“Linda” came to see me the first time in December of 1999,
referred by a massage therapist.
In the initial interview, it became patently obvious that Linda was in
serious trouble and needed real help. Under most circumstances I would
have referred her to a state-licensed psychologist. But she was already
under the care of three medical professionals and she was not getting
better. With some trepidation, I agreed to work with her to uncover the
underlying reason or reasons for her problems.
The upside of this situation was that Linda, a very intelligent and willing
student, wanted to get better. She was a medical professional herself,
steeped in traditional allopathic philosophy and practice.
When I suggested the use of hypnosis to have a look at her “stuff”,
she was skeptical but desperate to get well. I pointed out to her that
traditional medicine was not producing the desired results, so maybe the
real reasons for her difficulties were being overlooked.
From this point, I shall let Linda tell her own story.
“Since the most worthwhile experiences that we have in life are
those that we can share and teach, I would like to tell you how I got
a second chance at living.
10 yrs ago I was hospitalized for a suicide attempt. I was diagnosed
with major depressive disorder and alcoholism and within a year it became
bipolar.
More labels were tagged on throughout the last few years like ‘borderline
personality’ and ‘PTSD’. 10
I had been taking multiple medications over the past 10 yrs and the numbers
kept growing. Doctors would prescribe one medication for the symptom and
two more for the side effects.
Eventually the count was up to 140 pills per week. Sleep was always chemically
induced. I had chronic diarrhoea for 7 years and I was having difficulty
holding anything in my stomach.
I was sick, missing a lot of work, and becoming more and more depressed.
Despite conventional psychotherapy, I just couldn't imagine going on much
longer feeling like this.
I was told about a hypnotist by a friend. I was a little curious but
no matter how "hoaky" I thought this might be, I was getting
desperate.
In January of 2000 I went to see Dr. Bruce Stampley. Skeptical as I always
am, I was very impressed with his ability to make me relax early on.
I was obviously over-medicated but I could not get any of my own doctors
to consider letting me detox without hospitalization.
Dr Bruce believed he could detox me in two weeks without hospitalization
and was willing to see me through the battle.
With the use of some of his herbal medications and intense daily hypnosis,
I am proud to say I am drug free and feeling better about myself than
I ever have.
We worked out some difficult childhood problems that I had deeply buried
in my mind and had all but forgotten. I can now handle these memories
and get on with my life as I never thought possible.
For the first time I actually feel that I am in charge of my own life.
What freedom that has given me. Dr Bruce Stampley has given me the greatest
gift of all .... he has given me a new life and I will be eternally grateful.
I hope that my story will touch someone else in trouble and give them
hope that they too may be set free from their own demons. Hypnosis and
alternative therapy have proved to be priceless for me.” 11
It now the Spring of 2003 and Linda is still not taking any medications
and has lost 40 pounds. She has changed from a dejected, defeated individual
into an outgoing, attractive and happy young woman.
She is no longer a client, but I have kept close track of her. Needless
to say, I am professionally very pleased that we were able to resolve
some of her problems.
The two things that helped her make this wonderful change were the belief
that she could get well and the tremendous power of the mind/body connection
to overcome huge obstacles through understanding and using that power
to effect changes even at the cellular level.