evil and create evil—like Adolph Hitler and Stalin.. Or we can create good. The iron curtain is eroding, the Berlin Wall is down...is it just one man that allows this to happen? No. More good thoughts and spiritual thoughts are created on this planet and the walls of Jericho came tumbling down for it was the joyful music that brought them down.
You are a spiritual being—housed in this body… and you create your own thoughts and you allow your channel to the universe to be open. It’s really very much like radio. If you tune in an AM band that’s all your going to get or you can turn to FM—it’s your choice. Believe it and you’ll see it and you’ll feel and you’ll know it. And perfect health is yours spiritually, emotionally, physically and in every other way. Open your channel...tune into this magnificent universe and the creative force and feel yourself getting stronger and healthier.—Daniel A. Zelling, M.D.
TOUCHING EVERY FACET OF OUR LIVES
As we learn more about the power of the subconscious mind, we can see just how Hypnoanalysis can improve the quality of our lives both physically and emotionally. Some of the area that can be successfully treated by Medical Hypnosis and subconscious analysis include:
* ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, LOW SELF-ESTEEM * MIGRAINE AND TENSION HEADACHES
* PHOBIAS, FEAR OF FLYING * AGORAPHOBIA, FEAR OF PUBLIC SPEAKING
* EATING DISORDERS * SLEEP DISORDERS
* PAIN MODIFICATION * ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ABUSE
* IMPOTENCE AND ANORGASMIA * VISUALIZATION AND MENTAL IMAGERY
* SUCCESS PROGRAMS: SALES, SPORTS, STUDY
FOR THE RECORD, FOOD DIARY HELPS
Most dieters know that exercise will help them lose weight. But they might not know that keeping a food diary also can tip the scale in their favor.
A new government survey found that only 17% of women and 10% of men keep food diaries.
“We know that people aren’t terribly good at it.” It takes time and - honesty—to record every item you eat, but do it. Studies show that keeping a food record increases your chances of losing weight and keeping it off.
SOLUTIONS TO THE EATING PROBLEM
With Thanksgiving behind us and Christmas and Hanukkah approaching, this is traditionally a time of overeating. A decrease in outdoor activity because of inclement weather also can lead to some temporary weight gain. New Year’s resolutions frequently include losing weight and becoming more active. The treatment of obesity is a multi-billion dollar industry and a dismal failure in the long term.
General medicine now recognizes a phenomenon they describe as a set point, not unlike a thermostat; that, once the temperature (weight) goes down, the furnace (overeating) clicks on to return to the previous temperature (weight). What is this mysterious set point on the thermostat? I am sure neurophysiologists are looking with the finest instruments to the hypothalamic area of the brain. Medical Hypnoanalysis, working under the theorem, “all behavior is normal,” looks for a subconscious analysis and in the order of life’s priorities, searches out the buried thought or emotion that has to do with survival. In the case of obesity, in order of importance remains only physical survival, ego survival, and spiritual survival. The obese person has a subconscious need to 1) either overeat, or 2) to be obese. If a person consciously wants to lose weight and in the long term cannot do it, it is not a matter of “will power” but rather an unconscious need that can be uncovered.
Examples of physical survival is the doctor who shows an emaciated corpse in the morgue to his 12 year old son and says:”This is what happens when you don’t eat.” Or an 8 year old girl who was pulled out of the swimming pool in a near drowning and is told:”Good thing your chunky. If you were skinny you surely would have drowned.”
An example or ego survival is the man who wanted to be like his father. When he was asked:”How much would you like to weigh?” (he weighed 186 lbs.) he said: “240—I mean 140”.
The most common survival problem in my practice is spiritual survival (80%) - lack of love and trying to fill empty spots with food. I find that in an overwhelming majority of obesity problems, at a deep subconscious level, patients just don't like themselves.
In the case of a distorted self-image, unless we can find the thought that distorted the image (physically, emotionally, and spiritually) and remove that thought, instilling a healthy self-image, we can give diets, do behavior modification and give suggestions until we are blue in the face. The overweight problem for the long term can only be solved with careful analysis and appropriate re-education, rehabilitation, and reinforcement.
CANCER
CANCER IS A DISEASE IT IS NOT A SENTENCE. People can get well and many have gotten well as a matter of fact many people have out lived there oncologist.
I always chuckle when patients tell me that their oncologist told them they have a 20% chance or even an 80% chance to get well. Statistically the oncologist may be correct but for the patient it is 50/50. You either get well or you don’t. The other one that makes me chuckle is the statement “You have 6 weeks or 6 months or 3 years to live.” No one knows with any certainty how long you will live.
I always ask my patient, “Do you like your oncologist?” and if the answer is no I tell them to get another oncologist.
The science of cancer diagnosis and cancer treatment has made tremendous strides in the past few years and many more people are surviving.
Personally I had bladder cancer 16 years ago. I am cured; I am not in remission. I don’t believe in remission because that means you may be cancer free now but it can or it will come back. I did see 2 oncologists and I chose my treatment. I also visited a medical hypnoanalyst in San Diego because I knew that the mind influences the body and sure enough he found and helped me over a very harmful suggestion that I had given myself many a time in the past. I used statements like “That pisses me off” or “I am pissed off”. As the subconscious is always listening, saying things like “pissed” and “off” it is not surprising that I developed cancer of the bladder.
He also gave me a series of visual images that referred to health, healing, and activating my immune system.
“AS A MAN THINKETH IN HIS HEART SO IS HE”.
Instead of having morbid thoughts that cause depression and decreases the ability of our immune system to work we need positive thoughts that can increase hope and healing.
A question frequently asked by some cancer patients is: “Can I just change my eating pattern take some vitamins and herbs and do the hypnotic visualizations?” And my answer is “No you really need to see two oncologists and on their advise do the treatment that they recommend and that makes sense to you”, but pick the oncologist you like because it is easier to work with a doctor you like than one you dislike. You need to work in all three areas of body, mind, and spirit.