Interpersonal Therapy

Interpersonal therapy (IPT) is a short-term supportive psychotherapy that focuses on the connection between and interactions between people and the development of individuals who are experiencing mental health difficulties. IPT has a very strong evidence-base for the treatment of depression.

• You will find on this website:
• Articles about IPT in relation to various mental health disorders;
• Research updates;
• Recommended Books on IPT;
• Information on Depression and Anxiety Disorders:
• New Applications of IPT.

Different aspects trigger sexual addiction, otherwise known as sexual compulsivity. The obsession to sexually abnormal display is a complicated topic and can comparatively be qualified to a single cause . Sex compulsion could be a accumulation of different factors at once , such as emotional trauma. In general , the basis of sexual compulsivity may be classified into three : biological, psychological, and spiritual. Biologically means , a biochemical process in the brain, affecting the pleasure and reward pathways, may initiate sexual dependence. Researched illustrate that food, drug abuse, and sexual interests share a common pathway within the brains’ survival and reward systems. Sex and food are very alike in this sense as they are probably the most basic and fundamental human drives. Think about that without eating we would starve to death and without sex we would no longer continue our DNA into the future . Brain chemistry has fashioned sophisticated reward systems to motivate this purpose directed behavior. Sexual activities prompt the natural opioids and dopamine that produce intense satisfaction and excitement accentuating the addiction and the likelihood of prolonged behavior . Fascinatingly, modern brain imaging demonstrates us that the brain when sexually aroused looks quite similar to a brain under the influence of cocaine. No wonder the drive for having sex is so powerful . This gives us reasons why even goal-directed people can be equally indulge into sexual activities and seeks help. Their brains have been taken control. Psychologically, the sexual addicts resort to this inappropriate sexual activities to overcome physical, emotional, sexual abuse. The majority of accounted sexual addicts link up stories of the past that contain these psychological exploitation and traumas . Emotionally for the sex addict, sex is not really about sex but a means to provide an false impression of assertion, a mask of control and connection in a secure atmosphere. The sexual “fix” has become the source of pleasure and a means of staying away from negative feeling, a coping mechanism to fight stress , work difficulties , interpersonal, psychological, and emotional problems. Researched reveal that majority sex addicts come from dysfunctional families. The result of one study show that 72% of sex addicts had been physically abused in childhood, 81% had been sexually abused, and 97% emotionally abused. Patrick Carnes’ research also indicates that 87% of the families of sexual addicts involved more than one addict in the home and a large number of them grew up in a firm family system, disengaged family system, or both a strict and disengaged family system. The connotation is that a lot of sex addicts come from families where their emotional needs were not met . They source out other things to avoid awful childhood experiences. Spiritually, sex addiction provides for the illusion that pleasing comfort, love, and security can be fulfilled separately from God. What need do they have for God if a sexual fix” is all that they need?.The dependence becomes the God that calms , awaken, or assists the sex addict break away from the trouble. So long as sex is an alternative the addict can live in the delusion of in control and is not likely to admit defeat and surrender spiritually essential to feel a true spiritual experience. These basis are many and usually overlap depending on the situation of the sexual addict. This is why treatment of a sex addict involves much effort and support not only from the individual but also his or her families. Support and encouragement from 12 step groups and a recovery community, group therapy, and even family and friends all helps in the the treatment of the sex addict and support in the healing process . Understanding Sex Addiction Different reasons causes sexual addiction, otherwise known as sexual compulsivity. addiction to sexually compulsive action is a difficult to understand matter and can comparatively be attributed to a single cause . Sexual compulsion might be brought by different situation build up over time, such as early exposure of an individual to inappropriate behavior traumatic experiences during childhood . Usually, the causes of sexual addiction may be classified into three : biological, psychological, and spiritual. Biologically is , a biochemical process in the brain, affecting the pleasure and reward pathways, may initiate sexual addiction . Studies show that food, drug abuse, and sexual interests share a common pathway within the brains’ survival and reward systems. Sex and food are parallel in this sense as they are almost certainly the most basic and fundamental human drives. Consider that without eating we would starve to death and the absence of sexual intercourse we would no longer continue our DNA into the future . Brain chemistry has created sophisticated reward systems to encourage this goal directed behavior. Sex triggers the natural opioids and dopamine that produce severe satisfaction and euphoria accentuating the addiction and the likelihood of continued behavior . Interestingly , modern brain imaging demonstrates us that the brain when sexually aroused looks nearly identical to a brain under the influence of cocaine. No wonder the drive for having sex is so powerful . It made clear why even competent people can be equally indulge into sexual activities and seeks help. Their brains have been taken control. Psychologically, the sex addicts opted this sexual activities to overcome physical, emotional, sexual abuse. The majority of reported sex addicts narrate histories that include these psychological exploitation and suffering . Emotionally for the sex addict, engaging into sex is not really about sex but a way to provide an illusion of affirmation , a guise of control and connection in a secure environment . The sexual fix has become the source of pleasure and a means of staying away from negative feeling, a survival mechanism to combat anxiety, pressure from work, interpersonal, psychological, and emotional problems. Studies show that majority sex addicts come from dysfunctional families. The result of one study show that 72% of sex addicts had been physically abused in childhood, 81% had been sexually abused, and 97% emotionally abused. Patrick Carnes’ research also indicates that 87% of the families of sexual addicts included more than one addict in the home and a vast majority of the sexual addicts grew up in a strict family system, disengaged family system, or both a strict and disengaged family system. The connotation is that a lot of sex addicts come from families where their emotional needs were not met . They learn to resort to other things to forget a traumatic experience they had . Spiritually, sexual addiction provides for the delusion that satisfying comfort, love, and security can be fulfilled separately from God. What need do they have for God if a sexual fix is all that they need?.The addiction becomes the God that consoles , awaken, or aids the sex addict escape the present moment . As long as engaging to sexual activity is an option the addict can live in the illusion of in command and is not likely to surrender spiritually necessary to experience a true spiritual experience. These basis are a lot and typically overlap basing on the conditions of the sex addict. The reason why treatment of a sex addict entails much effort and support not only from the individual but also his or her families. Support and encouragement from 12 step groups and a recovery community, group therapy, and even family and friends all helps in the the recovery of the sex addict and assist in the healing method .

Isn’t it funny what we assume about leaders in senior positions. They no longer have anything to learn about interpersonal relationships or leadership. They have arrived, proof positive of their skill level!
Furthermore, only a fearless few people will give them the honest, useful feed-back that self-development requires. The “culture” expects them to be role models and our models are supposed to get it “right.” Showing their vulnerabilities is a “no-no,” not to be done in front of those who report to them and certainly not advised in front of competitive colleagues on their leadership team. Of course, the CEO is too busy (and often not sufficiently skilled) to help them grow interpersonally.
The fact is that many individuals arrive at the senior level with much still to learn about people. Often they bring to the executive wing styles, habits and beliefs that have worked for them since they were a supervisor. Suddenly these formulae for success no longer work and, in many cases, must be unlearned and replaced with behaviors more in line with modern leadership.
This is why so many organizations today are investing in coaching for their key leaders. The benefits from being coached stem primarily from the leverage that is obtained. When a senior leader operates with a less-than-functional style, its negative impact on performance and morale can reverberate from within the senior leadership team right out through the frontlines to the customer. The good news is that turning this individual’s style around will have the same multiplier effect in a positive direction.
What is Coaching?
Coaching is a series of periodic one-on-one consultations, usually with an external resource, over a period of time- typically anywhere from three to eighteen months. Between sessions the “coachee” (whom we will call the “client”) applies newly learned approaches at work, receives feedback, then reassesses, and refines his/her behavior accordingly. Coaching is not therapy, however, occasionally a coach may suggest counselling as a promising course of action for deeper seated issues that are blocking effectiveness. Well done coaching yields a high return on investment because the process is totally customized to the “client’s” challenges and needs and it maximizes the executive’s time off the job.
The goal of the coaching process is to generate, in the client, effective skills and attitudes that are self-sustaining, selfcorrecting and directly supportive of his or her expected performance results.
When does one engage a coach?
Usually-but not always-it is the individual’s boss who initiates the coaching intervention. Typically this is in response to a need to turn around a significant performance problem or to improve an interpersonal skill deficiency that is holding back an otherwise excellent executive. Coaching is also used to prepare someone for a promotion, generally enhance leadership potential, and provide support for a particularly challenging leadership situation (e.g. managing a major change, inheriting a new department).
On the other hand, Coaching is not always indicated. I would not take on a coaching assignment when the boss has already decided to fire or demote the individual, when there is insufficient time to generate the results required, or where the person is entering a coaching process against his/her will. This latter condition is sometimes a judgment call but my ethical and business bottom-line is that the client must buy in to the process freely and genuinely.
What should you look for in a coach?
Consider the mix of (1) skills, (2) knowledge and (3) attributes of any coaching consultant.
Critical skills are:
• communications (interviewing, listening, feedback, summarizing)
• facilitation (including the ability both to confront and support)
• teaching
• the ability to take a systems perspective (the client does not operate in isolation but as an integral part of complex organizational systems)
Look for knowledge in three areas:
1. psychology and human behavior
2. business, management and organizational life
3. how adults learn
The ideal attributes in the coach you select include:
• flexibility
• work experience and maturity
• self-confidence
• confidentiality
• comfort with complexity
• ambiguity
I believe your coach should be someone who places a high value on-even has a passion for-the growth of others and who is willing to learn and grow himself/herself in the process. And, of course, the relationship must work for both parties, client and coach.
Some coaches are clinically trained, that is, they are psychologists or professional therapists. This is not necessary but neither is it negative. Clinicians bring a deep understanding of human behavior and effective interpersonal techniques. They are trained to recognize deeper pathology should it become evident during the process. As long as they have a solid understanding of business and organizations and they stick to coaching, certainly do consider them for coaching.
What does a coaching process look like?
Each intervention is unique but let’s look briefly at a typical sequence.
1. Coach meets with the client’s boss and the client to ascertain issues, objectives and the standards expected by the organization.
2. Coach and client meet. In this meeting I particularly check out our chemistry and my client’s degree of buy-in to the overall process. Once that is confirmed, I conduct an in-depth interview with him/her to scope in detail his/her personal and work background, version of the issues, feelings, needs, concerns, and how the client currently perceives and interprets his/her world.
3. Data gathering. This may involve interviews with key players in the team, the client’s direct reports, and others who interact with him/her. Often a 360 degree feedback instrument is used to obtain perceptions from the client’s boss, peers, and subordinates. Psychological measurements also can contribute a lot. I routinely use the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator© with great success. Another technique is to “shadow” the client and observe him/her in typical interactions and meetings.
4. Coach compiles all this information, feeds it back to the client, and facilitates a discussion-sometimes lengthy and emotional.
5. Client identifies and commits to specific objectives and deliverables for the process.
6. Client develops an action plan.
7. With the on-going involvement of the coach, the client implements the plan over an appropriate number of months. This is the core of the process.
8. Once the plan has been accomplished, client and coach conduct a final assessment of the client’s progress against the objectives. Here we may determine the need to gather data once again to confirm others’ perceptions and experience of the progress made.
9. Finally, a ninth step might be contracted where the coach checks in occasionally over the next year or so to provide on-going support.
When we look to the world of athletics and entertainment we see that those who aspire to excellence understand the value of coaches. The seasoned masters in my field of professional speaking certainly use them. I have several coaching colleagues amongst whom we coach one another.
What about your key people? What about you?

INTRODUCTION

Research work by Baum (1982) indicates a reawakening interest in examining loneliness, especially among the elderly over the last several years which is of international in scope. One impetus for the new interest is the realization that loneliness is a serious and widespread problem for many elderly persons today (Weiss, 1973). Even though loneliness is perceived as an important consideration in oldage, there is no clear understanding of what loneliness is, or of what may contribute to, or exacerbate its development among the elderly. Although space constraints do not allow for a complete review of growing literature on loneliness (Hartog, Audy and Cohen, 1980) but some understanding of how loneliness is viewed is necessary to identify the basic issues involved. Polansky (1985) has indicated that “loneliness is a nearly universal human emotion-(where) all but the most fortunate-are subject to it.” Young (1980) defines loneliness as the absence or perceived absence of satisfactory social relationships. Russell, Peplau and Cutrona (1980) consider loneliness as reflecting interpersonal social relationships.

Loneliness has been shown to consist of atleast two distinct dimensions that are referred to by Weiss (1987) as emotional isolation-seen as the absence of an attachment figure in one’s life and social isolation-regarded as the absence of a place in an accepting community. The distinction between social and emotional loneliness is clearly one of the most influential in the literature. Weiss bases his distinction on the nature of the social deficit. Peplau and Perlman (1982) examined and viewed loneliness as an affective state in which the individual is aware of being apart from others and apart form familiar support networks or systems. Other writers have distinguished chronic from temporary loneliness, and negative vs positive forms of aloneness. Still others (e.g., Sadler & Johnson, 1980 and Ellison, 1978) have discussed such types of loneliness as self-estrangement and/ or existential loneliness. Existential loneliness may be more tied to the lack of religion or meaning in life than to a lack of interpersonal bonds.

Even so an examination of the literature on loneliness shows that being alone and being lonely are not necessarily coincident. Many consider and treat loneliness on synonymous with aloneness. Researchers perceive loneliness as a negative construct but aloneness is viewed as both positive as well as negative constructs. Negative aloneness is viewed as the emotional experience of being apart from others when he/she wants to be part of them and positive aloneness is viewed as a feeling to stay away from others, to be close with one’s own self. In this research negative perception of loneliness is treated in synonymous with negative aloneness and positive perception of loneliness is viewed as the combination of both negative and positive aloneness.

Though loneliness has been conceived as a problem for everyone from children to elderly people (Schultz & Moore, 1984 and Natale, 1986) however, it is more distressing for elderly because their spouses might be deceased or due to the fading of occupational and social networks upon retirement. Religious behaviours and spiritual well-being are associated with low loneliness in the elderly (Walten et al., 1991).

Purpose of the study

Review of literature on loneliness leads to the conclusion that research on loneliness particularly in Indian context is inadequate. Social psychologists and gerontologists are becoming increasingly aware that a sense of control is an important determinant of the aged individual’s physical and psychological well-being (Schultz, 1976). Hence this study has been attempted to find out the perception of the elderly towards loneliness and to study the major activities involved into ward off loneliness among the elderly.

Hypotheses

The following hypotheses were formulated and tested:

1. The elderly individuals perceive loneliness as an unwanted situation.

2. Religion appears as the major activity to resolve loneliness among the elderly.

METHOD

Sample

The total number of subjects was 60. The sample comprised of 30 elderly men and 30 elderly women in age ranging from 50 to 82 years (Mean age=63 years). The subjects were selected from Coimbatore district (Manchester of South India) in Tamil Nadu. The subjects (both males and females) were contacted individually by the researcher and data was collected by face-to-face interview.

Tool

The tools used in this study by the researcher were:

1. Personal Information Schedule: An “information schedule” was designed by the investigator to procure demographic and biographical information from the sample required for the study.

2. Informal Interview Schedule: An “interview schedule” was prepared by the investigator to extract information from the respondents from eight areas, namely, birth and childhood life, relationship with significant others, health and school experience, work life, marital life, views regarding loneliness, whether prefer to be alone at times, if ‘yes’ and ‘why?’ And ways of resolving loneliness.

For the present research incidental sampling technique was employed. Each subject was individually contacted by the researcher and data was obtained in a face-to-face manner. Data collection was done for duration of 30 days.

Statistical Analysis

Percentage scores and chi-square tests were calculated.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1 shows the perception of elderly towards loneliness

Perception of Elderly No. of responses Percentage of responses

Positive 15 25%

Negative 35 58.3%

Mixed 10 16.6%

X2(2) = 17.5; p

Table 2 shows the frequency of subjects resorting to various activities to ward off loneliness

Activity

Frequency

Percentage

Religion

20 33.3%

Hobbies

22 36.6%

Social Activities

18 30%

X2(2) = 0.4; NS

There were no significant gender differences found towards the perception of loneliness. The results in Table 1 show that chi-square value for 2df is significant below 0.01 level of confidence which confirms the first hypothesis. The chi-square value also indicates that perception of loneliness in terms of positive, negative, and mixed qualities in not equally distributed. As mentioned earlier the examination of the literature of loneliness shows that being alone and being lonely are not coincident, but many subjects in this study treated loneliness as synonymous with aloneness hence in this research loneliness is treated on par with being alone. Table 1 indicated that about 58% of the elderly perceive loneliness negatively (negative aloneness) this is in accordance with the findings of previous researches on loneliness which have indicated that majority of the elderly perceived loneliness as an unwanted situation (e.g. , Seligman, 1975; Weiss, 1973; etc). These findings are also supported by prior findings of Bowling et al (1989) who examined factor related to loneliness in 590 female and 60 male elderly (aged 85+ years) and stated that loneliness is undesirable because it arises due to increased physical impairment, small social network, increased psychiatric morbidity and lack of confidante. This result also indicates that about 25% of the elderly perceive loneliness positively (positive aloneness), a condition whereby the elderly avoids contacts with others and prefer to be in contact with one’s own self mainly due to the stereotypes and prejudices present in the society regarding oldage. Table 1 also points out that nearly 17% of the elderly have mixed perception towards loneliness which is due to vague or unclear views regarding the experience of loneliness.

The results of Table 2 indicate the chi-square value for 2df is not significant which states all the three major activities, namely, religion, hobbies, and social activities are equally spread among the elderly population to ward off loneliness. The present finding does not confirm the second hypothesis which states that “religion appear as the major activity to resolve loneliness among the elderly.”

This finding is supported by the earlier research by Kivett (1979) who investigated religion as motivating factor among 301 elderly persons and found that elderly with high idealized self-concept and adults believing more in personal control are less likely to be motivated by religion. Querry and Steins (1974) found that religion optimism decreased with age. Generally, loneliness is viewed more of a social phenomena, hobbies tend to predominate the leisure time activities in later life play an important role. Normally elderly people resolve loneliness by means of social activities and hobbies such as gardening, fishing, reading, etc. along with religious activities. Hence this study indicates that all three major activities are equally spread to ward off loneliness among elderly.

REFERENCES

Baum, S.K.: Loneliness in elderly persons: A preliminary study. Psychological Reports, 50: 1317-1318, 1982.

Bowling, A.P., Edlemann, R.J., Leaver and Hockel, T.: Loneliness, mobility, well-being and social support in a sample of over 85 years olds. Personality and Independent Differences, 10(11), 1989.

Ellison, C.W.: Loneliness: A social development analysis. Journal of Psychology and Theology. 6: 3-17, 1978.

Hartog, J; Audy, J.R and Cohen, Y.A. (eds.): The anatomy of loneliness. New York: International Universities Press, 1980.

Kivett, V.R.: Religious motivation in middle age: Correlates and implications. Journal of Gerontology, 34(1): 106-115, 1979.

Natale, S.M.: Loneliness and the aging client: Psychotherapeutic consideration. In S.M. Natale (eds.). Psychotherapy and the lonely patient. New York: Howorts, 77-94, 1986.

Peplau, L.A and Perlman, D.: Loneliness: A source book of current theory, research and therapy. New York: John Wiley. 1982.

Polansky, N.A.: Determinants of loneliness among neglectful and other low-income mothers. Journal of Social Service Researches. 8: 1-15, 1985.

Querry, J.M and Steins, M.: Disillusionment, health status and age: A study of value differences of mid-western women. International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 5(3): 245-256,1974.

Rubenstein, C.M., Shaver, P and Peplau, L.A.: Loneliness. New York: New York University Press, 1979.

Russell, D.W., Peplau, L.A and Cutrona, C.E.: The Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale: Concurrent and discriminate validity evidence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 39: 472-480, 1980.

Sadler, W.A and Johnson, T.R.: From loneliness to anomie. In: Hartog, J.R., Audy and Cohen, Y.A. (eds.). The anatomy of loneliness, New York: International Universities Press, 1980.

Schultz, N.R. Jr and Moore, D.: Loneliness: Correlates attributes and coping among the older adults. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin Co., 67-77, 1984.

Seligman, M.E.P.: Helplessness: On depression, development and death. San Francisco: W.H. Freman, 1975.

Walten, C.G., Schultz, C.M., Beck, C.M. and Walls, R.C.: Psychological correlates of loneliness in the older adults. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 5(3): 65-77,1991.

Weiss, R.S.: Loneliness: The experience of emotional and social isolation. Cambridge: MA: MIT Press, 1973.

Weiss, R.S.: Reflection on the present state of loneliness research. In: M. Hojat and R. Crandall (eds.). (Special issue). Loneliness: Theory, research and applications. Journal of Social Psychology, 2: 1-16, 1987.

Young, J.E.: Loneliness, depression and cognitive therapy. In: L.A. Peplau and Perlman, D (eds.). Loneliness: A source book of current theory, research and therapy. New York: Wiley Interscience, 379-405, 1982.

When I was a clinical psychologist in private practice, I was often puzzled (although always thrilled) about why my therapy clients got better.
When I asked them, explanations inevitably focused on our therapeutic relationship. “You really seemed to care about me.” “You were always there to listen.” “I felt safe enough to tell you things I’ve never told anyone.” Essentially, the talk centered on the quality of our relationship rather than the therapeutic techniques I spent years studying.
The same seems to be true of human resource professionals. After over two decades of management and human resource consulting, I have consistently found that the effectiveness of an organization’s human resource department centers on the managers’ and employees’ ability to trust the HR staff.
In fact, when we talk about “organizational trust,” we are often talking about a limited concept – the degree of to which corporate communication is clear, the existence of rules and procedures, and the consistency of an organization’s business philosophy and goals. Trust lies primarily in the realm not of organizational dynamics, but of interpersonal dynamics. In this article, we’ll take a look at how human resource professionals can play a critical role in building trust with the managers and employees who ultimately control the bottom line.
Four Parts of the Trust Equation
Trust is the foundation for effective communication, employee retention, and employee motivation. When trust exists in an organization or in a work relationship, almost everything else is easier and more comfortable to achieve. When it’s absent, people leave, file lawsuits, and are less productive. Trust is also a more complicated concept than it at first appears. While trust is most often thought of as an intangible gut feeling, in reality it is a complex mixture of four basic ingredients – credibility, reliability, intimacy, and personal orientation. Let’s take a look at each of these ingredients and how human resource professionals can demonstrate them:
1. Credibility has to do with the words we speak–are we believable? When managers and employees are evaluating their human resource department’s credibility, they look well beyond credentials to the person’s behavior, demonstrated expertise, and interpersonal demeanor.
* Trust builder: Be a constant source of information. Supply information to employees on a wide range of employment issues through a variety of media. If possible, provide information on a weekly or daily basis on a variety of topics that directly impact or benefit employees. Use as many communication methods as possible. They’ll soon come to see you as a resource, rather than an obstacle.
* Trust builder: Know your stuff. Trusted professionals continuously learn and stay up on the trends and issues of their industry. They also insist on rigorously clear thinking about HR issues; rather than blindly pursuing employee retention programs, for example, they have a point of view about the right level of turnover; about the payback, return on investment and pro-cons of alternative approaches to retention; and about the priority of retention among other general business initiatives.
2. Reliability has to do with the actions we take–are we dependable? The factors that go into this part of the equation are predictability, dependability and familiarity. For instance, does the human resource professional treat employees consistently, follow-through on his or her commitments, and respond quickly to problems and requests for information?
* Trust builder: Get your ducks in a row. The quickest way to lose credibility with a workforce is to make mistakes. Not meeting deadlines, making “minor” errors, and not following through on promises will come back to haunt you every time. HR is watched by many eyes and can’t afford to be sloppy or incomplete.
3. Intimacy has to do with safety of the interactions between human resources and managers/employees. The intimacy factor essentially has to do with a sense that the human resource professional is discrete, understands how the manager or employee feels, and knows how to deal with that knowledge.
* Trust builder: Get clear with yourself. It’s tricky to be the liaison between employees and employers. If you have unresolved conflicts in your belief systems about the rights, obligations, and ethics of employees versus employers, it’s important to either resolve them or clarify them. Managers can respect the integrity of those they disagree with; but they will never trust those with unclear belief systems.
* Trust builder: Make your role known. Oftentimes, employees misunderstand how HR operates. To combat this phenomenon, advertise your job, including your mission, your role, and your services. Make it known how you handle “confidential” information. Don’t be afraid to do a little education about the HR world. The more they know, the more they trust and respect you.
* Trust builder: Avoid favoritism. Don’t turn to the same manager for input over and over again. Avoid socializing exclusively with senior managers or with specific managers/employees. If managers or employees perceive that you have “special relationships” with certain members of the organization, they will be much less likely to trust you to be impartial.
4. Self- Orientation has to do with attention, i.e., on whom is your attention focused? Human resource professionals often have only the best motives, but worry about how they are being perceived, about how smart they seem, and about whether they’ll get the job. To that extent, they may not focus on the manager or employee in front of them–and to that extent they won’t be trusted.
* Trust builder: Constantly ask for feedback. Conduct annual surveys and customer focus groups to find out what your employee customers think. Pursue continuous improvement as a result of the feedback. Those who are always getting better are always more respected.
* Trust builder: Listen for understanding. Listening for understanding means creating a relationship with those you are listening to which they experience being completely heard and understood. This involves understanding the other party’s perspective before progressing to a discussion regarding agreement or disagreement. This also involves listening to much more than the content of what is said; it means listening, and asking questions about, the history behind the current issue, the thoughts and feelings about the issue, and the intentions behind why the other person is saying what s/he is saying.
All’s Fair in Love and Work?
It has long been thought that employee satisfaction is the key to employee work motivation and participation. Yet more recent research points to the way employees feel about the fairness of the organization they work for as the true key to employee motivation. In fact, researchers at West Virginia University found that it is the employee’s faith in his or her supervisor and the fairness implicit in day-to-day transactions that is the key. People consider the nature of their treatment by others when determining if fairness is present and can be trusted. Each person in a relationship views the other from his or her personal perspective.
In the workplace the organization is represented by or presented to employees by supervisors. Employees view the organization through their supervisor. In turn supervisors view the organization through their supervisor and so on. It is mostly the supervisor that explains the organization to the employee and explains the employee to the organization. Based on this research, supervisors, through the supervisory relationship, are the only logical catalysts to creating an organization that excels.
Human resource professionals can play a pivotal role in ensuring fairness and justice regarding all basic issues is in place and that supervisors are inspiring employees toward goals. Here are just a few of the steps in this process:
1. Check all policies and work rules to assure that there are procedures that create fairness. The important ones center on pay, diversity, and etc.
2. Look at decisions made in implementing these rules and general working practices to assure that fairness and equality exist in all supervisory and management decisions about employees and their work.
3. Set up a group of management, supervisory employees and other employees whose sole job it is to watch for the creation and maintenance of fairness in the organization. As a part of this effort this committee should be looking for results by answering the question: Are people working conscientiously and voluntarily going beyond what is merely expected by the job role we have given them and what are we doing?
Training for Trust
Trust is predominantly an interpersonal matter; organizational trust is a largely one-dimensional reflection of the richer trust between people. But that doesn’t mean organizations should give up on the task of enhancing the trustworthiness of their people, by any means. In fact, both organization and employee stand to benefit from such efforts.
The Human Resources professional has a special role in promoting trust. You influence the power differentials within the organization by developing and publishing supportive, protective, honorable policies. You are influential in building appropriate social norms among people who are doing different jobs in your organization. By keeping your own staff members truthfully informed and divulging as much information as appropriate to managers and employees, you are setting a tone of open communication that can enhance trust, especially during times of organizational transition.
You are also in charge of hiring, coaching and training your managers. Hire and promote people who are capable of forming positive, trusting relationships with people who report to them. Develop the interpersonal skills of all employees, especially those of current supervisors and people desiring promotion; the reason most managers fail within the first 18 months is because of interpersonal reasons, not technical ones. Train your managers to confront hard issues in a timely fashion. If an employee has excessive absences or spends work time wandering around, it is important to confront the employee about these issues.
Play an active role in trust-building and team-building activities, but only when there is a sincere desire in your organization to create a trusting, empowering, team-oriented work environment. People will know the difference, or they will find out, and then, they will never trust you.
The Bottom Line
The ability to build trust among managers and employees, especially in a tight labor market, may be the single biggest lever in the portfolio of HR activities. Not only does trust directly impact employee retention and satisfaction, it plays a critical role in reducing employment liability by increasing the chances that employee complaints will be handled internally.
The Godfather had it wrong when he said, “It’s not personal, it’s business.” The truth is, business is personal. And human resources, as the liaison between employer and employee, serve as the personal representative by which the trustworthiness of an organization is judged.

What is PTSD? PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder) is a serious psychological condition that often results from an emotionally traumatizing event. Patients suffering from this condition experience horrifying thoughts or on the contrary become emotionally numb, in most cases with people that were close to them before the event. PTSD causes Post-traumatic stress disorder has gained much public spotlight due to the problems experienced by war veterans, however this condition may result from other events that involve violence and pain, such as: * Torture, rape, or mugging * Kidnapping or being held captive * Childhood abuse * Serious transportation accidents * Natural disasters Events that usually cause this condition are typically putting the person’s life or the life of a close individual into threat. Another type of events causing PTSD is witnessing a disastrous phenomenon, not taking part of it, such as seeing many people die during a train wreck or massive bombing. PTSD symptoms Regardless of the event that caused the condition, people report practically the same effects of it – recurring nightmares and daytime flashbacks. Other symptoms associated with this disorder include: * Sleep disorders * Emotional numbness * Vulnerability * Disinterest in everyday things * Irritability * Aggressive and violent behavior People with PTSD try to avoid situations and places that may remind them of the actual event, because it can bring back unpleasant memories. That is why anniversaries of such events are also typically avoided by people with this condition. PTSD diagnosis The condition can be clinically diagnosed in case the symptoms persist occurring for a period longer than one month. Patients, who have been diagnosed with the condition usually develop it in about three months after the event has taken place and the course of disorder varies from one person to another. For some it may take a couple of months and the illness is gone, for others it may become chronic. In some cases the condition can manifest itself in a couple of years after the actual traumatizing event. PTSD treatment Patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder are usually treated by medications and by psychological therapy, the both of which can be carefully combined to achieve maximum effect. Cognitive behavioral, group and exposure types of psychotherapy have been observed as the most effective in this condition, helping the patient overcome the effects of the event in a gradual manner. Medications that are employed in most cases of PTSD include serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and benzodiazepine antidepressants such as Xanax. PTSD facts About 5.2 million US citizens are affected by Post-traumatic stress disorder. And women are more prone to developing the condition than men. The disorder can take place at any age, even when being a child, and some studies suggest that this type of anxiety disorders can actually be transmitted through generations. This condition is typically observed in conjunction with depression, alcohol and drug abuse, or other anxiety disorders. In complicated cases, the patient may have problem with socializing and having interpersonal communication, especially if the event was caused by a person (rape, torture, mugging, etc.) Everyday situations can be a source of a flashback or intrusive image to the person with PTSD making him or her feel like the tragic event is happening all over again, and the person becomes detached from the real world. However, having an experience of a traumatic event doesn’t mean that the person will necessarily develop such a disorder.

Oxycontin is the brand name of one of the most powerful pain killers available today. Usually prescribed for cancer patients and people with chronic pain problems, Oxycontin is a synthetic opiate (opioid), whose main active ingredient is oxycodone. Like morphine, Oxycontin has mood altering effects. Specifically, it can reduce anxiety, encourage mental relaxation, and even induce a state of euphoria.Oxycontin is currently a favorite of medical practitioners, being the most frequently prescribed opioid pain killer in North America. A controlled substance that requires a prescription in order to obtain it, the beneficial side effects of Oxycontin have made it a popular choice of recreational drug users as well. Since the drug was introduced in 1995, Oxycontin addiction has become a serious problem, so much so that its unlawful possession is subject to criminal prosecution.Addiction to the drug tends to develop rather quickly. Most recreational users of the drug become addicts wittingly, with full knowledge of the effects of Oxycontin. However, there are many individuals who were prescribed the drug for legitimate pain reasons and who over a period of time formed a dependency to the drug. A person who takes Oxycontin repeatedly develops a tolerance to the drug’s effects. To achieve the original effects, higher doses are required. If the patient stops taking the drug, withdrawal occurs and this creates the typical symptoms of prescription drug abuse.Some effects of Oxycontin abuse are:- Small, pinpoint pupils- Clammy, cold skin- Tiredness or weakness- Dizziness- Nausea and vomiting- Nodding in and out of consciousness- Detachment, bewilderment, confusion- Slow and shallow breathing- Slow heart rate- SeizuresRespiratory depression is a serious short-term effect of Oxycontin. As breathing becomes slower and shallower, less oxygen is available to the person’s vital organs. The risk of respiratory arrest leading to death is increased in addicts who short-circuit the time release properties of the pill in order to get a more intense high. To achieve this, they crush the pill, mix the crushed powder with water, and inject it intravenously.Equal or surpassing the physical effects of Oxycontin are the emotional and personal toll on the addict. Oxycontin abuse often leads to deteriorating interpersonal relationships, loss of productivity, financial difficulties, and sometimes legal problems.The withdrawal symptoms of Oxycontin may include restlessness, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, weakness, teary eyes, runny nose, excessive yawning, hot or cold sweat, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramping, diarrhea, muscle spasms, and muscle and bone pain, heart palpitations, increased blood pressure, and increased respiratory rate.Withdrawing from Oxycontin overuse or abuse is difficult to do alone. The pain that accompanies the process often leads one to giving up. Oxycontin treatment centers are the best places to seek detoxification from Oxycontin dependency.Oxycontin detox centers assist the individual to gradually withdraw from their physical dependence on the drug while easing the painful withdrawal symptoms. Once detoxification has been accomplished, in house treatment in an Oxycontin rehab follows during which time the individual undergoes therapy and is taught strategies to diminish and control cravings for the drug.When looking for an Oxycontin rehab center, it is advisable to look for one with a comprehensive Oxycontin addiction treatment programs not only starts the detoxification process but also puts the addict back on the road to recovery and a productive lifestyle. Browse a directory of prescription drug rehab centers.

Globally, more than 2 million people consume alcohol. Around 3.4 per cent of the people consuming alcohol dies because of alcoholism. In USA, 25.9% of alcoholics are underage and they are the ones consuming more than 47.3% of the total amount of alcohol consumed by drinkers.

With increasing dependency on alcohol, the personal, interpersonal, social and professional life of the person gets affected. Alcoholism severely affects the person physically, mentally and psychologically. The physical effect of alcoholism would be damage of the vital organs like the pancreas and the liver. It also leads to heart diseases, cancer, nutritional deficiencies and sexual dysfunctions. Some of the common diseases caused due to alcohol consumption are cirrhosis of liver, cancer of esophagus, cancer of liver, cancer of head and neck, cancer of bowel, heart attacks, hypertension, angina, fits, strokes and different types of paralysis. The mental effects of alcoholism include aggression, anxiety, stress and depression disorders. It may also lead to severe psychiatric disorders.

There are alcohol rehabs centers that help the alcoholics to quit this habit and live a normal live. The various treatment programs include rationing, detoxification, group counseling and nutritional therapy. Alcohol detoxification is the foremost important step. It is the process of removal of alcohol from the body. It is advisable to carry on this process under the guidance of experts.

Alcoholism is detrimental to anyone who gets addicted to it; the disease can severely affect people from all walks of life. If anybody wants to come out of this addiction, he is advised to join a good rehab centre to get completely cured. Above all, the alcoholic needs to be self- motivated to quit this disease.

Body n Mind Solutions
Exploring the best of traditional health keeping from India
Vol.1.Issue1.Aug.2007
Welcome at the beginning of a new age of health consciousness
Quote of the month Wellness solution Feedback Picture gallery
This news letter has the intention to keep you updated about the latest in the health world, which is of importance to you and can make a change in your perception about the worldly matters.
This also Wishes to make you aware about your own glorious wisdom regarding health preservation with a legitimate rationale that can push you towards reincorporation of them into your routine.
This also Wishes to provide a platform for intercommunication between sufferers who have won over their illness through novel approaches may or may not understandable by the contemporary schools.
This also Wishes to look scientifically into the traditional and folk medicine, method or techniques, which are anecdotally proved for their useful ness and to provide a simple, logical and applicable format to these therapies.
This also Tries to explore the people from the soil that have specialized them selves into the care of sick humanity through means like folk medicine, spiritual, psychological, social or any other way which is beyond the current understanding of the disease and health.
Finally we wish to close our office one day. This would be the day when the thought of how to remain healthy becomes available in every household as an essential commodity as essential as salt in your kitchen.
We are looking forward for your blessings, cooperation, contribution and support to cherish the smile of health to every individual and this would be the smile you need not to buy but simply required to pick from with in.
With best regards,
Dr.Sanjeev Rastogi, MD
Executive editor
Wellness solutions
The power of thought
Dr. Sanjeev Rastogi, MD
Have you ever been in love? If yes, then only you will be able to feel the power of it. It is enormous; the power of love .Our world is full of events, which turned out to be a major turn around in the history. Love has acted as the sole motivational force behind most of them.
Like all other emotions, love is the abstract expression of the pure energy. As we know, every feeling generated in the mind is the net out come of a complex interaction between individual and universe, the same is for love too. How this happens that while meeting with so many people every day, we just choose only few of them to be enlisted as our friends and among them too, only a finger count reaches at our inner core to achieve a real closeness. Likings and disliking are the spontaneous reactions of our mind to the prevailing positive and negative energies. Love at first sight, though some times taken as a Bollywood stunt, albeit is a biological reality which happens if you let your heart not being governed by your brain for a while .As the interpersonal interaction at first sight is usually abstract and is performed by a free flow of vibration energy in between, this happens to be the purest of your perceptions which otherwise is not in the reach of five physical senses. Unfortunately, in the world of now, soon this phase is taken over by the brain who works no less than a computer by analyzing the available data and making the interpretations with due logics.
In physics, there is a phenomenon of interference between two waves meeting together. If they are in harmony, there will be a kind of synergism with ultimate increase in their potentials, however if this is contrary, they will create impedance to each other finally to cause the mutual destruction. This is how vibration works between us too. Out of many colleagues you have, there may be only a few with whom you may be feeling eletic, energetic and more cheerful. This is not true to you only but to your friend also whose company you enjoy most. This is the phenomenon of energy synergism helping mutually. Contrary to this, there are millions of examples of the reverse of this phenomenon in our day-to-day life. There are people whose mere presence can make you restless, depressed, anxious, sad or irritable and to the most of surprise this all can happen without the exchange of a single word in between. How this happens? This is the example of energy impedance .If there is no harmony in between; this negative energy outflow will act as a boomerang to hit you back. Again this is a mutual phenomenon, affecting both the ends equally.
Interestingly, Indian sages have found a most unique way to counteract this impedance by counteracting the negative energy of others. An often-said story of Buddha says about a person who was a strong opponent of his preaching. This was a routine to him to come at Buddha every day and scold him to his stomachful. Every time Buddha replied back with a smile to his scolding .Out of surprise one day the man couldn’t resist him self-asking with Buddha that how he doesn’t scolds back to him in reply. Buddha smiled to his known elegance and said, what do you do, if you receive some guests at your home? I serve them with the best of the things I have, best food and gifts, the man replied. And what happens to the things offered by you, if your friends don’t take them? Buddha asked again. Then what, simple, it remains with me, replied the man confidently. Sorry friend, I don’t accept the words you offered to me .Now they remains with you only, and this is why I don’t have any need to scold you back, Buddha smiled.
This is how a negative feeling can be transformed to create a growth oriented positive environ. Though this is the sages way, but can be implemented in our life up to some extent provided if we can become little more thoughtful before jumping to the conclusions or reactions .If you feel good for some one, or at least don’t have a negative feeling, sooner or later he is also going to feel the same for you. The same is true for the negative feelings too. If we start thinking negatively about some thing, or get malice about a person, soon we will start finding the evidences that all what we plotted for, is actually happening .The preaching for love are not only for the sake of morality but to save and sustain the entire human being. This is why since time immemorial, this is said that if you grant love to others you will get it back in some way or other. The same will be if you get malicious, you will be finding people standing against your way. In simpler ways, this is said in the proverb – as you sow so you reap. This is not an extension of just the morale teachings but a biological reality too.
Our thinking is the most important instrument, which can make the instant changes in our physiology. A properly channelised and oriented thought process can take you to the heights you dream for and simultaneously, a positive outlook towards the world will make the things easy to flow without any impedance. This will help in making of a growth oriented environ where every one can live peacefully and in harmony.
(This article has been published in Hindustan times, Lucknow)
Quote of the month
Sam dosah samagnischah samdhatumalkriya, prasannnatmendriya manah svastha iti abhidhiyte
The one who has a harmony of physiology, and has a serene innersoul, mind and body is said to be as in perfect health.
Sushruta samhita
Feed Back
I have been suffering from Chronic constipation and piles for past many years. The treatment taken was able to give a transient relief only till I approached BMCRC.I am taking Ayurvedic therapy from Dr. Sanjeev Rastogi for past 1 year and feel perfectly well .
Aditya Bhushan
Senior manager,
Commercial Motors, Lucknow, India
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Although childhood abuse and sexual abuse is a common cause of PTSD, other events which cause psychological trauma can also trigger the disorder. These include life threatening accidents, wars or natural disasters. Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) refers to the delayed reaction, sometimes for longer than 6 months, to a highly stressful or life threatening event. Often the causes for PTSD are myriad and distasteful, and more than 40 million women in America suffer from it.
PTSD usually occurs following a stressful or traumatic event that is highly severe, and often survivors and witnesses of such events will only start showing symptoms of PTSD after a few months. The reasons for this would be due to the event being perceived as dangerous and outside of the individual’s control, leading to feelings of helplessness and extreme anxiety.
Due to the severity of the event or disaster, the inability of the person to avoid or cope with the trauma is such that it results in PTSD. Due to the immense negative impact, the person will avoid any situation or trigger that might remind them of the event. Whilst it has been attributed to internal conflict, recent research has shown that these psychological conditions are actually due to past traumatic events. Further, it is likely that the extreme stress experienced during the event has resulted in physical damage to the hippocampus, the part of the brain that deals with the emotions of fear and stress.
Any spur of events occurring can trigger manifestations and he will suffer from the traumatic event both physiologically and psychologically. There will be repeated flashbacks of the event, and being subjected to this experience will cause a behavioral change eventually. Taken from the forms of amnesia, a need to isolate themselves and listlessness.
For children suffering from PTSD, they are likely to experience nightmares, memory fragmentation, hypertension, flashbacks, amnesia, panic attacks and some may turn to substance abuse to avoid memories of the event. Most victims will suffer from a range of effects, such as physiological, psychological, social and self destructive behaviors.
Physiological outcomes take the form of a change in the brain activity, structure and functioning, also known as neurobiological effects. There may also by psychophysiological effects, such as hyper arousal, increased propensity to be startles and increased neurohormonal changes which leads to greater stress and depression. It is often easy to overlook physiological outcomes as they take the form of physical issues such as headaches or lightheadedness and are treated accordingly.
Psychological outcomes include depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders and dissociation, where the individual seeks to hide from the present by submerging into their selves. Other social indicators include low self esteem, substance abuse and an inability to form interpersonal relationships. At its extreme, the individual may turn to self destructive behavior and attempt suicide, or take part in self injury and risky behaviors that can lead to death.
There are options from medications and therapy when it comes to dealing with PTSD. These aim to correct the physical, physiological and psychological effects experienced and aim to integrate the person back into their current lives.

Self-confidence can be defined as the ability to believe in oneself and one’s gifts. This trait is critical to achievements in life. This quality enables people to understand in their self-worth and that they can be successful in their actions. Even persons who do not possess this trait can begin to build their self confidence. Without self-confidence, many people find themselves unable to achieve life ambitions. They are often ineffective in interpersonal interactions, academic endeavors, and work situations. They frequently acquire a social phobia, and tend to be awkward in group encounters. People who do not possess self-confidence frequently hesitate to work to aspire or work toward goal accomplishment; they firmly believe that they are about to fail. They believe that they are inferior to or less successful than the people around them. They frequently do fail because they do not believe in themselves. In contrast, the person capable of gaining self confidence will find himself or herself equipped to change this cycle of despair and be able to find treatment for this social phobia. This person then learns that improving self confidence results in remarkable improvements in relationships and academic achievements. Sometimes, a job promotion may be a product of steps taken to boost self-confidence. People sometimes do not build self-confidence for a number of reasons. They may have had domineering parents, or been teased frequently in school. Some struggled educationally or socially. Others just did not have success at making friends or encounter the reassuring support of classmates, parents, or teachers. Many of these people struggle with a self-perception of inadequacy and incompetence. Frequently, those who were unable to improve self confidence during childhood are unable to do this in adulthood. They did not learn how to effect this, and can learn only if they look for the help and support of peers or trained professionals. Too often, people do not want to admit these difficulties in their lives, and simply continue to strive during their lifetimes. A number of approaches have been used to assist people to gain self confidence. Many styles of counseling therapies, like behavioral therapy or group therapy, are employed to assist people how to gain self confidence. Countless self-help books have been written to help people to improve self-confidence. Professionals offer instructional sessions and retreats developed to assist people increase self confidence. While each of these techniques are sometimes beneficial, two innovative that are easily learned and quite effective for the majority of people who try them are confidence hypnosis and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). Specialists who practice confidence hypnotherapy are typically able to coach people to acquire self confidence and radically improve both their perspectives and their chances to achieve in life. Traditional hypnotherapy (employing post-hypnotic suggestions) can be very effective. This approach is most helpful for people who are suggestible and easily directed. This treatment frequently does not work as well for people who tend to be analytical or are critical thinkers. For those who fit the latter category, Ericksonian hypnotherapy and NLP techniques work much better. These tools are great for successfully relating to the unconscious mind. This is because the resistance to suggestiveness usually presented by analytical people is bypassed. One of the NLP techniques that people are frequently taught to build self confidence is known as anchoring. If a person hears an old song, and has sensations of deja vu, it’s because the subconscious relates the feelings from a past time, with the lyrics of the song was playing. Therefore, hearing the song again triggers the memories connected with it. The song is an anchor for those emotions. Through anchoring, people are coached to recall an instance that made them feel the feelings of confidence. When they remember and relive those sensations, they learn to touch two fingers together. The unconscious then associates the recollections of confidence with this physical action. After anchoring the emotions of confidence, when they find themselves in situations that demand self-confidence, touching the fingers together triggers emotions of confidence for use in the present situation. Another NLP technique called the “Flash” is sometimes used to immediately substitute stressful emotions frequently connected with a lack of self-confidence. Through this method, the person diverts the mental pictures that cause negativity, to trigger mental pictures to generate a constructive response. For example, the client programs the unconscious to employ the mental cues that cause feelings of uncertainty, as triggers for mental cues that trigger feelings of confidence. Mental images trigger an individual’s emotions. Everyone has dreams, and desires. Some people can work toward these to realize their aspirations. Some, however let their lack of self-confidence to overwhelm them. Although NLP does not help everyone, the vast majority of people who attempt this technique report great success in boosting self confidence. This strategy is actually much more successful than other approaches for most people.

Self-confidence can be defined as the ability to believe in oneself and one’s gifts. This trait is critical to achievements in life. This quality enables people to understand in their self-worth and that they can be successful in their actions. Even persons who do not possess this trait can begin to build their self confidence.

Without self-confidence, many people find themselves unable to achieve life ambitions. They are often ineffective in interpersonal interactions, academic endeavors, and work situations. They frequently acquire a social phobia, and tend to be awkward in group encounters. People who do not possess self-confidence frequently hesitate to work to aspire or work toward goal accomplishment; they firmly believe that they are about to fail. They believe that they are inferior to or less successful than the people around them. They frequently do fail because they do not believe in themselves.

In contrast, the person capable of gaining self confidence will find himself or herself equipped to change this cycle of despair and be able to find treatment for this social phobia. This person then learns that improving self confidence results in remarkable improvements in relationships and academic achievements. Sometimes, a job promotion may be a product of steps taken to boost self-confidence.

People sometimes do not build self-confidence for a number of reasons. They may have had domineering parents, or been teased frequently in school. Some struggled educationally or socially. Others just did not have success at making friends or encounter the reassuring support of classmates, parents, or teachers. Many of these people struggle with a self-perception of inadequacy and incompetence.

Frequently, those who were unable to improve self confidence during childhood are unable to do this in adulthood. They did not learn how to effect this, and can learn only if they look for the help and support of peers or trained professionals. Too often, people do not want to admit these difficulties in their lives, and simply continue to strive during their lifetimes.

A number of approaches have been used to assist people to gain self confidence. Many styles of counseling therapies, like behavioral therapy or group therapy, are employed to assist people how to gain self confidence. Countless self-help books have been written to help people to improve self-confidence. Professionals offer instructional sessions and retreats developed to assist people increase self confidence.

While each of these techniques are sometimes beneficial, two innovative that are easily learned and quite effective for the majority of people who try them are confidence hypnosis and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). Specialists who practice confidence hypnotherapy are typically able to coach people to acquire self confidence and radically improve both their perspectives and their chances to achieve in life.

Traditional hypnotherapy (employing post-hypnotic suggestions) can be very effective. This approach is most helpful for people who are suggestible and easily directed. This treatment frequently does not work as well for people who tend to be analytical or are critical thinkers.

For those who fit the latter category, Ericksonian hypnotherapy and NLP techniques work much better. These tools are great for successfully relating to the unconscious mind. This is because the resistance to suggestiveness usually presented by analytical people is bypassed.

One of the NLP techniques that people are frequently taught to build self confidence is known as anchoring. If a person hears an old song, and has sensations of deja vu, it’s because the subconscious relates the feelings from a past time, with the lyrics of the song was playing. Therefore, hearing the song again triggers the memories connected with it. The song is an anchor for those emotions.

Through anchoring, people are coached to recall an instance that made them feel the feelings of confidence. When they remember and relive those sensations, they learn to touch two fingers together. The unconscious then associates the recollections of confidence with this physical action.

After anchoring the emotions of confidence, when they find themselves in situations that demand self-confidence, touching the fingers together triggers emotions of confidence for use in the present situation.

Another NLP technique called the “Flash” is sometimes used to immediately substitute stressful emotions frequently connected with a lack of self-confidence. Through this method, the person diverts the mental pictures that cause negativity, to trigger mental pictures to generate a constructive response.

For example, the client programs the unconscious to employ the mental cues that cause feelings of uncertainty, as triggers for mental cues that trigger feelings of confidence. Mental images trigger an individual’s emotions.

Everyone has dreams, and desires. Some people can work toward these to realize their aspirations. Some, however let their lack of self-confidence to overwhelm them. Although NLP does not help everyone, the vast majority of people who attempt this technique report great success in boosting self confidence. This strategy is actually much more successful than other approaches for most people.