When speaking about addictions and bad habits what we’re really referring to is ‘addictive behaviors’ and ‘bad’ or ‘negative behavior patterns. These types of addictions and bad habits are different than substance abuse addictions such as alcohol, drug, and smoking/vaping addictions.

It seems that people who participate actively with various types of behavioral addictions and those who participate with negative behavior patterns may often experience many adverse effects in their lives. Many suffer from financial losses, money problems, relationship problems, lack of self-esteem, lowered confidence, physical health issues, and feelings of shame or embarrassment.

1. You spend most of your time engaging in the behavior, thinking about it or arranging to engage in the behavior, or recovering from the effects of it
2. You have become dependent on the behavior to cope with your emotions and to feel normal
3. You continue even though you are causing yourself physical and/or mental harm
4. You want to stop but you cannot even manage cutting back
5. You disregard your work, school, or family to absorb in the behavior more often
6. You are experiencing feelings of depression and irritability whenever you try to stop
7. You are making excuses or hiding the extent of the problem

Because there are so many different addictions and bad behavior patterns to deal with, it is important as a hypnotherapist to create the appropriate types of positive suggestions for change that matches up with whatever type of addiction or behavior that may be evident.

Of course, before any hypnosis can begin, it is vitally important that the client is fully committed to making the change that they want. Also, important if they can envision a future reality of how much better their life will be when they are totally free from these annoying habits or addictions.

After guiding a person into a relaxed state of hypnosis, it may be helpful to embed the feeling of disconnection or detachment away from those old addictive behaviors combined with the suggestion that a positive replacement behavior will be felt as something much more enjoyable to them. This new positive replacement opens a new chapter of their life where they now feel the need to care for themselves more, to have more pride and confidence in themselves, and the feeling of emotional freedom becomes much more attractive as well.

The obvious benefits of being free from addictive behaviors and negative behavior patterns are:

• You have more time and motivation to focus on the things you want like creative pursuits, work, family, and recreation time.
• Your body begins to heal properly, and you feel more attractive to others.
• You feel happier and more fulfilled because your focus changes from self to helping others.
• You feel more honest with yourself and have a greater sense of self awareness.
• You find other ways to deal with stress, anxieties of life, and insecurities.
• You may experience more prosperity in your life with less time and money spent on your habit or addiction.
• You feel absolutely free!