Hypnosis, seeing a hypnotist.

[Stravinsk]

Have you ever done it? What are your thoughts on hypnotherapy in general?

I really hate my smoking habit...and I've tried multiple times to quit...I've been smoking since I was 15 and promised myself that this year I was going to quit.

A friend of mine and someone else I know just quit after seeing a hypnotist...and they've been doing well so far...with no cravings, no relapse, no excessive irritability.

Other people I've known have quit for months but something always seems to trigger a relapse. Could be stress...going out to a bar/having too much to drink, emotional turmoil etc.

Anyway - have you ever seen a hypnotist or tried this method of therapy for a specific problem or addiction? I'm really curious about it and have been researching prospective books on Amazon (self hypnosis) because I see it as a possibly very powerful tool - and not just for addictions.

What are your thoughts?

 

[lostaquarium]

Do you think it works on the mind or the body?

 

[Stravinsk]

I don't know enough about it, honestly. I'm assuming it works in the sense of programmed responses - signals from the mind to the body.

I've met numerous people who have quit this way - and only one who says it didn't work for him. But from what I'm hearing, the hypnotist he saw did something entirely different than those I'm hearing about who's clients have had success.

 

[Luther073082]

I've been hypotised by a stage hypnotist. But I never did it to try and change something in my life.

 

[overit]

I've heard about it also-as a smoker myself I've very much thought of it...still weighing it.

Right now I can get free patches from my job and a quit coach-I may try that route first and then if I fail try the hypnosis--let me know if it works for you and good luck-I KNOW how hard it is.

 

[Stravinsk]

I've heard about it also-as a smoker myself I've very much thought of it...still weighing it.

Right now I can get free patches from my job and a quit coach-I may try that route first and then if I fail try the hypnosis--let me know if it works for you and good luck-I KNOW how hard it is.

Thank you. I got the number last week...and there is a 6 month waiting list!! I guess that means she's good...so it will likely be a while before I can update ya.

 

[lostaquarium]

I don't know... I'm kinda skeptical myself but to be honest I don't know much about hypnosis.

It seems to me, if there's an organic problem with the body, it should be addressed with behavioural changes / lifestyle / medicine. If there's a psychological, emotional or spiritual problem, it should be addressed with prayer / introspection / psychological analysis and advice.

I'm not even convinced that hypnosis works. But assuming it does, it seems to involve opening yourself up and inviting someone to tinker with your subconscious. I'd rather invite Jesus to do it, than a hypnotherapist.

 

[Wren]

I've never seen a hypnotist, but have always wanted to...although not to quit smoking.
If I ever give birth, I plan to try self-hypnosis. I've seen a television news program, as well as heard about it in books and on a woman's forum, that talked about it being very good for a natural birth. Apparently, it helps the mother stay very calm, without drugs, and that makes labor easier on the mother, there ends up being less complications, and it's better for the baby, too. I'd like to find a midwife who did hypnosis or helped with self-hypnosis, if that's even possible.

I have no problems with hypnosis. It seems like it works similar to psychology, and I have no problem with the idea of seeing a counselor, just approaching the brain differently. I'm not expert, though, and that's just my guess. I'm currently doing some studying into religion...denominations, Biblical history, bios on bridging relations between religions, etc...but I think I'll put the psychology of hypnosis (if that's even what it's called) on my list.

 

[Luther073082]

Having been hypnotized I'm also skeptical about the ability of Hypnosis to produce a long term change in someone.

If I ever give birth, I plan to try self-hypnosis. I've seen a television program, as well as heard about it in books and on a woman's forum, that talked about it being very good for a natural birth. Apparently, it helps the mother stay very calm, without drugs, and that makes labor easier on the mother, there end up being less complications, and it's better for the baby, too. I'd like to find a midwife who did hypnosis or helped with self-hypnosis, if that's even possible.

This is actually a effect of hypnosis that I'm not skeptical about. Hypnosis and Meditation (Meditation is basically self hypnosis) have been shown to help keep someone calm and also increase someone's tolerance to pain.

 

[Stravinsk]

Having been hypnotized I'm also skeptical about the ability of Hypnosis to produce a long term change in someone.

I guess time will tell with my friend and the other person I know who recently did it. The hypnotherapy session you experienced is, I'm guessing, a bit different in an audience/stage session than what they did.

It involves a short assessment period (what this all involves I'm not quit sure) - followed by the therapy itself - the whole process is almost 2 hours long, and there are a few follow up sessions as well + a CD to listen to every night.

 

[Orange_County_Chopper]

Have you tried chewing gum?

 

[Stravinsk]

Made the appointment. I'm set for brain unscrambling mid August.

 

[Wren]

Made the appointment. I'm set for brain unscrambling mid August.

Awesome. I'm interested in hearing how that goes.

 

[BabyLightMyWay]

A hypnotist, Frederick Winters comes to my school every year. I saw him my freshman year but wasn't hypnotized. I had friends who were, though, and they say it really works. He sells CDs to help you with studying, relaxing, and other things like that. So I'm still a little skeptical, but if you want to check out his stuff, look him up.

 

[trentlogain2]

I don't know... I'm kinda skeptical myself but to be honest I don't know much about hypnosis.

It seems to me, if there's an organic problem with the body, it should be addressed with behavioural changes / lifestyle / medicine. If there's a psychological, emotional or spiritual problem, it should be addressed with prayer / introspection / psychological analysis and advice.

I'm not even convinced that hypnosis works. But assuming it does, it seems to involve opening yourself up and inviting someone to tinker with your subconscious. I'd rather invite Jesus to do it, than a hypnotherapist.

this.

 

[ulu]

As far as I know, some people are much easier to hypnotize than others, and some aren't open to it at all, and can't be hypnotized.

Although I doubt I could be hypnotized, if I could I would want a trusted friend there while it was going down. The subconscious is extremely powerful, and a negative or misplaced suggestion could have far reaching effects.

I do think it can work, as I had a friend whose dentist hypnotized her to avoid the use of freezing.

One thing that makes me have doubts, though, is if it does work, how many millions of people would want to have greater belief in themselves, or in their ability to succeed in a multitude of ways. You'd think its use would be more widespread if it was as powerful as something affecting the subconscious would be expected to be.

Anyway, I'm also curious to see how it turns out. Good luck!

 

[Stravinsk]

I saw the hypnotist today...

I came with two stated problems:

A) Smoking addiction
B) Excessive alcohol consumption

The hypnotherapy was...strange. Good, in a way. But strange too.

I was given a set of coloured cards to look at and asked to choose which 'caught my eye'. None of them did, really, but I choose.

After going through that exercise twice, she told me something specific about myself. A weakness. How the hell could she have discerned that by my colour choice? I'm doubtful...really doubtful...and I wonder if it's some sort of trick.


After the session, I didn't want a cigarette. I walked to a fast food restaurant, ate, and didn't want a smoke....which is unusual...since I have always wanted a smoke after eating.

I got in my car and saw the pack lying there.

I thought about it, but didn't.

I came home

The stink of my place from cigarette smoke made me sick.

I opened windows

I wondered how a smoke would be.

I pondered.

I had one, outside.

It was absolutely disgusting. More disgusting than I've ever known a cigarette to be. Absolutely foul. I almost wanted to vomit.

I had a few more at work, feeling a failure.

I'm smoking again. Repetition seems to decrease the foulness feeling.

I'm not giving up quitting

I just need the desire to not smoke to last longer. Or replaced with something.

Most people I know have gone at least a week. I made it just a few hours.

I'll see the hypnotist again. I'm not done quitting.

 

[webbiest]

isnt it scary having someone mess with your brain?

 

[lostaquarium]

Why did you keep smoking even though it felt horrible? Maybe self-sabotage is part of the problem for you? i.e. subconsciously you don't truly believe you can quit smoking, and/or you don't truly want to.

(Not having a jab at you. It seems like something I've been through in the past.)

 

[Balugon]

After going through that exercise twice, she told me something specific about myself. A weakness. How the hell could she have discerned that by my colour choice? I'm doubtful...really doubtful...and I wonder if it's some sort of trick.

Personally, I would ask the person to explain the process to you, why the cards reveal what weakness and how. If they are unwilling, assume she is messing with demons. Otherwise, a scientific process should be able to be explained. If she complains that "revealing the secret" could make you rich or so that you no longer need her or something, don't waste your time on her. Perhaps ask her where she got her training to do her job as well, and research it. If you want to know if it's safe spiritually, that would help. Honestly, demons do indeed have power, and it's how psychics can often know quite a bit. I guarantee that some hypnotists use demons. She might not even have needed to use the cards to tell you your weakness. I'll do a quick prayer and ask God what that weakness was that she told you and PM it to you, perhaps he will tell me and that will be able to prove to you that not only could she be unholy, but if she is messing with demons, that you could end up worse off because you would be trading your smoking addiction for open demonic involvement in your life. I once heard a story about a guy who allowed demons in his life because they gave him sight even though he was normally blind, but eventually a christian interacted with him and when they cast the demon out, the man became blind again. But the man did get saved, and I'm not sure if he got his sight back after they prayed for it to happen, but even if he didn't, better an eye plucked out than to be thrown in the fires of hell. The blindness was a product of evil to begin with, so to go to evil to try to cure it would simply make final situation even worse. And for those who say "that's not possible," people use the devil to get rich, why couldn't they go to him to get sight? He's been around a while, and can turn pieces of wood into snakes, I think he could do a few things to humans if he could do that.