Hypnotherapy

Sheffield Based, Nationally Registered Hypnotherapist.

Habits

Habits are behaviours that are learned and have become automatic. They are repeated regularly. Often, the person will not be aware of the behaviour. A habit could be biting fingernails, grinding the teeth, chewing hair/pulling hair out (known as trichotillomania) picking skin or even eating food too quickly.

Habits that are not normally intrusive in a person's life, can become worse when the person is under stress or depressed.

There can be both positve and negative reinforcement of habits. For some, there may be pleasure/comfort associated with the habit, for others, the habit can become established as a way of managing difficult and painful feelings. For instance, smoking can easily become a habit associated with stress or anger. "I find smoking calms me down," is frequently said. However, nicotine and the associated chemicals are not calming as they are stimulants.

You may have been living with a habit for 30 years or more, thinking it is impossible to change. However, once you come to an increased awareness of your unwanted behaviour and what sustains it, you will be able to live a life free of your habit.

Habits can become addictions. Addictions are compulsive behaviours that a person feels compelled to carry out even though these behaviours might be destructive to the person's health, finance, family and friends. 'Addiction' commonly refers to drugs and substance abuse. However, shopping, eating, sex, gambling etc. can all become compulsive behaviours.

Substance abuse is the term used to describe over-use of any mind-altering drug to the extent that a person can not function normally.

Substance dependence is where a person's physiology has become so used to a drug, the person is unable to function normally without it. Higher and higher doses are required for the same hit.

Habits, addictions and substance abuse can be treated effectively with hypnotherapy. Particularly in the case of substance abuse, clients for hypnotherapy must be ready for change. Hypnotherapy is client-centred and accepts each and every client as a responsible person who has within them, the resources and ability to change. Together, we can analyse your journey, define your motivations and using a combination of hypnosis, therapy and NLP techniques, start to instigate change so that your self-worth gradually grows, you break free of old habits and your future feels brighter.