Running on ‘auto-pilot’.
Have you ever found yourself doing something almost automatically — even though you’ve decided countless times that you want to stop? Perhaps it’s reaching for a cigarette when you feel stressed, snacking when you’re not hungry, biting your nails, procrastinating, or falling into the same unhelpful pattern whenever life becomes difficult. You may even have told yourself:
“I know I want to change. So why do I keep doing this? – The answer may have less to do with willpower than you think.
Why are some habits so difficult to break?
Habits can become deeply ingrained because the brain learns to associate a particular situation, feeling or thought with a specific response and over time, the process can become almost automatic.
Trigger → Urge → Behaviour → Temporary relief or reward
For example, you might have a stressful day, experience an urge to eat something sweet, reach for the food and then feel a temporary sense of comfort and the brain learns from this experience. Eventually, the behaviour can become your automatic response to that particular trigger — even when you’re consciously trying to change it. This is one reason simply telling yourself “I must stop doing this” doesn’t always work.
Is it really about willpower?
Willpower can certainly play a role in changing behaviour, but relying on willpower alone can be exhausting. If a habit has been repeated hundreds or thousands of times, your conscious decision to stop may be competing with an established pattern that your brain has learned over time. This doesn’t mean you’re weak or lacking discipline – it just means your behaviour has become familiar. And ultimately – what the brain has learned, it can potentially learn differently.
Where does hypnotherapy come in?
Hypnotherapy uses hypnosis alongside therapeutic techniques to help people explore and change thoughts, feelings, associations and behavioural patterns. During Hypnotherapy, you remain aware and in control. Contrary to some popular belief – you don’t lose control of yourself. Hypnotherapy is commonly described as a state of focused attention and increased relaxation, during which you may be more receptive to therapeutic suggestions. A hypnotherapy session will provide an opportunity to look at the habit differently and begin developing new responses to the triggers that have previously driven it.
Changing the pattern rather than simply fighting the urge
One of the interesting things about habits is that the behaviour itself isn’t always the whole story. Consider someone who automatically reaches for a cigarette whenever they’re under pressure. The cigarette may have become associated with:
- taking a break
- calming down
- feeling in control
- escaping from stress
- having something familiar to do
If you simply remove the behaviour without addressing the underlying associations, the person may feel as though something is missing. Hypnotherapy can be used to help explore these associations and develop healthier ways of responding. The aim isn’t necessarily to spend every day fighting an urge, it’s about changing the relationship with the habit.
Can a habit you’ve had for years really change?
Yes, change is possible! Everyone is different, and the number of sessions someone may need depends on the individual, the behaviour and how long the pattern has been established. Most people notice changes after the first session and each session after this. The important thing is that having had a habit for years doesn’t automatically mean you’re stuck with it forever. Your brain is capable of learning and learning quickly throughout life.
What if you’ve tried everything before?
This is something many people say before beginning therapy, previous attempts don’t necessarily mean you’ve failed. In fact, they can tell you something valuable about the habit. You may already know:
- what triggers it
- when you’re most vulnerable to it
- what emotions are connected to it
- what situations make it harder to resist
- what has and hasn’t worked for you previously
Understanding these patterns can be an important part of creating a different approach.
Hypnotherapy isn’t about giving up control
One of the biggest misconceptions about hypnosis is that someone else takes control of your mind. That’s not how Hypnotherapy works, you don’t have to reveal anything you don’t want to reveal and you can reject suggestions that don’t fit with your values or intentions. The goal is to help you work with your mind rather than constantly battling against it.
A new response can become the new habit
Breaking an old habit isn’t simply about removing something. It’s often about creating something new in its place. Instead of automatically reacting to stress with an old behaviour, you can learn to pause, you can learn to recognise it without automatically acting on it. Instead of thinking:
“This is just the way I am.”
you can begin to consider:
“This is something I’ve learned — and something I can potentially change.”
Is Hypnotherapy be right for you?
If you’ve had a habit for years and feel you’ve tried everything, hypnotherapy would be worth exploring and you don’t have to wait until you’re completely fed up with a habit before deciding to do something about it.
Sometimes, change begins with simply becoming curious about why you do what you do — and what might happen if you approached it differently.
If you are ready to explore whether hypnotherapy and how it could help you then get in touch to arrange an initial conversation or that first appointment.