How Hypnotherapy Can Help With Addiction

How Hypnotherapy Can Help With Addiction

Addiction is a mental health crisis that can ruin people’s lives. When you’re addicted to something, it’s hard to come off of it, or try to deal with the withdrawal symptoms once you quit. Whether you’re addicted to alcohol, food, the Internet, or anything else, seeking help is a good way to prove to yourself that you’re willing to make a change.

There are many ways to treat addiction. Some turn to counseling, where a therapist will guide you through dealing with your problems through therapeutic techniques. Others may turn to rehabilitation programs and/or take prescribed medication to manage the symptoms of withdrawal. Another way to treat addiction is through hypnotherapy.

What is Hypnotherapy?

You probably have this stereotypical picture in your head when you think of hypnotherapy – a hypnotist waving something shiny in front of your eyes, saying that you’re getting sleepy. Of course, there’s much more to it than that. Hypnotherapy involves trying to change a person as they are, while they are in an unconscious state. The goal is to put the client into an uninterrupted trance, which can make them hyper-aware and able to express memories and secrets they otherwise wouldn’t share or recall in their conscious state. However, being under hypnosis can make a person more susceptible to suggestion.

Hypnosis commands can either be direct orders or suggestions. Some people respond well and listen to direct orders – for example, if you’re trying to quit drinking alcohol, a hypnotist telling you to stop drinking could make you do just that, after hearing the command. However, not everyone likes to be told what to do. In these cases, the hypnotist may make suggestions while their clients are under hypnosis. They may say, “You should consider drinking less,” and explain reasons as to why, instead of just giving the hypnosis command “Stop drinking.”

Hypnotherapy and Treating Addiction

Hypnotherapy can be used to treat addiction, addictive behaviors, and withdrawal symptoms as well. By opening yourself up to suggestion, a hypnotist can make suggestions or orders for you to help treat your addiction. It’s not magic or instantaneous – you won’t be cured suddenly, but it may help to increase your chances of quitting and not relapsing.

Hypnotherapy is also good for relieving pain and anxiety. These are just a few side effects of withdrawal. Sometimes, the experience of withdrawal is so overwhelming and uncomfortable that it makes people return to their addiction. By making the withdrawal process easier to cope with, you increase your chances of a full recovery.

Is it Effective?

While many studies on hypnotherapy’s efficacy in treating addiction have been inconclusive, there are others that have said that hypnotherapy may help to relieve pain and anxiety, which are symptoms of withdrawal. When recovering from addiction, you should definitely examine and consider all possible options – researching what works best for you, or perhaps employing multiple techniques can increase your chances of making a recovery. Hypnotherapy can work well when used in conjunction with other treatments as well.

Finding a Hypnotherapist Near You

If you’re considering hypnotherapy, take some time to research patients’ reviews and the hypnotherapists themselves. As with any profession, some are great at their job – they can help even the most stubborn of people change their behaviors and habits through hypnotherapy. Others may have more difficulty with their clients, may not be suggestive at all, are more direct in their commands, or may employ techniques that you feel may not be the right fit for you. Read the reviews and choose one that you may be comfortable with. If it might not be the right therapeutic relationship for you, don’t give up on working on conquering your addiction – ask your hypnotherapist if they might be able to refer you to another colleague, or another type of therapist.

Addiction is hard to conquer, but by trying out different types of therapy, you’re taking one more step toward recovery. Try hypnotherapy (or any other type of therapy) and see what it can do for you. Every effort made towards addiction recovery counts!

by Marie Miguel

Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with Better Help. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.