Married to Hypno-hubby
Tuesday 28th April 2009
Look into my eyes. You're feeling very sleepy. That's what hypnotists say, right? wrong. How do I know? I married one. And let me make it clear, there was no swinging pocket watch involved! Back in 2006, I'd heard about neuro-linguistic programming, (NLP). It sounds complicated, but basically, it's a course you can go on that makes you think more positively. I could certainly do with a bit of that, I thought. I was shy but, as a customer services manager for a building society, I had to talk to big groups of people and give presentations. No matter how much I practised, I dreaded it every time. So I figured NLP might be worth a try and booked in with someone called Adam Eason. As well as being an NLP trainer, Adam was also one of Britain's top hypnotherapists. There were about 10 of us on the course, and Adam made us laugh as he took us through ways to look at things more positively, and see why we respond to certain situations the way we do. He was so approachable that, at the end of the day, I asked for his email address in case I had any more questions.
A year later, I emailed to ask about something from the course. We stayed in touch as friends, and it led to him asking me out. We went for a meal in a restaurant by the sea in Bournemouth, and over dinner, Adam told me how he'd got into hypnotism. 'When I was younger I had a skin condition called psoriasis,' he said. 'No medicines or creams could help, so I tried hypnotherapy.' He'd been so impressed, he'd decided to become a hypnotherapist and trained with Paul McKenna. Since then, he'd appeared on telly, and worked with Olympic athletes like Sally Gunnell and Steve Cram. Whether he was helping someone pack in smoking, lose weight or overcome a phobia, it was clear he loved his job. His enthusiasm was contagious and, by the end of the night, we were a couple. And no, he didn't have to tell me to look into his eyes before he kissed me goodnight…
Two months later, we were chatting, and I admitted I still got really nervous at work sometimes. 'Maybe I'm just not cut out for it,' I shrugged. 'Why don't I hypnotise you?' Adam suggested. 'It might help with your confidence problem.' I screwed up my nose. I believed it worked, but I just didn't think it would work for me. 'I don't know,' I shrugged. 'I don't think I'd be able to relax.' 'Everyone says that,' Adam said. 'You liked NLP, just give this a shot.' So I agreed. I might have only known Adam two months, but I trusted him. Something about him made me feel safe and secure. So we settled in the living room, and I flopped back into a chair and closed my eyes. 'You're feeling relaxed,' he said. 'Clear your mind.' At first, it felt a bit silly. But after a while, I could feel myself drifting off. It's not like I was asleep, just relaxed. I could hear Adam's voice, but it washed over me like a wave. 'There's no reason for you to be nervous…' After the session, I half expected to be groggy, but I was actually really perky and alert. I didn't know if it had worked yet, but I felt so good, it didn't really matter. The following week, when I walked in to give a presentation, I waited for my nerves to start jangling and my palms to start sweating, as usual, but they didn't. Instead, it was almost as if I could hear Adam's voice: 'There's no reason for you to be nervous…' Amazingly, I was able to stand up and chat away without worrying about stumbling over my words.
I'm not saying I was cured, but the improvement was amazing. 'I felt like a totally different person,' I told Adam, when I rang him later on that evening. 'Told you so,' he laughed. I didn't like to admit it after just three months, but Adam was something else. I was definitely falling in love with him. A few weeks later, he rang and asked me to come over after work. He'd been away on business and said he had something important to discuss. 'What is it?' I asked, clocking his serious face when I arrived. I'd already convinced myself he wanted us to split up. 'For a while, I thought things were perfect between us,' he said slowly. 'But now, I know they aren't perfect at all.' I gulped. Oh no. 'Which is why,' he continued, 'I want to ask you to be my wife.' Open-mouthed, I stared down at the sparkling diamond ring he was holding out. 'Yes!' I cried. The wedding was one year and three days later, in May 2008. As I walked down the aisle at Parley Manor, Christchurch, Dorset, I couldn't tell if it was Adam's hypnosis that made me feel so confident, or just the fact I had no doubt I wanted to spend the rest of my life for him. After the ceremony, he made a speech. 'Before anyone asks me again if I had to hypnotise Katie to marry me, let me tell you it's not funny!' he joked. Of course, he got a massive laugh. So much so, that a few people even came up afterwards and asked if he'd hypnotised them into thinking he was funny. 'I can't win!' Adam groaned.
Since we've been together, I've got used to the fact that once people find out what Adam does, they start asking him for tips on how they can get over their fear of flying, or give up smoking. Funnily enough, no one is anywhere near as interested in my building society job! But I don't mind my hypno-hubby getting all the attention, I love to hear about his work, too. He's hypnotised me a few more times to help with my confidence, and we'll also use hypnosis to help me through my pregnancy when we decide to start a family. But when it comes to the birth, I think I'll stick to the hospital!