Establishing the difference between habits and addictions is an ongoing debate. Still, it is possible to tell the two apart based on the intensity of both and the effects they have. A habit, on one hand, is a behavior pattern that you may have developed such as leaving the door unlocked when you get home or watching TV at a set time.
On the other hand, addiction is a sinisterly intense form of a habit. When you are addicted to something, it becomes impossible for you to stay away from that thing. You can take the very common example of smoking for instance. People who are addicted to smoking do not feel satisfied until they’ve had a smoke. They could probably make it through the day without eating but it seems impossible to survive if they don’t smoke.
Addiction is a very scary phenomenon because the addict himself is incapable of stopping despite knowing the dangers of their addiction not only to themselves but also others around them. Alcohol addicts are aware of the fact that excessive booze will eventually deteriorate their health or even kill them but they still consume alcohol because the behavior pattern is just too strong.
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How Does it Affect You?
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In an article published by the National Institute of Drug Abuse, the short term and long term effects of addictions are mentioned. According to the article, the short term effects are change in appetite, mood and heart rate.
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The long-term effects of addiction are cancer, mental illness and even cardiovascular disease. If you are a smoker, the likelihood of you becoming sick later in life increases greatly. If you drink, the same also applies. But these are only the physical repercussions of certain addictions.
In fact, the truth is that an addiction can also affect you emotionally and can destroy your relationships. Addiction to certain things make you irritable and even aggressive if you do not get it. Many alcohol addicts end up losing their families and friends. Those addicted to porn become highly susceptible to destroying their personal and social lives while others addicted to the internet face the possibility of bringing ruin upon themselves given the fact that they cannot time manage anymore. This alone can isolate them in their personal, social, academic and professional lives.
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Sometimes, it is not the thing you are addicted to that causes problems but the aftereffects of that thing. This can be clearly seen in the case of alcoholism. The aftereffects of alcohol on your mood, behavior and words can ruin your relationship with anyone around you and can end up alienating you.
In some cases, addiction can also end up costing your financially. If you are addicted to gambling, there is a very real chance that one day you may end up broke. Or even being addicted to shopping unrealistically can leave you financially impaired.
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Some Common Addictions
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While you can get addicted to many things, especially intoxicants, there are a few common addictions that are commonly observed.
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Addiction to gambling
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Tobacco
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Drugs
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Risky behavior
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Sex
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Internet
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Cell phone
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Work
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Video games
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Shopping
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How Can Hypnotherapy Help?
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A study published in the Quarterly Journal on Studies of Alcohol involved a study group of 40 alcoholics who underwent hypnotic treatment for a period of six weeks. The study showed that hypnotherapy could not be used as an alternative to current methods of treatment.
However, another study published in the journal Addictive Behaviors showed that hypnotherapy can actually be used to give more self-control which is something that can be used to treat addiction. The study showed that hypnosis may help improve the existing treatment for addiction.
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There was also a study conducted by German scientists that further supported this view. Their study showed that the rate of success in addiction treatment improved from 37 to 64% when hypnosis was involved. Hypnotherapy is more effective than just conventional treatment alone for addiction.
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Helping the Subconscious
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When you are in a state of hypnosis, your body is much calmer and you can think freely. Your hypnotherapist will help you see the wrong in your addiction and you will be able to develop more self-control. This is very important in dealing with addictions because if you can control yourself, you can treat your own addiction.
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Hypnotherapy also gives you the chance to see that you are harming yourself and those around you. When you approach the matter with a more rational subconscious, you can deal with it in a better way. Although more research needs to be done on the subject, it is suggested that if conventional treatment is coupled with hypnosis, the results will be better and quicker.
To seek help with overcoming additions, give us a call at Westside Hypnotherapy in Los Angeles. We offer hypnosis services for a number of behaviors and conditions that can help you readjust your habits or addictions.