Are you struggling to stop drinking, binge drinking, or relying on alcohol to cope?
How hypnotherapy can help you stop drinking
Hypnotherapy can help you reduce or stop drinking by working directly with the subconscious patterns that drive alcohol use. Many clients find that their drinking is linked to stress, anxiety or long standing habits, and hypnotherapy offers a practical way to change these patterns from the inside out. It is particularly helpful if you feel your drinking has crept up over time or you rely on alcohol to manage difficult feelings.
If you are worried about binge drinking, slipping into dependence, or simply want to regain control, hypnotherapy gives you the space and support to make lasting change. Sessions are tailored to your goals and can help whether you want to cut down or stop entirely.
Hypnotherapy may help you:
Interrupt automatic urges and routines around alcohol.
Reduce binge drinking by addressing emotional and situational triggers.
Change long standing patterns linked to stress, anxiety or low confidence.
Build healthier coping strategies that do not rely on willpower alone.
You’re not alone, and you don’t have to go it alone either. Hypnotherapy is a proven, supportive method for helping people reduce their alcohol intake, address the root causes of drinking, and create lasting change. Whether you’re looking to cut back or stop entirely, this article explores how hypnotherapy can help.
Whether you enjoy a celebratory glass of bubbly to mark an important occasion, or a pint of beer after a long day at work, there are varying levels to which drinking alcohol plays a part in many people’s lives. For some, it is easy for a dependance on alcohol to become out of hand, and there are certain points at which we might perceive that our enjoyment of or dependence upon alcohol has started to become unhealthy. It is at this point where alcohol use may start to be considered ‘alcohol abuse’.
The extreme end of this is alcoholism, which is classed a chronic substance abuse disorder, and requires long term specialist treatment. This extreme form of alcohol abuse can have a chronic effect on health and lifestyle. If you are concerned that you or someone you know is suffering from alcoholism, you should always consult a medical professional. It is important that those suffering from alcoholism receive appropriate support and treatment.
But it is not only those suffering from alcoholism whose relationship with drinking can be unhealthy. Many people drink alcohol to help them deal with other issues such as anxiety and stress, which can result in an unhealthy dependence on drinking and a tendency to avoid dealing with the core issues that are bothering them. This can result in unhealthy patterns of drinking such as binge drinking, when large amounts of alcohol are consumed in a short amount of time.
Why Consider Cutting Down on Alcohol?
Drinking too much alcohol can have negative effects in terms of health and wellbeing, often resulting in heavy drinkers feeling tired and sluggish throughout the day and having a lowered immune system. This can greatly impact on productivity at work and many find this also has an effect on their quality of life and relationships to other people. Many feel that they wish that they could cut down their alcohol intake in order to improve these aspects of their lives. Constant hangovers can become a feature of a heavy drinker’s life, as well as weight gain, as many alcoholic drinks are high in calories. Some find that excessive drinking can blur the memory of special occasions, and can even detract from the ability to fully enjoy a social experience in the moment. Drinking to excess can also be an expensive habit, and many clients come to me hoping to change their drinking habits in order to gain greater control over their finances! Above all, if alcohol is being used to cover up a deeper issue, then seeking to reduce your alcohol intake with a method such as hypnotherapy can end up having far-reaching effects throughout your life and can really change your health and habits for good.
How Hypnotherapy Helps with Alcohol Dependence
For those who drink alcohol to numb or cover up issues such as anxiety and stress, using hypnotherapy as a treatment has shown to work very well. In some cases, it is recommended to use this therapy in conjunction with other medical support.
Regression hypnotherapy allows subjects to revisit and reframe memories from early childhood that might be at the root of problems they are facing in their adult lives. Events in our early lives can have a huge effect on the way we function as adults. Being able to manage the memories we have stored of these events in a positive way can go a long way to helping to change how we feel as adults.
What Happens in a Hypnotherapy Session for Drinking?
When I work with clients to achieve this, I will always discuss specific goals with the client, to find out how much they are currently drinking and what their particular patterns and habits are, as well as their aims for cutting down on alcohol; whether they want to stop drinking entirely or to simply reduce their alcohol intake. I then place the client into a relaxed state and use various methods and techniques tailored to the individual which will help them to achieve their goal.
Why People Choose Hypnotherapy Over Other Methods
There are a variety of commonly accepted methods for helping cut down (or cut out) alcohol. Many choose to attend support groups or try to simply use will power to go ‘cold turkey’. Setting yourself strict rules can often be very difficult if you do not have sufficient support and guidance, and for those whose alcohol use is linked to other issues in their lives, trying to give up alcohol without addressing the root problems themselves can end up feeling like an impossible task. That’s why many people turn to hypnotherapy for confidence and self-esteem, especially if alcohol is masking low self-worth.
For many this simply does not work. Many make the choice to have hypnotherapy as they feel this will be an easier and less effortful way of combating their issue with alcohol, and while it is not always easy to deal with deep-seated issues that are at the root of your problems with drinking, hypnotherapy places you in a relaxed and comfortable state where you can manage certain memories and issues in a safe and secure way.
Does Hypnotherapy Work for Binge Drinking?
A study carried out in Oslo in 2018 measured that hypnotherapy is effective at helping with a long-term decrease in alcohol consumption. The study also found hypnotherapy to be more effective as a method than motivational interview therapy (another widely accepted form of treatment for cutting down on excessive drinking).
Source: https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/effect-of-hypnotherapy-in-alcohol-use-disorder-compared-to-motivational-interviewing-a-randomised-controlled-trial-2155-6105-1000368-105546.html
If you feel you have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, and would like to improve your health and lifestyle, consider hypnotherapy as a treatment, and get in touch with me for an initial consultation!
FAQs About Hypnotherapy for Drinking
Q: Can hypnotherapy help me stop binge drinking?
Yes, hypnotherapy can help reduce or stop binge drinking by working with the subconscious patterns that drive urges and habits. Many people binge drink because of stress, anxiety or learned emotional triggers, and hypnotherapy helps you interrupt these automatic responses. Sessions allow you to feel more in control, make clearer choices and develop healthier coping strategies.
Q: Is hypnotherapy effective for alcohol dependence?
Hypnotherapy can support people who feel they are slipping into dependence or relying on alcohol to cope. It helps you understand and change the emotional and behavioural patterns that sit behind drinking. If you are concerned about severe alcohol dependence or alcoholism, medical supervision should always be part of your plan, but hypnotherapy can work alongside this to support long-term change.
Q: Can hypnotherapy help me reduce my drinking rather than stop completely?
Yes, hypnotherapy works just as well for people who want to cut down rather than stop entirely. Sessions can help you set realistic goals, break automatic routines around drinking and create new habits that feel easier to maintain. Many clients use hypnotherapy to regain control without feeling restricted or ashamed.
Q: How many sessions will I need?
This varies from person to person. Some notice a shift after one or two sessions, while others prefer a series of sessions to address deeper patterns linked to stress, anxiety or confidence. You will discuss your drinking patterns and goals at the start so the work can be tailored to you.
Q: Will I stay in control during hypnotherapy?
Yes. Hypnosis is simply a relaxed, focused state where you are fully aware of what is happening. You are in control throughout the session and cannot be made to do anything you do not want to do. The aim is to help you feel calmer and more able to make clearer choices about alcohol.
Q: Can hypnotherapy help if I drink to cope with stress or anxiety?
Yes, this is one of the most common reasons people seek hypnotherapy for alcohol issues. Sessions help you understand the feelings that sit behind drinking and work with them directly. Many people find they drink less once they have healthier and more supportive ways of managing stress or difficult emotions.
Q: Does hypnotherapy work for alcoholism?
Hypnotherapy can be helpful for some people with alcohol use disorder, but severe alcoholism always requires medical advice and appropriate treatment. Hypnotherapy can support recovery by helping you change underlying patterns, strengthen motivation and address emotional triggers, but it is never a replacement for medical care.
Q: Are sessions available online if I am not in London?
Yes. David works online with clients across the UK and internationally. Online hypnotherapy is just as effective for alcohol reduction and binge drinking work and is often more convenient for clients who want discreet, flexible support.