Zoe Clews & Associates

Addiction is a major issue, which causes quite a lot of problems for the individual as well as for their family/loved ones. As devastating as it may sound, there is always a bright side. In this case, it comes in various forms of treatment, among which is hypnotherapy. This kind of therapy is gaining more popularity and recognition, as studies reveal the beneficial impact it has on an addict.

According to many, hypnotherapy can successfully deal with addiction, because the problem is mainly a mental one. Many studies reveal that hypnotherapy performed throughout several weeks can severely help people get off drugs and stay that way for an extended period of time. Such success rates should come as no surprise because hypnosis has been used for treating drug addiction since the 70s.  

So what exactly is hypnotherapy?

In essence, this is the science of using hypnosis to affect a person’s unconscious part of the mind positively. This should not be confused with stage hypnosis, which is mostly used for entertainment purposes. In hypnotherapy, a trained therapist talks to their client about different aspects of their life and what the person wants to change/achieve. Afterwards, the said client is put in a trance-like state. In it, their conscious mind is completely relaxed, which allows the therapist to imprint various positive unconscious commands on their mind.

During hypnotherapy, the client is in a state of extreme suggestibility. This doesn’t mean they can be asked to do absurd things. On the contrary, they are in control, because the state they are in is neither asleep nor awake. Their unconscious mind is accessed and thus open to suggestions, which the therapist provides.

There is unequivocal empirical support that hypnotherapy works. When it comes to addiction, it has clear benefits:

• Helps with the withdrawal symptoms – going through rehab is painful for anyone and it - sometimes causes people to return to the substance. Thanks to hypnosis, the severity of these withdrawal symptoms can be significantly alleviated.
• Helps physical/mental pain – other than withdrawal discomfort, there is also a physical and psychological pain for the addicted to deal with. Hypnosis works wonders for these symptoms, whether on its own or alongside other forms of treatment.
• Adjustment of addictive behaviours – to beat addiction, one often needs behavioural adjustment techniques. Since hypnosis targets the unconscious, it can easily change these deeply-rooted behaviours.
• Gives the person better emotional health – anxiety and depression often manifest in a person battling addiction. Hypnotherapy steps in to help with both of these symptoms. By undergoing sustained hypnotherapy, one can remain focused on rehab and reduce the stress caused by withdrawal symptoms. Not only will it take the edge of these symptoms, but also decrease the chance of co-occurring disorders.

As you can see, hypnotherapy is definitely a worthy choice in the battle against addiction. If you or someone you know is struggling with the condition, be sure to try it out.

Find out how hypnotherapy can further help with addiction by contactingZoe Clews & Associates on 07766 515 272.

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