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Understanding Compulsive Behaviours and Disorders
You would normally hear or read about compulsive behaviours and disorders being linked with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which is a diagnosis widely used within the mental health profession. However, in the IAEBP, we have found it more helpful to separate compulsive behaviours from obsessive behaviours as their impact upon people’s lives and the way in which they are experienced is very different.
As a rule of thumb, a compulsive behaviour is one that is undertaken, often with little thought, on impulse or with a sense of having been ‘driven’ to it, and instant relief is felt. There may be some feelings of guilt or shame felt afterwards, but immediate gratification is felt at the time.
For obsessive thoughts and behaviours, this sense of relief is often never achieved. The person is likely to focus excessively on the issue at hand, often becoming totally preoccupied by it; they can find themselves involved in repetitive cycles of behaviour which provide little or no relief, and sometimes activities are carried out to ensure something else (often something bad) does not happen. (For more info on obsessive behaviours and disorders click here.)
The types of Compulsive Behaviours and Disorders Treated Successfully with Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy
Compulsive behaviours can range from simple everyday behaviours such as shopping to more reckless behaviours such as self-harming. One of the issues with compulsive behaviours is that most of them undertaken to excess can have very damaging impacts on people’s lives: the compulsive shopper may find themselves heavily in debt or even bankrupt, while the compulsive self-harmer may place their life in jeopardy on a regular basis.
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The following list is not exhaustive, but covers the more common compulsive behaviours that have been treated successfully using Hypnoanalysis:
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Excessive shopping
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Excessive drinking
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Addictive behaviour (e.g. gambling, misusing drugs or other substances, eating disorders such as bulimia)
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Sexual behaviours (e.g. having numerous sexual partners, having regular unprotected sex)
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Lying and/or cheating
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Nail biting
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Self-harming
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Hair twiddling and/or pulling (known as trichotillomania)
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Smoking (For more info on stopping smoking with hypnotherapy click here.)
Please do not be put off if your particular issue has not been identified in the list above: compulsive behaviours and disorders are so varied and often specific to the individual that it would be impossible to list them all here. What is important to realise is that it is the underling reasons for the behaviour that is significant and it is this that is treated with hypnotherapy, rather than the precise behaviours themselves. If you have any doubts, please contact a professional hypnotherapist, trained in Hypnoanalysis, for a discussion.
How Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy Can Help - in Woodbridge
Many people who have compulsive disorders and behaviours find themselves feeling a little out of control or driven by factors they can not understand. Sometimes people may feel a little ashamed or guilty about their compulsive behaviours and therefore avoid seeking help.
However, with Hypnoanalysis, help is at hand and you can rid yourself of these unwanted thought patterns and behaviours successfully through a course of hypnotherapy (between 6 to 10 sessions) with a professional qualified in Hypnoanalysis. (For more info on hypnoanalysis click here.) At Woodbridge Hypnotherapy we find that we can usually help someone resolve their issues with compulsive behaviours in about 8 sessions.
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As an added bonus, in addition to be free from your previous compulsive behaviours, after a course of hypnotherapy using Hypnoanalysis you will also have a greater sense of self; increased self-confidence, self-esteem, and belief in yourself; AND of course hypnosis is wonderfully relaxing and reduces stress levels.
Woodbridge Hypnotherapy and Hypnoanalysis - providing professional therapy services to the the people of Woodbridge and surrounding villages
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