We often have questions from people about hypnotherapy for trichotillomania, wondering does hypnosis work for hair pulling? In answer to this, we are pleased to provide this guest post on:
Treating hair pulling with hypnotherapy
We are pleased to have Rachael Eccles, well-known hypnotherapist and the creator of the hypnosis segment of our Trich Stop program give us more information and tell us does hypnosis work for hair pulling and how hypnotherapy works in dealing with obsessive compulsive disorders such as hair or eyelash pulling. We firmly believe in the benefits for methods such as hypnosis in treating Trich, but before meeting Rachael we often wondered:
‘How exactly does hypnotherapy for trichotillomania work?’
Habits and compulsions like hair pulling tend to become automated behaviors where you consciously switch off to varying degrees and go into a kind of daydream. Thus the hair pulling or eyelash pulling becomes a deeply embedded in the subconscious. It becomes automatic. So managing a hair pulling habit through willpower becomes almost impossible because it is automated in the subconscious.
With hypnosis you go into a deep state, just like daydreaming and you grow deeply peaceful. The subconscious mind is very open to new thoughts and information when in this relaxed state, so suggestions can be introduced to the subconscious that promote change to stop the hair pulling habits you want to be free from. New ideas can be given, substituting old habits of hair and eyelash pulling with new ones.
Change happens, often very rapidly, and with little effort. And through frequent use of hypnosis you can effect permanent change in your hair and eyelash pulling habits. With hypnotherapy it is always important to consciously want to achieve the goal you have in mind, so focusing on the benefits of this change consciously can help a great deal too.
Rachael developed her self-hypnosis for hair pullers from her experience in helping individuals in hypnotherapy sessions in her clinical practice of hypnosis. She found that most pullers needed repeated sessions, mainly because they had been pulling for such a long time that their habit had become part of their identity.
“Beginning to see the hair pulling as part of them, coming to terms with it and managing it was an essential part of treatment.”
Her clients benefited greatly from repeated hypnosis, and the techniques used to surmount this stressful and confidence destroying condition.
“I have seen people change over a relatively short period of time, but the wisest were never complacent, always aware that they are an ex-puller and therefore potentially vulnerable to relapses at times of stress.”
Knowing yourself and knowing your weaknesses puts you in the position of power, so you recognize when you need to take a step back. Conscious awareness through understanding the condition and your triggers, and subconscious change through self-hypnosis, I believe that these approaches combined will work for most trichotillomania sufferers.
So, does hypnotherapy for trichotillomania work for hair pulling?
We give it a thumbs up. In any case, from the feedback we’ve received, hypnosis is a powerful tool in hair and eyelash pulling treatments. Interested in trying? You can do a form of auto self hypnosis using the step by step process as discussed in the Trich Stop Manual. Or you can use a prepared audio recording like Rachael Eccles’ Hypnosis for Hair Pulling CD.
Ms Eccles specializes in hypnosis with over 15 years experience in aiding individuals improve their life. She is an NLP expert and a trained clinical hypnotherapist. With a Senior Qualification in Hypnotherapy Practice from the General Hypnotherapy Standards Council, Rachael is often asked to speak and has been featured on radio and many magazines. For more information about Rachael you will find her at: www.advancedhypnosis.org.uk
