Hypnotherapy and Alcohol: 

How to Reduce your Drink Intake

When you think of alcohol, the first thing that comes to mind is probably its ability to relax us and make us feel good. Indeed, drinking alcohol in small quantities has undeniable benefits for our physical and mental health, as well as for our social life. But there is a darker side to alcohol consumption too. Many people develop an unhealthy relationship with alcohol that can ultimately lead to self-destructive habits such as binge drinking and other deleterious effects on the body. A range of studies have revealed that drinking alcohol regularly may lead to numerous negative effects on almost every organ in the human body. It increases blood pressure and the risk of developing high blood pressure; it also has an impact on your liver function and predisposes you to type 2 diabetes and several types of cancer. Moreover, some individuals struggle with alcohol or find it difficult to control their drinking habits. If you are one of them or simply want to reduce your drinking habit, consider trying hypnotherapy as a way of managing your cravings and reducing the quantity of alcohol you consume when you drink.

What is Hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is a type of therapy that uses hypnosis to help people make positive changes in their lives. Hypnosis is a state of heightened focus and attention that allows you to access your subconscious mind. This is the part of your mind that stores your memories, emotions, and automatic responses to certain situations. It can help reduce cravings and make it easier to stop drinking alcohol. During hypnosis, a therapist talks to you calmly and gently, directing your attention away from your thoughts about daily life and directing it to your inner imagery. Hypnotherapy begins with a gradual induction. You'll be guided into a state of relaxation as you're asked to focus on breathing deeply and letting go of tension in your muscles. Along with relaxation, your therapist may suggest that you imagine pleasant scenes or experiences that create positive emotions. While hypnosis is often thought of as an altered state of consciousness, it is more helpful to think of it as a heightened state of concentration and focus. You're awake and aware of your surroundings, but you've reduced your tendency to be distracted by random thoughts and feelings. You may feel relaxed and focused, but you're not asleep.

How Does Hypnotherapy Help With Alcohol Issues?

Studies have found that hypnotherapy can be an effective tool for reducing alcohol cravings and the desire to drink. These benefits stem from the ability of hypnosis to help individuals gain better insight into their relationship with alcohol. You can create a positive relationship with alcohol by knowing your limits when it comes to drinking and being conscious of what alcohol can and cannot do for your health. You can also develop a greater understanding of the triggers that make you want to drink as well as the motivations behind your alcohol-related habits. Once you gain awareness of your drinking habits, you can start working on ways of reducing your alcohol intake and negative alcohol-related behaviours such as binge drinking.

Strategies to Reduce Drinking with Hypnotherapy

Cognitive therapy: This strategy involves challenging the negative thoughts associated with alcohol that make you want to drink. When you want to drink, try and discover what thoughts or emotions are driving this desire and replace them with more positive thoughts.

Visualisation: This is another way of challenging the negative thoughts associated with drinking. Visualising yourself in a situation where you are not drinking alcohol and not feeling anxious or depressed can help you break the cycle of negative thoughts that lead to over drinking.

Breaking the cycle: If you have a negative habit or addiction, you often feel the need to perform that action. When you feel the desire to drink, try and do something different. You might not stop the desire to drink immediately, but with time and practice, you can break the cycle of habits that drive you to drink.

Bottom line

If you have an alcohol issues you need to seek help from a professional. If you simply want to reduce your drinking habits, hypnotherapy can be an effective tool. It can help you gain a greater understanding of your relationship with alcohol and reduce the desire to drink.

30 October 2022