Hypnosis to Stop Drinking

Using hypnosis to stop drinking

The American Medical Association accepted and recognized hypnosis in 1958. Although hypnosis has been used for thousands of years,in one form or another, only in recent years has it been used to stop drinking. Hypnosis successfully treats not only alcoholism, but drug addiction and smoking, as well as eating disorders, depression, and a variety of other issues.Hypnosis is effective to stop drinking for many reasons. It treats underlying issues that cause one to drink. Hypnosis also helps to stop drinking because it changes old habits and beliefs, replacing them with new habits and beliefs. Once a person has made a decision to stop drinking, hypnosis reinforces other treatments such as AA, group or individual counseling, and prescription medication for alcoholism. To understand more about how hypnosis works and haw it can help to stop drinking, we provided the following definition of hypnosis by the American Psychological Association, (APA).

American Psychological Association:

"Hypnosis typically involves an introduction to the procedure during which the subject is told that suggestions for imaginative experiences will be presented. The hypnotic induction is an extended initial suggestion for using one's imagination, and may contain further elaborations of the introduction. A hypnotic procedure is used to encourage and evaluate responses to suggestions. When using hypnosis, one person (the subject) is guided by another (the hypnotist) to respond to suggestions for changes in subjective experience, alterations in perception, sensation, emotion, thought or behavior. "

The last sentence there is important for those who want to stop drinking. "The subject receives suggestions to alter perceptions, thoughts, emotions and beliefs." One of the biggest challenges to stop drinking is changing our habits and patters of behaviour. Part of the problem of addiction (aside from physical addiction) involves our perceptions and beliefs, which can be changed through hypnosis, to help us stop drinking or abusing.

"Details of hypnotic procedures and suggestions will differ depending on the goals of the practitioner and the purposes of the clinical or research endeavor. Procedures traditionally involve suggestions to relax, though relaxation is not necessary for hypnosis and a wide variety of suggestions can be used including those to become more alert. "

(This definition excerpt and description of hypnosis was prepared by the Executive Committee of the American Psychological Association, Division of Psychological Hypnosis. Permission to reproduce this document is freely granted.)

They are telling us here that the hypnotic state can actually leave us alert and focused. This is exactly the frame of mind needed to accept suggestions to stop drinking. A variety of of Hypnosis CDs are available for home use to stop drinking. One can also go into the Hypnotist's office for an initial session, or a series of sessions. Hypnosis to stop drinking should be one part of a more comprehensive solution, involving, group support, medical consultation, and support of family and friends.