Each day we process vast amounts of information without much thought. Our behavior is almost automatic. Without benefit of a clock, we can make a reasonable estimate of the time. When shopping, we can without too much trouble distinguish the clerk from fellow customers. Sometimes, though, we cannot find a person who seems to be [...]

Some sleep experts advocate methods whereby sleepers train themselves to awaken as soon as a troubling dream begins, by recognizing certain settings, sounds, people, or emotions. They are urged to get out of bed, once awake, and sit calmly for a few minutes, perhaps stroking their arms or wrists as a form of neural relaxation. [...]

The power of suggestion. Whilst in the hypnotic state, the person’s awareness is narrowed but is heightened and sharpened. So the suggestions of the hypnotist are totally received with minimal rejection. There are some very good hypnotic subjects who can go into a very deep hypnotic state. They can see imagined objects suggested to them [...]

In ordinary circumstances pain hurts. Because it hurts we react to it. We therefore rarely experience pain in pure form. I have warned you that some of these ideas are at first a little hard to accept. This idea is basic to our management of pain, so please go along with me. You can actually [...]

While the meditation process produces a feeling of quiet, don’t expect it to happen. Just let the meditation process happen naturally and easily. If we expect it to happen, it doesn’t. If we expect it to happen we spend the whole meditation session not meditating, but looking for the quiet and wondering when it will [...]

A panic attack, either spontaneous, cued or situationally predisposed; is diagnosed when we experience four or more of the symptoms described in chapter two. However, a large group of us also experience other sensations as the attack, and we panic as a result (Arthur Jones et al 1994). Notice the separation of the words ‘panic’ [...]

We all feel ashamed and guilty about the effect on our family. Despite these feelings, we need to be careful because we can unintentionally create further disruption. Many of us feel we need to have someone with us at all times. This can be very reassuring for us, but we need to make sure we [...]