Chewing Gum and My Son

For those of you that read about my son here. I have an update.

Last week at his therapist we learned all about the subconscious and how it interferes with everyday life.

You know the saying “think with your brain and not with your heart” or the round-about sayings referencing it? Well she explained your heart is your subconscious and this sick little pesk likes to eff your life up every once in a while. (Those were not her exact words) It makes you over evaluate things like tests. It also makes you think scary stuff or causes nightmares. Which most of this we know or have been told before. What I didn’t know is that you can train your brain with a “safe word”.

Yesterday was my sons’ second appointment and at this session he was hypnotized but not put all the way under. I missed the action due to me having all of my kids and waited in the waiting room.

This is how he explained what happened…. She told him to close his eyes and count down. He did. Then she said he didn’t need to pay attention to what she was saying because she was talking to his subconscious. She continues and says “you can think about what you’re having for dinner if you want”. He did. He said while she was talking he was trying to figure out is he wanted a half sandwich and soup or a full sandwich at the deli. He doesn’t remember what she was saying and when she told him to open his eyes, he felt happy and calm.

She explained that she told his “heart” to listen to him when he uses his “safe word”. For example: “My mom is not going to die in an accident. Purple.” (No my sons’ word is not purple.) You speak or think what is causing you your anxiety and you finish with your “safe word”.  And then you surround yourself with things that reflect your word. Purple – you go out and buy some grapes, eat them. Wear things that are purple, buy candles that remind you of purple. Lilacs for instance. Etc.

During test chew grape flavored gum. Also, did you know that while chewing gum, rolling a worry stone in your hands, etc, can help you perform better on tests? Yup, chewing the gives your subconscious something do instead of taking over your decision making. Neat, huh.

So next time you are worrying about something or taking a test or for us writers out there… chew that gum!