Hypnotherapy for addiction??
My gut reaction is "that's just another way of putting off real recovery." Hypnotherapy has always seemed a bit ****** to me.
But if that's what works for you, godspeed.
(And welcome to SR! )
But if that's what works for you, godspeed.
(And welcome to SR! )
I have a friend who is doing hypnotherapy for their alcohol addiction. She is a daily drinker and says that it is slowly helping her to cut down and then hopefully stop.
That's all I know! Have a great night. Free.
That's all I know! Have a great night. Free.
Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 164
I don't have experience with hypnotherapy, but I would tend to agree that it is a way of putting off real recovery. I just know I need to be fully aware of ME and I need to do this program so I can make the changes I need to make for myself.
If it works for anyone else, that is great! Good Luck and welcome.
If it works for anyone else, that is great! Good Luck and welcome.
If Hypnosis really worked, I think everyone would have used that method by now. That's so easy just to get put to sleep and wake up clean. I don't think it is really effective, but who knows? If you find out, let us know.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 2
I have done hypnotherapy -- not for my drinking (sorry, I'm gonna keep this issue private) -- and I would recommend it, without hesitation, to anyone who has access to a serious and certified hypnotherapist.
To those of you who are dismissing hypnotherapy, I want to remind you of the "contempt prior to investigation" aphorism.
In essence, hypnotherapy works like intensive guided meditation. In other words, you will access meditation levels while being gently guided to reprogram hard-wired though patterns.
It is nothing like what you see on TV -- no one will be able to make you act like a chicken or hand over your checkbook without your consent -- your conscious never blinks out.
In therapy, hypnotism will allow you to shift your conscious mind, your ego, to the back seat, and bring your subconscious foward. You are aware of everything that goes on.
Physically, hypnotism feels as if you are in that weird place you get to right before you fall asleep, where your consciousness is present and aware, but has a backseat, while your mind is able to wander and even dream -- even though you are technichally awake. Instead of wandering aimlessly, however, you will be guided by your hypnotist. And just like when you're in that pre-sleep phase, nothing can happen there that you are not aware of.
Really, think of hypnotherapy as guided meditation. There's nothing woo woo about it. Your hypnotherapist will guide you toward a receptive state and simply help you conceptualize the best for yourself. It is a tool. Don't dismiss it. But make sure you find someone who has a great deal of experience.
No responsible hypnotherapist will promise to "cure" you. They can offer you a solid tool in your recovery, though.
Think about it like this: if you have a hard time meditating on your own (which I do, with my monkey mind), hypnotherapy can help you reach that state. It does not "knock you out" or cause you to lose consciousness, it simply helps you to remain aware of the things that are imporant to you.
My hypnotherapist records all our sessions, and then burns them onto a cd for me before I leave, so that I can listen to them on my own. This, I believe, is both ethical and theraputic.
So, I say go for it, and add it to your "toolbox." Make sure you do some research on your therapist, though. Get recommendations, read reviews, talk to people. This is an area of therapy that I believe is open to charlatans. So find someone who has an education in addictions counseling, and who is certified by a reputable, accredited hypnotherapy program on top of it.
No one way has the monopoly on healing, and this is something that might help you. Give it a try. Add it to your program.
-- wintershins
To those of you who are dismissing hypnotherapy, I want to remind you of the "contempt prior to investigation" aphorism.
In essence, hypnotherapy works like intensive guided meditation. In other words, you will access meditation levels while being gently guided to reprogram hard-wired though patterns.
It is nothing like what you see on TV -- no one will be able to make you act like a chicken or hand over your checkbook without your consent -- your conscious never blinks out.
In therapy, hypnotism will allow you to shift your conscious mind, your ego, to the back seat, and bring your subconscious foward. You are aware of everything that goes on.
Physically, hypnotism feels as if you are in that weird place you get to right before you fall asleep, where your consciousness is present and aware, but has a backseat, while your mind is able to wander and even dream -- even though you are technichally awake. Instead of wandering aimlessly, however, you will be guided by your hypnotist. And just like when you're in that pre-sleep phase, nothing can happen there that you are not aware of.
Really, think of hypnotherapy as guided meditation. There's nothing woo woo about it. Your hypnotherapist will guide you toward a receptive state and simply help you conceptualize the best for yourself. It is a tool. Don't dismiss it. But make sure you find someone who has a great deal of experience.
No responsible hypnotherapist will promise to "cure" you. They can offer you a solid tool in your recovery, though.
Think about it like this: if you have a hard time meditating on your own (which I do, with my monkey mind), hypnotherapy can help you reach that state. It does not "knock you out" or cause you to lose consciousness, it simply helps you to remain aware of the things that are imporant to you.
My hypnotherapist records all our sessions, and then burns them onto a cd for me before I leave, so that I can listen to them on my own. This, I believe, is both ethical and theraputic.
So, I say go for it, and add it to your "toolbox." Make sure you do some research on your therapist, though. Get recommendations, read reviews, talk to people. This is an area of therapy that I believe is open to charlatans. So find someone who has an education in addictions counseling, and who is certified by a reputable, accredited hypnotherapy program on top of it.
No one way has the monopoly on healing, and this is something that might help you. Give it a try. Add it to your program.
-- wintershins
Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: San Rafael CA
Posts: 36
I have also done hypnotherapy for a long time. I use it for stress reduction and management and some re wiring of my brain (that is what I call it hahaha) For me it has given me some great tools to use when things seem un-passable. I started doing it when I was diagnosed with MS and the holistic Dr I was seeing told me stress was the worst thing for me. So do I think it can technically cure anything. Not alone. but I think it can be a really eye opening experience when closing your eyes haha wow this is the craziest post I have ever written I bet no one tries it now hahaha
Why not try? What do you have to lose? If he CAN be hypnotized ( not all people can), it may shave years off the process of self-inventory & awareness & help him figure out things about himself that he NEEDS to know about, if that makes any sense. WHY do I think like this? WHY are my feelings tying me in a knot? etc.
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