Ketamine

Ketamine

by | Jul 10, 2025 | Body, Mind, News

Ketamine, Addiction & Finding Your Way Back

Breaking the Cycle: Ketamine, Addiction & Finding Your Way Back

Ketamine.
It starts out as a way to escape. A bit of fun. A coping tool.

But before you know it, the substance that numbed the pain becomes a source of it. You feel disconnected, low, stuck — and sometimes, ashamed. And if that’s where you are now, I want you to know: you are not alone.

Ketamine is addictive — let’s be real about it

There’s no point sugar-coating it. While ketamine has clinical use in pain relief and mental health treatment, outside a controlled environment, it can lead to:

  • Mental fog

  • Bladder and physical health issues

  • Emotional numbness and dissociation

  • Dependency and withdrawal

  • Loss of motivation, relationships, and identity

It becomes a cycle. You chase relief… but feel worse in the long run.

Addiction isn’t the problem — it’s the symptom

What I’ve found in my work is this: addiction is rarely about the substance.
It’s about what’s underneath — unprocessed trauma, stress, anxiety, loneliness, a deep unmet need for calm or control.

That’s why I don’t just work on “stopping the drug.”
I work with people to help them understand why they reached for it in the first place.

Using hypnotherapy, I guide clients into a relaxed state where we can access the subconscious mind — where the roots of addictive patterns often lie.
Then, through deep life coaching, we begin to gently build new behaviours, healthier coping tools, and a sense of purpose again.

How I can help

I offer:

  • Safe, non-judgmental 1-to-1 sessions (in person or online)

  • Hypnotherapy to break mental and emotional patterns

  • Deep life coaching to rebuild confidence, purpose and daily structure

  • Collaboration with other support services and local agencies

  • Step-by-step guidance without pressure or unrealistic promises

I won’t guarantee you’ll get off the drugs overnight — but I will help you help yourself.

Local support in Elgin, Moray & Scotland

Alongside my support, here are some local and national services that can help:

Elgin & Moray:

  • Arrows (Moray Wellbeing Hub – Substance Misuse Support)
    6 North Guildry Street, Elgin, IV30 1JR
    Tel: 01343 544 344
    www.moraywellbeinghub.org.uk

  • Quarriers Elgin Recovery Support Service
    Support with drug/alcohol recovery plans
    Tel: 01343 559900
    www.quarriers.org.uk

  • Turning Point Scotland – Elgin Services
    Substance misuse & mental health services in Moray
    Tel: 01343 552240
    www.turningpointscotland.com

Scotland-wide:

You don’t have to hit rock bottom — just take the first step

Addiction tells you you’re weak. But I’ve seen how wrong that is.

You’re not broken — you’re in pain.
And there’s a way back.

If you’re ready to make that change, or just want to have a conversation with someone who understands — I’m here.

Derek McGillivray – A Happy Medium
Based in Elgin, Moray | Online sessions available
www.ahappymedium.co.uk
derek@ahappymedium.co.uk
07468 119635

Holds Diplomas in Life Coaching, Mindfulness based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) advanced, Past life & this life regression, Hypnotherapy, also hold certificates in Reiki spiritual healing, Addvanced counselling. Is fully insured and follows national operational and ethical guidelines with in the laws of the UK.

Derek is often asked to do Motivational & Spiritual Workshops, Psychic shows and events with music from the past present & future.

His motto is ” Enlightening others to succeed through life’s challenges ”

DEPRESSION Kills

DEPRESSION Kills

by | May 15, 2025 | Body, Mind, Soul

DEPRESSION Kills

 

DEPRESSION Kills

We hear reports around the globe of the many souls that suffer depression, because of overwhelming stress. With wars, poverty, and violence going on around us is it any wonder that depression is an issue? Statistics has proven that depression links to increased heart attacks and heart disease.

Researchers have not proved that depression is the cause of heart disease, but they do feel it is a contribution. Depression is also the root for suicidal increase. Yet the fatal mistake that doctors make is over medicating the patient.

Medications not only suppress the problem, but it contributes to medical issues. The result, the problem is still there. Everyday studies are finding new information and yet the information is often tossed to the backseat while traditional treatments continue.

New studies reveal that in contrast, intellectual and in depth, research coupled with insight helps scientist understand depression. After study the mental illness, closely they concluded in one study that depression is possibly linked to existing heart diseases.

With premature death-related to heart disease caused by premature changes in women. In other words, postmenopausal issues were said to be linked. After careful research, it was shown that antidepressant drugs might cause more harm to patients.

Observers that watched these women claimed that women were at higher risk of heart attacks while inducing antidepressants. The Archives of Internal Medicines after conducting surveys claimed that more than 90,000 women over the age of fifty and out of 16 percent suffered major depression.

This was half the women, and this half was taking antidepressants. The researchers continued their studies and found that postmenopausal women suffered depression, and because of taking antidepressants, over half the women were at risk of death related to heart diseases.

In 2003, new researchers concluded that the percentage of women at risk would also be subject to fractured bones, and that more than 8,000 women over 65 were prescribed medications and the medicines had affected the central nervous system. Researchers deduced that after taking prescribed drugs for five years the women were noticeably showing risks of fracturing bones, and those that did not take the drugs lived healthier lives.

After careful studies researchers concluded that, the prescribed drugs were the linking cause of psychical symptoms.

To reduce depression, one must exercise, eat healthy, write in journals, and use self-induced analytic profiling and evaluation of self. It is extremely important that a person come to understand their handicap and deal with it.

More studies have shown that when the spine is out of alignment, or injured that it links to depression, which is often caused by stress. Often when we visit our Chiropractor, he/she can help us to get our spine back in alignment, which has proven to relieve stress and depression.

Despite the studies that concluded that antidepressants could put a patient at risk, doctors around the globe, still take out their prescription pads and start writing. Often the problem is ignored, and blame is placed on the patients, while the doctors continue prescribing.

Now you must ask the question, are you at risk? If so, you need to take care that you consult with the proper physician. Ask him to monitor your issues carefully and sway him away from prescribing antidepressants.

Stay alert to your mental health and avoid floundering, as this contributes to depression. There are solutions to any problems that will work for you. Get out of the house and socialize. Take up a sport that you may enjoy. Read a damn good book or write one yourself. Writing is a gift, an art, and a contribution to Freedom of Speech; let the words flow.

As I analysed this distraction, I concluded, that depression is a mask of broken memories backed with links to medical issues formed and ignored. The spinal and nervous system are remarkably relative if not constituting the main cause of this distraction. What happens is people that suffer fail to exercise, sit straight, bend appropriately, and so forth. The result, the spine is dislocated. When the spine is out of line, problems will arise.

Having suffered myself from back issues I know that if my back is out of alignment, I do get grumpy, moody, and frustrated. I know some of the pain killers I was on were having effect on my mental health and I was not really moving forward, it was not till I took a more holistic approach all these years ago, that I started moving forward.

Depression can kill only if you let it!

However, you should know that medication may be only one part of the treatment puzzle.  You may also need to engage in talk therapy or join a support group in order to alleviate your symptoms.  The good news is that the prognosis is good for those who’ve been diagnosed with depression.

There are of course the holistic approaches, that can work with your drugs or can be used as an alternative, I have always believed, we need to work with the NHS and doctors and together we can help our clients to deal with anxiety.

There are many services we offer from Reiki healing, counselling, life coaching, Access Bars, NLP, Hypnotherapy, regression, TFT and many more..

Instead of just popping a pill why not come for a session and see how we can help you over come your challenges and find the root cause of your issues or the negative learnt behaviours you have created, yes you! As the only person that can help you is yourself, but we can give you the tools to succeed.

Book a session now and get back on that road to recovery!
Schedule Appointment

I Hold Diplomas in Life Coaching, Mindfulness based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) advanced, Past life & this life regression, Hypnotherapy, also hold certificates in Reiki spiritual healing, advanced counselling. I am fully insured and follow national operational and ethical guidelines with in the laws of the UK.

Derek is often asked to do Motivational & Spiritual Workshops, Psychic shows and events with music from the past present & future.

His motto is ” Enlightening others to succeed through life’s challenges “

Dealing with a failure to lose weight.

Dealing with a failure to lose weight.

by | May 13, 2025 | Body, Mind

 

We all want to change something about ourselves. There is always something that we want to change in our life.  Dealing with something that we want to make different is not always easy, but we must figure out the best method to make it happen.  Many people are trying to change the way that they look and their weight.  This is going to be a very challenging idea and something that takes a lot of will power.

How many times have you tried a diet and failed?  This can be very disappointing.  It is hard to realize that you are not losing the weight that you want and be the size that you have dreamed about.  However, with the right state of mind and a little bit of help you can make your dreams a reality.

The one thing that you can do is make sure that you keep a positive mind and always keeps telling yourself that you are better than someone that quits.  You are someone that is important and that should give your diet the best possible try that you can. Being positive is all part of making a diet work for you.

Make sure that you are serious about your weight loss plan. You need to know that there is no room for failure and that you are going to make this happen for you.  Sometimes we may not be able to succeed at a diet because there is something else going on in our life.  Maybe we have a problem that lies deep beneath that we are having a hard time dealing with.  If this happens, we need to seek help for it and get started on a good method of healing.

Staying focused is something that is very important too.  There are many reasons why we need to be sincere and realize that this is something that we really want to do.  Being disciplined is something that is must when we want to lose weight and make ourselves feel better.  We need to know what we have to do to make our goal a reality and be the weight that we want to be.

Take some time to listen to your heart and what you want to be.  Are you ready for the challenges that come along with dieting and not being a failure?  Is this something that you are physically and emotionally ready to do?  Make sure that you are strong and able to handle this type of process.  Being ready for the challenge is something that you should realize so that you are not losing site of what the impertinence is.

If things are not going your way you need to figure out a plan to make it right.  Make sure that you are checking out the options that you have and all that is going on.  Give yourself plenty of time to make your weight loss dreams a goal that is going to happen for you.  There is no need to pressure yourself into something that you are not ready for.

Remember you are not a failure you are a success story.  If you have dreams and goals set for yourself, you are going to make it all happen.  Giving your best shot and keeping sight of what is important will give you the help and the reinforcement that you need.  Just be positive and never give up on yourself.  You are not a failure, if you give it your all.

I can help you achieve your goals by booking a life coaching session with access to our Mindfulness weight loss program with Gastric band hypnotherapy. 

 
Derek McGillivray.
 
 
 
Combating Anxiety

Combating Anxiety

by | Jan 9, 2025 | Body, Mind, Soul

Combating Anxiety:  Will a Pill Do the Trick?

At certain points in your life, you might have been plagued with worry.  It might have been in the wake of beginning a marriage, starting a new career, or caring for a sick child.  The worry might have affected you not only emotionally but physically as well.  You might have experienced feelings of uneasiness, faintness, or breathing troubles.

There are degrees of severity when it comes to anxiety.  For instance, it can be mild, lasting only a day or two, or severe, lasting an entire month.  You might experience generalized anxiety disorder or something more specific such as phobias, panic, or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Anxiety might be treated with an anti-depressant or an anti-anxiety medication.  Generally speaking, there are three categories of anti-depressants:  selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs; tricyclics; and monoamine oxidase inhibitors or MAOIs.   SSRIs include Paxil, Prozac, and Zoloft.

These anti-depressants often have fewer side-effects than the older generation of anti-depressants.  Initially, you might feel nervous taking SSRIs, but the feeling often disappears after a few weeks.  One of the most important side-effects of these drugs is sexual dysfunction, which can often be corrected by changing the dosage.

Tricyclics tend to have side effects such as sleepiness, dizziness, and weight gain.  They are older than the SSRIs, so there has been more research conducted on them.  Meanwhile, MAOIs can cause a reaction if mixed with certain foods and drinks, such as cheese and wine.  These reactions can include increased blood pressure and other life-threatening problems.

Side-effects of anti-anxiety medications include fatigue, confusion, or drowsiness.    The medications may be taken two or three times a day or just when needed.  Dosage starts low then increases until symptoms disappear.  The amount of medication prescribed varies according to symptoms and a person’s body chemistry.   Doctors generally believe that you should not drink alcohol while taking anti-anxiety medication because the combination can create a life-threatening situation.

Because the medication can lead to dependence, the drugs are usually prescribed for only days or weeks at a time.  In fact, a user might be directed to take the medication only when symptoms of anxiety occur.  In some cases, individuals suffering from anxiety may need treatment for an extended period.

If you begin taking anti-anxiety medication, it is important that you stay on it until the doctor recommends that you stop taking it.  If you stop abruptly, you may experience anxiety, dizziness, or loss of appetite.  Common forms of anxiety medication include Valium, Ativan, and Xanax.

At times, physicians may prescribe beta-blockers to combat anxiety.  While beta-blockers such as propanolol may be used to deal with heart damage, they have also emerged as an effective treatment for social anxiety.  If you face a stressful situation, such as a job interview, your physician may give you a beta-blocker that can keep your palms from sweating, your head from swelling, and treat other symptoms of anxiety.

There are certain steps you should take before you begin a drug regimen for anxiety.  For instance, you should do your homework on the drug.  Find out what side-effects it causes, and determine whether you can live with those side-effects.  Also, you’ll need to inform your doctor of any over-the-counter medications you are using.  Be sure to find out how long you will have to take the drug.  You should realize that if you decide to stop taking the drug, you could find symptoms of anxiety reappearing.

If you’ve been diagnosed with anxiety, it can be a daunting experience.  You may not know where to go or who to turn to.  However, it’s best if you begin your search for treatment with your family physician, who can refer you to a psychiatrist if need be.  While any type of anxiety medication can lead to side-effects, many people report good experiences, particularly with SSRIs.  By working closely with your physician, you can find the medication that’s appropriate for you.

However, you should know that medication may be only one part of the treatment puzzle.  You may also need to engage in talk therapy or join a support group in order to alleviate your symptoms.  The good news is that the prognosis is good for those who’ve been diagnosed with anxiety.

There are of course the holistic approaches, that can work with your drugs or can be used as an alternative, I have always believed, we need to work with the NHS and doctors and together we can help our clients to deal with anxiety.

There are many services we offer from Reiki healing, counselling, life coaching, Access Bars, NLP, Hypnotherapy, regression, TFT and many more..

Instead of just popping a pill why not come for a session and see how we can help you over come your challenges and find the root cause of your issues or the negative learnt behaviours you have created, yes you! As the only person that can help you is yourself, but we can give you the tools to succeed.

Book a session now and get back on that road to recovery!
Schedule Appointment

12 tips to help you relax & combat life’s challenges with anxiety, stress and worry.

12 tips to help you relax & combat life’s challenges with anxiety, stress and worry.

by | Jan 9, 2025 | Body, Mind, News

Even when things aren’t perfect or don’t seem to be working out, I choose to trust in life.

Here are some tips to help you deal with life’s challenges, which I hope will enable you to recognise and control common tensions and anxieties. It is my belief that the only way to be able to combat anxiety successfully, is to learn all you can about it and then teach yourself ways of controlling the problems and effects caused by either an anxiety attack or an anxious situation that you find yourself in.

Life Coaching with Hynotherapy can really help with anxieties, together we can get to the root cause and work on soluitions.

Watch the video and learn new coping strategies


You can book a session online here or text/call 07468119635 email derek@ahappymedium.co.uk

These tips are in no particular order and I hope that you will read them all, try them all and then use the ones that you find ‘work for you’:

1. Talk over your worry. Everyone needs to do this at different times in their life. (Choose a friend, relative or professional helper you can trust).

*The magic word here is trust! It is impossible to talk candidly to someone who you feel either does not understand or you don’t trust. If you find someone who you can trust, try to use that trust and friendship to help relieve some of your burdens.*
Some Results: You will have relief from strain and be more able to see what you can do about your problem.

2. Escape from your problem – even if only for a while. (Lose yourself for a while in a change of scene or an interest. There is no merit in “Sticking it out” and suffering).

*As I have mentioned before, I use exercise and music to relax. I also read books and surf the internet. All of these things takes me away from stressful situations and help me get my mind back to a state in which I can deal again with life.*
Some Results: Afterwards, you will be clearer in your mind and able to come back and tackle your problem.

3. use up anger by physical activity. (Channel your anger into a job that needs doing or take a long walk or even play a game).

You can book a session online here or text/call 07468119635 email derek@ahappymedium.co.uk

*Physical exercise is a great way of removing pent up aggression. Please walk away from a potential flash point. It never solves anything and only intensifies your loss as you lose either friends, family or even both. I know it is difficult but self-discipline is the only real option here.*
Some Results: You will “let go” of your anger instead of bottling it up, which causes more tension.

4. Give in to others – occasionally. (This is easier on your nervous system in the long-run and you’re the one who counts. Only children stay obstinate and defiant all the time).

*This is so difficult to do because giving in also implies weakness and submission, both of which are hard things to do. Try this one occasionally and see how you feel! If it is a good feeling then try it again (but not all the time).*
Some Results: You will feel a relief from pressure and develop a stronger sense of maturity.

5. Do something for someone else. (Even a smile or a generous word is a good start. Add to this daily).

* It sounds crazy to do this and you can not see how this will benefit you, right? Well only after you have tried it and done it and continued to for some time can you see the benefits here. But they are worth doing. You do feel more fulfilled and can make friends and build relationships as well.*

Some Results: It will help you to feel less isolated with your worry and start to turn your thoughts outwards.

You can book a session online here or text/call 07468119635 email derek@ahappymedium.co.uk

6. Deal with one thing at a time. (Select the urgent tasks first and get on with them. Forget the rest for the time being. Tension and worry makes even an ordinary day seem unbearable. This need not be a permanent state).

*This is a problem I had. When I worked as a chef offshore if I had work I had to do it all and all by myself. I felt I was indispensable and that no-one could cope without me. I never delegated and nearly had a complete breakdown as a result, as well as losing friends and alienating colleagues in the process.*

Some Results: This will help you achieve something and the other tasks will seem easier when you get around to them.

7. Try not to be a perfectionist in everything. (If you expect too much of yourself all of the time, you can create a constant state of worry and anxiety. So decide which things you do well and put your major efforts into these first).

*Oh boy! This was me. Still is if I let it (but I’m not quite such a compulsive perfectionist now). This is hard and I can not tell you how to change. You need to work this one out and fast. This would be my #1 in this list, so work on this. In the long run it really will help.*

Some Results: You will avoid an open invitation to yourself to fail and probably make life easier for yourself – and others.

You can book a session online here or text/call 07468119635 email derek@ahappymedium.co.uk

8. Try not be to critical of others. (Concentrate on other people and your own good points and try to understand and develop them).

Some Results: You will probably feel frustrated and let-down by yourself and others.

9. Develop co-operation with others. Not competition. (Give the other man a chance. If you are no longer a threat to him, he stops being a threat to you).

*This is true but I guess I never looked at things in such a black & white manner?*

Some Results: You will have less emotional or physical tension over reaching goals (real or imaginary).

10. Make yourself available to others – make the first move occasionally. (Neither push too much or withdraw too much. Feelings of rejection and neglect are very painful but are often self-imposed).
*Again this is me. Always wanting to please and feeling very rejected when things turn out differently. I get paranoid and think that people are either laughing at me or avoiding me. I guess I withdraw as an automatic protective manner.*

Some Results: At least you will know you’ve made an effort and this will build your confidence.

11. Plan your recreation time. However short. (Allow some time for a hobby or recreation. Un-planned time often becomes wasted time. Make variety part of the planning).

You can book a session online here or text/call 07468119635 email derek@ahappymedium.co.uk

*This links in nicely with some of the other tips. Try and get involved (if you can) with team sports or activities where there are other people around. I know first hand how hard this is (you will feel so much better about yourself if you can) and I am still struggling to do it myself (remember doing is not quite as easy as knowing). This is a very good tip so try it.*

Some Results: You will return to your work or your problem with a fresher outlook.

12. Learn methods of exercise and relaxation then practice them daily. (You are aiming to be in control of your body and learning how to counteract tension and anxiety).

*The best tip of them all. Sometimes though the hardest to do. It is not easy to relax when you are stressed and tense. It is better to try out different methods when you are not so stressed and tense and then use the ones that really help to relax you when you need them most. I use music and sport. It works for me so try it, what have you got to loose?*

Some Results: You will unlock tension in every part of your body and even prevent tension in the future.

If all else fails use my F bubble meditation gets the point across.

 


Don’t waste energy trying to empty your life of worrying things, when you could be filling your life with wholesome things.

You can book a session online here or text/call 07468119635 email derek@ahappymedium.co.uk

 



www.ahappymedium.co.uk