Treating drug addictions involve various techniques. When it comes to quality treatment programs, there are plenty of methods mental health professionals can enact to match the individual with the most effective treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most effective methods, while group therapy and addiction counseling are other ways most professional treatment centers focus on.
What many people don’t know is that there are some other elaborate ways to treat drug addictions. Hypnosis is one of these ways, and as treatment centers incorporate trained hypnotherapists into their programs, there is a larger acceptance of this form of treatment. But what is hypnosis, and what is its exact connection with drug addictions? Here is a look at how a hypnotic state can lead one down the recovery process.
What Is Hypnosis?
Hypnotherapy combines hypnosis and psychotherapy to imprint messages onto the subconscious mind. It’s a method used to rewire the brain’s thinking and better link the ideas of the subconscious and conscious mind. This treatment must be done under the supervision of healthcare professionals and psychologists who complete a specialized training program.
This form of hypnotic trance differs from what we see on TV or advertised in local shops. Individuals describe these hypnotic trances as a means of understanding their bodies on a deeper level and connecting with their subconscious to better alter their decision-making and beliefs.
How Does Hypnosis Work?
Certain outside factors make it difficult for one to reach their subconscious mind. Hypnosis techniques find a way to isolate those factors to reduce the blockages preventing you from communicating with your subconscious. Hypnosis can be beneficial for a variety of other situations, including:
- Phobias
- Nausea caused by pregnancy
- Managing pain
- Low self-esteem
- Relationship difficulties
- Sexual difficulties due to anxiety
The hypnotherapy process begins with individuals lying in a comfortable position and being read a script by a psychotherapist. This script erases the blockage, to which the professional can then suggest changes and better help the subconscious understand how to fight drug addictions. Once the person has awoken, their subconscious mind will be in a better position to combat addictive feelings, beliefs, and thoughts. It’s important to remember that hypnosis must go on for some time — usually weeks and months — for it to be successful.
How Can Hypnosis Be Used for Drug Addictions?
For certain patients, hypnosis can lead to immediate improvements in their ability to combat drug addictions. Some people go through traumatic situations in their younger years that directly lead to substance use disorders. As the brain has blocked out those memories to protect itself, it can be difficult to trace the cause of drug addictions. For others, hypnosis can increase their resolve and fight negative beliefs that make their addiction recovery process tougher. Here are a few ways hypnosis can aid your drug addiction recovery.
Improved Self-Esteem
Negativity holds us all back, especially when it originated at a young age. For people who were told they wouldn’t amount to anything or were constantly bullied, it can be difficult to power through low self-esteem and make life changes. Hypnosis can make it easier to fight those negative beliefs and give one the energy needed to recover from an addiction.
Align the Conscious and Subconscious Minds
Most dependencies fixate on the subconscious mind, making it difficult for some people to recover. Learned behaviors can still be fixed in the subconscious, and even individuals with a conscious understanding that it’s time for change may find it difficult to do so. Hypnosis links these two minds together to make it much easier to achieve a positive goal.
Combat the Effects of Trauma
Traumatic effects are major causes of addictive behaviors, and the only way to fight these addictions is to reach the source of the trauma. PTSD and other mental health conditions can make it tougher to accept different forms of recovery and may even lead to relapses. Hypnosis can get to the roof of these traumas to clear the way to recovery.
Learn More About Hypnosis and Other Treatment Methods With Steps to Recovery
Hypnosis sometimes comes with a bad rap, but it can provide plenty of benefits for individuals searching for effective treatment methods for certain conditions. When it comes to drug addictions, hypnosis can provide plenty of benefits that allow individuals to combat addictive behaviors and fight off drug and alcohol abuse.
With help from Steps to Recovery, individuals can find the right addiction therapy programs that incorporate clinical hypnosis or other evidence-based treatments for drug addictions. Contact Steps to Recovery today at 866-488-8684 to learn more about our treatment options and help someone you know recover from drug or alcohol addiction.
