B98.5 Interview - Listen Now

Here is the interview I did with Suzi Marsh, host of "Change Your Mind, Change Your Life" on B98.5 in Atlanta. It's divided into 5 parts, due to YouTube's limit of 10 minutes per video.

It covers a wide array of topics, from smoking cessation, weight loss, fears & phobias... to comedy stage hypnosis, stories about clients I've worked with, my background and training, and a whole lot more.

Suzi had me on air for the entire hour, so I got to gab quite a bit.

Listen and enjoy-

Sean

Fear of Flying

In today's world, having a fear of flying is not only inconvenient, it's debilitating. It can cause you to lose a business deal, a job, a friend, or precious time that is wasted driving on interstates. If you'd like to visit other countries and see the world, having a fear of flying will bring your plans to a halt.

The Experts All Agree... and They're Wrong

If you enter "fear of flying" into Google, you'll find more than two million results on the subject, including countless articles in USA Today, The New York Times and other respected publications. These articles include the opinions of doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, and even some people who run "fear of flying" workshops.



Sometimes they'll mention hypnosis as a footnote, but it's never really given the time of day. They either try to force these poor people to buy tickets for flights and "conquer" their fears with will power and rationalizations, or they ask them to talk about their fears week after week with the hope that if they discover the origin or "cause" of the fear, it will magically disappear.

While I believe these people to be honest and well-intentioned, I have to say "Where have they been the past few decades?" The techniques I use (a combination of hypnosis and NLP) aren't new, and they work so well and so quickly that I am often stunned that these intelligent people haven't heard about them. I didn't invent these techniques, but I've used them to help my clients to get over their fears quite literally in less than an hour. That's not an exception - it's the rule.

100% Success Rate

I've been practicing hypnotherapy since 2003, and I have worked with people who had been suffering from a fear of flying for 10, 20 or 30 years (see testimonials below). I can honestly say that every single one of them has since shed that fear completely. If I someday experience a failure, I will immediately update this with the correct figures.

The fact is, when it comes to fears and phobias, hypnosis works. It works quickly and painlessly, and it works better than anything else out there.

There's no obligation to buy a plane ticket and no need to rationalize your way out of your fear. When you leave my office, you'll be thinking differently about flying. We'll change your automatic thoughts about flying, and change your automatic response. It's that simple.

It's the Thought that Counts

If you suffer from a fear of flying, you know that you can experience the feelings of anxiety just by thinking about flying. Most people I've met even feel the anxiety while packing for a trip, or while driving to the airport. When you leave my office, you'll know your fear is gone, because thinking or talking about flying will no longer trigger those feelings. Additionally, each of my clients walks away with a hypnosis CD they can listen to for reinforcement... before a flight, on the plane, in bed at night... anytime.

Sure, I'd love to park a 747 outside my office and watch you board it with a big bright smile on your face and all the confidence in the world... but it's really not necessary. After all, the fear doesn't take place on an airplane, it takes place in your mind.

Remember, hypnosis is relaxation... the exact opposite of stress, anxiety and fear. You can't feel stressed and relaxed at the same time.

Case Studies

25-Year Fear of Flying

"I had a fear of flying. No, scratch that. Actually it was a phobia of flying. Just the thought of going to an airport made me sick to my stomach. I was told I needed to travel to L.A. on a business trip and I needed to travel alone. I knew I wouldn't be able to go. A friend gave me Sean's information and told me to call him. I did.

I arrived at Sean's office and he told me he may be able to "cure" my disease in an hour. 'Yeah right,' I thought. That's impossible. I had been dealing with this paralyzing phobia for 25 years.

At the end of the session, one hour later, my mind was relaxed and at ease. My trip to L.A. was scheduled for the next day and not only was the fear gone, but excitement took its place. He told me that the more I flew the more fun I would have each trip. He was right.

I now fly all over the country on trips by myself... trips that I make for myself! I have fun and feel safe. Turbulence doesn't even bother me. It's amazing how liberated and strong I feel now as a result of my therapy session with Sean. I recommend his services to everyone I know. It's the right choice. And best of all, it's an alternative to medication that's everlasting.

Thank you, Sean! You've changed my life."

-Whitney
Atlanta, GA

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20-Year Fear of Flying

"I just wanted to say thank you so much for all your help. I didn't really believe it until I took that flight, but I can honestly say that I really enjoyed it more than I ever thought I would. It's unbelievable to realize that it's really gone for good, but I can't even make the fear come back if I try, which is kinda weird, but good!

Thanks again,

-Juan
Atlanta, GA

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(This testimonial is from a client who never set foot in my office. Communication with the client was made solely through email. After gathering sufficient information, I created and recorded a CD which Kathy used in preparation for her trip.)

"Hi Sean,

I've just returned from my trip to Myrtle Beach and I have to tell you that it was a great trip! After listening to your CD several times, I must say that I wasn't as apprehensive as I've been in the past about getting on the plane. The flights were very smooth and quick and it was so nice to get there quickly for a change!

Your CD was very soothing and reassuring and I really believe that it made a difference. At this time, I would not hesitate to go on another flight again in the near future.

THANK YOU!!! "

-Kathy
Brighton, MI

Stage Hypnosis Secrets Revealed... or, "How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Hypnosis"

It's time to put to rest all those worries about losing control while hypnotized. Check out the podcast below where I talk in detail about how stage hypnosis works and why you don't have to worry about clucking like a chicken if you're there to stop smoking.

Video: Hypnosis for Public Speaking

Hypnosis FAQ: "Will I Lose Awareness While Hypnotized?"

This video is taken from my stop smoking hypnosis seminar on World Hypnotism Day - January 4th, 2009. Here, I talk briefly about the state of hypnosis and what it's like... and how you remain aware of what is happening throughout the process.

Check Out the New Website!

For the first time in nearly six years, the Pure Hypnosis Website has received a complete makeover. The new features include a newsletter, YouTube videos and social networking links (Facebook, Twitter).

Check it out by clicking the image below!

Podcast: Hypnosis for Fears & Phobias

FAQ - "How Does Hypnosis Work with Fears & Phobias?"

How to Enjoy Flying

I thought I'd take a quick break from packing my suitcase to pass on some very simple, clear information to those of you who suffer from a fear of flying.

When I work with my clients on this fear, I always ask them when the fear begins. Usually, it begins when they plan the trip. Literally, it can be when they're online, shopping for flights, choosing the dates, etc. The fear then intensifies as each days passes and the day of the flight gets closer.



My approach to curing fears and phobias comes from a unique concept - teaching people how to think like those of us who actually enjoy flying. We think about the trip in a way that produces absolutely no anxiety or uncomfortable feelings, and that's because of what we think and how we think about it.

So here's how I do it, as I've come to discover through a bit of introspection:

• When I buy the tickets, I'm thinking about who I'm going to see. The confirmation I receive in the email is then sent off to the family members or friends who I'll be visiting, so they'll know when I'm arriving at the airport. The thought of seeing these people puts a smile on my face. [otherwise, I wouldn't be buying the ticket!]
• When I think about the trip, my thoughts are focused on what I'll be doing while I'm there. The airport experience and flight barely enter into my mind.
• When I pack for the trip (like tonight), I'm again thinking only about what I'll be doing while I'm there. This allows me to choose the right clothes for the trip! One other thought that crosses my mind is to travel light... because although I'm not afraid of flying, I have no love for waiting at the baggage claim.
• On the day of the trip, it's all about giving myself enough time to arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare. This prevents any unnecessary stress due to worrying about missing the flight or getting bumped (especially this time of year).
• When I arrive at the airport, I think of it as though my vacation has already begun. Now, everyone else has to do all the work. I get to turn on the ipod, listen to my favorite music, read a book, and just turn off my brain. Occasionally, I'll glance at the time and keep an eye on the gate so I'll know when it's time to board. During this time, there is absolutely no thought about being on the plane, the actual flight experience or the possibility of a crash or terrorist attack (this is a big one since 9/11). I've trained myself so these thoughts just don't enter into my mind.
• When it's time to board, I'm usually still absorbed in music and a book. My attention is on what I'm reading... that's it. This helps with blocking out the screaming kids and impatient or sttressed-out travelers, too. I meander my way through the aisle to my seat, toss my bags in the overhead and plop down in the seat. At this point, although I continue to read, I keep the headphones off in case someone sits next to me or wants my attention. This is all as dull as can be... just the way I like it.
• When the plane begins to taxi, I might close my eyes and do some self-hypnosis... just relax my whole body as deeply as possible. During takeoff, I usually do have a passing awareness of the small possibility that there could be an accident. I don't think about this visually... it's just an awareness that allows me to mentally prepare. I might think about how great life has been... the good times I've had... and I resolve myself that if today's my day, then I've had a pretty good ride.

I actually enjoy this last part - an emotional acceptance of my lack of control of the situation. Once I've made the choice and the flight is in progress, there's no point in wondering what's going to happen or having regrets - it's out of my hands. If I were to die tomorrow, I would have no regrets. Rather than causing anxiety, this thought process actually calms me even more.



Acceptance of death as a natural part of the life cycle is very empowering.

Once the flight reaches cruising altitude, I either drift off to sleep, dig into the book, or just listen to music and allow my thoughts to wander. It's a time when I have no responsibilities, so I can relax and reflect.

Taking a trip is a good time to think about your life, where you're going and where you've been. Many times I've returned from a trip and made significant changes based on those reflections and new ideas that have come to me while thinking or reading.

The point of the story here is that there are far more interesting things to think about and do when taking a trip than focusing on the terrifying thoughts in which bad things happen.

This is something that anyone can learn to do... and it is my pleasure to teach people how to do it in my office, all while relaxing in a comfortable trance.

Happy Holidays.

Winona Ryder's Fear Sends Her to the Hospital

Call this "How Not to Cure a Phobia - Part III" (see the previous installments in the archives of this blog).

These examples seem to come along nearly every other day now... people putting themselves at high risk in order to combat a fear that could be dealt with much more safely and comfortably.



This time it's a celebrity - Winona Ryder - who decided to use powerful prescription drugs to combat her fear of flying. The result? She apparently overdosed on tranquilizers, forcing the pilot to request a priority landing so she could be rushed to the hospital.

Click here for the story from Reuters.

Thankfully, Ms. Ryder survived and is in good health. It's a shame that with all her wealth and popularity, she hasn't yet found the help she needs to address her fear appropriately.

Drugs (tranquilizers, in this case) treat symptoms, that's it. They do nothing to address the cause. Even if you never overdose on them, the best you can hope for is that you'll continue taking them for the rest of your life. It's dependency... slavery, if you will.

Fear begins in the subconscious. There are thoughts that cross Winona Ryder's mind when she takes a flight, or even thinks about flying, and these thoughts produce feelings of panic and anxiety. People who enjoy flying don't think about it the same way. If they did, they'd be as afraid as she is.

The way to eliminate a phobia is to change the thoughts that produce the feelings. Once the thoughts change, the response changes automatically. It doesn't matter how long the fear has been in place. It doesn't matter what the feared object may be.

The change can happen very quickly.



While it is understandable that to someone who hasn't studied or experienced hypnosis or NLP (neuro-linguistic programming), this may seem fanciful - too good to be true - the truth is that therapists have been curing phobias in this way for decades. Do a little Google research into the "10-minute phobia cure" created by Richard Bandler (photo, above), the co-founder of NLP.

I often tell my clients the story of how I cured my first phobia after reading a famous book co-authored by Richard Bandler and John Grinder - Frogs into Princes (pictured below). I quite literally had a couple months' worth of hypnotherapy training, added to the knowledge I gained reading Bandler & Grinder's books, when I made my first attempt. The result? I helped a 52-year-old woman lose her 33-year phobia of cats - in one session.



Now I'm no conspiracy theorist, but I instantly began to wonder why something so simple and safe would remain relatively unknown to the majority of the population. After all, even most psychiatrists these days still employ "exposure" therapy to cure fears and phobias.

Then I realized that many psychiatrists prescribe pharmaceuticals to patients for the phobias, and that large pharmaceutical companies like Merck and Pfizer make billions of dollars a year selling these drugs to people. While a hypnotherapist might make a few hundred bucks curing your fear, think about how much money can be made selling you prescription drugs for the rest of your life.

Treating phobias with drugs is profitable. It's big business.

So if you're skeptical as to whether something like hypnosis could actually work, and if so, why it remains so obscure (even though it's becoming more mainstream), consider how many billions of dollars in profits would be lost if everyone stopped taking tranquilizers and used hypnosis to eliminate their anxiety.

My hope is that Ms. Ryder, and anyone else suffering from intense fear or anxiety, will now seek help from someone who's well-trained in hypnosis and NLP, so this kind of thing doesn't happen again.

Panic Attacks

When people have panic attacks, they don't come from out of nowhere. There is a specific process by which people take themselves from one state to another. That process has to do with what they're thinking about, and how, specifically, they are thinking about it.

For example, in order to go from a state of complete comfort and relaxation to a state of panic, something has to happen. For most people, it's something they actually see or experience that tells them "Hey! Get ready to fight! Something bad is about to happen!" A wonderful example of this would be witnessing an elephant running through your living room.

Real or Imagined? What's the Difference?

What's different in people who experience panic attacks is that they can go from relaxation to panic without any external stimuli whatsoever. The change is a result of a progression of thoughts, which can be just as powerful as the "real thing."

The subconscious mind can't distinguish between "real" and imagined sounds and images, which is why you can simply imagine a frightening situation and actually feel the fear response in your body. If you disagree, just recall a time when you heard a noise late at night and wondered if someone was breaking into your home. Now ask yourself, was that fear "real?"

From Calm to Panic - One Man's Journey

Here's an example of how a person might experience a panic attack:

Let's say a man is spending a nice, quiet evening at home while his wife is out with a friend. She said she'd be home by 11:00, and it's now 11:30. The man says to himself: "My wife is never late... not unless she calls. She has a cell phone, so why wouldn't she call?" Then he creates an image of his wife stranded by the side of the road, or perhaps in an accident. If he's really good at having panic attacks, he might even create a vivid image of his wife - injured, unconscious, thrown from her vehicle.

For him, these images have the same power and impact as if they had actually happened. The longer he waits, and the more he thinks about it, the feelings become stronger. He replays those graphic images over and over again in his mind until he can barely breathe. Eventually, his experience is the same as if the imagined events had actually occurred. As for his wife... well, she was out having fun and simply lost track of the time. It happens.

Change the Path, Change the Experience

The way to deal with panic attacks is to interrupt or modify this internal thought process. There are several ways to do this. One way is by learning to manipulate those internal thoughts and images to lessen their impact.

To try this out for yourself, create a big bright image of something real or imagined which you find particularly frightening, and notice the how your body feels in response to that image. Now make the image black and white, and shrink it down so that you can barely see it in your mind. Now make it dark and blurry. Does that have any impact on the feeling in your body? For most people, the response is a fraction of what it used to be.

This is just one way you can use your mind and your imagination to your advantage. There are many others. With a little practice, you will learn to gain control of your experience and take it in a new direction.