Hypnosis for Addiction

Hello, I’m Jonathan Garside from The Hypnosis Clinic. Today, I’d like to talk about addiction. When we talk about it, we often think about drugs like alcohol, opiates, nicotine, or painkillers. However addiction can come in many forms, some of which are more treatable than others. Let’s look at some of the things people can become addicted to, some of them may surprise you! Here’s an obvious one, are you addicted to your smartphone? You keep it with you all the time and check it every few minutes. You work too much because you can't turn it off on the weekend. You ignore the people you're having dinner with to catch a text or a post from someone miles away. Your phone may be the most addictive thing in your life! How about coffee? Do you need your morning jolt of caffeine? That’s not necessarily an addiction, but trying to cut it out of your life may leave you anxious for a fix and nursing a serious headache. That's called withdrawal. Sweet things can be addictive too. Sometimes you have to have it. And you may not be able to stop. Don't feel too bad -- foods high in carbs, fats, and sugar can affect your brain just like drugs do. Going for an occasional milkshake doesn’t mean you're hooked. But your sweet tooth can get out of control and lead to other health problems. Some people, and I’m not one of them are addicted to. shopping. We’ve all bought something we don't really need. If it happens a lot, what you're really looking for might be some dopamine, the feel-good-chemical for your brain. It could also mean you have impulse-control problems or anxiety issues. Hit one-click online purchase button too often and it can cause financial, legal, and social problems Gambling is an addiction for many people. As many as 8 million Americans have a problem. Whether you do it in person or online, at slot machines or the poker table, that rush provides your brain a hit of dopamine and makes you happy -- for a while. But if lady luck isn't with you, too much betting can wreak havoc with your finances, job, and family life. Maybe you’re addicted to the sun! That's right. The ultraviolet spectrum of sunlight releases chemicals in your body called endorphins. They can make you feel so good you'll risk sunburns, blisters, and skin cancer for them. How about social media? Do you spend so much time on Facebook and Twitter you feel like you're addicted? New studies show that you might be among the 10% of social media users who really are hooked. The random pace of posts affects your brain the same way that cocaine does. Sharing details about yourself with others also creates a rush of positive feelings that leaves you wanting more. So you see, addiction isn’t just about cigarettes or alcohol or drugs, so many things can affect the way we live. Our blog has lots of tips about how to avoid addiction and what to do if things get out of control. To find out more about the work I do helping people to overcome addiction, make an appointment for a free consultation. You can either come to meet me at our clinic in London’s regent street, or via a Telehealth video call. I look forward to meeting you soon. Have a look on our website for more details: https://thehypnosisclinic.com