Here is an article that I wrote for LA Health News Magazine. It is in the October issue.
January 16, 1999. It was a day that changed my life forever. My husband, Dennis, died in my arms that night. It was devastating to watch someone I loved more than anything suffer and die in pain. I can still remember how hopeless and helpless I felt. If only I had known then what I know now. Hypnotherapy could have given him strength, peace and comfort during his journey with cancer.
Hypnotherapy is a complementary modality focusing on the mind-body connection of the whole person and not just the disease. It is a natural state wherein the mind is open and receptive to suggestions. The hypnosis process induces the patient into a relaxed, calm state so that the mind is clear and focused allowing the patient to make rational decisions throughout the entire cancer ordeal.
Stress and anxiety are known immune system suppressors and further exacerbate the situation of a cancer patient. Hypnosis provides tools and techniques to reduce stress and anxiety and thereby boost the immune system.
Hypnosis can combat the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation by redirecting the patient away from negative expectations toward positive aspects of healing. It helps manage and control pain and alleviate insomnia and fatigue.
Hypnosis provides calm and relaxation prior to surgery and helps focus on the best possible outcome. It reduces pain and facilitates the post-surgery healing process.
Each of my hypnotherapy sessions is personalized to meet the needs of the client and incorporates consultation, goal identification, hypnotic induction, progressive relaxation and guided imagery. I also make home and hospital visits for those that are too sick to travel.
As a former caregiver, I recognize that the needs of family are just as important and should be dealt with as well.
My clients receive hypnosis take home tools which include self-hypnosis, relaxation and healing cd’s, and breathing and relaxation techniques.
My personal loss to cancer and my work at the Wellness Community has instilled a deep sense of compassion for the cancer patient. I have a passion for my work and understand what it takes to help cancer patients and their families get through the many challenges of cancer.
Paula Getty,
Certified Hypnotherapist
818-718-1654
http://paulagetty.com/
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
In Loving Memory of Dennis
It was 11 years ago today that Dennis died. I am forever grateful for the 8 and one half years that I had with him. He was such a special person, and there will always be a place in my heart that will remember him.
Many people will say that this is the anniversary of his death. But I like to think of it as the anniversary of his first day in heaven.
"Time heals". I heard that phrase over and over after Dennis died. It is not entirely true because it is what you do with the time that counts.
Everyone is unique in their grief and you must continue to find ways to help yourself. It took me a long time to heal, much longer than I thought. But remembering and honoring Dennis on certain days helped me along the path of healing.
I had to handle Dennis' death in a way that worked for me. I constantly looked for rituals to honor and remember him. The first year I did something for every holiday, birthday, anniversary or any other special day I could think of. I remember going with friends to Dennis' favorite restaurant on his birthday. On another occasion, I had a rock engraved with our names on it and put it out in my garden. I also wrote a letter to Dennis on a balloon and released it into the sky. On the anniversary of the day we met I wrote a letter to a radio station and dedicated a song to him. The letter was read on the air and the song "Unforgettable" was played. Ocassionaly, I went back to some of our favorite spots in Santa Barbara. It was healing to go there alone and just talk to Dennis. But sometimes I just couldn't be alone and I am thankful that I could turn to family and friends. On the first Christmas after his death I had a special ornament made and put it on my tree. The video that I had made with my favorite pictures of Dennis and our love songs is very special to me.( Thanks Greg for putting all the time in to make that video just right!)
I went to support groups for 2 and a half years. I never thought that I would go that long, but it was just something that I needed to do. I made some good friends, and it was nice to be able to talk with people who were in the same situation as me. In fact, I have 8 other widows that I get together with, and they unknowingly picked today as our day for brunch. It will be a good day today.
"Get over it and move on" is the one phrase that never worked for me. That made it sound like I was supposed to forget the person and get on with my life. Instead I tell myself that I need to find ways to help myself heal and also live my life to the fullest.
Here it is 11 years later. I am definately in a different place. I look back with a smile and remember the good times I had with Dennis. I am forever grateful that he was in my life and I know he is looking down on me and smiling too.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
My Story
January 16, 1999-- It was a day that changed my life forever. My husband, Dennis died in my arms that night. To watch someone you love more than anything suffer and die in pain was devastating to me. He was my first true love and I thought he would be my one and only love. He was my best friend, we did everything together. We worked together, coached basketball together, on the weekends we would hike or mountain bike together. Then he was gone. I was lost, crushed, devastated. I had lost my passion for living . I didn't know where to turn.
I went to support groups and got individual therapy for 2 and a half years. I have a great family and they also helped me through it. When Dennis died I made a promise to myself to never let a loved one die a death like that ever again. I had to work on that promise. A few years later I became a hospice volunteer. I learned how to take care of people that are dying and how to understand when they are in the last stages of their life. I also learned how to bring them comfort . I could have used this information when Dennis was dying. He had leukemia and went through so much. He had chemotherapy, radiation, a bone marrow transplant and had all kinds of side effects and problems. He was in and out of the hospital, had emergency surgeries and was often in intensive care. He had endured so much, they were sticking needles in him right up until a few hours before his death. I would have done anything to have hospice with me at that time where our main concern would have been to keep him comfortable and out of pain. He was the first person I ever saw die. All of his suffering and the last few hours of his life were etched in my mind. I had to change that, I had a lot of healing to do. And I still had work to do on my promise.
In 2004 I went to an orientation meeting on hypnosis and how to become a hypnotherapist. I knew by the end of the class that that is what I was meant to do. I already had a degree in Psychology and was always interested in the mind and how we learn. After that class was over I already had a specialty to focus on--working with people with cancer and their families. I knew by using hypnotherapy I could make a difference in peoples lives. Now I could help others deal with the side effects of chemo and radiation, pain, insomnia, after surgery healing, and all the stress and anxiety that they deal with everyday . When I was dealing with all of these issues with Dennis I had remembered how hopeless and helpless I had felt. I could now help others in the same situations.
I had always hated school but now I couldn't get enough. I studied everyday and went to some classes more than once. Now I felt better about my promise and I had tools and techniques to make it come true. For the first time since Dennis died I had some passion back in my life. I was excited about hypnotherapy and knew I could be successful. I wanted to do whatever it took to be the best hypnotherapist that I could be. I now had a purpose in life again, I wanted to help others and make a difference in their lives. And I especially wanted to help people with cancer, I wanted to help them heal physically and emotionally. And if someone is at the end stages of their life I knew that I could help bring them peace.
My dad and step dad have also passed since Dennis' death. I have worked hard on my promise and now feel better about it. I have learned so much. I not only work as a Hypnotherapist I also work at the Wellness Community. I teach a Relaxation and Guided Imagery class every week that is free for the cancer patient and their family. And over the past 5 years I have been able to wake up everyday with a purpose and passion for life. Since I have been doing hypnotherapy and guided imagery I have found that by helping others heal I have also helped heal myself.
I went to support groups and got individual therapy for 2 and a half years. I have a great family and they also helped me through it. When Dennis died I made a promise to myself to never let a loved one die a death like that ever again. I had to work on that promise. A few years later I became a hospice volunteer. I learned how to take care of people that are dying and how to understand when they are in the last stages of their life. I also learned how to bring them comfort . I could have used this information when Dennis was dying. He had leukemia and went through so much. He had chemotherapy, radiation, a bone marrow transplant and had all kinds of side effects and problems. He was in and out of the hospital, had emergency surgeries and was often in intensive care. He had endured so much, they were sticking needles in him right up until a few hours before his death. I would have done anything to have hospice with me at that time where our main concern would have been to keep him comfortable and out of pain. He was the first person I ever saw die. All of his suffering and the last few hours of his life were etched in my mind. I had to change that, I had a lot of healing to do. And I still had work to do on my promise.
In 2004 I went to an orientation meeting on hypnosis and how to become a hypnotherapist. I knew by the end of the class that that is what I was meant to do. I already had a degree in Psychology and was always interested in the mind and how we learn. After that class was over I already had a specialty to focus on--working with people with cancer and their families. I knew by using hypnotherapy I could make a difference in peoples lives. Now I could help others deal with the side effects of chemo and radiation, pain, insomnia, after surgery healing, and all the stress and anxiety that they deal with everyday . When I was dealing with all of these issues with Dennis I had remembered how hopeless and helpless I had felt. I could now help others in the same situations.
I had always hated school but now I couldn't get enough. I studied everyday and went to some classes more than once. Now I felt better about my promise and I had tools and techniques to make it come true. For the first time since Dennis died I had some passion back in my life. I was excited about hypnotherapy and knew I could be successful. I wanted to do whatever it took to be the best hypnotherapist that I could be. I now had a purpose in life again, I wanted to help others and make a difference in their lives. And I especially wanted to help people with cancer, I wanted to help them heal physically and emotionally. And if someone is at the end stages of their life I knew that I could help bring them peace.
My dad and step dad have also passed since Dennis' death. I have worked hard on my promise and now feel better about it. I have learned so much. I not only work as a Hypnotherapist I also work at the Wellness Community. I teach a Relaxation and Guided Imagery class every week that is free for the cancer patient and their family. And over the past 5 years I have been able to wake up everyday with a purpose and passion for life. Since I have been doing hypnotherapy and guided imagery I have found that by helping others heal I have also helped heal myself.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)