Habits

We all have habits, repeated behaviours which become so entrenched (if not automatic) that it would normally take a good deal of effort to change them. Sometimes they can be a symptom of stress or anxiety but often they are just learned through repetition and are innocous.

There are many habits which we probably wouldn’t want to alter such as cleaning our teeth or locking up before going to bed. Other habits may just be a preference to which we’ve become so accustomed over the years that we can’t imagine changing. Examples might be the pairing of certain foods and drinks like a cup of tea and a biscuit or having a particular place to sit and relax in our home so that it feels ‘wrong’ to sit anywhere else.

Most of the time such habits wouldn’t be a problem and don’t require much attention. But there are other habits which can do harm over time or which affect your appearance, your health, your confidence or your relationships. Common examples of these behaviours would be:-

• Nail biting
• Nose picking
• Thumb sucking
• Coughing when there is no physical reason
• Persistent scratching
• Bruxism - tooth-clenching or grinding
• Obsessive/compulsive behaviours
• Trichotillomania – involuntary hair pulling
• Blushing - More about self consciousness and blushing. Also see blushing testimonials.
• Smoking - see specialist smoking page

You may not be consciously aware of how these habits are formed but you are not normally born with them; you acquire them, sometimes almost spontaneously but often simply by repetition.

The important thing to realise is that because these behaviours are acquired or learned they can equally well be unlearned and discarded.

It is possible to eliminate some habits by conscious thought alone. This means that for a period of time you would need to remain very alert and use a tremendous amount of will power until the unconscious desire to continue the habit has been replaced by a preference for an alternative behaviour. Easier said than done though because these types of habits are embedded at a subconscious level and for a long time will reinstate themselves as soon as you are off your guard.

If you really want to change your habit you must tackle it at the level where it is established in your subconscious mind. This is why hypnosis and TFT are such useful treatments. See what our clients say about their habits after treatment.

I recently worked with a middle aged client who had been a nail biter since childhood. We worked on the reason for biting which was related to tension and the reason for becoming free of the habit which was related not only to appearance but also the desire to be in control. In this instance we were able to eliminate the habit very quickly.

'I have been trying to stop biting my nails for decades, with little or no success.
I then read about hypnosis, and how effective other people have found it.

I went with an open mind, and was amazed at how quickly the process helped me to stop the habit of a lifetime.

Many thanks Liz'

Other cases may require a deeper level of understanding and more complex treatment, but once the subconscious mind understands that there is a good and beneficial reason to change which is better than retaining the habit, it will do the work for you and conscious effort or will power will become unnecessary.