Is it woo or what?
I am thinking of trying hypnosis to help me quit a nervous habit (constantly biting my lips and cheeks). I don’t feel much confidence in it, though. The only time anyone ever tried to hypnotize me was at the fair and it didn’t work.
On the other hand, people apparently use it to help them quit smoking, and I’m getting desperate here. This habit makes my life hell.
What do you guys think?
My adorable, and thoroughly scientifically-minded, girlfriend is a Hypnotherapist. She dislikes the fact that it is often lumped in with utter woo/‘alternative’ therapies.
From what I can gather, it’s essentially talking therapy where the client’s in a deeply relaxed state - so this perhaps addresses subconscious negative routines? Not sure, but the common thread appears to be anxiety reduction, thus the manifestations of this, be it panic attack, over-eating, etc.
I can ask her specific questions if need be.
Thank you! My main question: Do I have to believe in it for it to work? I’m willing to give it a fair shot and follow instructions as best I can, but will doubt undermine the whole deal?
Have you tried any medication? I don’t know what’s used but there are some that have some degree of effectiveness for nervous habits.
Aside from the cost there’s no harm in trying the hypno-therapy. Just choose a therapist with an office that doesn’t move from town to town.
I haven’t tried medication yet, but I may get there. I’ve been bullheaded about this problem all along…if it’s just a problem with my mental state I figure I ought to be able to fix it myself, dammit.
Hypnosis is undoubtedly a real thing, and hypnotherapy can work. Neither are very well understood by science, so it is unreliable and will not work for everyone, and, like actual woo, unjustifiable and extreme claims are sometimes made about what it is capable of, but it is not a fraud, or complete pseudoscience, or a mere application of the placebo effect, like, say, homeopathy. I do not think you have to be an utterly convinced believer going in for it to be effective, but it is probably true that if you go in determined to resist being hypnotized, and determined to stay alert and unrelaxed, it probably will not work for you. If you are merely a bit skeptical, that, in itself, should not be much problem. However, be aware that there are dishonest, charlatan practitioners in fields like this. Choose your therapist with care. As Tripolar implies, one good sign is that they have been established in the same place for a reasonable period of time. (Even charlatans are unlikely to do you any harm except to your wallet, however.)
For a problem like yours, I would say it is well worth giving it a try (unless the amount of money being asked is unaffordable). I would be very surprised if there are drugs that work any more reliably for your sort of problem, and any drugs that work at all are likely to have nasty side effects. It is essentially a psychological rather than a neurological problem, and psychological methods, or which hypnosis is one, are the most likely to be effective for it.
The Hypnogirlfriend has responded - in summary; the deep relaxed state/trance is achievable in sceptical clients - most are at least somewhat doubtful - so it’s not just a load of placebo flannel. That said, HG mentioned the need for the ‘Therapeutic Alliance’ between client and therapist - if a client goes along with less a desire to be helped, more to demonstrate that it’s snake-oil, or just so they can say they’ve ‘tried everything and nothing works’, they’re likely to flounder. So faith isn’t required, just good intentions. HG also recognises that her data-points will be those clients who stick with it. Her intro session is free of charge, so you may be able to ‘try before you buy’ if others offer similar.
IMHO and experience…woo
Thank you to everyone who responded…and Staggerlee, one more question for Hypnogirlfriend: Any criteria she would suggest I use when looking for a hypnotherapist?
Perhaps, but maybe you don’t know the proper mental techniques to help you quit? I mean, we have to learn to do other things like brush our teeth, comb our hair, and tie our shoes so why would we automatically know how to break a bad habit?
Hypnosis is a tool, that’s all. It works for some things and not others, and it needs to be used properly. A hypnotherapist is basically there to help you achieve the goals you desire and is fundamentally different than a carnival act that tries to get you to cluck like a chicken for the amusement of others.
So, if you sincerely want to change this behavior then a hypnotherapist can help you achieve that goal. As an upside, far fewer side effects than pharmaceuticals. This is not, however, someone else curing you, it’s someone else helping you cure yourself.
I did hypnotherapy for exactly the same problem. My therapist said that it really is just relaxation therapy, which jives with how I experienced it. I was always aware of what was going on and could have just gotten up. Following his suggestions was a choice. He recorded each session and told me to practice at home every day.
The good news is that it worked. From the very first day! But as soon as I quit the daily practice, the habit returned. I have no doubt that I could quit again if I started listening to the recordings again, but I’m really bad about finding time for it.
So, I say give it a try. It’s the only thing that has solved the problem for me, even for a short time.
I have the nervous habit of biting the inside of my cheek and gnashing my teeth. I have a nighttime appliance which I will wear during the day which prevents me from doing the above. You may want talk to your dentist. My appliance was about $200 and nobody can tell I’m wearing it.
Can you talk with it in?
ETA: Red Stilettos, that is good news!
Re: Medication
I don’t like to take medications in general, there’s almost always side effects. However, just trying them can be part of the diagnostic procedure. Your problem could have a physical cause that no other kind of therapy will address.
Re:“if it’s just a problem with my mental state I figure I ought to be able to fix it myself, dammit.”
So many people feel this way, but it’s got a poor track record. Seek therapy of some kind or another. If it is just a mental issue that doesn’t mean you won’t need help to get past it.
As said already, hypnotherapy will not harm you, at worst it just won’t work, at least try that if nothing else.
Re: Medication
I don’t like to take medications in general, there’s almost always side effects. However, just trying them can be part of the diagnostic procedure. Your problem could have a physical cause that no other kind of therapy will address.
Re:“if it’s just a problem with my mental state I figure I ought to be able to fix it myself, dammit.”
So many people feel this way, but it’s got a poor track record. Seek therapy of some kind or another. If it is just a mental issue that doesn’t mean you won’t need help to get past it.
As said already, hypnotherapy will not harm you, at worst it just won’t work, at least try that if nothing else.
Interesting thread. Does anyone have any experience with using hypnotherapy for something like fear of flying?
I tried a dental appliance too. Mine was basically a custom bleach tray. Very thin, but I did talk with a very slight lisp. It worked when it was in, but as soon as it came out, the habit started back up. I wasn’t willing to wear an appliance all the time for the rest of my life, so I looked for other solutions.
My dentist suggested anti-anxiety meds, but I haven’t tried that. For me, hypnotherapy was the answer. I just need to be disciplined about doing it.
She certainly would warn of going to someone who offers ‘Past-life Regression’ (because it’s obvious bollocks) and frowns upon most use of regression, as it’s open to ‘False Memory’ exploitation.
We’re in the UK, so she can’t really help with which accreditation you can trust in the US. There was mention on QI of the cat whose owner gained it full accreditation, so it might be tricky verifying the worth of any given diploma.
I’ve found a couple psychologists around here who perform hypnosis and more importantly, take my insurance. I’m going to try to make myself do this, and update.
Red, I see you talked about your experiences in a previous thread on this subject. I guess I just wasn’t ready to listen that time.
No problem talking with it. When I wear it during the day I take it out to eat. I don’t wear it every day, but now I am much more conscious of the cheek biting when I don’t have it in.