A little over two years ago, I was in what I believe to be one of the lower points in my life, that turned into a blessing. I have worked full-time in the healthcare field for over 30 years and I found that despite my love for the field, my personal health suffered due to the stress of my position. I had previously been diagnosed with high blood pressure and increased glucose levels. Although my condition was being monitored by medical professionals, the symptoms continued despite medication. I was having headaches, bouts of dizziness, and having problems concentrating and sleeping. I noticed my blood pressure and glucose readings were higher than usual but I told myself it was just stress and kept going.
One evening, while at work, I noticed that my vision was blurry. I had numbness on one side of my body and had trouble speaking. Knowing these are signs of a possible stroke, I went to the emergency room and was seen right away. While I nervously waited the results of the CT scan, I thought to myself this isn’t just stress.
The doctor came back and told me that it had not been a stroke and there weren’t any signs of permanent damage. The relief was short lived, if it wasn’t a stroke, what could it have been? I was admitted to the hospital for several days, underwent several tests, and medical personnel monitored my blood pressure and glucose levels closely. It was determined that I had suffered from a TIA; it’s like a mini-stroke. This was a wakeup call for me. I was told that the likelihood of a full stroke was not a matter of if, but when, unless I made some life changes.
When I was discharged, I knew I needed to change how I managed stress but did not know where to begin. I needed to take control of stress. I was given a second chance and I didn’t want to waste it. I continued follow up care with my primary care practitioner, but I was looking for something more than medication. I was in search of a modality that had no side effects, but more importantly allowed me to be in control of my health.
Unsure how to make this change, I did what we all have done; I went to the internet. I searched for self-help modalities to manage stress. The results were overwhelming. Yoga, meditation, mindfulness, diet, exercise, the list went on. Hypnosis popped up but I dismissed it. Hypnosis was mind-control or performance art, I told myself, there’s no way it could help. But yet, my curiosity was peaked. It couldn’t be real, right?
Days passed and I couldn’t get it out of my mind, it didn’t seem to fit with the other results. I decided to research it to satisfy my curiosity. What is it? How does it work? My online research led me to an excellent, well experienced, practitioner of Hypnosis who specialized in my needs. We had our first meeting via Skype so that I could learn more and within a week, I had scheduled my first appointment.
I was nervous. I didn’t know what exactly to expect but I was willing to give it a try. What was there to lose?
My first appointment was amazing and nothing like what I expected. I felt as though I was no longer a prisoner of stress. I honestly do not remember how many sessions we worked within, but it was only a few. I was surprised how quickly I felt relief. When the sessions ended, I knew my life would never be the same again. That is when I realized this is what I want to do for others as well.
As I have spent my life taking care of others, those experiences have allowed me to have an insight, empathy, an understanding, to better assist my clients. I am grateful for my second chance and as I have continued my work with Hypnosis, I have found that I continue to grow as an individual. I am still amazed by what our minds are capable of and find it a privilege to offer Hypnosis services locally. If you too, feel that stress is controlling your life, please give me a call. Being able to help others fills my heart with joy. It would be a pleasure to help you bring about the change in your life that you are looking for.
Marie Hawse
15 January 2018