Resently, on the Hypnosis Technique Exchange, the group members were asked by someone who had come to the realization that he has a problem with drinking whether we would give him a script for hypnosis that would completely wean him from drinking.
The thing is though that a script will not wean you from drinking . . . you have to do that. Hypnosis will help you, really it has helped a LOT of people facing a similar problem . . . however, I would side with those who suggest that for something like this a self-help quick fix for this sort of issue isn’t the best route . . . it’s a bit like a ten-year old picking up half a basic car repair manual and trying to open up a car and fix an engine with specialized parts . . . you need the general knowledge and experience first . . . would you really trust someone with an “idiot’s guide” to repair your car? . . . even if that someone is you? . . . what you need to do is go see a competent qualified guide, a therapist . . . not get a script off the internet . . . nor, should you be using a CD as a primary treatment recourse.
When choosing your hypnotherapist, please understand that in many places a hypnotist may not deal with alcohol dependancy without a referral from a licensed health or councelling professional. In some locations, a referral is not needed. However, many of the reputable organizations and training institutions for hypnotherapy require their members get referrals for this type of work.
In my opinion, it is best to have a guide when doing major changework . . . this way you can let go of the driver’s seat for awhile and follow the process. Others will disagree with me on this, and they are free to do so.
For one thing, while it may seem that the drinking is the problem, it is a symptom. A good therapist will help you get to the reason why you drink and help you resolve those issues so you will no longer need to drink. Simple suggestion is only a band-aid that falls off rather quickly, you need to resolve other things here and a good therapist and guide will help you do just that.
Just my thoughts on the matter and others are free to disagree.
As to folks who object to AA meetings where folk seem to identify and reinforce the idea that they are always sick and could at any moment fall back off the wagon – and there is good anectdotal and quantitative evidence that a large number of them do, repeatedly . . . there are those who note that alcoholism is a disease, not just a symptom as some therapists pretend . . . certainly, these folks are right . . . on one hand . . . however, might I also suggest that saying “I am allegic to alcohol” or “I am alcohol intolerant” are not quite the same frames as “I am addicted to alcohol” or “dependant on alcohol”? I would suggest that while dependant prone individuals and those who are truly intolerant and/or alegic are not the same as folks who develop a psychological dependancy. There are numerous individual reasons folks become dependant upon alcohol . . . physical addiction is not the only one, a lot of folks develop and psychological dependancy because or emotional factors in their life. Part of appropriate therapy should be to help a person come to grip with their causes for their particualr dependancy and then move on with more appropriate behaviors or coping strategies. Either way though, it is a worthwhile treatment for someone who used to have addiction behaviors or dependancy to stay off the stuff. However, how the support group functions can either help or hinder.
There is no one correct answer on what alcoholism is simply because there are so many reasons – physical, emotional, and/or psychological – for why any particular person might have an alcohol dependancy problem. There is no one panacea treatment . . . hypnotic or otherwise.
IMO.
All the best,
Brian
