Hypnotherapy for changing habits, including nail biting, hair pulling (trichotillomania), skin picking, thumb sucking

Habits are quite remarkable mechanisms created by our brains, so that we don't have to think through our response in every instance: we can just act.

Habits are built in the subconscious, based on what we see important people do, or actions of our own that have helped us when we feel anxious, bored or uncomfortable. The habit (eg biting your nails, pulling your hair, picking your skin, sucking your thumb) becomes ingrained as an automatic, subconscious response through longstanding repetition.

The challenge occurs where a habit has negative consequences (eg nail infections, bald patches, skin scarring, reduced self-confidence, limitations on relationships and experiences). It then needs to be changed to something more positive, and this is where the unconscious nature of habitual response is the key to change.

Hypnotherapy can help you replace the old, negative behaviour with a new, positive habit that still meets the original need. For example, instead of biting your nails to relieve anxiety or boredom, you change the habit content to focussing on your breathing in very short relaxation sessions throughout the day.

How hypnotherapy can help you change your habits, including nail biting, hair pulling (trichotillomania), skin picking, thumb sucking

In the deeply relaxed hypnotic state, the subconscious becomes accessible and receptive to suggestions for change. And because habits have their origin, creation and location in the subconscious, hypnotherapy's ability to access and influence the subconscious makes it a very effective way to change negative habits to something positive and healthy.

Using hypnotherapy to change habits can help you:

• identify trigger situations and people, and create and rehearse new, personalised responses
• safely and easily identify and work with the original event/cause, if there is one
• handle any withdrawal symptoms calmly
• use self-hypnosis as a direct substitute for the habit
• think about the habit less, so it's out of sight, out of mind
• increase your calm, confidence and relaxation, so the need for the habit is reduced

For more about how hypnotherapy can help you change specific habits, see the links below:

• nail biting
• hair pulling (trichotillomania)
• skin picking
• thumb sucking

For more information on hypnotherapy for changing habits, including nail biting, hair pulling (trichotillomania), skin picking and thumb sucking, or to book an appointment, contact Sian on 07725 732810 or email.