I had hypnotherapy to stop me eating chocolate. AMA.

[kindnessiseverything]

5 years ago.
I'm a big fan of hypnotherapy now

I had hypno to stop me biting my nails - worked for three months and then I started again

There’s someone in my village who is recommended but the only organisation they’re a member of is the IAEBP which puts me off as I think past life regressive is a bit bonkers....

I tried that a few years ago, but you had to stand in front of the mirror and say things you liked about yourself. I hated it and I try to avoid mirrors if I can lol

@Heartofglass12345 my aunty lost lots of weight using the Paul McKenna ‘I can make you thin’ hypnosis tapes - it might be worth a try?

That sounds amazing!
I am really obese with I think binge eating disorder. It's awful, I am so big and unfit I can't even walk very far anymore I eat in secret and don't know when to stop.
Any chance you are in South Wales??

A friend of mine is a hypnotherapist in Scotland and for obvious reasons wouldn't go to her.
I did ask however, how to find a good one and heres what she said.....

"Recommendations are always good, and if going in cold read their reviews on fb or Google, ask for a free 10 minute consult call to see of you 'gel.

Thay should all help get to a therapist that will suit ones needs

Also, someone registered with the cnhc is crucial as it speaks to their level of professionalism and commitment to cpd"

I'm off to look for one next year...

@yesyoudoknowme

Just be aware it depends on how good the hypnotherapist is. I spent hundreds of pounds trying to lose weight for health reasons - not because I was unhappy per se. There are fat people out there who are OK with their weight, anyway I digress... He relied on me feeling disgusted with myself - all the talk was about being a fat pig and the like (and yes, he was a member of all the associations - I got his name from an official site!) which, because I didn't see myself that way didn't work. I had been hypnotised before and it had worked so I knew it wasn't me that was the issue, but his way of doing it. So perhaps my question is - 'were you just lucky that you found a really good hypnotherapist or did you try a few first?'

Sorry to hear that your experience wasn't great. The first time I had hypnotherapy, many years ago, I was just lucky. I'd got a guy's details from the Yellow Pages (remember them anyone?).

The second time, it was a personal recommendation.

I immediately felt comfortable with the lady and liked her mannerisms and style. If money was no object, I'd see her regularly as I found her very easy to talk to about all sorts of issues (a little like a counsellor I suppose).

Just be aware it depends on how good the hypnotherapist is. I spent hundreds of pounds trying to lose weight for health reasons - not because I was unhappy per se. There are fat people out there who are OK with their weight, anyway I digress... He relied on me feeling disgusted with myself - all the talk was about being a fat pig and the like (and yes, he was a member of all the associations - I got his name from an official site!) which, because I didn't see myself that way didn't work. I had been hypnotised before and it had worked so I knew it wasn't me that was the issue, but his way of doing it. So perhaps my question is - 'were you just lucky that you found a really good hypnotherapist or did you try a few first?'

@ConquestEmpireHungerPlague

I'm a bit late to the thread but I wondered if you *@kindnessiseverything* or anyone else knowledgeable on the thread could say what is the best professional body's register to use to find a good hypnotherapist - or at least, which did you use? I've just googled and there are several - and if it's anything like most complementary therapies some of them will admit anyone who pays a subscription! I had a fairly useless but rather expensive experience of hypnotherapy about 15 years ago and I'd like to do better than that if I try again...

I don't know as the therapist I used was recommended to me. But I imagine that you are absolutely correct and I guess that's why referrals and recommendations are best. Or perhaps start with google etc but then follow up on reviews to make sure that they are genuine.

TheVanguardSix, that's lovely

I'm looking into getting some hypnotherapy help for my DD and exam stress.
I think it can help with lots of things and great that it worked for your brother.

@Finewine76

I'm in the tameside area do you know of any near me please? X

No, but I'm sure if you ask around or check local Facebook pages etc you'll find someone. A personal reference is best I think; that's how I found the therapist who I used. Good luck.

I'm in the tameside area do you know of any near me please? X

Incredible, isn't it, OP?
I was a kid, about 9 or 10 back in the early 80s when my older brother got hypnotized to eat. He'd had an eating disorder since about the age of 1. In other words, massive fussiness which he never outgrew and nothing improved. He ate about 2 things on repeat and was wasting away. It was terribly worrying. I was so afraid my brother would die.
I went in with him to his sessions, sat in the waiting room with mom. I'll never forget him coming out of his first one and wanting KFC (he'd never eaten KFC or any fast food). The second time he wanted a ham sandwich- he'd never eaten ham. The broccoli. It was bloody amazing. I remember he described sitting on a mountain top eating a ham sandwich during one of his sessions.
Ah, I love my brother so, so, so much. I've always been so proud of him because he really, really struggled to eat and hypnotherapy changed that immediately.
No questions. Just a solidarity fist-bump and an acknowledgment of how awesome it is. If you really, really want it, it works! It worked when my dad quit smoking too!

I'm a bit late to the thread but I wondered if you @kindnessiseverything or anyone else knowledgeable on the thread could say what is the best professional body's register to use to find a good hypnotherapist - or at least, which did you use? I've just googled and there are several - and if it's anything like most complementary therapies some of them will admit anyone who pays a subscription! I had a fairly useless but rather expensive experience of hypnotherapy about 15 years ago and I'd like to do better than that if I try again...

Oh wow that is amazing and thanks for the AMA. For years I've thought about hypnotherapy for my fear of flying and this has convinced me to go for it (once we're out of lockdown).

Thanks for your reply @kindnessiseverything
I'll look into it in the NY

@GinandGingerBeer

I see you said you had it years ago for a picking problem. I am having a serious jaw clamping problem (24/7) As it's involuntary/stress related would hypnotherapy be able to stop me doing it do you think?

I don't know, sorry. I think you need to find a hypnotherapist near you, give them more details in confidence and they'll be able to offer advice. I would say that my picking was involuntary/stress related - the bloody, sore mess that my fingers used to get in.. I can't have done that voluntarily

I see you said you had it years ago for a picking problem. I am having a serious jaw clamping problem (24/7)
As it's involuntary/stress related would hypnotherapy be able to stop me doing it do you think?

I've had a look in the App store; there are quite a few apps with good reviews.

@ButterflyBitch

Why the fuck would you want to stop eating chocolate? That’s it, that’s my only question

It was controlling me. Or at least, that's how it felt. And I'd read somewhere that anything you do in secret is dangerous.

@Crimblecrumble1990

I had something similar about 15 years ago but it didn't work for me, would love to try again.

How did you know you were 'ready' to give it up? I am addicted to chocolate (I know some people will scoff at that word) and it has ruined big parts of my life - my confidence and enjoyment of life but mainly my health yet I still can't give it up. I want more than anything to but the 'addicted' part of me doesn't want to so I think that means hypnotherapy won't work?

Also, was it easy to think of things that repulse you? When I had hypnotherapy years and still now, there is very little that grosses me out so I would struggle to think of anything I would have a strong reaction to.

I was eating it in secret and I felt out of control. I think the control was the deciding factor for me. Plus, I think I was using chocolate for comfort. You could always just speak to a hypnotherapist and tell them what you've told us here; they might have some suggestions for ways to help you.

I used fox poo, dead birds and fish innards as my repulsive things.

This is interesting. I had hypnotherapy for fear of flying and it was a waste of money - did not work at all! I was sure it would work so I don't think it was my "fault".
Definitely not your fault! Shouldn't the therapist have tried a different type/format.
I first had hypnotherapy many many moons ago for a picking habit. My recollection (but it was about 30 years ago) was that he first tried Suggestion therapy and when that didn't work for me he used Regression therapy. That worked.

OP - has anyone accidentally given you chocolate and you didn't realise? How would you feel if you ate it accidentally?
Yes, it happens on the odd occasion that I'm offered cappuccino. I always say "no chocolate sprinkles please" but sometimes they forget and then just try and scoop them off. I also was invited to some friends for coffee one morning not that long ago and one of the guys was chuffed to bits to present the cake he'd made especially for us; they were quite new friends and didn't know about the chocolate. I pushed the cake around my plate with a fork for a bit, feeling more and more uncomfortable and in the end, I had to come clean. I felt really bad as they'd made the cake especially and I did think about trying to eat around the chocolate (it was a marble type cake) but I couldn't do it and was feeling more and more sicky just with it in front of me.

How did you find a hypnotherapist? Can they work in lockdown?
The guy I went to 30 years ago, I found through a register of qualified hypnotherapists. The lady I used for the chocolate was recommended to me by a mutual friend. I think some therapists offer Zoom/Skype.

Were you worried that the hypnotist might do something dodgy while they were in there, like make you act like a chicken any time someone said KFC or touch you inappropriately while you were "out"?
I don't think so. I remember with the original guy, once we did the regression therapy, I was back being a very young girl and I was talking in the voice of a very young girl and saying childish things. I knew I sounded very daft but at the same time, it felt ok. And I'm sure I would have known if something was really 'not right'. You're not really 'out'. I think the term is "a very deep state of relaxation".

Are you in the Cambridgeshire area? Would love to try hypnotherapy for my needle phobia.
No. But I'm sure there are plenty of really good hypnotherapists in Cambridgeshire.

I've now seen how to reply using the quote button so I'll continue answering the questions that way

It's this one (hope the photo works)

@PaintTheFence what app is that please?

I have a hypnosis app which I listen to as I'm going to sleep which has stopped me from binging chocolate. I still enjoy it in small amounts.

Think it does similar to what you're describing OP by linking the idea of chocolate with repulsive foods. Obviously I'm sure it's not as personalised and intense as the individual sessions. But it's worked well for me and I haven't overeaten chocolate for years now.

I still listen to it every evening as it relaxes me and helps me go to sleep!