[krazy_phoenix]

Hi, I've been frustrated by my perceived slowness in therapy. I am wanting to try hypnotherapy to open closed doors, but my T's advise against it, stating the reason a lack of self-soothing skills should doors actually open that I can't deal with. I just want everything i need to know out on the table so I can work with it - get it out in the open. I'm tired of going round the same old circles year after year. My t's say that I've made progress without hypnotherapy and they are also concerned about false memories. I"M Concerned that I have false memories already! I don't know whats real and whats not. Frustrated. Would like to hear from anyone who has tried hypnotherapy with good or bad results, or anyone who has an opinion on it.
thanks greatly,
kp

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by krazy_phoenix

Hi, I've been frustrated by my perceived slowness in therapy. I am wanting to try hypnotherapy to open closed doors, but my T's advise against it, stating the reason a lack of self-soothing skills should doors actually open that I can't deal with. I just want everything i need to know out on the table so I can work with it - get it out in the open. I'm tired of going round the same old circles year after year. My t's say that I've made progress without hypnotherapy and they are also concerned about false memories. I"M Concerned that I have false memories already! I don't know whats real and whats not. Frustrated. Would like to hear from anyone who has tried hypnotherapy with good or bad results, or anyone who has an opinion on it.
thanks greatly,
kp

I cant make the decision to do hypnotherapy or not for ...you... and I cant say whether it will work for or against ...you....

that said some things do jump out at me in your post like...

Originally Posted by krazy_phoenix

I"M Concerned that I have false memories already! I don't know whats real and whats not.

Hypnosis doesnt always tell a person what is real and what isnt. and if a person cant already tell whats real and what isnt hypnosis can cause even more problems in this area..

hypnosis is one of those things that is subjective...meaning if a person goes into the session with the belief or idea thats what the session is going to show/prove is real, whether or not it really is real.

one way to know how you will react under professional hypnosis is by using self hypnosis. its the same thing except one you are guided by someone else. someone else is able to manipulate your thoughts and mind.

some locations call self hypnosis/hypnosis....meditations.

what you do is find a quiet spot and relax yourself by concentrating on your breathing, not try to control the breathing but more noticing how you are breathing. as your body relaxes you will notice dissociative like symptoms....

some feel the sensation of numbness, some feel the sensation of moving in slow motion, some people feel the sensation of not being connected to anything, some people hear voices, bells, what ever their mind conjures up during this meditative state of mind called self hypnosis.

as you relax in this state of mind some people get images, sometimes scary sometimes calming, I have noticed with my meditating I get the scary images if I have had a rough day or go into meditation with a pre conceived idea. if I go into meditative state of mind just for the calming relaxing effect calm relaxing images play out in my mind.

if you are able to enter this meditative state of mind and not have a lot of discomfort/frightening images/frightening voices/sounds/tones/mind playing games that lead to panic/anxiety. then expand your meditative state to giving yourself affirmations.

Affirmations are positive things like I am calm, I am happy, I am.... or other self nurturing/positive changes you would like in your life ...breath deeply, when I feel panic I will breath deeply..I have energy, I am loves....

repeat your affirmation...

if you can do this on your own with out discomfort/ panic/anxiety/mind playing games on you with images, sounds, voices.....then guided hypnosis with a qualified professional may work for you.

thats not saying your mind wont conjure up a false memory, just saying if you can do this on your own then entering a hypnotic/meditative state of mind with a professional.

[innocentjoy]

I get very frustrated with not being able to remember a lot of what happened as well (not just abuse, but my entire life history, I guess). Professionals tell me that the mind keeps things hidden until you are strong enough to handle it. I know they're trying to help, but I always hate getting that answer.

I wish that I could do hypnotherapy or something else that would help me switch in front of my t so that we can get information out and deal with it all. He refuses to do it, as he wants to emphasize co consciousness, and that me switching 'on demand' would make co-c more difficult to achieve. He wants me to learn to communicate with and help all the parts heal as we go forward, but I get very overwhelmed when thinking about it in that way. I can understand where he is coming from, but it is frustrating for me.

If your t feels that you don't have the coping skills, perhaps putting more focus on getting your t to help you develop and practice more coping skills? That way you could get them on board sooner, and also learn some helpful skills in the process.