Has hypnotherapy substantially helped with this addiction?

[Greg]

I searched for other hypnotherapy threads here, but couldn't find any recent ones, so decided to start this one. I'm just wondering if anyone here has an opinion on how effective hypnotherapy/hypnosis can be in addressing alcohol (or other) drug dependence?

I'm giving high-dose baclofen another attempt after having some problems tolerating it, and have even considered inpatient rehab, but wonder if hypnotherapy could also help, e.g. by reinforcing a person's belief in being relaxed/not as depressed at night, and getting out there doing things some nights, without using alcohol or other substances. I still need to address underlying issues, and am trying other methods of treatment with those.

Any experiences would be of interest, as I have tried hypnotherapy twice before for depression with little benefit, but am still wondering if there is evidence of it helping addictive thoughts and feelings specifically.

[Doggygirl]

Has hypnotherapy substantially helped with this addiction?

Hi Greg. They only hypnotherapy I have ever used is the CD set available here at MWO. I did use those CD's along with the supplements, diet and exercise recommendations outlined in the book. For some reason, I always liked the "Sleep Learning" CD the most. Not sure why since the messaging on that one is subliminal!

I don't know that I can say "WOW!!! Hypnosis CD's are GREAT!! They WORK!!! because I'm not sure what role those CD's played in the overal picture - I was using any tool I could get my hands on at the time. I guess I felt like it certainly wasn't hurting!

Good luck to you and I applaud you for continuing to fight this battle. Keep going until you find your own winning strategy.

DG

[Greg]

Has hypnotherapy substantially helped with this addiction?

Hi DG, thanks for this information, I will check it out. I am also going to try and find someone who has a lot of experience in hypnotherapy for addictions, which may be more difficult than it sounds. If I do get any results, I will definitely post them here!

[Doggygirl]

Has hypnotherapy substantially helped with this addiction?

Greg;1212806 wrote: Hi DG, thanks for this information, I will check it out. I am also going to try and find someone who has a lot of experience in hypnotherapy for addictions, which may be more difficult than it sounds. If I do get any results, I will definitely post them here!

I would be very interested in hearing about your experience if you find a specialist to work with. I have to think that personalized hypnosis with a professional is better than generic CDs.

DG

[blondie]

Has hypnotherapy substantially helped with this addiction?

Hi Greg

I have been looking for this type of therapy for some time now. There are not that many where I live, so was a bit hesitant/dubious (having dealt with other specialists that I didn't think did much for me). Will be interesting to hear what you discover.

[available]

Has hypnotherapy substantially helped with this addiction?

Blondie i have a great psychologist who hypnotises in melbourne. she hypnotised me to let go of my past and after nearly a nervous breakdown. she did mention hypnotising me for giving up smoking but have not dealt with that issue yet. she was very very very good and i would recommend her.

[blondie]

Has hypnotherapy substantially helped with this addiction?

Hi available - I am in Perth - would she know/recommend anyone here?

[lilla]

Has hypnotherapy substantially helped with this addiction?

Yes, I am convinced hypnotherapy helped me get started and if only I could afford more sessions I would be back there in a shot. I posted my experiences on the Meditation and Mindfulness thread.
Blondie I am also in the West, can recommend you who I went to if you want to PM me.

[nancy]

Has hypnotherapy substantially helped with this addiction?

hypnotherapy

I think hypnotherapy is very valuable. I had tried the MWO CDs a long time ago but they had no effect. I did hypnotherapy in person and it had a big effect on me. I think it needs to be personalized.

Hypnotherapy gets at a lot of the underlying issues driving addiction, for example anxiety or negative thinking. I am sure it varies a lot depending on the hypnotherapy of course. But in my experience, it makes you aware of the choices you have in life and encourages a positive outlook.

I did hypno combined with something called Emotional Freedom Technique. I don't think there is much science behind EFT but it is helpful, in that you can learn to let go of feelings that are keeping you down and making you feel you need an escape.

I have been thinking a lot about choice lately. When you are feeling very emotional you feel you don't have any. And a lack of self-confidence can get in the way of goals. Hypnotherapy helps give you that power back. It fits with the messages in a book I read called How To Soothe Without Food. For some of us, drinking is a bad coping mechanism. If you gain the ability to soothe yourself (which is the opposite of what people with depression and anxiety do), you improve your ability to achieve your goals, whether that be cutting down or abstaining.

[Bruunhilde]

Has hypnotherapy substantially helped with this addiction?

My hypnotherapist and the hypno CD's here made minimal difference, since the underlying issues are much deeper and sometimes physical - for me. I would say the Allen Carr or Jason Vale books are more effective. I've been to two hypno's and also have the MWO cd's and that's my opinion. I used the MWO cd's extensively and felt they helped for a time.

[crocster]

Has hypnotherapy substantially helped with this addiction?

Hi Greg, Before I found MWO I was using a set of hypnosis CDs from Wendi Freisen:-

Quit Drinking with Hypnosis, Alcohol Freedom!!!

She uses NLP techniques. I found them to be a useful aid rather than a magic bullet.

I still listen to them going to sleep but I think I got a stronger result from going to see an acupuncturist who used a technique called auricular acupuncture combined with St John's Wort and various supplements to address the physical damage caused by alcohol. I stopped drinking for nearly 3 months.

Cheers

[spacebebe01]

Has hypnotherapy substantially helped with this addiction?

I went to a hypnotherapist once but it freaked me out while I was sitting with my eyes closed trying to get into it a thought pooped into my head that the guy was masturbating and some kind of pervert!! It was not good and I couldnt say anything to him I just sat there uncomfortably until the session ended and he didnt seem to notice how uncomfortable I was although I think nowif he was any good at his job he should have go onto that. I dont think I could try it again after that

[Supercrew]

Has hypnotherapy substantially helped with this addiction?

Hypnosis and NLP can be very helpful, but you need to be openminded and you have to believe that they can work for you. Hypnosis isn't magic or a silver bullet, they are just suggestions that are trying to change the thinking in your subconscious mind. If you are focusing on how you can't drink, your subconscious mind will tell you "you need a drink". If you are focusing on the pain that drinking brings you, or how much you enjoy sobriety, your subconscious mind will steer you away from drinking. My subconscious mind told me I needed alcohol to enjoy life for 27 years, I now realize that was I lie...but I believed it for 27 years. Now I know that I no longer want to drink . Hypnosis can help with relaxation and with changing your subconscious, but until you decide that drinking is not an option most of these techniques will have little benefit.

[Marshy]

Has hypnotherapy substantially helped with this addiction?

Hi Greg,

I had hypnotherapy for alcoholism a few years ago with someone who specialised in addictions (well, drugs and alcohol anyway - he said smoking didn't interest him as it was too easy to cure!).

I was fairly sceptical about it but went in with an open mind and was really intrigued by the process. There were some amazing physical effects while I was "under", and whenever I thought about alcohol for a few weeks afterwards I had the sensation of a white light filling my head and erasing the thoughts.
Sounds a bit kooky, I know, and I wouldn't have believed it myself until I'd had it done.

It definitely helped me to stay AF for a few weeks but I only had one session (couldn't afford to keep going back at the time) and did drink again after a month or so. I'm sure if I'd had more sessions it would have carried on helping me.

Like anything else, it's probably helpful to some people and not helpful to others.