Hypnotherapy

[WilmaHun]

Just wondering if anybody has ever had any form of hypnotherapy, particularly for anxiety or phobia, and did it work?

I suffer with anxiety which in turn has a huge impact on my IBS. IBS flares - anxiety increases because I'm anxious about my stomach - IBS gets worse. or. IBS is fine - something in life makes me anxious - anxiety causes a flare - anxiety worsens due to the flare. You get my drift, it's like an endless cycle. I'm wondering whether it's worth trying hypnotherapy for the anxiety (I am on medication for it but looking for other forms of help) which may in turn help me to manage my IBS better.

I've also spoken on a separate thread about a phobia of the dentist so I'm curious to know if it can work for phobias too?

 

[kadykal95]

I had 6 sessions for my fear of flying. Personally it didn't work for me.

 

[Rolypolymmm]

Look up Havening. I've had a couple of sessions, not for a phobia but it can help them too. I found it great

 

[Lulu Goss]

Just wondering if anybody has ever had any form of hypnotherapy, particularly for anxiety or phobia, and did it work?

I suffer with anxiety which in turn has a huge impact on my IBS. IBS flares - anxiety increases because I'm anxious about my stomach - IBS gets worse. or. IBS is fine - something in life makes me anxious - anxiety causes a flare - anxiety worsens due to the flare. You get my drift, it's like an endless cycle. I'm wondering whether it's worth trying hypnotherapy for the anxiety (I am on medication for it but looking for other forms of help) which may in turn help me to manage my IBS better.

I've also spoken on a separate thread about a phobia of the dentist so I'm curious to know if it can work for phobias too?

No advice on hypnotherapy but I have undiagnosed stomach issues and I relate to exactly what you’ve said about the anxiety/flare thing. Vicious circle isn’t it!

 

[Curlygirld]

Tried it, I found it didn’t really work super well for controlling my panic attacks (which is what I’d went for) but what did help was the calming tape I listened to before bed that the therapist created for clients. It was like an instructional where you imagine you’re going to this beautiful house and exploring the gardens and I’d be out like a light by the time I reached the maze part of this imaginary house couldn’t tell you what came after that! It helped me relax which in turn helped me fall asleep without my mind racing, better sleep quality and reduced anxiety because I was actually getting rest.

I don’t think you’ll know if it’ll work for you until you try it and obviously depends on the therapist you have. Think it’s worth a go if you want to explore alternative methods

 

[Days28]

I had 1 session for a traumatic birth - I went in quite sceptical but I ended up in a really weird sleep (I assume trance) where we relived the birth over and over - I think I was in about 90mins in total. Something changed as I don’t cry anymore about the labour/can actually smile thinking about the birth.

hasn’t made me want to go through labour again, although it turned me into a hypno believer that I had intended on using her to help quit my sugar habit - then lockdown happened.

I felt like she was really passionate about it and fully believed in hypnotherapy, she cost approx £60 for the session, didn’t try and up sell me more sessions & did free initial consultations, I felt like she wasn’t conning me .

 

[Np63]

I have had 2 lots of hypnotherapy for emetophobia (fear of sick) which was ruining my life at the time. I had the first 20 hours or so when I was 16/17, and it really helped with whatever underlying emotions were causing the phobia. It’s definitely an odd sleep experience and it’s not solved just by the hypnotising itself there are techniques to use after to retrain your thought process.

After 10 years of little to no reoccurrence of the phobia, I suffered an unrelated traumatic event and it flared up again so I saw a different therapist for about 6 hours and am back to ‘ recovery’ again.

I would 100% recommend to anyone to try it but just with the catch of it will not instantly solve anything but is a release to help you tackle and deal with the issue in the future.

 

[WilmaHun]

Thank you so much for your replies. I think I'll give it a go, if it doesn't work at least I can say I tried instead of constantly wondering!

 

[Lovebugx]

I'm thinking of trying hypnotherapy for a phobia too. I have been having CBT , I've been allowed 8 sessions well the last one is in a week's time and it's not helped at all I feel like a failure

 

[rainbowlemon]

I'm thinking of trying hypnotherapy for a phobia too. I have been having CBT , I've been allowed 8 sessions well the last one is in a week's time and it's not helped at all I feel like a failure

Your doing your best and 8 weeks is a very short period of time.

 

[Lovebugx]

Your doing your best and 8 weeks is a very short period of time.

Thank you rainbowlemon
It was weekly to begin with , and it started well but Christmas and stuff happend so it's gone to fortnightly . Not sure where I go from here to be honest , my therapist is insistent that gradually " exposure " will work but I seem to hit a brick wall

 

[rainbowlemon]

Thank you rainbowlemon
It was weekly to begin with , and it started well but Christmas and stuff happend so it's gone to fortnightly . Not sure where I go from here to be honest , my therapist is insistent that gradually " exposure " will work but I seem to hit a brick wall

I've been in the therapy game for a long time. It's honestly not your fault. There's lots of different types and variation between therapists too.The very first one I saw felt useless. Only clicked with the 4th one I found.

 

[Lovebugx]

I've been in the therapy game for a long time. It's honestly not your fault. There's lots of different types and variation between therapists too.The very first one I saw felt useless. Only clicked with the 4th one I found.

I've been doing it online , in a type of messenger chat set up thing , not sure it's really constructive because the hour session is taken up by a lot of typing

 

[rainbowlemon]

I've been doing it online , in a type of messenger chat set up thing , not sure it's really constructive because the hour session is taken up by a lot of typing

It sounds like better help, but you're always allowed to change. Maybe a video sessions would work better over the typing. A lot of therapists also offer sliding scales lower then their normal fees.

 

[Platformcrocs]

I'm trying it for IBS/anxiety too! I've only started week 3 of the program so it's hard to tell if it has had an effect. I've really been struggling with it lately. I'm extremely reluctant to go out in case I need the loo which causes the anxiety.. Which then upsets my stomach so I definitely do need the loo then. Sigh. I don't think hypnotherapy is a bad idea though and worth a shot if you're willing to stick with it.