I have just finished reading ‘Welcome to biscuitland’ by Jessica Thom – it is a hugely entertaining and heart-warming account of a year of Jessica’s life and I defy anyone not to be totally moved by it.

I first learnt about Jess whilst watching Stephen Fry’s BBC2 programme all about language. Jessica was featured as she has Tourette’s Syndrome, a neurological disorder which means she has a variety of movement and language tics, which she is totally unable to control. Bizarrely, one of the words which she seems to tic most often is ‘biscuits’ with quite predictably funny consequences. A friend actually discovers that she says ‘biscuit’ about 16 times a minute as well as a whole host of he most extraordinary phrases, including ‘Keith Duffy has a peanut allergy’, ‘Norma Major’s in your mouth take a bite’ and ‘I’ve got a Blue Peter badge in pig porn’.

The diary charts our Touretteshero’s progress through the year, and the numerous challenges she faces on a daily basis – these include having to explain herself to other people as she is one of the 10% of Tourettes sufferers whose tics include swear words as well as the constant and sometimes very dangerous arm and leg tics she has.

What is so wonderful about the book is that Jess chooses to embrace her condition in a hugely positive way, seeing how it can be funny and bizarre, but also how it sometimes bring out the good in people, and especially her own special support network, including Fat Sister, Leftwing Idiot and King Russell (these are all ‘tic’ names). She acknowledges how difficult her life is, but is determined to live it to the full as well as educating young and old about her condition.

Do read the book if you can, and you can also link to her site www.touretteshero.com.

Best wishes,
Wendy x

Whilst I am generally not in favour of diets, as I feel they do not encourage a healthy relationship with food, there is one that intrigues me at the moment.

It is based on the idea that by fasting intermittently – and by fasting this does not mean totally eliminating food, but severely restricting calories to about 500 for two or perhaps three days each week and then for the other days, just eating anything you want (yes, anything) – you can not only lose weight, but also significantly improve your general health.

A BBC2 documentary last year saw Dr Michael Mosley investigate this, and after six weeks on the 5:2 diet – two days of fasting, then five days of eating normally – he found that he had lost well over a stone in weight, his blood glucose levels were normal, his cholesterol level (which had previously been very high) was in the healthy range. He also found that, although he could eat anything he wanted on the non- fasting days, he didn’t overeat.

So, after having a, shall we say, relaxed Christmas, food-wise, I decided to embark on the 5:2 and I have to admit that I am feeling really good and a little bit slimmer into the bargain. I tend to have my two days of fasting on Monday and Wednesday or Thursday, then this leaves me free to enjoy my food over the weekend. What I have found is that I don’t tend to eat everything in sight in the non-fasting days, neither is it unhealthy high- fat food. Instead I seem to find that I take my time over meals, really savouring the food, and making sure that I eat healthily, but with no restriction on the good fats, such as olive oil, avocados, nuts, oily fish. I have to say it seems to work for me, and I will be happy to continue with this way of eating as it is so easy and enjoyable. Apparently it also slows down the ageing process and, having had a big birthday last year, I am all for that!

If you feel that this way of eating would work for you, it is very important that you check with your GP first, as for some people it would not be advisable – this would include those who have an existing eating disorder such as bulimia or anorexia, or those who have a physical health problem which would rule them out for this type of eating plan.

However, if you feel that you would be suited to follow this sort of regime, then give it a try. Personally, I think it may be the answer for a lot of people who want to be able to enjoy their food, but are also keen to be the healthiest they can be.

Take care,
Wendy x

As the clock strikes midnight tonight, we will be all be wishing each other a happy new year (or at least those of us who have stayed up for the duration) but do you ever really stop to think what ‘happy’ means to you?

Is it the absence of misery or sadness? Or a huge surge of joy? Or perhaps just a general feeling of warm fuzzy contentment? Or a mixture of all of these?

In our hectic, all too busy lives, we can find ourselves sometimes just going through the motions and working on auto-pilot, so that we very often fail to be aware of those special moments of happiness, and they just pass us by. This is a shame, as if we really start to be more aware of living in the moment, we can truly notice those moments of joy, or contentment or calm (call them what you will) and I believe that by noticing those special moments, we find that they have a magical tendency to amplify, and multiply.

If you have not yet made a new year’s resolution, why don’t you make it your aim this year to find out what really makes you feel happy, and notice all of those things – whether its a baby’s smile or a lovely meal – that contribute to that wonderful feeling.

May I wish everyone a happy (whatever that means to you) 2013!

Wendy x

As I was looking through client notes the other day, it suddenly occured to me how lucky and priveleged I am to have the opportunity to touch peoples’ lives in some way.

One of the reasons I embarked on this career was to do with the fact that I find it endlessly interesting and inspiring to listen to others’ stories, and this remains as strong, or perhaps stronger than ever. I feel humbled that clients open up their lives to me and put their trust in me. And I find it amazing how strong the human spirit is, when I encounter those people who have been through the most incredible challenges and they then come out the other side.

These are stressful and difficult times for many, but we need to be aware that inside every one of us there is a strong inner core which gives us the ability to overcome all sorts of difficulties, and find a lasting peace and contentment.

If I have been able to help my clients in some small way to discover that strength and peace within, then that is really quite awesome.

Love and best wishes to all clients past, present and future,
Wendy x

At this time of year, many people tend to be quite worn out – with all the stress of christmas preparations, the bad weather, all the nasty bugs and viruses going around as well as the short days – so I thought that it would be a good idea to share some of my ideas for taking care of yourself through the harsh winter months.

First of all, take a tip from nature. Many creatures and plants have the bright idea of hibernating or semi-hibernating, so why not us? Use the dark nights to curl up in bed reasonably early with a good book, and you will find that you are more likely to enjoy a good night’s sleep, and wake feeling refreshed and re-energised. If you are the type of person who benefits from the odd nap, go with what your body is telling you and have 20 minutes or so during the day (no more than this, however, or you may not sleep so well at night).

Make sure that you eat well, and do not overload on carbs. There is a lot of stodgy food (and alcohol) about this time of year and if you overload yourself with sugar and carbohydrates, you will feel much more tired and lethargic. I find that for most of the time a good, balanced diet with lots of  low GI (glycaemic index) foods – this means foods which ensure your blood/sugar levels remain even, such as porridge, lean proteins, wholegrains, nuts and pulses as well as fruit and vegetables – is a fairly safe bet, although it is normal to want to indulge in the tempting stuff occasionally.

Try as much as you can to eliminate stresses in your life. I know that this isn’t always possible, but if you can keep things as simple and calm as you can, then you will feel much less stressed. I was finding that I was listening to a lot of news programmes on the radio, and watching them on the television. Now, for a lot of the time, I tend to listen to Classic FM and am feeling much better for it.

Do take supplements if you feel that you would benefit from them. Vitamin D has had a lot of press recently, and there are many people who are deficient in this particularly during the winter months. Have a look on the internet to find out more.

Lastly, find some time to just ‘be’ – this means doing absolutely nothing at all for 10 or 20 minutes each day. Call it meditation, self-hypnosis, mindfulness – it is a wonderful way to relax and recharge.

Take care,
Wendy x

I seem to be seeing more and more people suffering from stress and this can have all sorts of reasons such as work and home life challenges as well as financial burdens. And it also seems to be that for most people these days there is no ‘down’ time and there is the feeling that you are missing out if you are not constantly on Facebook or twitter.

This need to be in touch or FOMO (fear of missing out) is, I feel, at the root cause of many peoples’ stress and anxiety, although they would probably be loathe to admit it. In fact I am sure that, for many, they feel that being connected all the time is a comfort to them, as otherwise they would feel isolated and cut-off.

As always there is a balance to be struck. Modern technology is, even for me a self-confessed technophobe, a wonderful thing. There is so much that can be learnt from the Internet, and it was great that we could see and speak to our son back here in Suffolk from our Balinese retreat. However, when we become unable to get through 5 minutes without checking our phone, then maybe it is time to admit that there may be a slight problem.  No-one is truly indispensable or needs to be accessible all the time and it is important to be self-aware if you feel you may have FOMO as this can soon become an habit which is difficult to break.

If you feel that you need help with this type of problem and would like to learn how to ‘switch off’ do contact me on 01449 780352 or email me on wendy@wendychalk.co.uk.

Best wishes,
Wendy x

My apologies for such a long absence from my blogpost. This has been due to a busy few weeks helping my husband with his marketing business as well as running my hypnotherapy practice, and then a wonderful holiday in Bali (just me and Mr Chalk) where internet access was not reliable.

So I have returned from holiday, suitably relaxed and with renewed vigour, and I find that the world seems to have turned on its axis.

The BBC, that old dependable stalwart, whose values and journalism you could always depend upon, seems to be almost in its death throes after a heavily damaging few weeks, in the wake of the Jimmy Saville child abuse scandal.

There has been so much comment as to what should be done/what enquiries should be launched, but to me the really important thing is make sure that the right support and help is given to the victims in this case. Certainly, they should be offered counselling, but also it is essential that they are then given the right sort of help which would enable them to move on with their lives. In cases like this hypnotherapy treatment is really useful, as it can actually take the emotional element out of past traumatic incidents. The memory of the event is still there, but the person is able to finally move on, as it no longer seems to have the same emotional charge.

It has made me so incredibly sad to read about the different stories of children being abused, and I can only hope that – with the uncovering of this vile period – that there will be resolution for those involved.

Wendy x

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My apologies for not having ‘blogged’ for a while – I have been busy in my other life, assisting my husband with his marketing business. We have had a really busy couple of weeks as we have been organising, and then manning a stand at a trade exhibition in Birmingham which has been good fun, but quite exhausting!

One of the perks of being in Birmingham was that we were able to go and see Olly, my eldest, who has just started at Birmingham Conservatoire (see earlier blogs). I am glad to say that he is thriving, has made loads of friends, and his really enjoying student life despite his mother’s fears. It seems he is now with ‘his people’, fellow musicians who all speak a similar language, and he is loving it. Nevertheless I do think that the whole experience has been a little bit of a shock to him, as when he was attending his small rural high school he always stood out as a really talented musician, and was used to receiving praise on a regular basis. Now everything is different, he is a small fish in a very large pond, and all around him are the most talented musicians in the country, so he is just one amongst many. But I really feel, that knowing his character, he will rise to this challenge and relish the opportunity to work towards his dream of becoming a professional musician.

We all have those times in life that seem to be so challenging at the time, and sometimes we can look back and wonder how we managed to get through. But my belief is that every single one of us has the strength and resources within them to overcome challenges, and to benefit from them in the long-run.

Sometimes, however, we do not feel that we have this strength within us, but I have found that hypnotherapy can be very powerful in giving us that sense of courage and determination, and we can then go on to achieve almost anything we want.

If you would like to find out more about this wonderful therapy, please email me on wendy@wendychalk.co.uk.

Best wishes,
Wendy x

I read in the ‘East Anglian Daily Times’ the other day that cases of depression are rising sharply in this region. A local agency which aims to help people who are suffering from this type of illness, the Suffolk Wellbeing Service put this down partly to the economic climate, which is putting huge pressure on people but also a lessening in the stigma of mental illness with the resulting effect that more people are coming forward for help. This latter is a very positive thing, as depression CAN be treated very successfully through therapy and also – if needed – medication.

One thing I have learnt is that it is important to address mind and body in cases of depression, as they are very strongly interlinked, and having a physical activity (perhaps outdoors) that you are able to do on a regular basis, can have a hugely positive effect on your state of mind. They are quite often talked about, but endorphins are not to be sneered at for their wonderful healing qualities.

My particular love is swimming, and I regularly try and do an hour or so at my gym. I confess that I am not one for gym, zumba or other sweaty pursuits, but prefer to spend any free time in the water. I think I must have been a mermaid in a previous life, as when I see water, I have a compulsion to get in it. I especially love swimming in the sea, although the water needs to be above arctic temperature to lure me in.

It is also really important to endeavour to eat reasonably well – if you stuff yourself with all sorts of rubbish, it is patently obvious that you are going to feel yuck, so eating 3 regular, healthy meals and drinking lots of water will have a noticeable effect on your mind’s health. I always feel much better if I eat lightly, but well.

Lastly, it is vital to get plenty of rest – never underestimate the importance of a good night’s sleep – and also perhaps have a little nap in the day if you can, but don’t allow it to go on for longer than 20 minutes, otherwise you may feel even more groggy.

These are all simple things, but they can have a really positive effect on your mental health and achieve a lasting sense of wellbeing.

Best wishes,
Wendy

Most people will be well aware by now of the government campaign to get people to give up smoking ‘just for October’ with the thought being that if you are able to give up for 4 weeks, you are much more likely to stay off the ciggies for life.

Whilst this may be true for some people, others that I have spoken to say that those first few weeks are actually quite easy, and then they can sometimes have a craving a month or so after having given up. The point is everyone is different and no two people have the same degree of motivation for giving up. What is universally agreed upon is that it is not an easy thing to do, and any help and support that we can get whilst in the process of stopping smoking is very welcome.

My stop smoking hypnosis package includes a thorough consultation, in which I find out what smoking does for you and how we can find other ways to fulfil those needs. We then have the hypnosis session itself, which usually lasts around 1 1/2 – 2 hours, and is uniquely tailored to your own personality and situation. You are provided with a CD to use at home, along with the option of a follow-up session, if needed. However, I generally find that the one session is enough to set you on your way. Most of my clients who come for smoking cessation hypnosis find that, after treatment, it is relatively easy as they no longer have any desire or craving for cigarettes, and their subconscious mind has found other much more healthy ways that they are able employ to de-stress.

I do not need to remind anyone of the dangers of smoking, as we are all aware of the increased risk of cancers, heart disease and lung problems.

Many people do not know, however, about other health problems that have a direct correlation with smoking. One of these is age-related macular degeneration (a type of blindness), and my mum was unfortunate enough to contract this, and has had to have regular injections directly into the eye which have saved the sight in one eye, but not the other. This has been so debilitating for my mum, it has meant that she has lost all of her confidence going out as she is worried about tripping up, and also she had to give up driving which was something she loved and gave her a great deal of independence. She also has problems seeing the television, reading and knitting – all things which she used to love doing.  It is probable that her condition would have been precipated by smoking.

If you are thinking of giving up – not just for October – and feel that hypnosis would really set you on the right path, do please give me a call on 01449 780352 or 0781 7158429, or email me wendy@wendychalk.co.uk.

Wendy x