Hypnotherapy For Addictions, Compulsions and Habits

09 January 2011

Compulsive patterns of behavior can be experienced by many people. These are compulsions that they would rather not have. These behaviours or compulsions might be in the form of a an urge, habit, or even addiction.
Referring to an encyclopedia's definition, a compulsion is "obsessive, distressing, intrusive thoughts and related compulsions which attempt to neutralize the obsessions". On the other hand the Oxford English dictionary defines a compulsion as "the action or state of compelling or being compelled or an irresistible urge to behave in a certain way."


With regard to a habit the Oxford English dictionary, states it is "A settled or regular tendency or practice. " Some compulsions, habits, urges and addictions may be life-affirming and considered as "healthy" pursuits. For example if you feel compelled to make a positive difference to your life or someone else's by taking some action such as supporting a local charity, that would be considered healthy and commendable.

Alternatively, if you supported that same charity because you had a fear of what would happen to you, if you did not, than that would probably be an unhealthy compulsion.

You might say that a health compulsion or urge is like having a passion for something. An unhealthy compulsion or urge is a behavior that seemingly controls you.

  • Unwanted Urges, Habits, Compulsions, Addictions

Therefore, when a habit, urge, compulsion or addiction is not a healthy response to thoughts, feelings, emotions or events that it then becomes a unwanted, affects the self esteem and is a problem.

It is common for habits and addictions to be introduced to someone's life as a solution to an existing issue or life-challenge. For example, loss of some sort can affect people in many different ways. An individual who has lost their job may find their anxiety and stress levels have increased. They would naturally want to seek a way of reducing their stress and feeling more relaxed. They might turn to cocaine as their solution. This might be effective in the short-term. In the long-term though the continued use of cocaine leads to another problem. In effect the previous solution to stress (drugs) now becomes the problem itself. This is why it is vital that healthy solutions are chosen initially.

  • Hypnotherapists Help Unwanted Compulsion

 Hypnotherapists are particularly effective at helping people change unwanted habits, urges, compulsions and addictions. As long as the individual is motivated to change, a hypnotherapist will often work with the client to discover the root cause of the initial problem.

A typical hypnotherapy session can include a period of memory regression to not only discover a past event but to help change how that event or experience has been processed or perceived by the client. We are all different and perceive situations uniquely. What will drive one person to drink will have a different effect on someone else.

Hypnotherapy also helps to instill new habits to form. The imagination is a vital part of any change work when hypnotherapy helps with addictions, habits, urges and compulsions.
Most unwanted behaviours are learnt. In other words, you are not born with them. If they are learnt, you can unlearn them and discover a better and healthier way of living.

Now whether you have OCD, use drugs, alcohol or smoke, these are all types of unwanted behaviours which include habits, urges, compulsions and some sense of addiction. Nail-biting, insomnia, blushing, eating for emotional reasons, bruxism (jaw-clenching), unwarranted outbursts of anger and sulking are all reactions to situations that have become second-nature and therefore habitual.

There is no doubt that addictions can take many forms such as an addiction to a substance (cocaine, barbiturates, amphetamines, alcohol, ) as well as to specific behaviours (pornography access, internet use).
All of these current unwanted behaviour issues may have helped a past and current emotion that was and still is difficult to deal with such as loneliness, loss, anxiety, fear, worry, dread and love. Now, the behaviour has become part of the problem. Hypnotherapy can help you to overcome these unwanted behaviours and get you back into feeling good about yourself encouraging a healthy and stronger inner confidence and self-esteem.
Steven Harold
Clinical Hypnotherapist - London Hypnotherapy for Addictions
Addictions Hypnosis

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