Habits
Why do we do the things we do?
Many of our actions are a lot less considered than we think they are. The mind creates shortcuts so we don’t have to take so long deciding every step. We can just do things on instinct.
This creates habits and patterns.
But sometimes a habit no longer serves us. Yet some can feel almost impossible to break.
That’s where hypnosis comes in.
Occasionally, breaking a habit is as easy as simply telling the subconscious to do something different instead.
By doing it when you’re in an altered state (a hypnotherapeutic trance) you make the telling far more effective.
This can make you wonder why you couldn’t have done it on your own, but change is a process of repetition, like carving a line into the ground for water to flow down. You’ll get there eventually but hypnosis makes it faster because it not only creates that new line, but fills in the line the water was flowing down at the same time so it doesn’t keep getting rerouted.
Sometimes a habit is harder to break because the subconscious is very attached to it.
This will be because the habit has a purpose we can’t consciously see or understand.
It is fulfilling a bigger role than we realise.
In this instance, hypnotherapy allows us to ask the subconscious why it’s doing the thing.
And then when we know why we can either assure the subconscious that’s no longer a concern (if it isn’t), or we can negotiate something to replace the habit.
When we work with the subconscious instead of against it
We stop it from fighting to keep the habit, and we allow it to do whatever it needs to in order to keep us healthy and safe.
Therefore, the way a person stops their habit post hypnosis can vary greatly.
Sometimes, the result is instant.
Sometimes the person even forgets how bad the habit was, and doesn’t remember it even being that much of a problem for them (although their friends and family will remind them)
If it is better for the body to slowly reduce the habit that person may reduce it slowly. This is often seen when a person gives up a habit that is also a physical addiction like smoking or caffeine.
Someone stopping eating a particular food may also cut down slowly if it means the body will lose a lot of weight too quickly in a way that might be unhealthy for it.
Hypnotherapy is a complimentary therapy
It doesn’t replace any other healthcare you are currently receiving or have available.
Therefore when you’re living with an addiction or eating disorder, hypnotherapy can make the physical treatment you’re receiving more effective. But it shouldn’t be considered a replacement for it.
