Breaking Unwanted Habits

Unwanted habits are able to be moved on from using hypnotherapy. Smoking is one of the most common issues that hypnotherapy is known for helping.

So if we don’t want this habit why haven’t we just stopped?

We learn behaviours that can seem to be a problem today but when they were created they were of benefit. A habit is maintained because it is a familiar behaviour with consequences that actually serve a need.

The habit you are wanting to remove may have begun as a child, perhaps as way of soothing and calming yourself, or maybe as a way of dealing with difficult emotions like upset, grief or guilt. Sometimes habits are developed because it was copied from peers or adults who were using bad habits themselves as a coping strategy.

It is also possible that the habit began later in life at a time of fear or stress, such as when there was a sudden loss. The now bad habit then served the helpful purpose of removing that fear or stress.

Over time we change as a person and we no longer consciously see that benefit in the behaviour that once served a direct need. However our subconscious mind thinks this is necessary for us to function to continue to feel safe and secure. A habit can also be a way of defining who we are and our minds may need a replacement behaviour to be able to let go of it.

Having a habit that controls you can impact many aspects of your life including emotional well being, self image, confidence, self esteem, relationships, career and social acceptance. It is the current negative consequences that lead us to label the once beneficial habit as bad. Some unwanted bad habits are physical such as substance abuse or nail biting. Others bring emotional harm and include procrastination or over checking of emails. Whether the impact is emotional or physical the habit can be a way of staving off guilt, self hatred, loneliness, stress, grief or a fear of failure, for example.

Hypnotherapy can be the perfect way to break many different habits and these include:

Physical habits

• Nail biting
• Skin picking (Dermatillomania)
• Thumb sucking
• Cracking joints
• Hair fiddling
• Hair pulling (Trichotillomania)
• Teeth grinding (Bruxism)

Technological habits

• Overuse of phone or technology
• Social media checking
• Excessive gaming

Food and drink related habits

• Eating too much sugar
• Eating too much junk food
• Unnecessary snacking
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Fast eating

Organisation

• Procrastination
• Time keeping / lateness
• Indecision
• Hoarding
• Checking or cleaning habits
• OCD

Addictions

• Smoking
• Vaping
• Over spending
• Gambling
• Drug use
• Alcoholism

If you want to change your behaviour then hypnotherapy could be for you. Wanting the change is the most important thing. Hypnotherapy is usually a short term therapy with 2 or 3 sessions being common for breaking an unwanted habit. With some habits, such as drug and gambling addictions or eating habits, more sessions may be suggested while the new behaviour patterns are embedded into your life.

When I work with you I will establish the following information about your habit through conversation:

• Triggers
• Needs
• Problems and issues
• Negative effects
• Replacement behaviour
• Your goals

This is so that I can provide the appropriate strategies for you and give the appropriate hypnotherapy to correct the habit. As you progress through therapy together we will track your progress and reassess your goals as well as tweaking, as is necessary, as you move forward.

Your life does not get better by chance it gets better by change’ Jim Rohn