Serious question. Does hypnotherapy work (for smoking cessation, dieting etc) or is it all a bit of a con? Has anyone got any experience of it? I'm not interested in Stage Hypnosis or any of that "look into my eyes" crap, but the alternative therapy type.

Hypnotherapy will never work unless you are willing to suspend disbelief, and think it will work.

Basically, if you believe it will work it will; if you don't it wont. In other words, ninety percent of the hypnotism is done by your own mind, and not the person calling themselves a hypnotherapist.

Originally Posted by Legs

Serious question. Does hypnotherapy work (for smoking cessation, dieting etc) or is it all a bit of a con? Has anyone got any experience of it? I'm not interested in Stage Hypnosis or any of that "look into my eyes" crap, but the alternative therapy type.

my mate gave up smoking on it, 5 years on still doesnt smoke the sanctimonious bastard.

You won't be able to do anything you don't want to so, whilst acknowledging that this isn't the NAAFI, there isn't much point in training to be one to wreak havoc through the local lady population.

On a more serious note, I looked into this for all sorts of things, some of which were highly successful. I was the biggest sceptic but it kept my father off the ciggies for 20 years and has helped me with some great relaxation techniques.

Originally Posted by lumpy2

Hypnotherapy will never work unless you are willing to suspend disbelief, and think it will work.

Basically, if you believe it will work it will; if you don't it wont. In other words, ninety percent of the hypnotism is done by your own mind, and not the person calling themselves a hypnotherapist.

Sorry, but that is bollocks. Clinical hypnotherapy has been shown to be an effective form of treatment for many conditions. There has to be a certain amount of cooperation from the person being treated so it's not a case of it will only work if you believe in it, but more a case of it won't work if you are highly sceptical. As with all things, there are some conditions for which it is more effective than others, and there are some practitioners who are better than others.

It works but it's not a cure all. Basically you have to continue on with the good habits learned during hypnotherapy either from a registered hypnotherapist or via a cd that you play NOT WHILST DRIVING THE CAR. It's not, 'you are getting very sleepy' stuff of movies or anything to do with the hypnotherapist swinging a watch in front of your face either.

Yes, it works for most people but I believe that around 10% can't be hypnotised.

It made me quit smoking. During one of the sessions I was thinking I'm not really under,and later told the Hypno. During the next session the Hypno told me I wouldn't be able to open my eyes - and I couldn't. It was very bizarre. Anyway, yes, it works.

http://meanasspenguin.org/images/hypnotoad.gif

I tried hypnotherapy having failed miserably to quit smoking. The way it was explained to me by the practitioner is that it in someway re-programmes your sub-concious. Although fully awake throughout I was surprised to learn at the end of the session that it had lasted an hour .. I would have sworn ten minutes at the most. Interestingly she told me a story about a man that worked in a rubber factory and told me that at any time I picked up a packet of ciggerettes or a single ciggerette I would get an overwhelming taste of burnt rubber in my mouth and I really did .. it was a spooky thing. She offered sessions for free after the first one if it was not succesful .. that's how confident she was. I've stopped for 15 years now and it was the best forty quid I've ever spent. I would recommend it wholeheartedly .. you still require some willpower but it more than takes the edge off. By the way I was on 40 a day at the time.

Look into my eyes, look into my eyes, the eyes, the eyes, not around the eyes, don't look around the eyes, look into my eyes, snap!


That will be seventy quid!