<p>No, I’m not talking about being hypnotized at a party. I am talking about hypnosis for theraputic reasons. My friends on the Class of '13 thread will read this and think I am grasping at straws, which of course, I am.</p>
<p>Is theraputic hypnosis quackery? Or could it help with a problem like binge eating?</p>
<p>I did it 20+ years ago for weight loss (in a group setting) and lost 10+ pounds over a few months. It seemed to curb my snacking and I often turned down dessert or ice cream, even when I was with a group. About 10 years ago, my husband did it individually and lost nearly 20 pounds. </p>
<p>I’m trying to lose some stubborn pounds and am considering attending a group class offered by our community school in a few weeks. </p>
<p>Bottom line - I don’t think it will be a magic cure for someone who’s morbidly obese, but if you need to lose 10-20 pounds by improving eating habits, it’s probably worth it. (they also tout it as a good way to stop smoking - don’t know anyone who’s tried it).</p>
<p>I have a friend who is a hypnotherapist; she went to a school to get training, and it isn’t quackery. I think it works better for some people than others, and it is probably better for addressing some issues like stress reduction, test anxiety, smoking, etc. than other issues. Binge eating is something that strikes me (as a layperson) as pretty complex, but I can imagine hypnotherapy as somewhat helpful AS LONG AS it is used in combo with other therapies. Overeating and under exercising is one thing, but an eating disorder is serious stuff which even with professional intervention is tough to conquer.</p>
<p>My mom used it to quit smoking. It worked for her, and she smoked like a chimney. She went back once for a “booster,” and she was done.</p>
<p>I have been hypnotized in therapy to access some buried memories.
I loved it- I have never been so relaxed afterwards.</p>