Central Hypnotherapy Stockport

Helen's Success with Hypnosis and OCD

Posted: Friday, November 9, 2012

I've tried everything (except hypnotherapy)

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) comes in many forms, and in fact that 'disorder' label is a bit of a misunderstanding. All Compulsive Habits are organised and controlled by the almighty Subconscious mind, and so they can be simply mindless repetition or they can be driven by the imagination. The imagination knows no bounds, so OCD behaviours are often illogical and therefore baffling to that person's own conscious mind, as this opening enquiry from Helen shows:

"Hello,

I am coming to the end of my tether with my obssessive compulsive disorder or bad habit, as one psychologist called it. I suffer with skin picking. I have been doing it since the age of 19 after I broke up with my first boyfriend who was mentally abusive... I've tried acupuncture, homeopathic remedies, tibetan yoga, sa ta na ma chanting, breath of fire, bastrika, self hypnosis, visual coding displacement therapy, emotional freedom therapy and fasting. I did manage to stop for five days through mental power, but I "fell off the wagon" after a week.

This self sabotage is really getting me down since I have so many writing goals, but I cannot meet them through this underlying anxiety that I am not good enough and I do not deserve success. However, I'm just guessing it may be that... I have visited my doctor and asked for CBT, but it took eight weeks to get my first consultation, and I don't think she really understood my experience...

In the end through psychological therapies with the NHS, I was put on "basic therapies" which is just talking about anxiety and how it affects the mind and behaviour. This is all fine and dandy, however it doesn't address the subconscious issue. I am no longer attending since speaking with someone who has no experience of dealing with OCD is no use to me.

I sincerely hope you can help me. I do not trust a lot of alternative health practitioners, but I sensed honesty and a genuine want to help people from your website. I hope you do not take offence, I try to use my instincts to get me through life.

Helen"

We did a single session of hypnotherapy, and the next message I got was this:

"Hi Chris,

I thought I would wait a few days before giving feedback. Well this is my fifth day without skin picking. I sometimes get a strong urge but it disappears equally fast. It's finally nice to let my skin heal and give it the nurturing it deserves. The mental focus to finish my book has been great. I'm also suffering with less anxiety in the gut.

Thanks so much for your help. I will recommend you to anyone who wants to try Hypnotherapy.

Helen"

With long-established habits like this one - with a strong emotional component - it is quite possible we will need to do another session on this at some point.  If so, I'll let you know how it goes! Helen has given her permission for me to reproduce her messages here, and use her real name - I never do that without written permission.

Have you got an annoying Compulsive Habit you'd like to be rid of? Call now on 0161-474 8120 or call/text 07748 838 644 any time, including evenings & weekends for more info or to book an appointment.

 

Consultant Hypnotherapist Chris Holmes BA(Hons) HPD DipCAH is a Senior Registered Hypnotherapy Practitioner (GHR) and has been providing effective and confidential hypnosis and hypnotherapy services at Central Hypnotherapy for Stockport, Manchester, Tameside and Cheshire since August 2000.