Hypnosis?

[hopefulmonster]

Has anyone tried this? I doubt very much it's available on the NHS so I'm reluctant to pay for something that could be a complete waste of time. I don't know how open I would be to being hypnotised, or even if it worked how well it would help my phobia. If anyone has tried this I'd love to know how it went.

[ann32]

ive tried hypnosis, not emet related, well it was going to lead there, but just for normal therapy. I dont think I got hypnotized either time i tried, but I was very relaxed...

[Kyra]

I've been curious about this too. I have read that sometimes emet is caused my a "traumatic" childhood event that gets buried and when they come across the memory through hypnosis it helps to rationalize the fear. I'm not sure if that's entirely true, but I read it somewhere and it makes a fair bit of sense.

[x...RaChE...x]

I thought it looked pretty good and straightforward when I first heard of it, but Ive also her hypnotherapy is a con... but it doesnt hurt to try I guess and no I havent tryed it and Im guessing it costs quite a bit

[afraidnp]

I've recently had 5 sessions... i have also tried CBT but freaked over the exposure and got scared to go back... the hypnotherapy i believe must be administered by a qualified Psychologist, not some who has just taught themselves or done a course... the mind is a powerful thing and i do believe its not something to be messed with when you are not qualified.... wouldnt you agree?
the hypnotherapy did really help me but was temporary... it helped relieve the anxious nausea and i was at a dangerously low weight from lack of eating so it helped me increase my food intake with less anxiety.... so in saying that my answer is that it is effective but in my personal opinion not the answer....
From all i've read (I'm doing Psychology at university, seeing a clinical psych and another clinical psych for hypnotherapy and have done a fair amount of research on phobias in general) I think the proper therapy with lasting results is CBT with very gradual exposure , using relaxation techniques...
Its all about starting to change the path of thinking that refers the V* as something terrible wrong and horrifying... you then must train the mind to see it us uncomfortable and undesirable but acceptable... the calmer you stay with each exposure with each trauma and experience to do with V* the weaker the phobia becomes...
If you compare, and think why arent we terrified of coughing... sneezing... having a sore throat.... or a fever... the flu is an uncomfortable illness but it is one we can accept... we must work to change our thought pattern... if not then the fix will be temporary...
Reading about v* I believe can be your first step... learning about our disorder...
its terrifying to me... but i am trying to work on it because i cant stay in this way of thinking....
P.S yes often the phobia is triggered by a trauma from when we were very young but identifying this wont fix it.... it may help you understand but it has no affect over the strength of the fear... i know because i found out through hypnotherapy where my fear came from and it didnt help....

[sage]

- an excellent response, afraidnp!

[asianeko]

I went through Hypnotherapy, and I love it. Do I recommend it? Yes and no. It doesn't work for everybody. You can't go in expecting hypnosis to be something it's not. You will remember everything, and you will be very relaxed. You won't get woozy, and he can't make you do anything or desire anything against your will.

Your therapist will use a soothing voice and rhythm to lull you into a relaxed state. It's very similar to that super relaxed, carefree state you're in right before you fall asleep. Your conscious mind takes a backseat while your subconscious mind moves forward. Depending on your hypnotherapist, he or she may have you recall events, or just suggest to you that you are no longer afraid of V. My hypnotherapist didn't have me recall anything, and the only thing I can see bothering some people would be he used the full word V.

My hypnotherapist gave me a recording of my last session, so if my emet flared up again I could self hypnotize and get back on track. My "homework" was to listen to it for a few days after my last session.

I went from being scared every day, crying and screaming and running away when I saw it on TV or in a film, etc. to being calm around the idea. I had a SV a few months later, and was completely OK. I didn't have fun, but who does? I didn't cry or shake, or have any panic attacks.

If you aren't sure how you feel about hypnotherapy, consider listening to some self hypnosis tracks. I fall asleep every night to various tracks by a gentleman called Andrew Johnson. His voice is very soothing, and super relaxing. He has a free app called Relax for the iPod and iPhone. I believe you can also access this (or buy his other MP3s) on his website: http://www.andrewjohnson.co.uk/

If you have any more questions let me know I know some people have had horrid hypnotherapy experiences, but mine was amazing, and I'm so glad I did it.

[Leigh6870]

I did 3 or 4 sessions with a hypnotherapist (not psychologist) and found that it helped me a little bit. Basically she showed me EFT (which are these tapping points on the body that somehow recharge your electrical system or something...you can find it on the web) and then there are always "sayings" that go with it. I found that it slightly helped me, but I already knew where the trauma occured in my life. From there it led to other "issues" coming up and when my emetophobia was semi under control, it led to other fears coming up (i.e. afraid to have to go #2 when there is no restroom nearby), etc.

I've now made an appointment with a psychologist who has treated other phobias, but not mine. I'm thinking that CBT is the main way to treat all kinds of phobias. I can't find ANY specialists for emetophobia in the Dallas, TX area but if you know of one, let me know! =)

[teh folder]

I would never let anyone hypnotize me.

[asianeko]

I would never let anyone hypnotize me.

Why not? It's very relaxing. It's not like on TV where they have control over you or anything like that, it's just like having a conversation while daydreaming.

[teh folder]

Why not? It's very relaxing. It's not like on TV where they have control over you or anything like that, it's just like having a conversation while daydreaming.

Oh... Ya my image of being hypnotized is having a person re-program my mind. I just don't trust people changing my personality.
If it is not like that than I wouldn't mind.

[asianeko]

Oh... Ya my image of being hypnotized is having a person re-program my mind. I just don't trust people changing my personality.
If it is not like that than I wouldn't mind.

Yeah, it's nothing like that at all, it's all stereotypes. A hypnotist can't make you do anything against your will, or feel anything you are completely against. You need to be willing and open for it to work and happen.

I think that's why many (Though not all!) emets find hypnotherapy useless, to be honest. You need to be open to every idea the therapist suggests. Mine didn't have me recall events or anything traumatic, he just gave me mental imagery to clear my mind and memories of all fear and panic associated with V. I didn't have anything to object to, so it worked fine. However, if I was frightened of what I may discover, or scared that he may try to make me V (even though he CAN'T) it wouldn't have worked.

[abbi]

I haven't tried it. It can't hurt to...

[katielou1005]

I did 3 or 4 sessions with a hypnotherapist (not psychologist) and found that it helped me a little bit. Basically she showed me EFT (which are these tapping points on the body that somehow recharge your electrical system or something...you can find it on the web) and then there are always "sayings" that go with it. I found that it slightly helped me, but I already knew where the trauma occured in my life. From there it led to other "issues" coming up and when my emetophobia was semi under control, it led to other fears coming up (i.e. afraid to have to go #2 when there is no restroom nearby), etc.

I've now made an appointment with a psychologist who has treated other phobias, but not mine. I'm thinking that CBT is the main way to treat all kinds of phobias. I can't find ANY specialists for emetophobia in the Dallas, TX area but if you know of one, let me know! =)

I see a great therapist in Dallas. Her name is Ann Dunnewold. Look her up on google. She has a website. I tried those tapping things too and it didn't help me. Ann's helping to desensitize me to v*. I really like her a lot.

[sage]

Cool. I'll add her to the list of recommended therapists. Thanks!

[asianeko]

I didn't realise we had a list! Bob Roberts was amazing for me.

[emmalinda]

yer ya still awake during the whole experience. its not like you fall asleep then wake up acting like a chicken or something. its pretty much the feeling right beofre you go to sleep except you dont go to sleep. its soothing and nice but im not sure it completely worked for me. but i only went to one session. they are very expensive.

[BiggerPicture]

I had 2 sessions, each with different people. It cost £45 a session and although it focussed my positive mind, as soon as i had a bad experience, then the phobic anxiety all came flooding back. I do wish i could have had more sessions but it was too expensive. I have been reading about 'pure hypno-analysis' (google it) and would love to give it a go, but there are no registred therapists in my area, and its expensive! Im perservering with CBT at the moment. I would say, give hypnotherapy a try, if it works it may be the best £45 you have ever spent!

[asianeko]

The therapist I went to charges $75 a session, or $150 for a trio. It only took him 3 sessions to get me where I am now, so $50 each isn't bad at all. He may still be doing skype and phone sessions as well, though he is based in Columbus, Ohio. His name is Bob Roberts

[hopefulmonster]

I found some hypnosis mp3 tracks and had a listen but didn't feel any different in all honesty. I'm one of those people who is always uptight and full of nervous energy, I'm very rarely relaxed, so I'm starting to doubt it would even work for me tbh.
Thanks for all the replies everyone <3