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If you ask 100 different hypnotists for their definition of hypnosis, you will likely get 100 different answers. Because, while most hypnotists, hypno-therapists, psychologists who use hypnosis, stage hypnotists as well as enthusiastic amateurs, know that something is happening, getting them to explain exactly what that something is, is where the problems begin. “I can’t define it, but I know it when I see / feel it” is a likely response.

What is needed to be able to use this phenomenon known as hypnosis, is a working definition, something that creates some boundaries to work within and creates a target to aim at. That target being to guide someone into the state of hypnosis.

By creating a well formed definition, anyone attempting to hypnotize themselves or someone else, will be more likely to recognize the hypnotic trance state when it happens. The question that haunts all beginning hypnotists “Were they under or weren’t they?” will be able to be answered.

A very useful definition of hypnosis, one that many working hypnotists have adopted is that “Hypnosis is a suspension or bypass of the critical factor (the part of us that evaluates and judges what is going on at any point in time) with an associated narrowing of awareness and a selective focusing”.

If this definition is applied to the example of being hypnotized by someone (it also applies relative to self-hypnosis) then the definition simply means that when the hypnotist makes a suggestion, the subject (person being hypnotized) follows it. They do not evaluate it to see if it fits with their model of the world, they simply accept and follow the suggestion.

Now many people panic when this is suggested. This plays on some people’s fears about the hypnotist having control over them. Nothing could be further from the truth. In all hypnotic interactions, the person being hypnotized is the one in control, not the hypnotist.

The myth of the hypnotist being able to turn people into hypnotic zombies is just that, a myth. It does make a good story though, and one that hypnotists are happy enough to use. If the subject thinks that the hypnotist has some kind of mystical power that in itself becomes a powerful suggestion that the skilled hypnotist can use to help the subject into the hypnotic trance state.

A very useful analogy that describes hypnosis and the relationship between the hypnotist and the subject, is watching a movie. In fact watching a movie or any number of other activities that lead to a total absorption and narrowing of focus would satisfy the definition of hypnosis being offered here.

When someone watches a movie, they choose to put their critical faculties on hold to enjoy the movie. They suspend their judgment to have the experience they want. Their attention becomes very selective. They tune out certain things, and tune in others, to have the movie experience. They are aware of where they are and what is going on around them, it’s just that they do not care enough about it, to put any attention on it.

If some emergency occurred, they would very quickly snap out of their movie induced trance and respond appropriately. But, while they remain selectively focused on the screen and what they are watching, and do not engage the critical factor, they get to have the full movie experience. They know the movie is not real, but that doesn’t stop them experiencing anger, sadness, fear or laughter. When the critical factor is bypassed a world of possibilities opens.

This is exactly what happens in hypnosis. The subject willingly follows the suggestions given to them by the hypnotist, to have the full hypnotic experience and get the benefit of the hypnotic state (stop smoking, lose weight and so on).

If the suggestion is given that “Your arm is so heavy that you will not be able to lift it” and the subject chooses to follow the suggestion and imagine that their arm is so heavy they cannot lift it, they create a state where they wont be able to lift their arm. While this gives the appearance that the hypnotist is in control, it is the subject that chooses to follow the suggestion and use the power of their imagination to have the experience of their arm being too heavy to lift.

In the hypnotic state we are more open to suggestion. More impressionable to suggestion. In this hyper-suggestible state, the power of suggestion and the power of imagination come together to create change and allow personal growth to occur, free from the obstruction of the judgmental, evaluating critical factor.

Suggestions made in hypnosis, go directly to the subconscious mind, where they are acted on without judgment, fear or doubt. Many of the “feats” that can be performed while in hypnosis and the personal transformations that many people undergo when using hypnosis and hypnotherapy can sometimes be quite amazing. But really, they are simply the result of the focused use of imagination and attention on the task at hand and the suspension of all doubt that the outcome can be achieved.

Driving a car is a very complex task. You need good perceptual and judgment skills and you must pay constant attention to detail from your car and the world around you. As 90% of the information you need for safe driving comes through your eyes, any drop in vision due to age may compromise your safety. Although vehicle accidents usually have multiple causes, one of the more common causes is YOU, the driver, failing to see something important. Lose visual concentration at the wrong time, even for a second, and you may miss seeing a potential danger that could kill you and your passengers.

Despite nationwide driving fatality numbers decreasing, drivers aged 70 and over are more frequently involved in driving accidents (particularly fatalities) through decreased driving performance. Decreasing vision through ageing and common eye diseases is often a major contributing factor to such cases. With a rapidly ageing population and 19.8 million drivers over 70 already on U.S. roads, declining driver competence is fast becoming an urgent public health problem. One frightening statistic from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that older driver involvement in fatal crashes will increase by 155% by the year 2030.

With increasing age many physical and mental changes will affect your ability to drive safely. Some conditions clearly make driving dangerous. If Dementia or Alzheimer’s impairs your thinking or serious cardiovascular disease makes you pass out from time to time, you need to immediately stop driving for your own and others’ safety. Other less obvious problems may be just as dangerous at times. You may be temporarily unfit to drive if your prescription medicine makes you drowsy or if you are diabetic and your blood sugar drops too low. Impaired vision is another less obvious problem for older drivers. You may think you can see well, particularly in familiar driving locations, but as vision can deteriorate gradually over time, you may be totally unaware that your vision is not safe to drive!

Driving authorities impose a number of vision standards for safe driving. They may differ slightly from place to place but there are some common requirements. You need good visual acuity. This is the ability to see far enough ahead of you to recognize and avoid potentially dangerous situations. You need good peripheral (side) vision. This is the ability to see out to the sides when changing lanes or merging. It helps you to detect pedestrians and other roadside hazards. Night vision is also important. Poor night vision due to problems like cataract can affect may elderly drivers. They may require a conditional driving license that only allows daytime driving.

Although eye disease such as Cataracts, Glaucoma and Macular Degeneration are relatively common in seniors, they are not the most frequent vision problem affecting drivers. The most common visual impairment in older drivers is uncorrected refractive error. Many drivers are either unaware they need eyeglasses to drive or they fail to keep their prescriptions up to date because they have not noticed the gradual loss of vision.

It is important to make sure eye diseases are monitored regularly to ensure vision remains adequate to drive. Cataract surgery may restore driving vision when cloudy lenses affect your vision but some eye diseases progress to the point where you need to stop driving altogether. As many older drivers equate their driving license with physical independence, losing this ability can be a terrible event which can force major lifestyle changes.

In this fast paced mobile world, driving is almost a necessity for many people. It can be devastating when age and deteriorating vision limit this ability. Although you can’t turn back the clock, regular eye examinations and good communication with your Eye care practitioner can help you keep driving as long as possible. Check your eyes regularly and make sure your eyes stay safe to drive!

Liposuction is a suctioning technique which removes fat deposits from under the skin. It is a procedure which reshapes and contours a specified area of the body.

Women commonly have fat removed from their hips, thighs and stomach. Whereas, for men it is generally their mid section or “love handles” which are treated with liposuction.

Who Is a Candidate for Liposuction

Liposuction alone is not a method of weight control and must never be offered as a cure or for treatment of obesity. It can, however, be used in conjunction with a reasonable lifestyle of proper diet and exercise.

Obese patients are at risk because they can develop more complications. Their inactive lifestyle, coupled with excess weight, places stress on the cardiovascular system. It would be most beneficial for one to lose the weight on their own and have a tummy tuck to remove any excess fat or skin. Otherwise, an obese person who has difficulty losing weight on their own would be better off considering a gastric bypass. If one does later gain a significant amount of weight after liposuction, the fat cells that remain can enlarge thereby decreasing the benefits of the procedure.

The final result of liposuction depends both on the amount of fat removed and on the ability of the skin to adapt to its new contour.

Recovery

Swelling and bruising will occur to varying degrees but subside as part of the healing process. Improvement will not likely be immediate after surgery, taking from six weeks to six months for the final results.

Massaging the treated areas will help to smooth out irregularities and decrease swelling. Wait 7-10 days following the surgery and proceed only under the doctor’s advice. Over a 3-6 month time period scars will likely lighten and fade from their brighter and raised coloring.

A support garment is worn which helps reduce swelling and it optimizes your final contour. It is worn during the night and day for the first six weeks and then during the day for three more weeks. Immediately following the surgery this garment is important to have available to prevent any baggy, lumpy, irregular and uneven results. Also a proper fit is essential.

As soon as your doctor gives you the ok, start doing some light exercises. This will help with the healing process. Remember not to cause yourself to sweat in your compressive garment because this may cause infection.

To increase your chances of an uneventful recovery, make sure to find a qualified plastic surgeon.