We actually had some wonderfully sunny days here in the past couple of weeks and it has put smiles on a lot of faces. I love the sun to shine when it is mental health awareness week here in the UK. My children have taken an interest in it this year, and I've really enjoyed discussing mental well-being with them, and one of the articles being shared today offers science-supported ways anyone can employ to improve mental health.

My own mental health has been challenged somewhat recently. A very close loved one of mine is seriously ill currently, and I've been doing all I can to spend as much quality time with that person as possible. I've been making time to really connect and have meaningful conversations and make the most of the time that person has, which doctors say may be around a year at most.

One of the things that it has made me very aware of, is how much we benefit from close relationships in our lives, how we benefit from connecting with others profoundly and how much of a potent force for good our loving kindness is. It has also made me recognise how much more I want to be this way in my other relationships in life given the impermanence of life and recognising how short it really is.

I do offer a free Loving Kindness focused hypnosis download to all subscribers of this newsletter at this page of my personal website. I've also added an archive article on the topic below today if you'd like to engage in the classic Loving Kindness meditation technique that is supported by science.

Anyway, I'm guessing me mentioning the above might sound a bit morbid to some, but aside from the natural sad aspects of the reality, it's also led to numerous uplifting insights and the additional connection with that important person in my life has been so healthy for me. The neuroscience and understanding of relational intelligence shows how much we benefit on numerous levels from healthy relationships, quality attachments and friendships. I was teaching as much last weekend on my hypnotherapy diploma course, and there is an entire section about relational intelligence in my Neuroscience for Psychotherapists course.

I was a bit late to the party, but while out on my dog walks and when on training runs or long journeys, I listen to audio books and I recently caught up with "The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness" by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz. It is based on the Harvard Study of Adult Development, which is one of the longest and most comprehensive longitudinal studies in history. The book delves into the findings of this study, which tracked the lives of 724 men over 75 years and has since expanded to include their spouses and over 1,300 of their children.

The authors explore what constitutes a happy and fulfilling life, drawing on the extensive data collected from the study participants. They emphasise that the quality of our relationships is the most significant predictor of happiness and health. Among others, it makes two really important points that are relevant to what I've been writing here today:

1. Quality Relationships are Crucial for Happiness:

The study found that the strongest predictor of a long and happy life is not wealth, fame, or working hard, but rather the quality of our relationships. Close relationships, more than money or fame, are what keep people happy throughout their lives. These ties protect people from life’s discontents, help to delay mental and physical decline, and are better predictors of long and happy lives than social class, IQ, or even genes.

2. Social Connections and Health:

Loneliness can be as harmful to health as smoking or alcoholism. Strong social connections contribute to better mental and physical health, reducing stress and enhancing emotional resilience. People who are more socially connected to family, friends, and their community are happier, physically healthier, and live longer than people who are less well-connected.
"The Good Life" illustrates that nurturing our relationships with family, friends, and community is a critical component of a fulfilling and healthy life. The book encourages readers to invest time and effort in their relationships, as these connections are fundamental to our happiness and well-being.

One of the articles I'm sharing in this edition of my ezine is all about building stronger connections with people in your life. I'm also sharing a video about the power of a hug according to science as well as another illustrating the importance of the therapeutic relationship in a clinical setting - that relationship often serves as a basis for patients to be able to build other relationships and the safety created by that relationship helps create optimum conditions for the brain to update and change. 
 
Also in this edition of Adam Up, I am sharing details of a major (and rare!) offer for my hypnotherapist development hub. I don't think you'll want to miss it, more details below. 
 

Wherever you are in the world, I hope the sun is shining for you in all manner of ways. 

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Ok, let's get on with it, shall we?

1. The amygdala area of the brain is designed to detect danger. It evaluates and processes information long before the information is going to be consciously processed. When the amygdala matches the environment, we have mental health. When it does not, that is when we begin to see mental illness.
If the amygdala perceives some sort of threat or danger, it activates in proportion to the perceived threat. If it perceives the threat as little, it will activate a little, if it perceives the threat as major, its going to activate a lot.

When the amygdala activates, one thing that it does, is it sends strong signals to the upper areas of the brain, to actually shut them down.

Sometimes, the amygdala hijacks the brain.

Therapists and clinicians will therefore often need to deactivate the amygdala in order to engage in therapeutic processes (cognitive processes in particular require prefrontal cortex access) requiring access to the upper brain.

Watch video here: One Important Reason to Deactivate the Amygdala During Hypnotherapy
 

2. During a recent lecture, whilst discussing the importance of oxytocin, I mentioned that 20-second full body hug, as revealed by UCLA’s Stan Tatkin, can enhance your relationships and overall well-being as well as releasing a really healthy amount of oxytocin into your system.

Watch Video here: The Power of a 20-Second Full Body Hug: Transforming Relationships and Increasing Oxytocin

3. The neuroception of safety is vital for a clinical patient seeking to make changes in a clinical setting. The brain adapts far better and the optimum conditions for neuroplasticity occur when the brain recognises feeling safe and secure. As I explain here, that sense of safety is essential. The client’s neuroception of safety in the therapeutic relationship is the neural platform for neuroplasticity, for learning, for recovery, and even for growth from trauma.

Whatever therapeutic issue we are working with, in particular depression, anxiety or trauma-related problems, we need to create a safe container in the therapeutic relationship with the client so they begin to experience safety and trust and hope in the relationship with us and can then progress toward change with that secure attachment and base of resilience.

Watch video here: The Importance of Neuroception in the Clinical Setting

New Articles:

All articles are founded in science and have references for you to explore should you wish: 
 

Additionally for this edition of Adam Up ,

I hope this edition finds you thriving in your hypnotherapy practice. I’m writing to share an exciting opportunity to join our Hypnotherapist Development Hub at a special discounted rate, designed to help you continue to grow and excel in your career. It is an offer I made last November for Black Friday and had a couple of people ask me about it recently so I thought I'd offer it again for the next few days.

Special Offer: Annual Subscription for Only £200.00!
For a limited time, we are offering an exclusive discount on our annual membership to the Hypnotherapist Development Hub. Instead of the usual annual or monthly fees, you can gain full access for just £200.00. This is an incredible value considering the wealth of resources and support you will receive.

Why Join the Hypnotherapist Development Hub?
Our Development Hub is a comprehensive subscription service tailored specifically for hypnotherapists looking to expand their knowledge, sharpen their skills, and advance their careers. Here’s some of what’s included:

Monthly Webinars: Engage with leading experts in hypnotherapy through monthly webinars that cover the latest research, techniques, and best practices in the field. And count as official CPD. 

Exclusive Articles and Research Papers: Access a library of insightful articles and peer-reviewed research to stay informed about the latest developments in hypnotherapy.

Peer Support and Networking: Join our vibrant online community where you can connect with fellow hypnotherapists, share experiences, and seek advice. We run online live monthly group supervision sessions too.

Business Development Resources: Get practical tools and strategies for building and growing a successful hypnotherapy practice, including marketing tips, client management, and more.

Video Tutorials and Demonstrations: Watch detailed video tutorials and live demonstrations of advanced hypnotherapy techniques to enhance your practical skills.

Regular Q&A Sessions: Participate in interactive Q&A sessions with experienced practitioners to get your questions answered and gain deeper insights into your practice.

Hear from Our Members

“Joining the Hypnotherapist Development Hub has been one of the best decisions for my career. The resources are top-notch, and the community support is invaluable. It has truly helped me grow as a practitioner.”
— Sarah Mortimer, Hypnotherapist, Bristol, UK

Enroll Now and Save!
To take advantage of this exclusive annual subscription offer for only £200.00, simply use this link.

You can read more information about it and how to join it here: Hypnotherapist Development Hub.

If you'd like to take up the offer, you can do so at this page here: Discounted Subscription.
 

It is usually an offer that is exclusive to my graduates, but I'm opening it up to you until next Tuesday.

You just need to click on the 'subscribe' button. You can then either sign in to PayPal if you have an account in order to pay, or you can click on the lower button which says "pay by debit or credit card" to simply do that. As soon as I get a notification of that payment having gone through, I set it all up for you from there. You'll receive an automated email with all your login details to access the hub and you'll get some guidance about finding your way around and how to join any live events too.  

Don’t miss this opportunity to invest in your professional development and take your hypnotherapy practice to new heights. This special offer is available for a limited time, so act now!

Warm regards,

Adam
Principal, Anglo-European College of Therapeutic Hypnosis

P.S. Secure your spot in the Hypnotherapist Development Hub today and unlock a year’s worth of unparalleled resources and support for just £200.00.

Self-Hypnosis Tuition: 

Visit this page for loads of resources and tuition about self-hypnosis: Learn Self-Hypnosis. 

Useful resources for hypnotherapists: 

Visit this page for lots of resources for hypnotherapists.

 

The evidence based hypnosis meme of the week is  below....

Evidence based hypnosis meme of the week. 2023 study concluded that a hypnosis intervention was effective in reducing competitive anxiety and stress while increasing perceived resilience and self-confidence in competitive mountain bike athletes...
 

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