– superficial, excessive social life
– multiple meaningless relationships
– substance abuse issues
– unfulfilling work / career
– sleep issues
– anxiety, mood control and focus issues
– anti-depressant medication
– complete ‘change of gear’: two weeks of calm, introspection
– rediscovered value of friendships, meaningful relationships
– urge to reorient career, intense and focussed search; now successful therapist
– strong bond with her child
– off medication, minimal recreational drug use
Philippa, 38, had formed a small hospitality business with her friend and business partner, which was providing a comfortable income. Both felt that socialising was an important part of networking and growing their business, and were frequenting private members clubs and other events with daily regularity. Stimulant use and drink were habitual, and numbed the (temporary) withdrawal of custody of her son while this process was battled out in court. She had suffered from anxiety and mood control issues, and in addition received an ADHD diagnosis, though she was only willing to take anti-depressant medication (SSRIs). Following the break-up with the father of her child, she went through a slew of meaningless relationships and short term encounters.
Infra-Low Frequency (ILF) neurofeedback, or the Othmer Method, is based on a symptom questionnaire, rather than a qEEG brain map, and this revealed which placements seemed apposite. She felt calmer within minutes of the first (and only) session. After half an hour, the typical duration of these type of neurofeedback sessions, her demeanour had changed completely. Visibly less nervous and agitated, she left, with the urge to have some ‘alone time’. Reporting back two weeks later, she asked, with positive curiosity, what had happened to her. She volunteered that during this time, she had only gone out once, instead staying at home, cooking, enjoying evenings with good friends, even turning around once to stay in and have a relaxing bath. Her business was functioning well without the social distraction, and she became introspective and focussed on what she wanted, needed and desired, rather than being part of a ‘show’ and pleasing others.
The experience helped Philippa change gears and realise that a healthy level of grounding was more beneficial to her emotional and personal life than fleeting connections, stimulant driven hyperactivity and meaningless encounters. Her custody battle was turning in her favour, and she was also seeing her son more often. Philippa’s business provided some stability, yet lacked engagement of her many interpersonal skills and qualities. Becoming a therapist seemed a natural progression, and she researched various modalities, driven by the urge to find something that could make quick and strong changes. Many of her friends had been going to weekly therapy sessions for years, with little success in her mind, and she saw how the process became a part of the person’s life, rather than the outcome.
Philippa progressed through various qualifications and turned her social and marketing skills to gain clients, helped by her sincere drive to help people and her strong ambition to do this well and effectively. She now has a successful therapy practice. Philippa also began to see the medication she had been taking for years as numbing and invasive, and set about weaning off anti-depressants, while reducing her recreational drug use to a minimum.
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