Hypnotherapy

[Dimmers]

My girlfriend of a few months was abused for months on end 8 years ago. She has blocked many memories from that time and also a year and a half after the events. She has always been anxious and had problems but that has never stopped her, unfortunately after meeting me I am the first man she has let into her life and as of a couple of weeks ago has suddenly withdrawn and can’t feel anymore. She said it’s not my fault but I inadvertently triggered it.

Anyway she has decided that she will go into therapy and get this resolved with hypnotherapy as well. She said that she wants this fixed and out of her life once and for all and is making the changes to make this happen. We were about to break up last night but she said “I hate feeling like this and don’t want to live like this anymore, I have met the right man in my life and want to be with him”.

I have heard some great things about hypnotherapy and some bad things. I am trying to get an understanding as she will do what the psychologist says and just do it. She said they will discover the issues and have the psychologist deal with them. I have dreaded this can be quite damaging especially in her condition that there are multiple occurrence over a long period of time.

I am afraid I will loose her and she doesn’t want to talk about it but I said I would stick by her (torn by that decision) but I will. If anyone has any advice I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I have no advice on hypnotherapy, but would like to comment on getting this out of her life once and for all. Healing from trauma isn't like removing a tumor. We don't just go to therapy, have it fixed, and that's that. Trauma heals over time. It really is a process by which we learn coping skills as well as process what happened to us. There is no "cure" for PTSD, this is why we must learn coping skills. Yes, we can heal, but stressors may come up at any point which cause an increase in symptoms, hence the need for lifelong coping skills. Has she considered trauma proven therapies such as CBT?

 

[Dimmers]

Thanks for replying ScaredOfLonely heart. To be honest she has been very distant with me and has asked for space and to "get it sorted" from a lets hang out all the time to almost nothing, I will probably contact her on Friday. But to answer your question the answer is no, I am not sure as she is keeping it to herself and for me 'not to worry' but obviously it is backfiring as I am worried as I do care. I have been trawling the website and found that people dabble with the idea but never end up going or if they do its not for the specific purpose. It could just be my luck and the info I have found so far.

 

[anthony]

Hypnotherapy is one of the "not recommended" treatments for abnormal trauma. It really all depends on how severe the abuse was to determine whether it would fit into the abnormal trauma basket or not.

Hypnotherapy is not recommended for trauma because it is suggestive, and highly manipulative. This has disastrous affects and consequences for trauma processing within the brain.

If you had some nervous tick... sure, give it a shot. Trauma... not recommended.

 

[BlueOrange]

I've had hypnotherapy on two occasions, and have been trained in self-hypnosis and other similar things.

I think it can be useful, and I'm completely convinced that there are risks. Will it help your girl?

Impossible to say from here. What you've said is equivalent to saying "they're going to try medication" - without knowing what kind of hypnotherapy, why it has been chosen, and many other things, it's impossible to say what will happen.

There are two things I'm sure about: she's confident it will work, and you're scared. It's a pity that she hasn't been more reassuring towards you, but the double burden of working on the problem and reassuring people about it can get quite heavy.

I don't think you can (or should) get her to change her mind. Once you know if she's changing and have some idea about what is going on, then you will be in a better place to work out your next move.

 

[Hypnosis]

Hi, as a qualified hypnotherapist, counsellor and neuro-linguistic programming practitioner I would highly recommend EFT - Emotional Freedom Technique for any types of trauma. Hypnotherapy would be able to help with problems such as stress, anxiety and panic attacks.

I wish you both well and hope this advice helps.

 

[Hashi]

This is difficult, because it's not your gf asking about hypnotherapy but you as her supporter.

As ScaredofLonely wisely points out, PTSD isn't something you root out and fix. Also, sadly, the issues don't go to a psychologist and get dealt with - I regret to say that's very wishful thinking, although I completely understand it. There are also some strong arguments against hypnotherapy, and I'd add to them except... I'm not sure that any of this would make any difference because it's your gf's decision and she isn't the one asking.

I'm afraid I think there's little you can do about your gf's therapy choices unless she's asking for your opinion or for help researching them. If not, then I'd suggest you have to leave this to her. If you have concerns on her behalf then of course it makes sense to express them. Gently. Once. Then leave it. It's her decision and she has to find her own way.

What that leaves you with is what to expect as a supporter and how to find your way through it. I hope this site can help with that. I think this is more likely to be shared understanding of general issues, rather than specific to any type of therapy. It's impossible to predict how someone will react to hypnotherapy, for example. Everyone's different.

As well as wanting to support your girlfriend and maintain your relationship, it's important to look after yourself and make sure you have some boundaries through what can be a rollercoaster ride. Hopefully talking with others here, especially other supporters, can help.

I'm not sure this is really a question about hypnotherapy, though.

I wish you and your girlfriend well.

 

[VDWngr1355]

I'm using hypnotherapy in conjugation with my regular CBT therapy. The person I use for hypnotherapy is a psychologist and specializes in trauma.

The hypnotherapy I started basically to help quell some of the anxiety. It has lowered by anxiety a bit and has helped control the obtrusive thoughts. But I know that if I don't continue with CBT that the anxiety will come back and the thoughts as well. I find I need at least one hypnotherapy session a month to maintain a low/mild level of anxiety right now. If I go six weeks without a session than the anxiety and cycling thoughts (especially about the traumas) come back.

After one of the hypnotherapy sessions I did get a flooding of trauma memories all at once and that was not pleasant. But overall, hypnotherapy has improved the quality of my life right now. However, it is not going to make the PTSD go away and I highly doubt it will resolve any of my issues-especially the ones related to trauma, which is why I do continue with CBT and keep practicing/learning other coping skills.

I think your best bet is just to be supportive of your girlfriend and her choices. Really, it only takes on or two sessions of hypnotherapy to find out if it is going to improve her life in any way.