Definition of Habits

Human beings are creatures of habit. From a very early age we learn behaviors that serve our needs and then we repeat those behaviors whenever the needs arise, developing habits. The subconscious mind, where habits form and reside, accepts the known and fears the unknown. Habits are maintained because they are familiar ways of behaving with expected consequences that serve needs.

Similarly, unwanted habits develop to serve legitimate needs; however, they also have negative consequences that are detrimental to health, emotional well-being, self-image, relationships, career, etc. It is in virtue of these negative consequences that such habits are deemed "bad" or unwanted.


What Needs Do Habits Satisfy?

Habits typically form to manage stress, to overcome anxiety, and to promote relaxation. Habitual smoking, excessive drinking, abuse of drugs, and overeating are four of the primary ways that people attempt to self-medicate to feel better. Biting nails, picking at skin, hair pulling, are other habits that develop subconsciously in childhood, sometimes as a means for regaining a sense of control or to get noticed in those who feel abused or neglected. Unwanted habits also form as a means of self-punishment in a child who feels guilty, ashamed, or worthless.

Not all habits involve using physical substances or doing bodily harm. Procrastination, obsessive compulsive behavior, and chronic negative self-talk are examples of habits that do emotional harm and damage self-esteem, while attempting to stave off fear, prevent failure, or dissolve guilt.


How Do Habits Form?

Habits often form early in life when a child learns from the negative coping behavior of the adults, siblings, and caretakers who surround them. Because children tend to emulate what they see, children of smokers, drinkers, and drug users also tend to smoke, drink, and use drugs to manage their negative emotions and feelings.

Sometimes, the negative habits develop more randomly. A child left alone may reach out and find that clinging to a doll or a blanket or sucking on their thumb provides positive tactile feelings that soothe and comfort. Faced with the same loneliness again, the child repeats the calming behavior. This becomes a habitual way of coping that, as the child gets older, is discouraged, if not punished, as unacceptable behavior.

Habits can form later in life when stress and anxiety become extreme in response to an overload of responsibility, sudden dramatic loss, tragedy, or the onset of fears and phobias.

However negative the consequences of the habits that form, there is always a positive pay off for the behavior, which usually involves a dormancy of fear or pain and/or increased pleasure or satisfaction.


Negative Effect Of Habits

The following list includes common negative effects of habits. If you exhibit some, many, or all of these, low self-esteem could well be the cause and hypnotherapy for self-esteem could very likely help.

1. Poor Self Image
2. Loss of Self-Respect and Self-Esteem
3. Diminished Physical Health
4. Substantial Weight Gain OR Loss
5. Loss of Energy
6. Sleep Problems
7. Social Anxiety
8. Isolation
9. Anxiety or Panic Attacks
10. Depression
11. Impaired Sexual Desire and Function
12. Damaged Personal Relationships
13. Financial Problems
14. Job Loss or Career Stagnation

How To Make OR Break Habits

Because the subconscious mind embraces the known and fears the unknown, it sticks with unwanted habits, reluctant to give them up because of the needs they are known to serve. For this reason, unwanted habits (such as addictions to smoking, alcohol, drugs, caffeine, and sugar) can be difficult to break.

The key to correcting unwanted habits is to determine what triggers the unwanted habit and what needs are being met (albeit with negative consequences), and then to find replacement behavior that not only satisfies those needs, but also satisfies them without negative consequences. Even better if the replacement behavior has additional positive pay offs, such as increased self-esteem, feelings of self-empowerment, greater vitality, etc.

Using Hypnotherapy To Replace Unwanted Habits WITH New Habits

Hypnotherapy is a relaxing, natural, and safe, brief-term form of therapy that enables direct and immediate influence on the subconscious mind where unwanted habits develop and endure if left untreated. With the help of various hypnotic tools and techniques, a client can gain more awareness of and control over their destructive impulses, while developing new behavior patterns that replace the unwanted habit with positive coping strategies.

Breaking unwanted habits through hypnosis is only possible if: 1) The client really wants to make the changes; 2) The client believes that they can make positive changes; and 3) The client is open to using the tools and techniques on a consistent basis.

The first step in hypnotherapeutic treatment is conscious cognitive inquiry to gain understanding of the client's specific concerns/issues and goals and to determine whether they have the appropriate motivation and acceptance.

Next step is to induce hypnosis, a state of deep relaxation and inward focus in which the subconscious mind is directly accessible and highly suggestible to therapeutic associations, commands, visualizations, metaphors and other techniques that instill and support the positive attitudes, feelings, beliefs, and actions necessary to correct the habit.

Hypnotherapeutic Treatment Plan for Replacing Unwanted Habits

The treatment plan for correcting unwanted habits must be customized to each individual client's particular case. There is no "one plan fits all." The approach that the International Hypnosis Institute takes to each case, however, is outlined below.

1)   Identify Components of Unwanted Habit

Triggers

Needs

Problems and Issues

Case History

Negative Effects

Replacement Behavior

2)   Set Initial Goals For New Habit

Develop a Hypnotherapeutic Strategy With Specific Tools and Techniques

Provide Habit Correction Hypnosis

Track Progress

Set New Goals

Revise Strategy

Implement Revised Strategy

Repeat Above Steps As Needed

The International Hypnosis Institute has a Proven 4-Week How To Make OR Break Habits Program that will help you reach the Goals That YOU Want To Achieve! We have designed it to be held in TeleSessions (By Phone) so anyone, anywhere can benefit from this very rewarding and effective IHI Program... AND it won't break the bank - It's Only $49.98 $499.98 TOTAL for the 4-Week How To Make OR Break Habits Program!

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Here Are Some Of The Issues That Can Be Helped By The Services Of The International Hypnosis Institute (Subsidiary of International Wellness Institute)...   It's Exciting To Witness Some Of The "Amazing Transformations" That Have Occurred!

Of course, two of the major issues that can be helped are: Anxiety Disorder which may cause loss of appetite and lack of interest in sex. Other symptoms include muscle tension, headaches and insomnia.... The Constant State of Stress which can lead to clinical depression. You are also at increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

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