Does Hypnotherapy For Alcohol Addiction Work?

Alcohol addictions are difficult to manage, but with the right support and treatment, you can get through it!

Although you may feel isolated you are not alone and alcohol dependence affects around 602,391 people across the UK.

Hypnotherapy has become popular amongst people struggling with alcohol addiction. But does it work?

In today's blog post, we will discuss all there is to know about hypnotherapy for alcohol addiction, and what other treatments you can try to overcome your addiction.

What Is Hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is a type of therapy that uses hypnosis to help guide people in the right direction. When you are hypnotised, you are more relaxed and open to ideas. 

It works by a therapist helping you to feel deeply relaxed, almost like a daydream, but you are calm and focused.

In this state, your mind is more open to suggestions and new ways of thinking. The therapist is then able to guide you to change behaviours and overcome habits, such as alcohol addiction.

Does Hypnotherapy Work?

Alongside a treatment plan, hypnotherapy can be a great way to help alcohol addicts overcome their addiction. 

Hypnotherapy alone won't cure your addiction, but studies have shown that those who received hypnotherapy for their addiction, had a higher chance at remaining sober than those who didn't.

However, research is limited on the matter and there is not enough information to prove that hypnotherapy and treatment work better than treatment alone.

What is Hypnotherapy Used For?

Hypnotherapy isn't just used as an additional treatment towards overcoming alcohol addiction, it can also help people who struggle with a range of medical and physical health problems, along with also being able to treat habits.

Such as,

Smoking- hypnotherapy can help those who are struggling to stop smoking by addressing the psychological factors associated with the addiction.

Stress and Anxiety- hypnotherapy can be used to treat those with stress and anxiety by teaching relaxation techniques and helping people implement these techniques into their daily lives.

Which can help if you are suffering from stress and anxiety during your alcohol withdrawal.

Boosting confidence and self-esteem- hypnotherapy has been known to help people develop a more positive self-image by boosting their confidence and self-esteem. 

Overall hypnotherapy is a great way to help you overcome your addiction and your withdrawal symptoms. The therapy techniques are known to provide a lot of benefits that will help you towards a stable and long-lasting recovery.

Alcohol Addiction Treatments 

There are many ways that you can recover from an alcohol addiction - let's take a look into some of your options:

Inpatient Rehab 

If you attend inpatient rehab, you will live there until you are better. You’ll receive 24-hour care and have a tailored plan that works for you.

However, inpatient rehab is expensive and not a suitable option for everybody. It is best suited to those with a serious alcohol problem, who need support from medical professionals during the withdrawal process.

Outpatient Rehab

With outpatient rehab, you stay at home, but you have to attend daily checkups and support sessions. To make sure that you are staying on track.

This is a good option if you have daily commitments as you will still be able to attend those, whilst also staying on top of your recovery journey.

Support Groups

Attending AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) can help you to hold yourself accountable, by being around other people who are trying to recover from the same addiction. This is a great option if you are a recovered alcoholic trying to maintain sobriety.

At Home Rehab

At-home rehab is where you will be at home during your rehab and recover from your home. You will be able to utilise your support system whenever you need it and attend daily group sessions.

You will have regular sessions with an addiction specialist to talk about how you are coping and they will also create a tailored plan to suit you and your individual needs.

Hypnotherapy can work really well alongside at-home rehab, as it can help you to feel more empowered during your recovery journey and also help you to stay sober in the long run.

Withdrawing from Alcohol

Withdrawing from alcohol can be a challenge, and the symptoms can make recovery feel unbearable. There are ways that you can manage your symptoms and medications that a health professional can prescribe you. 

Some of the withdrawal symptoms you may experience when recovering from alcohol dependence include,

• Anxiety
• Shakiness (tremors)
• Sweating
• Nausea and vomiting
• Headache
• Insomnia
• Loss of appetite
• Increased heart rate
• Fever
• Mental confusion
• Irritability

The first few days of withdrawal are the most difficult and these will be the days where your symptoms are the most unbearable. As time goes, on your symptoms will start to become less strong and you will be able to cope a lot easier.

After 7 days, your symptoms will peak. Finding ways to manage your symptoms throughout your recovery will make it a lot easier. Here are some ways you can manage:

Eat a Healthy Balanced Diet and Stay Active

Fueling your body with all of the essential nutrients it needs, staying hydrated and moving your body more will help towards alleviating the severity of some of your symptoms.

When you exercise you will feel more energised throughout the day which will put you in a better mood and also help you to sleep better at night. Your body releases endorphins when you exercise which will help you to feel happier and healthier.

Staying hydrated will also help to ease headaches and body aches and make you feel focused. Eating a balanced diet of proteins, carbohydrates and healthy fats will heal your immune system and make your body feel good.

Keep Yourself Busy

Starting a new hobby or having a daily routine will keep you busy throughout the day and help to keep your mind off cravings and symptoms.

It will also lift your mood as you are doing something new that you enjoy where you can meet new people and start to get back to being yourself again.

Have a Strong Support System

Talking to family and friends about your symptoms will help you to hold yourself accountable and motivate you along your journey.

They will be there for you if you feel you are feeling overwhelmed or have intense cravings. Talking to a therapist or engaging in hypnotherapy will also help you to talk deeply about your feelings and have professional guidance on how to cope.

Disulfiram

Disulfiram is a medication prescribed to alcoholic patients, and it is designed to leave you with a variety of unpleasant side effects if you drink alcohol. 

Some of the side effects include,

• Nausea and vomiting
• Headache
• Flushing
• Sweating
• Rapid heartbeat 
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness

This will deter alcoholics from using alcohol during their recovery and keep them sober.

There are a few things to consider with this medication, for example, you must continue to use it as prescribed and if you miss a dose it can lead to the medication becoming less effective.

You must also remember that Disulfiram shouldn't be used on its own and should be used in conjunction with therapy, support groups and hypnotherapy. As it doesn't help with the psychological effects addiction has.

At Home Rehab With Rehubs

The world is adapting to technology, and you can access almost everything with the click of a button. So why shouldn't rehab be the same?

Here at Rehubs, we offer at-home rehab programmes, where you can recover from your addiction in the comfort and safety of your own home.

You will have access to a support network where you can keep track of your recovery daily, as well as a support chat where you can talk to others in recovery and hold each other accountable.

If you want to implement more techniques into your recovery routine then you should consider hypnotherapy, it is a great way to help you to feel relaxed along your recovery journey and push you to achieve your goals.

Start your journey today with Rehubs, and have a lifetime of abstinence.