Melbourne Substance Use and Psychology Clinic in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | Medical and health

Melbourne Substance Use and Psychology Clinic

Locality: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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25.01.2022 -- Freedom from Anxiety at Last The Story of a proud Mom and her Hypnotherapist -- A 5 Minute Read This is Jade, a 39 year old proud Mom of two who came to... my office in June of 2018 as a last resort to deal with her anxiety. Unfortunately, hypnotherapy is usually seen as just that A last resort. It is my hope that sharing stories such as Jades will allow hypnotherapy to become a first response. It was the usual story medication, regular panic attacks, constant psychologist visits and a sense of overwhelm. Jade had a full-blown panic attack on sitting in my office, her neck locked up and she was hyperventilating. Logically, she knew she was safe in that moment, but a part of her was telling her otherwise... Upon calming down and after a bit of reassurance, I asked Jade how long she had suffered from anxiety. All my life The first time she remembered feeling anxious was at 18 years old; a family incident resulted in the same nervous feeling in her body and an overall feeling of being unsafe. There is a saying in society that goes, "time heals all wounds". Unfortunately this is only true at a conscious level The conscious mind knows that smoking is bad for you, excessive chocolate is not a great idea and that you dont need that extra glass of wine - but the logical, conscious mind represents only 10% of our awareness. Our subconscious mind represents 90% of our awareness, it is an incredibly powerful storehouse of information where all of our habits, patterns, behaviours and memories reside. Our logical, conscious mind has no control over our emotions; its left to our child-like subconscious mind (the 90%). The biggest role of our subconscious mind is to keep us safe and to ensure our survival. It thinks that we need our symptoms like anxiety or depression as coping mechanisms or something worse may happen - in essence our symptoms are there to protect us. The conscious mind loves the concept of time Linear time. Say youre 40 today, you were born 40 years ago and if a trauma (be it your parents divorce, crime, bullying, abuse) happens at age 10, society says time heals all wounds or its time to get over it. The problem (and blessing) is, in the subconscious mind, there is no time, there's only energy. Every sight, smell, sound, feeling and experience has left an impression that has been anchored in your subconscious. That imprint could be a result of an event (something that happened), a belief (what was believed at the time of the event) or a feeling (the feeling that the event evoked). Once Jade had entered the relaxed state of hypnosis, I gave her the suggestion to go back to the very first time she ever felt the same anxious feeling in her body to take her to the root cause of her anxiety. Jade went back to a memory long forgotten from when she was 4 years old. She was standing in front of a male family member who mocked the freckles on her nose, calling her fly-**** nose. This interaction had been suppressed for 35 years and her emotional release from remembering it was enormous. The reality is that Jade's subconscious was stuck with the feeling she first felt at Age 4 and with the belief that she wasnt good enough. Since the interaction with her family member, she thought something was wrong with her, and the same feeling of anxiousness had stuck with her every day. The same belief and feeling was compounded with bullying in primary school and then in high school along with various events in life. The energy had built and built to the point where at age 39, it was debilitating. In a hypnotic state, we healed and released the event; washing the healing all the way to the present day and beyond. Jade was released from her anxiety at long last. Hypnosis is widely misunderstood but there is nothing mysterious about what I do. It is a natural state that you go into many times each day where youre focused on one activity and everything else falls to the background. For example, when youre driving. You may pull into the driveway after a long day and not remember the last 10 minutes of the trip! Or when youre watching a movie and youre sad or scared. Your logical, conscious mind knows that youre safe in your living room, watching a screen and that its not real. But youre not thinking about work, bills, kids, tomorrow, anything, youre in the moment and youre in your subconscious mind, which feels scared from the events in the movie. When that state is accessed in a therapy setting, the wonderful storehouse of the subconscious mind is accessible and incredible healing can occur. Contrary to popular belief, you can hear and remember everything in a state of hypnosis and of course, you are in control the whole time. I believe that anxiety is not a mental illness but rather a safety system that can be released. It takes bravery to confront what holds us back, but it is well worth it. In todays society, we generally address the symptoms of a problem rather than deal with root causes. On addressing the root cause, life-changing transformations are possible. Ironically, Hypnotherapy is considered "new-age" yet it has been used for thousands of years all over the world. Modern Allopathic medicine has only been around since the early 1800's. This type of work is relevant for anxiety, phobias, anger, addiction, compulsions, sleep issues, depression, grief and other such issues. I check in with Jade from time to time and here is what she says about her experience and her life over 18 months on: "I am happy 99% of the time! Things don't bother me as much, I don't stew over things anymore, I've let go of some long standing grudges which use to cause me angst and negativity. I'm more patient and kind and happier within myself. I am no longer looking for something to make me happy (food, shopping, addictions, society approval), I am happy within myself and have a calm inner peace which I never had before. Josh has completely changed my life for the better! I'm a better wife, mother, friend, and so much kinder to myself." If you would like my help or to have a confidential chat, please feel free to be in touch via this page by clicking Send Message below. Be sure to join my group Joshs Healing Village Update: Given the current global situation, I am doing all of my sessions online over Zoom or Messenger Video, so you can heal from the comfort (and safety) of your own home. I am also offering a sliding scale payment structure. I want this therapy to be attainable to those who need it in these difficult times.

25.01.2022 People have been entering into hypnotic-type trances for thousands of years. In many cultures and religions it was regarded as a form of meditation. So why is hypnosis still considered alternative? Hypnosis was soon discovered to have genuine healing potential, but it was exploited by enough crackpots and vaudeville magicians to stay associated with superstition and evil for a long time.... Probably much more because of this, than because of no one really can explain how it works. Research can - and has - explained it. Already. #hypnosis #hypnotherapy #normalisethenormal

23.01.2022 According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare website, cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in Australia. In popular culture today, marijuana is perceived as a relatively safe drugno worse than alcohol and perhaps healthier than tobacco. However, numerous scientific studies suggest that marijuana is not as harmless as many people believe. Marijuana use can adversely affect both physical and mental health, impair performance at school or at work, and le...ad to addiction. Research has found that the use of marijuana can have a negative effect on multiple body systems. These effects include: Cardiac problems Neurological issues Respiratory problems Negative impacts on pregnancy #marijuanause #cannabisaddiction #substanceoftheweek

23.01.2022 Say no to synthetic marijuana Synthetic marijuana has been reported to have similar effects to cannabis along with some additional negative and potentially harmful ones, including: Fast and irregular heartbeat ... Racing thoughts Agitation, anxiety and paranoia Psychosis Aggressive and violent behaviour Chest pain Vomiting Acute kidney injury Seizures Stroke Death There is no safe way to use synthetic cannabis! #marijuanause #cannabisaddiction #syntheticmarijuana #substanceoftheweek

22.01.2022 What happens after you quit smoking? As soon as a person stops smoking their body begins to recover. Health benefits begin in as little as an hour after the last cigarette and continue to improve.... In as little as 20 minutes after the last cigarette is smoked, the heart rate drops and returns to normal. Blood pressure begins to drop, and circulation may start to improve. #cigarettes #nicotineaddiction #smokingcessation #substanceoftheweek

21.01.2022 What happens after you quit smoking? By the one-day mark, youve already decreased your risk of heart attack. This is because of reduced constriction of veins and arteries as well as increased oxygen levels that go to the heart to boost its functioning. Nicotine levels in your bloodstream have also decreased to negligible amounts at this time.... At 48 hours, previously damaged nerve endings start to regrow. You may also start to notice that senses that were previously dulled due to smoking improve. You may realize youre smelling and tasting things better than you were before. (www.healthline.com) #cigarettes #nicotineaddiction #smokingcessation #substanceoftheweek

21.01.2022 Everyday Trances we all know them daydreaming, being lost in a good book and not hearing someone calling our name, driving home and not really remembering the journey. Other everyday trances are the patterns we seemed to run over and over againlosing our temper after vowing it would never happen again, having that next smoke or drink when we promised ourselves wed had our last or just this one, always running late, out of time or losing things. Other trances might be... getting in the same argument over and over, phobias, compulsions and stories you tell yourself about who you are: Im forgetful or Im a perfectionist or Im just a loser or Im never able to finish what I start. When we feel anxious we are going into a trance where the future which has not yet happened feels real right now. This is self-hypnosis using time distortion going into the future. When we feel we cannot escape our past, leading to a sense of helplessness and hopelessness, we are using time distortion bringing the past into the present. When we ruminate about something we are worried about or went wrong, going over our thoughts repeatedly, seeing and hearing events over and over, we are in a negative, looping hallucination. https://www.leonadawson.com.au/come-back-to-reality-break-/ #everydaytrances #hypnosis #selfhypnosis

20.01.2022 What happens after you quit smoking? Within three months after quitting, a woman can improve her fertility as well as reduce the risk that her baby will be born prematurely. #cigarettes... #nicotineaddiction #smokingcessation #substanceoftheweek See more

20.01.2022 Poly-drug use is the mixing of different drugs - or taking one drug while under the influence (or experiencing the after-effects) of another drug. Being under the influence of more than one drug at a time makes the effects really unpredictable. Also, taking prescribed medications alongside any other type of drug can have serious negative effects.... If possible, try to avoid mixing different substances! #polydruguse

20.01.2022 We all want to be happy and there are many books and teachers in the world that try to help people be happier. Yet we all continue to suffer. Therefore, we may ...think that were doing it wrong. Somehow we are failing at happiness. That isnt true. Being able to enjoy happiness doesnt require that we have zero suffering. In fact, the art of happiness is also the art of suffering well. When we learn to acknowledge, embrace, and understand our suffering, we suffer much less. Not only that, but were also able to go further and transform our suffering into understanding, compassion, and joy for ourselves and for others. One of the most difficult things for us to accept is that there is no realm where theres only happiness and theres no suffering. This doesnt mean that we should despair. Suffering can be transformed. As soon as we open our mouth to say suffering, we know that the opposite of suffering is already there as well. Where there is suffering, there is happiness. - Thich Nhat Hanh, in No Mud, No Lotus: The Art of Transforming Suffering.

19.01.2022 Cannabis harm reduction tips Take days or weeks off to reduce the THC buildup in your system. Do not drive or operate dangerous machinery while smoking marijuana (wait at least 3 hours after last use of marijuana).... Dont share joints or bongs. Eat cannabis products or drink cannabis tea to eliminate smoking related harms. Dont inhale deeply or hold the smoke long. That will deliver more carbon monoxide and other toxic by-products to your brain. Dont mix marijuana with tobacco. #marijuanause #cannabisaddiction #substanceoftheweek

19.01.2022 Can hypnosis really help you quit smoking? The short answer is yes. Some compelling research has found that hypnosis can be an effective tool for helping you quit with quit rates that easily beat more traditional methods. Yet, the consensus seems to be that, like with any smoking cessation program, you have to want the results. Hypnotherapy is not the best option if:... You feel like you should quit, but really would rather not You arent ready to quit You want to quit for someone else But if youre ready, hypnosis can be a powerful tool. https://gshypnosis.com/hypnosis-to-quit-smoking-does-it-re/ #cigarettes #nicotineaddiction #smokingcessation #substanceoftheweek

18.01.2022 Many people with ADHD - especially when it is untreated - have difficult lives, filled with learning struggles, speeding fines, job failures, divorce, legal issues, poor self-esteem and substance abuse. One third of them never finish high school, half abuse drugs or alcohol, and three quarters have significant relationship problems. ADHD is a legitimate brain disorder - the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is impaired, thus these people do experience busy brains, because their limbic... system is poorly regulated by the PFC. But we can learn to calm our overactive limbic systems - and this is what Mindfulness provides. Practice mindful meditation for 15-20 minutes daily, first thing in the morning or later in the evening before going to bed: Sit in a quiet, comfortable place on a straight-back chair or floor cushion. Relax your muscles; do not lie down. Select a word (such as peace, love, etc) to focus on. Close your eyes and follow the rhythm of your breath. Repeat your chosen word, either silently or aloud, as you breathe in and out. If your mind wanders, dont quit. Just let your thoughts go and refocus by repeating your chosen word. Continue for 10 to 20 minutes. When you finish, sit quietly for a minute or two - first with eyes closed, then with eyes open - and notice how differently you are experiencing your body, mind, and emotions. /for more tips: Reclaim your brain, by J. Annibali/ #mindfulnessmeditation #slowingdown

17.01.2022 #psychotherapy #healing #psychology

17.01.2022 People may use alcohol as a way to intensify the pleasurable symptoms of crystal meth use. Since crystal meth is a stimulant and alcohol is a depressant, they are sometimes used to blunt the extremes of the other. Similarly, alcohol might be used to take the edge off an unpleasantly speedy experience with methamphetamine or in an attempt to manage the anxiety associated with coming down off of the drug. Crystal meth and alcohol use can result in serious, negative physical an...d mental health consequences, especially when taken in high doses. Some of the dangers can include: An increase in risky sexual behaviors, such as unprotected sex. An increased risk of contracting HIV, AIDS, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C. Compromised decision-making abilities. An increased risk of accidents or injuries. Cardiovascular disease. An increased heart rate. High blood pressure. Seizures. An increased risk of birth defects. An increased risk of suicide. #polydruguse

16.01.2022 Did you know that our clinic also provides professional psychological services for adults for a wide range of mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, grief and loss, or chronic pain? All psychology treatment is now provided via secure online video conferencing. We welcome referrals under Medicare and for health care card holders we offer professional and affordable low-cost psychological treatments. Send us an email or give us a call to book an appointment with ...us - for next week! E: [email protected] M: 0426/696-377 #psychologist #psychotherapy #psychologicaltreatment #mentalhealthproblems

14.01.2022 The devil's drug Long-term effects of ICE (Methamphetamine) use include: Mood and anxiety disorders... Cardiovascular problems Haemorrhagic stroke Poor concentration and memory Psychotic symptoms such as paranoia and hallucinations Weight loss Chest pains People who inject drugs experience considerably poorer health outcomes than other drug users! #methamphetamineuse #iceaddiction

13.01.2022 Theres no doubt: cannabis and alcohol is a popular combination. However, mixing alcohol with virtually any drug is generally not a good idea. Alcohol and cannabis together pose even greater dangers driving than when using either one independently.... Also, if someone has had too much to drink to the point they need to vomit to expel the toxins its good to keep in mind that cannabis inhibits nausea and vomiting. By preventing yourself from vomiting, youre putting yourself at greater risk of suffering from alcohol toxicity. #marijuanause #cannabisaddiction #substanceoftheweek

11.01.2022 You are something impermanent experiencing something impermanent

11.01.2022 Demonstration of hypnotism. 1914. New Zealand.

11.01.2022 Are you a Highly Sensitive Person? HSP are easily overaroused and overwhelmed, who tend to be sensitive and often anxious. Some peoples bodies are chronically and excessively aroused. ... Here are a few strategies that can help them with calming their overstimulation: Accept your feelings of being overwhelmed; dont fight them. Rewrite your negative story of being flawed or defective because you become overwhelmed so easily. Reframe your coping style as not lack of coping ability but rather a different way of coping. Remind yourself of the good qualities that accompany being an HSP - such as sensitivity, feeling deeply, being empathetic, understanding others, and being sensitive to art. Get enough rest so you can recharge effectively after being particularly overstimulated. (Source: J.A Annibali - Reclaim your brain) #anxiety #anxietytreatment #mentalhealthmatters

10.01.2022 https://www.instagram.com/p/CBkyil1HfeW/?igshid=3ugnzdt84ngw

10.01.2022 A person should never be defined by their AOD use https://www.instagram.com/p/CCZ85Cvi0Uw/

08.01.2022 I cannot accurately convey to you the efficiency of heroin in neutralising pain. It transforms a tight, white fist into a gentle, brown wave. https://www.google.com.au//russell-brand-life-without-drugs

08.01.2022 Studies show that cannabis affects men and women differently. Like alcohol, cannabis tends to affect women more profoundly than men. Women tend to experience more dizziness when using cannabis. Females also report using cannabis mainly when feeling anxious, and also may experience weaker effects due to a difference in body weight distribution. Additionally, women are more susceptible to visuospatial memory impairment after consuming cannabis in smaller doses.... Cannabis increases sexual appetite in women. In larger doses, however, it tends to have the opposite effect. For men, smoking and vaporizing cannabis decreases sexual appetite and sperm production. #marijuanause #cannabisaddiction #substanceoftheweek

07.01.2022 One way of taking care of our suffering is to invite a seed of the opposite nature to come up. As nothing exists without its opposite, if you have a seed of arr...ogance, you have also a seed of compassion. Every one of us has a seed of compassion. If you practice mindfulness of compassion every day, the seed of compassion in you will become strong. You need only concentrate on it and it will come up as a powerful zone of energy. Naturally, when compassion comes up, arrogance goes down. You dont have to fight it or push it down. We can selectively water the good seeds and refrain from watering the negative seeds. This doesnt mean we ignore our suffering; it just means that we allow the positive seeds that are naturally there to get attention and nourishment. - Thich Nhat Hanh Painting: Anna Silivonchik

07.01.2022 The process of waiting is the process of becoming what you are

07.01.2022 Humans are a social species and we subconsciously regulate each others nervous systems without any awareness that we do so. Other species regulate each other as well. Social insects, like termites, regulate each others nervous systems with chemicals. Rats, too, do it with smell, but they also use touch and hearing. Primates add vision. We humans use all of these senses to regulate each other, but we also use words. When I speak certain words to you, it has an effect on you...r brain. The parts of your brain that process the meaning of my words also happen to be regulating your body your circulatory system, your respiratory system, your immune system, and your metabolism. Some of the brain regions that are responsible for speaking and understanding language are also controlling the systems of your body. If I speak certain words, your heart rate might go up and you might breathe more quickly, even though we are on the phone and we cant even see each other. We can affect each others nervous system even though we are miles apart. This is the magic of human interaction. Lisa Feldman Barrett

06.01.2022 8 hours after your last cigarette Within eight hours, your carbon monoxide levels will return to a more normal level. Carbon monoxide is a chemical present in cigarette smoke that replaces oxygen particles in the blood, lowering the amount of oxygen your tissues receive. When carbon monoxide goes away, your oxygen levels start to increase to more normal levels. This increased oxygen helps nourish tissues and blood vessels that were getting less oxygen while you were smoking.... (healthline.com) #cigarettes #nicotineaddiction #smokingcessation #substanceoftheweek

05.01.2022 Love and connection light up the brain #connection #connectedness #love #brain

05.01.2022 Combining different stimulants (like ecstasy and methamphetamine, for example) can increase the risk of cardiovascular (heart) problems and substance-induced psychosis (a serious mental illness that causes people to misinterpret or confuse reality). Users can also increase their risk of experiencing anxiety or panic attacks. To avoid the unnecessary risk, try not to use more than one substance at a time. #polydruguse

05.01.2022 The frog is that one thing you have on your to-do list that you have absolutely no motivation to do and that you're most likely to procrastinate on. Eating the frog means to JUST DO IT, otherwise the frog will eat you - meaning that you'll end up procrastinating it the whole day. I just managed to finally swallow a few of my frogs that had been waiting for me for some time...OMG, I am so glad I finally did it! Did you eat yours today? ... #eatthatfrog

05.01.2022 To effectively combat stress, you need to activate your body’s natural relaxation response. Steps to elicit the relaxation response: 1. Sit quietly in a comfortable position.... 2. Close your eyes. 3. Deeply relax all your muscles, beginning at your feet and progressing up to your face. Keep them relaxed. 4. Breathe through your nose. Become aware of your breathing. Focus on a word, phrase, short prayer, or only your breathing. If you choose for example the word one As you breathe out, say the word, "one", silently to yourself. For example, breathe in ... out, "one",- in .. out, "one", etc. Breathe easily and naturally. 5. Continue for 10 to 20 minutes. You may open your eyes to check the time, but do not use an alarm. When you finish, sit quietly for several minutes, at first with your eyes closed and later with your eyes opened. Do not stand up for a few minutes. 6. Do not worry about whether you are successful in achieving a deep level of relaxation. Maintain a passive attitude and permit relaxation to occur at its own pace. When distracting thoughts occur, try to ignore them by not dwelling upon them and return to repeating "one." With practice, the response should come with little effort. Practice the technique once or twice daily, but not within two hours after any meal, since the digestive processes seem to interfere with the elicitation of the Relaxation Response. #relaxation #relaxationresponse

04.01.2022 Erickson, M. H. (1985). The Conscious Mind. In R. A. Havens (Ed.), The Wisdom of Milton H. Erickson (pp. 38). New York, NY: Irvington Publishers Inc. #Throwback...Thursday #EricksonArchives #Psychotherapy #LPC #LCSW #MarriageandFamilyTherapy #EricksonFoundation #EricksonWisdom #TherapyGoals #Psychotherapist #LMHC #MDiv #PsyD See more

03.01.2022 #psychologist #melbournepsychologist #mentalhealth #addiction #addictiontreatment

02.01.2022 Driving and cannabis If you smoke weed, how long afterwards will it be detected in your system? Saliva tests can detect THC for up to six hours - depending on the test and person (to play it extra safe, you probably should expect that THC can be detected for up to 12 hours in a saliva test). Blood tests can detect THC in blood samples for up to 36 hours after use. ... THC - in some form - can be detected in urine for up to 95 days among those people who are heavy users. (Keep in mind, these are only indications. Your best bet to avoid cannabis being detected in your system is to avoid using it altogether!) #marijuanause #cannabisaddiction #substanceoftheweek

02.01.2022 "Decency is the absence of Strategy." ~Chogyam Trungpa Get the best of what we publish here: elephantjournal.com/best <3