The Forums › Forums › Tools, Techniques & Treatments › hypnotherapy and ADD › Re: hypnotherapy and ADD
My mom tried it a couple of years ago, to deal with her fear of heights, and for weight loss. $2000 and a dozen treatments later, she’s still terrified of heights, and she still weighs over 225 lbs. The hypnosis was no more effective than if she’d just read a couple of books on conquering phobias and losing weight.
The effectiveness of hypnotherapy is still being debated. There haven’t really been any large-scale, double-blind, clinical tests that have proven its effectiveness. That’s why it is still considered an “alternative therapy”, so most legitimate medical professionals will advise against it as quackery. And most medical insurance won’t cover it.
One of the problems is that it’s quite easy for someone to take a course in it—particularly if it involves using some sort of device, like lasers and/or subliminal sounds—then open their own very lucrative “clinic”. So, before you try this route, do some VERY thorough research on any hypnotherapist or clinic you’re thinking of trying. Thoroughly research their methods and effectiveness, and ask your psychiatrist and doctor for their opinions on it, before you put your trust—and hundreds or thousands of dollars—into hypnosis.
But you could try a little hypnosis technique yourself, and it won’t cost you a cent.
Meditation is a form of self-hypnosis, because it can help you to relax and achieve the calmness you need to think clearly. The technique is essentially the same as a hypnotist would talk you through to get you into the deeply relaxed state when you’d be open to hypnotic suggestion.
Sit in a very quiet, dimly lit room; close your eyes, and inhale slowly and very deeply. Exhale, very, very slowly. Focus only on your breathing. Don’t let your mind wander or dart all over the place. (Yes, I know this is very hard for someone with ADD.) Think only of your breathing. After a while, you will feel much calmer. Once you’re in this state, focus on the specific thing you want to achieve—such as changing a bad habit—and the steps you need to take to do it. Visualize yourself doing it. Concentrate. Keep breathing deeply. Gradually bring yourself back to reality, so you can get on with your day (unless you’re doing this at bedtime, in which case, use the technique to relax yourself off to sleep). But try to keep as much of the calmness and focus as you can, as you go about the rest of your day.
If you do this enough, so it becomes a habit, it really will help you. And it won’t cost you a penny!
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