How hypnosis can help your eating problem

Eating is something we must all do in order to stay alive. For some people, however, the food relationship may develop complexities. An eating disorder is a mental health condition that affects a person’s attitude towards food. It produces physical and psychological effects that make the person change their eating behaviours and habits. Eating disorders entail one becoming so focused on their size, shape and/or the food that they eat. This normally results in them making unhealthy choices with destructive repercussions.

A brief look into eating problems

Eating problems are often linked with low self-esteem, depression and anxiety. They affect people of all genders, ages and social backgrounds. However, studies show that younger women are generally far more affected. But increasing cases of older men and women suffering from eating problems show just how large the problem is becoming. There are several different eating disorders, but the most common include anorexia, bulimia and binge-eating disorder.

Anorexia nervosa is a condition that makes a person desire to weigh as low as possible. People with this disorder go to extreme lengths in order to lose weight. They would restrict their food intake, exercise excessively, or even make themselves vomit. Sufferers of anorexia have a false self-image, and always see themselves as overweight, even if they are 'normal' or even 'below-normal' weight.

Bulimia nervosa is a condition that makes a person deem it necessary to control his or her weight. To do this, the person may restrict food intake, binge or purge in an attempt to attain an unreasonable desired weight.

Binge eating involves a person consuming an unreasonably heavy amount of food in one sitting. This is normally done with high-calorie, fatty foods. Binges may be a spontaneous response to emotions such as anxiety and stress, or they may be planned. Binges may entail a mania or loss of control.

How can hypnosis help?                      

Hypnotherapy has proven to be an invaluable tool in the treatment of eating problems. Hypnosis will use the power of suggestion to change the wrong habits and thoughts to do with eating. If the root of the problem is known, regression hypnotic techniques can be helpful, as they tap into the subconscious to uncover the surrounding events and causative agents of the problem. Neuro-linguistic programming may also be involved. It can help you recall how you dealt with emotions before the problem began.

Positive suggestions during hypnosis can help one change the way they perceive themselves. A major part of recovery is getting sufferers to love themselves again. Learning new lines of thinking about eating will also improve a person’s relationship with food.

By dealing with stress and anxiety as well as low self-esteem and low self-confidence, hypnosis can help one relax and ultimately improve one’s total well-being.

Hypnotherapy Directory's comment - if you have been diagnosed with or suspect that you have an eating disorder, you should check with your GP before starting any alternative or complementary therapies.