The role of the brain in persistent complaints: How stress and suppressed emotions contribute to pain and what you can do to break out of the vicious circle.

Many people with chronic pain or persistent physical complaints, such as Long Covid or Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS), struggle with the vicious circle of pain, fatigue, stress or frustration. The brain plays a central role in this. When we experience stress or cannot properly process suppressed emotions, this can lead to changes in the body that manifest themselves in physical pain. This pain is often not caused by physical damage, but by psychological factors such as stress and unprocessed emotions.

What happens in the brain?

The brain plays an important role in the development of persistent complaints. When we experience stress for a long time or suppress negative emotions (suppressed often means not being aware of the emotions), the brain responds to the negative experiences that exist. The brain 'learns', as it were, to associate pain with stress or unresolved emotional blockages, as a result of which the pain persists or can itself be intensified.

What can you do to break the vicious circle?

Breaking out of the vicious circle of chronic complaints requires an approach that involves both the brain and the body. There are several steps you can take to break this cycle and start the recovery process:

REASSURANCE – Let the doctor reassure you to confirm that nothing is broken. To then learn to relax, despite the unpleasant physical sensations. Using techniques such as visualizations (evidence based on IBS complaints) you can help the brain to reduce the overreaction to pain signals. Learning to calm your nervous system is essential to breaking the vicious cycle of pain and anxiety!

STAY ACTIVE – Physical activity not only helps improve physical health, but it also reduces the tension that often builds up in the body due to long-term stress or pain. Find that movement that makes you happy and that is suitable for you.

MAKING CHOICES  – It is important to make choices that promote recovery, such as setting healthy boundaries. When you learn to recognize and respect your boundaries, you give yourself space to recover.

MEANINGFUL ACTIVITIES  – Energizing activities, positive interactions with others, or fulfilling work can help take your mind off the pain and reprogram the brain to a more positive focus.

SELF-COMPASSION  – Many people with chronic complaints are inclined to judge themselves. Self-compassion is essential for recovery, because it gives the brain space to relax and let go.

EMOTIONS  – It is important to discover, recognize and process repressed emotions such as anger and sadness. Ignoring emotions causes increased tension in your body. By recognizing and processing emotions, you help the brain and body to let go of the pain.

How are your needs? 

Imagine that your intestines are a busy highway, where there is constant traffic, but the signs and traffic lights do not work properly. That's what it can feel like when you suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). Abdominal pain, bloating and unpredictable complaints can disrupt your daily life and hinder your well-being.

What if there is a way to reset the traffic lights on that highway? The Dutch Association of General Practitioners (NHG) recognizes hypnotherapy as an effective treatment option for IBS. This therapy helps to improve communication between body and mind, which can reduce complaints and allow your intestines to function "quietly" again.

Whether it's stress, anxiety or physical discomfort – hypnotherapy can help address the underlying causes of IBS.

Do you suffer from intestinal problems and are you curious about alternative treatments? It's time to rebalance that highway!

From fear to TRUST.

Fear of medical treatment? It is possible to overcome these.

Many people have had negative experiences in healthcare in the past, which can lead to anxiety, avoidance or even delaying necessary treatments. The good news is: this fear does not have to take over.

I have experienced that EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) can effectively help to process negative memories and traumas from the past. This makes it possible to approach future medical treatments with healthy excitement, rather than paralyzing fear.

An example.

One of my clients had a traumatic hospital experience in her youth, which prevented her from scheduling a necessary surgery. After four sessions (one extensive intake interview and three EMDR sessions) she noticed that she gained more confidence in the medical process. She also felt better prepared because she was able to calmly discuss her questions with her treating physician in advance, without feeling overwhelmed by feelings of powerlessness.

A week after her operation, she writes:

"I am now recovering from the operation and am already feeling better. Everything went well both before and during the procedure. Thank you for your support. If I need any help in the near future, I will let you know For now everything is going according to plan and I am positive about the further recovery."

This is a great example of how we don't have to get stuck in fear of medical treatments. It is possible to overcome this fear and take back control of your health.

Chinese New Year  2025 

I cordially invite you to celebrate the Chinese New Year all about the Snake on February 1 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM in Zeist. We are guests of Helen IJsselmuiden. Helen is a taiji, qigong and coach teacher.

You will first be introduced to Tapping, based on EFT (emotional freedom techniques). With this method you can replace fixed beliefs with a different, now more appropriate view of yourself or the situation. Before and after there is a short qigong lesson, in which anyone without or with a physical or psychological disability can participate. In 'snake language', your insides will come out this afternoon.

Your inside out 

In January 2025 you can celebrate New Year twice:

• January 1 New Year according to the solar calendar. When the sun announces the new year, it invites you to imagine and empathize with how you wish for this new year. Resolutions can arise from this. However, they are still ideas that you can play with. They do not have to be realized yet.
• January 29 New Year according to the lunar calendar This is different with the first new moon on January 29. It is completely dark and in that darkness the new grows. Which of your resolutions remains? Have others perhaps taken its place? Which one do you want to achieve? And yet the latter often turns out not to be so easy. Many resolutions have fallen through over the years. Something seems to be in the way. Certainly, these are deeply held beliefs that no longer fit the current situation. The coming Lunar New Year, Chinese New Year 2025, will be all about the Snake. The snake sheds its skin while writhing; leaves his old beliefs behind.

Tapping

Tapping involves tapping certain acupuncture points with your fingers. These points activate the parasympathetic nervous system, that of calm and peace. This allows you to look at your limiting beliefs without judging yourself, let go of the pain and emotions that this belief has caused and develop a new vision from within. You can become acquainted with this technique under the guidance of me, Miriam Verschoor.

Snake qigong

Before getting acquainted with Tapping, Helen gives a lesson on snake qigong. Your body becomes flexible due to the winding, snake-like movements, which you energetically allow to continue infinitely far outside your body. This rids you of energy that you no longer need. After your experience with Tapping, we will practice qigong again to enjoy the new harmony within yourself. We end the afternoon with a toast to the Lunar New Year.

When, where, costs?

Saturday, February 9 2025, 10.30 - 12.30.

Red Cross, Kwartellaan 13, Zeist.

We offer you this afternoon for free. Of course we greatly appreciate a voluntary contribution.

You can register using the link below. Welcome!

Registration form Chinese New Year 2025

Hypnotherapy is an effective form of therapy for treating various complaints and problems of a social, psychological and psychosomatic nature. This method of guidance can also help to increase personal qualities and potential.

The therapy focuses on the subconscious, where many of our automatic behaviors and reactions are stored, which makes it difficult to achieve change with conscious therapies. Through techniques such as hypnosis, trance, relaxation exercises, regression to inner children and transactional analysis, the hypnotherapist helps the client to realize positive changes in thoughts, emotions and behavior.

Hypnotherapy is recognized as evidence-based and is increasingly integrated into regular care, with scientific evidence for its effectiveness in, for example, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In addition, EMDR, another technique that I use, can be effective for people with, for example, (dentist/flying/driving) anxiety complaints.

Hypnotherapy is often reimbursed through supplementary insurance. You can find a brief overview of the coverage via the website below. Always check your own health insurance.

https://www.zorgwijzer.nl/kosten/hypnotherapie

Many SMEs underestimate the impact of work stress within their organization. The mental health ladder offers a tool to assess where you stand as an SME organization and what you can do to improve the mental health of your employees.

Research shows that investing in mental health can lead to significant productivity gains. So it actually makes a lot of sense to have open conversations about work stress and mental health. You can get started proactively with tools such as the force field analysis from the Trimbos Institute:


https://www.trimbos.nl/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TRI-61-008-Mentale-gezondheid-in-het-MKB.pdf

As a professional, I can help support employees who are at risk of absenteeism so that they take the right steps towards healthier mental & physical health. You are welcome to discuss what I can do preventively for your employees.

New practice location in Doorn as of October 1

I am pleased to announce that as of October 1, in addition to my practice location in Driebergen-Rijsenburg, I will also be practicing at the Vitality Center on Acacialaan in Doorn. This center offers an inspiring environment where multiple disciplines work together to support self-healing capacity. The guidance is aimed at activating a natural recovery process.

At the Vitality Center Doorn we work in addition to the regular healthcare provided by general practitioners and medical specialists. Together we focus on strengthening your health, preventing illness, and promoting your well-being.

A proactive approach to health

At the Vitality Center we believe in a proactive approach to care. This means that we look beyond just the symptoms of a health problem; we look for the underlying causes. We take the time to explore with you what you need to regain balance.

Multidisciplinary approach for your health

An important advantage of the Vitalitycenter is the collaboration between different disciplines. The care is based on years of experience and continuous training.

“Where it rubs, there comes shine.” ✨

Jan (name changed for privacy) spoke these powerful words during the completion of his journey, and they touch the core of what therapy can mean. Although we often prefer to avoid negative emotions, they are essential for growth and change. It is precisely by tackling those 'abrasive' places in our lives that we can flourish and gain new insights.

During the process with Jan we used various therapeutic techniques. Namely hypnotherapy, EMDR and conversation techniques. This helped Jan to explore his emotions and experiences. Hypnotherapy can be a powerful tool for working on change at a deeper level. It helps to let go of limiting beliefs and develop new, positive thinking patterns.

In addition, conversation techniques enabled Jan to better organize his thoughts and feelings. By feeding back what he said, he became more aware of his own process. This gave him the confidence to take steps towards positive change.

In addition to hypnotherapy and conversation techniques, we have also used EMDR. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a powerful method for processing trauma and removing blockages. This technique enabled Jan to process difficult memories and emotions in a safe way, giving him space for recovery and growth. Jan noticed that this gave him even more control over his emotions and behavior, and that his inner peace increased.

Jan emphasized that the pleasant atmosphere and the pleasant location contributed to his process. After all, a good and safe atmosphere provides space to be open and vulnerable, which is crucial for healing and personal growth.

As a human being you are often stuck in your own system and beliefs. A trip - a different view - often gives you the opportunity to discover how things can be done differently. How do other people shape their lives? What does it feel like in a place where you can completely relax? With the help of hypnotherapy you can go on an inner journey and explore your own inner world.

People usually do not go on holiday with the aim of changing, just as someone does not come to the practice for an inner journey. Often the reason is different, namely physical and/or emotional pain. These complaints should mainly diminish, they should not be there. As humans, we often have many coping mechanisms to avoid feeling the pain.

We start the journey by discovering your desired travel destination.
As a therapist, I have often seen how people can get stuck in their own system and beliefs. It's like being stuck in the same place, with no way out. But just as a trip to a new destination can broaden your horizons, so can an inner journey. Hypnotherapy offers a unique opportunity to explore your own inner world and discover how things could be done differently.

But how do you actually determine the travel destination, what is being worked on or what is needed to discover? Because you often know clearly what you no longer want, for example you want less pain or less anger. You often don't know what you do want. The pain consumes your energy;
the anger eats you up inside. The negative therefore receives even more attention. You may discover that behind the request for help, such as 'wanting less pain', lies the positively formulated wish for 'more peace and lightness'. Words like 'not' or 'less' are words with a negative charge. So make sure every word has a positive charge. By formulating your goal positively, we create a direction that gives you energy and helps you move forward.

Empowering self-reliance
People often think that as a therapist I can solve their problems. But the real power lies with you. For example, with a tailor-made visualization, I help you discover your own travel destination. This process strengthens your self-reliance and gives you the confidence that you can find the solutions within yourself. This way you not only learn to deal with your current problems, but you also discover new possibilities and resources within yourself.

Finding inner peace
Inner trance journeys also offer a safe space in which emotions that often remain covered in daily life can emerge, so that processing becomes possible. During these journeys, unconscious negative beliefs can also come to light and be transformed. This strengthens your self-confidence and helps you break patterns. Only you can make this inner journey, while I guide and support you as a 'tour guide'.

The power of hypnotherapy
With hypnotherapy you can change negative beliefs, release emotions, break patterns and tap into internal resources. Answers to long-simmering questions can emerge, allowing you to experience more inner peace. And by first practicing something in trance, you can perform it with more ease later in everyday life. For this reason, imaginations and visualizations are also used in top sport. The effect of hypnotherapy has even been scientifically proven for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)!

Truthfulness and safety
During imaginary journeys you come to beautiful destinations where you can find the safety and tranquility necessary for healing. Pent-up tension can finally find its way out, relaxing both body and mind. In trance there is room for gentleness, truthfulness and love, so that you can explore and accept life's great challenges. Just like on a real trip, you can gain new experiences and transform negative beliefs into helpful thoughts and feelings.

Hearing, seeing, feeling, smelling
Discovering the positive goal is the first step out of the vicious circle, out of the downward spiral, out of inner turmoil. The positive goal formulation also gives the subconscious direction to explore the inner images and feelings that come with it with curiosity. An attractive goal is described as sensory as possible - in hearing, seeing, feeling, smelling - so that it can be experienced and tested. And the inner trance journeys provide space to visualize the desired goal and experience what is still needed to realize this goal.

Let's start this journey together and pave the way to a life with more peace, lightness and positive changes.

A number of concepts are explained in more detail below. Please call or email if you have any questions.
 

 

Many issues are approached cognitively in the mainstream healthcare landscape. People who come to my practice find that this is not enough for them. Their symptoms have remained, despite having taken therapy for this.

Therefore, three tips:

• Examine when the complaint arose, and understand the reason for it.
• Enter into the conversation with yourself without judgment. “Hello me? How do I feel? And where am I feeling what? What thought am I having right now?”. Take time for this so you can become more aware of what you are feeling or thinking. From discovering, you can begin to change. You can start to adjust old patterns that are no longer helpful. In this way you can make other choices.
• Experience peace in your body and head.

The latter is what is often missing in the regular approach. What makes that the symptoms can persist. EMDR, hypnotherapy, deepening breathing and relaxation exercises and body-oriented work can help you experience more peace.

Your employee is important to your company. However, is your employee getting stuck because of what is happening at work? Are work situations perceived as stressful? And does this challenge the physical and/or mental resilience of your employee? Mirjam Verschoor's personal coaching method focuses on durable solutions for your employee's complaints, so that your employee can return to work quickly or that your employee discovers what is needed to continue doing the work with energy.

Common complaints that come up are: chronic pain, anxiety and stress. Various methodologies are used so that your employee receives the personalized guidance needed. From cognitive behavioral training, relaxation and breathing exercises, coaching, body-oriented work, to psychosocial therapy, hypnotherapy and EMDR. Tailoring the use of professional counseling to the needs of your employee reduces absenteeism. The targeted and efficient approach is brief and solution-oriented.

Call: 06141465700 or email: info@mirjamverschoor.nl if you wish your employee effective, professional and personal guidance. I am happy to visit you without any obligation to discuss what I can do for you or your organization.

A short-term coaching program, in which personal performance can be boosted, is also one of the possibilities. For example, for visualizing the goals to be achieved, my coaching method is also very suitable.