Hypnosis is a great way to tap into your higher brain function with the help of another. If you are facing detox and treatment, hypnosis therapy may make it easier to manage the discomfort and the fear. Because hypnotic suggestion can help you focus on more positive aspects of the life you want, these prompts can help you move away from the anxiety of needing the drug to hoping for your fuller life.
Does hypnosis work for addiction recovery? Yes! It’s particularly effective when paired with other therapies. Hypnosis can train your brain to be repulsed by some habits and products; for example, those trying to give up cigarettes may have gotten the suggestion to see something fowl in the ashtray beside their cigarette. Revulsion hypnosis can work for a time but isn’t great at managing cravings. A better hypnotic prompt can help you focus on wellness once you’ve been through detox and are heading into recovery.
Relaxation Benefits
Getting relaxed enough to accept hypnotic suggestion can be incredibly tough, especially if you are entering into or coming out of the stress of detox. You may need hydration support or help to overcome nausea, sweating and discomfort before you can relax enough to accept hypnotic suggestion. However, once the sharp edge of anxiety has been dulled post-detox, you may have an easier time being guided into that elevated state. You will need to work with a therapist you trust to fully open up.
If you are struggling with mental health challenges, be very gentle with your mind and let your therapist know if you are trying out new medications to better manage your condition. It may take more time or more sessions to open up enough for a suggestion to stick. You can also practice opening up on your own through meditation. You don’t need a special cushion or to sit in a particular position to meditate effectively.
What you need to do is wear something comfortable and sit in a chair that supports you in an upright position. If possible, use a timer and start with just 10 minutes so you don’t have to worry about how long you’ve been trying to meditate. Focus on breathing and emptying your mind. If it helps, think of sitting under a tree on a beautiful day with little wind. Close your eyes and feel the air on your skin without judging it.
Feel the light that touches you and enjoy the warmth. When worries and judgments enter your mind, gently bring your mind back to the calm, fresh space under the tree. If possible, keep words out of your brain for these ten minutes and just feel how wonderful it is to be right where you are. When the timer goes off, gently stretch your body. Feel how calm your mind is and how loose your shoulders are.
Stand up tall and reach for the ceiling as you’re able. As you build your meditation practice, you may find that these sessions can be as effective as a nap for refreshing your body and resetting your mind for your next therapy session. If you’re not comfortable closing your eyes for this amount of time, see if you can light a candle to hold your gaze while you clear your head.
Intention is critically important when undergoing any form of higher brain training. If you’re in rehab or treatment because the courts forced you, there may be a great deal of resentment involved and you may be struggling to relax enough to gain benefits from hypnosis. You can’t be hypnotized against your will. If you don’t want this form of therapy, you will gain no benefit. However, if you have already been through the wrenching physical stress of detox, hypnotic suggestion can be a wonderful way to prep your brain for clean living after rehab.
Your therapist can help you create a safe space for your brain where you can check in with your healthiest, best self. Detox and treatment can’t fix everything. Hypnosis alone can’t get you off drugs. However, your brain is a remarkable tool that can be used to better your life if you can make it work for you instead of against you. We can help and look forward to your call. Our counselors are available 24 hours a day. Call us at 833-497-3812.