Hypnotherapy advice

I have several serious issues, I'll briefly explain them first:

I was bullied at school, this has seriously affected my confidence and self esteem. It has also had a knock-on effect that I feel extremely uncomfortable in social situations with people my own age, especially girls. So I've never had a girlfriend as a result, I'm 21 now. I thought it was social anxiety disorder for a while but I'm fine with people older than me so that can't be it.

I have serious anxiety issues, paranoia if I must call it something. I constantly worry about the slightest little thing. My brothers have always told me I'm very nervous, usually because they're always swinging at me and I try to block the punch, even though they aren't really gonna hit me. So sometimes I think they're gonna try it so I block, and it turns out that it was never their intention at all.
For the last 2 years I've been in close contact with a girl through text messages. If I send her a message and she doesn't reply I get extremely worried that I said something wrong and that she's ignoring me, even though I don't think this was ever the case. Also, when I'm with her in person I feel really shy, scared and nervous, I even threw up on a visit to see her a few weeks ago, that was very embarrassing. She's 20 so this might be related to the first issue I mentioned above. Despite all this she has been really helpful, I'm writing this thanks to her help - before that I never really knew what was wrong with me.

My concentration has been extremely poor for about the last 5 years. I also don't like to do the same things or hobbies as I used to.

I have some very negative thoughts at times. But then again this is probably also related to the paranoia/fear/"worry too much" problem. Most were the usual kind - feeling hopeless, ugly, bored, etc. For a short while these thoughts were suicidal but counselling seems to have sorted that.

Unfortunately the other problems remain. So my dad came up with an idea that sounded a little wacky at first - he knows a hypnotherapist up in Phibsboro. He thinks I should visit her to see if she can reverse these problems, because it seems quite obvious that its a psychological issue. She reversed my cousin's stammer in one session so now it doesn't seem so wacky.

I just wanted to ask, has anyone here tried hypnotherapy for a similar problem? If so, how successful was it?

jimmycrackcorm

I took an ex girlfriend to a hypnotherapist to try cure her insane jealously. thought the sessions were working ok until he said to her that a man looking at other women meant no more than looking at a menu - you can look but doesn't mean you eat...... that was the last of that.

Victor

I would seriously consider trying other methods first.

There is a brainwashing element to hypnotherapy that I am extremely sceptical of. But it does work for some people.

Esel

Victor: Why do you think hpynotherapy contains a brainwashing element? What other methods of addressing his problem would you recommend?

OP: Hypnotherapy *might* help, if the therapist is a trained professional. I would be sceptical of a genuine stammer being cured in one session, though.

You refer to problems being 'reversed'. 'Solved' might be a better way to think.

I think you would be wise to discuss your condition in detail with your doctor, and seek his/her advice on how to deal with it, including the hypnotherapy option. Also, maybe counselling (again with a trained professional) might be worth considering again.

It is good that your dad is trying to help you sort this out. Get help and good luck.

Sammyjo

speaking from experience, hypnotherapy can definately help many problems. there are a few different kinds of related therapies, all under the guise of hypnotherapy, but not in the conventional sense of the word. One therapy that is very effective is called rapid eye therapy, that doesnt involve you going "under" if you know what i mean. you remain totally conscious, and your brain is explored: your brain is fooled into thinking youre going in to a dream like state, but youre still awake and can comprehend things that come to light.

it does seem unlikely that a stammer can be reversed in one session, it seems more likely that it would take more than one, most likely three, but then again it depends on how deep the original problem is, and how quickly the person opens up.

I know this isnt a medical forum so i dont want to go say too much, but from my understanding social anxiety disorder can be particularised in certain cases, and it is possible that you only have problem with people of your own age, because of your past experience. depression and depressive like thoughts are also common with most anxiety disorders.

what i would say to you is that hypnotherapy can help if not solve such problems, but it is important that you go to a trained professional, and it will not happen over night. a myth of hypnotherapy is that it is an "instant cure", that only really happens with a person who wants to stop smoking and even then it may not happen with one session. you just have to give it time.

best of luck

Kell

Victor wrote:

I would seriously consider trying other methods first.

I agree. OP, why not try normal therapy with an add on dash of hypnotherapy. Your issues I feel are best dealt with by a good cognitive behavioural therapist.

Victor wrote:

There is a brainwashing element to hypnotherapy

No there isnt. In the therapy sense or psychotherapeutic sense, hypnotherapy merely induces a deep state of relaxation in the client to allow memories that have otherwise been repressed to surface and therefore be dealt with. Best to go hand in hand with normal therapy so otherwise unknown stuff has a chance to surface.

The cure all "brain washing" variety are charlatans and are to be avoided at all costs.

K-

crazy_dude6662

my mums a hypnotherapist, it works, had it done 2 me loads of times

The_Conductor

Karsini- something tells me there is something underlying all of this.
Often deep rooted emotional issues, that we ourselves do not want to address, manifest themselves in ways like this. Before you explore hypnotherapy- and totally aside from the manner in which you react around other people, are there reasons beneath all of this that might be affecting the manner in which you interact with others and the world in general. Self defense mechanisms are a manner of coping- and they work to a certain extent- but you cannot defend yourself from life forever. Have a think about the possible reasons you might be behaving in the manner you are, and try to address the cause rather than the sympthom. There are far too many harbringers of doom out there only too willing to hide perfectly natural responses to events or feelings- be they behavioural or medical. There are far too few willing to try to decipher what is actually causing the sympthoms that underlying problems manifest.

S.

Victor

crazy_dude6662 wrote:

my mums a hypnotherapist, it works, had it done 2 me loads of times

Its worked on you then?

crazy_dude6662

Victor wrote:

Its worked on you then?

and every1 else that comes to her

nesf

crazy_dude6662 wrote:

and every1 else that comes to her

You have no appreciation of humour.



OP:

Seriously, stop trying to self diagnose, go get a referral to a psychiatrist and follow their advice.

Fionn

while not knowing the full extent of your problems I think some of the advice given is ok, for instance, counselling, psychiatrist etc. although hypnotherapy is what you asked about!!

practised by a professional hypnotherapist is very safe and as someone stated will unlock your anxieties that exist in your subconcsious. Think of hypnosis as an altered state of mind! This is quite natural and most of us enter a trance like state several times each day!! It’s quite safe and natural. For example: ever travel on a journey driving your car but couldn’t exactly remember the towns and villages you passed while on your journey? But still you drove quite safely! You were in a hypnotic trance state! Thinking of something far removed from operating the car or the conditions on the road! But who was driving the car? Your subconcious!! While your concious mind was “miles away”. Your conscious mind tends to forget or blank events out of it’s memory but your subconscious mind doesn’t, there is a link between your concious (everyday) mind and your subconscious (dreams etc.) mind, the hypnotherapist can bridge that gap. Hypnosis can be very beneficial in revealing old deep rooted phobias etc. and it'’ quite safe and in constant use these days as a tool for resolving all sorts of problems by the medical profession. I'’ say give it a go!

LegacyUser

I can be very very jumpy when Im feeling stressed. Could this be helped with this kind of treatment?

Fionn

sean23 wrote:

I can be very very jumpy when Im feeling stressed. Could this be helped with this kind of treatment?

yes absolutely, a good hypnotherapist will even give you a tape or CD of your induction and the reinforcing suggestions that would be planted etc and maybe some instruction on self hypnosis. Also these days a lot of hypnotherapists use a system called NLP which people find to be very beneficial and effective in dealing with problems such as stress and phobias etc.

nesf

I'd still argue that a good therapist and working out your problems yourself is preferable to hypnotherapy as a first line of treatment. Hypnotherapy does have it's uses but I don't feel that it should be looked at as a replacement for therapy or for working out one's own issues through one's own efforts.

kawaii

nesf wrote:

You have no appreciation of humour.

Be nice, he's new...

Victor

sean23 wrote:

I can be very very jumpy when Im feeling stressed. Could this be helped with this kind of treatment?

I'd start with what is causing you stress in the first place. I'm sure you can pick up a book in your local pharmacy for about €7.