A lot is going on in May. Did you know that it's Arthritis Awareness Month? That the 13th is a Festival of Sleep Day, ME Awareness Week is 11th -17th, Mental Health Awareness Week 16th -22nd, May is also Better Sleep Month, and there is a World No Tobacco Day right at the very end of the month on 31st?
These are all things that hypnotherapy helps; so whether you have a problem with insomnia, need help with pain control, your mental health or are thinking of giving up smoking. May is definitely the time to start. If only because it’s the month, week or day for it!
With so much going on in May, it's a hard choice to know what to talk to you about. So, I decided, knowing that the whole month is dedicated to arthritis and better sleep, to concentrate on both of those subjects this month.
Arthritis
Better Sleep
This month we start by looking at Arthritis
So, what is arthritis?
Arthritis is a condition that causes pain and inflammation in a joint or joints. The two most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. In the UK, more than 10 million people have arthritis or similar chronic conditions affecting their joints.
The most commonly affected joints are:
In the hands
Your spine
Your knees
Your hips
Arthritis affects people of all ages, including children. It often starts in people during their 40s and 50s, and women are three times more likely to be affected than men. The actual arthritis conditions are slightly different; the main things they have in common is they are all connected to inflammation of the joint or joints and are all extremely painful and may restrict movement.
Fortunately, we can help: it is well known that hypnosis treatments consistently produce a significant decrease in pain associated with various chronic pain conditions, including arthritis.
The main treatment for arthritis is pain relief. Pain relief through drug therapy frequently has side effects. Hypnotherapy is proven to help ease arthritis pain and has no side effects. Increasingly doctors are turning to hypnotherapy as a way to help their patients manage pain.
Many people notice a significant pain reduction, and regular sessions help them gain control of their pain. By easing the pain, you are able to move more, which in turn helps your joints and the muscles around them.
There are other things you can try to help ease the pain of arthritis:
Swimming:
Regular exercise is often one of the best self-help things you can do, yet walking can be too painful, and running is out of the question.
Because it is a non-weight bearing exercise, swimming is often an excellent choice to keep your joints mobile.
Yoga:
Another beneficial exercise is yoga, not the extreme forcing into various shapes, but regular gentle flexing and stretching is perfect for anyone with joint mobility issues.
Diet:
Some foods exacerbate inflammation and increase your pain. Most people with arthritis should avoid deep-fried and processed foods and may need to go easy on dairy and meat.
Some herbs can help alleviate inflammation when consumed as part of a healthy diet. If you are thinking of taking herbs as a supplement, its advisable to check with your medical team first.
A diet with fresh fruit and vegetables, including salad, can be beneficial, but avoid citrus more than a few times a week.
Utilising an holistic approach to easing your symptoms ensures you know you are doing all you can.
Let’s also consider Better Sleep Month
Sleep is important. Good quality sleep is considered one of the fundamentals for good health and wellbeing, along with good diet and exercise.
Insomnia and sleeping disorders can impact anyone at any time. Ladies going through the menopause, in particular, suffer from insomnia, and it's a little talked about symptom of that life stage. It can also be a problem for those who work shift patterns, especially if they work a 24 hour a day operating shift system. Sleep disorders and insomnia can also occur for no apparent reason.
Insufficient sleep is a contributory factor in a lot of other health complaints, and at times we wonder what came first. We try and figure out which caused the other.
Poor sleep impacts negatively on all other areas of your life. The mind and body disease and thought are all interconnected. Lack of sleep puts us out of balance. Good quality sleep enables you to feel alert during the day, is crucial for your functioning, health and wellbeing.
Trying to get to sleep or trying to get back to sleep when you keep waking up during the night or time you should be sleeping can in itself impact on getting to sleep. It’s one of those vicious circle situations.
Sleeping disorders and insomnia are a major reason why people seek out Hypnotherapy, and no wonder, it works. Hypnotherapy is a successful treatment for many people. For some, learning to clear their mind is all that is required. For others, other strategies and ongoing support are needed. Whatever the reasons for the sleeping problems, Hypnotherapists have a toolbox of methods to help.
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