HEALING ADDICTIONS WITH HYPNOSIS
Alchemical Hypnosis provides an amazingly effective process to assist in permanently freeing ourselves from addictive patterns. In this article, David Quigley talks about the Addictive Personality Technique as an excellent adjunct for the treatment of almost any habitual behavior.
Many addictive patterns have physiological elements which are best addressed by medical procedures, sound nutrition and the support of a 12-step program, but research has also indicated that much unhealthy, addictive behavior originates as a compensation for blockage in the meeting of normal healthy needs for love, approval and creative expression. The Addictive Personality Technique (APT) addresses the core unmet needs which exist behind any addiction and meets those needs through direct action or guided fantasy. By experiencing the deep pleasure of this alternative fantasy every time we crave our addictive behavior we can easily let it go and the lesser pleasure that it provides.
How The Addictive Personality Technique Works
Usually a hypnotic trance is necessary in order to do APT, because the client's inner defenses generally preclude any conscious awareness of these unmet needs and their associated pain. Therefore a brief trance induction (5-10 minutes) is a requisite first step.
The client is instructed during the journey into trance that "we are going to meet the "smoker/over eater/gambler, etc. within you." The hypnotist must be careful once we have met this unsavory figure to establish rapport with this character very carefully. Any sign of judgement or criticism from the hypnotherapist will close down the addictive personality and end the process. After rapport is established, we ask the addictive personality to enjoy in fantasy it's desired behavior, experiencing and describing all of the sensual and emotional gratification it receives. Then they are asked to come up with any alternative behavior at all which might feel at least as good as the addictive behavior, which might create the same or comparable feelings in the body. Answers will vary but may include fantasies of emotional or sexual fulfillment, expressing anger or other emotions, being approved or honored, exercise and rest. The remaining steps in the process involve linking these new behaviors or fantasized behaviors to the desire for the addictive behavior.
Repetition of the process and the ample use of direct hypnotic suggestion and emotional clearing strategies greatly assist the integration of this process into the client's daily life. A custom-made hypnotic recording can be prepared which can anchor these alternative fantasies or behaviors more easily and effortlessly into daily life.
The client is instructed during the journey into trance that "we are going to meet the "smoker/over eater/gambler, etc. within you." The hypnotist must be careful once we have met this unsavory figure to establish rapport with this character very carefully. Any sign of judgement or criticism from the hypnotherapist will close down the addictive personality and end the process. After rapport is established, we ask the addictive personality to enjoy in fantasy it's desired behavior, experiencing and describing all of the sensual and emotional gratification it receives. Then they are asked to come up with any alternative behavior at all which might feel at least as good as the addictive behavior, which might create the same or comparable feelings in the body. Answers will vary but may include fantasies of emotional or sexual fulfillment, expressing anger or other emotions, being approved or honored, exercise and rest. The remaining steps in the process involve linking these new behaviors or fantasized behaviors to the desire for the addictive behavior.
Repetition of the process and the ample use of direct hypnotic suggestion and emotional clearing strategies greatly assist the integration of this process into the client's daily life. A custom-made hypnotic recording can be prepared which can anchor these alternative fantasies or behaviors more easily and effortlessly into daily life.
A Case History: Quitting Smoking
Louise had been struggling to quit smoking cigarettes for several years, with occasional success. What she wanted was a way to quit smoking that would be effortless rather than an act of deprivation and discipline. I told her that APT could offer such an opportunity.
After "smoking" in a trance state fantasy, her inner cigarette smoker revealed that smoking made her feel secure, warm, taken care of. I then asked her for something else that might feel just as good. After a lengthy pause and some deepening of trance she experienced herself as a child sitting in her father's lap and being comforted by him (in real life her father had left her family at an early age). In her inner fantasy, however, I gave her permission to experience the pure pleasure of being held, loved, and listened to by the father she always wanted. Then I suggested that whenever she felt a craving for a cigarette, she could choose instead to enjoy a delightful fantasy in her body of being held and cared for by her much-needed father.
Her report after only one session on this technique alone, was this:
"Experiencing the love and nurturing of my inner family and rescuing my inner child has given me the source of joy and security which makes cigarettes obsolete in my life. Now I see that they will never fill my need or protect me in the special way that my inner resources can do for me. So it's easy and effortless now to be free of tobacco."
After "smoking" in a trance state fantasy, her inner cigarette smoker revealed that smoking made her feel secure, warm, taken care of. I then asked her for something else that might feel just as good. After a lengthy pause and some deepening of trance she experienced herself as a child sitting in her father's lap and being comforted by him (in real life her father had left her family at an early age). In her inner fantasy, however, I gave her permission to experience the pure pleasure of being held, loved, and listened to by the father she always wanted. Then I suggested that whenever she felt a craving for a cigarette, she could choose instead to enjoy a delightful fantasy in her body of being held and cared for by her much-needed father.
Her report after only one session on this technique alone, was this:
"Experiencing the love and nurturing of my inner family and rescuing my inner child has given me the source of joy and security which makes cigarettes obsolete in my life. Now I see that they will never fill my need or protect me in the special way that my inner resources can do for me. So it's easy and effortless now to be free of tobacco."
Using The Addictive Personality Technique With Other Treatments
I personally recommend that Addictive Personality Technique be experienced in conjunction with other forms of direct suggestion and interactive process from a trained hypnotherapist. I also encourage those whose addiction has a strong physical/emotional component (alcohol, narcotics, etc.) to use this process only as a follow up to appropriate medical treatment, counseling, an applicable detoxification program, and a twelve-step support group. Addressing your basic needs for love, nurturing, etc. can only be successful if we are not at the same time wrestling with the overwhelming physical "need" for a substance that is created by long-term abuse.
