Does Hypnosis for Drug Addiction Work?
Most people think of hypnosis as
this gimmicky trick to help people stop bad habits like smoking. Many are
surprised to learn that hypnotherapy is an evidence-based treatment that can
help treat a wide range of psychological difficulties. Hypnosis for drug
addiction isn’t a magic fix to substance abuse, but it can help some people.
WHAT’S HYPNOTHERAPY?
Hypnotherapy is the combination of
hypnosis with psychotherapy. You need a licensed and trained therapist to conduct
this type of treatment. Most of the time, a licensed psychologist would be able
to perform this treatment.
During a hypnotherapy session, the therapist works
with the patient to achieve an altered state of consciousness. This occurs
under hypnosis, which relaxes the unconscious mind and lets the patient be more
open. Simultaneously, the patient under a hypnotic state is more susceptible to
changing old habits and feelings, which could be explicitly directed towards
addictive behaviours.
WHO CAN PERFORM HYPNOTHERAPY?
Trained hypnotherapists must have a
master’s or doctorate in a related field and undergo a six to eight-week
training course from the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis. It is a common
method of treatment in the US.
Most people find it surprising to
learn that about 15% of the world’s population is highly hypnotizable. On the
contrary, about 25% of people cannot be hypnotized by another person. However,
in this case, a licensed hypnosis practitioner can teach a person how to
practice self-hypnosis and reap the same benefits.
HOW HYPNOSIS FOR DRUG ADDICTION
WORK?
When someone is under the effects of
hypnosis, they’re more passive and compliant with the therapist’s suggestions.
People are more open to fantasy, sometimes can access long-forgotten memories,
and become more imaginative. Thanks to this, they can adopt a different
perspective on their addictive behaviors. Suddenly, what seemed impossible,
like quitting an addictive substance, seems achievable and desirable.
One study found that of all
participants that received hypnotherapy, 90% completed treatment. After six
months of completing treatment, 100% of them were still clean and sober. After
the two-year mark, almost 78% of those in the study remained abstinent. These
results position hypnotherapy as a useful tool for addressing long-term drug
and alcohol recovery.
While this study was done on a small
group, it shows the potential of hypnosis for drug addiction treatment. When
incorporated with other evidence-based therapies like CBT, hypnosis can help:
Ease withdrawal symptoms: When people go through
detox, withdrawal symptoms can be uncomfortable. Hypnosis can help manage these
symptoms and reduce cravings during early recovery.
Alleviate pain: Addiction recovery can
cause both physical and psychological pain that could become a barrier to
making progress in recovery. Hypnosis can help people switch their perspective
of pain and feel better.
Change addictive behaviors: Here’s the real strength
of hypnosis. This holistic treatment taps into the unconscious mind and can
alter ideas and change unhealthy behaviors linked to addiction.
Boost emotional health: Many recovering addicts
also struggle with co-occurring mental health disorders. Hypnotherapy can help
boost emotional health to improve your overall wellbeing.
IS IT EFFECTIVE?
Of course, hypnosis is not a
one-time, instant fix for addiction. Though everyone responds differently to
hypnosis, some people react positively to hypnotherapy. There are countless
myths about the powers of hypnosis that often undermine its effectiveness or
safety.
Still, when performed by a trained
hypnotherapist, this can be a safe and effective practice. Some even say that
self-hypnosis is considered safe as well.
In 2003 German scientists found that
hypnotism was almost twice more effective than therapy alone for psychosomatic
illness, test anxiety, and nicotine addiction. The success rate raised from 37
percent to 64 percent in patients that underwent hypnotherapy as part of a
comprehensive treatment plan.
Some studies have shown that hypnotherapy can be useful for
addiction treatment. Based on the idea that hypnosis can help people through
the power of suggestion to improve their willpower in overcoming addictive
urges. However, others argue that since addiction isn’t about will, hypnosis is
useless.
We know that when someone is under a
hypnotic trance-like state, their peripheral awareness decreases, which
heightens their attention and suggestibility to the point that a therapist can
effectively alter the neurophysiological networks capable of rewiring specific
patterns and conditioning. Based on this, someone’s feelings and behaviors can
be influenced during and after they come out of their hypnotic state.
Another study published in the
Journal of the National Cancer Institute concluded that hypnosis helped
alleviate post-surgical pain and fatigue, nausea, and other discomforts.
All of this is not to say that
hypnosis or hypnotherapy should be considered the only form of addiction
therapy. It’s important to note that hypnosis should be part of a comprehensive
addiction treatment program that incorporates other evidence-based therapies.
GETTING HELP
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