If you or someone that you love are suffering from an addiction, the important thing to know is that you are not alone. There is help available. Addiction is a chronic condition, occurring when a person engages with a substance or behaviour which may be pleasurable to begin with, but becomes compulsive in the long term. Someone who has an addiction may find that it interrupts their ability to function in their day to day life, such as at work, or with study, family or relationships. They may also experience health issues as a result of their addiction.

Examples of addiction include but are not limited to:

• Cigarettes
• Alcohol
• Prescription drugs
• Illicit drugs (marijuana, heroin, cocaine, meth amphetamine etc.)
• Compulsive exercise (also linked to eating disorders)
• Steroid abuse (also linked to eating disorders)
• Gambling
• Shopping/spending
• Sex & love (co-dependency)
• Internet/gaming

Treatment for any addiction with hypnotherapy and counselling will depend on how acute the addiction is and how willing the person is to engage in treatment.

In cases of high or long-term use of mind-altering drugs, a program of hypnotherapy may be appropriate only after a period of detoxification, or treatment through a rehabilitation facility or hospital. Likewise, if alcohol use is high, medical supervision in the early stages of sobriety is likely to be necessary before hypnotherapy can be undertaken.

If you are unsure of whether or not you are ready to undertake a program of hypnotherapy and counselling, please contact us directly and we will try to help you to determine your needs. You may be asked to consult with your doctor, depending on your circumstances.

Once a program of hypnotherapy is deemed appropriate for your addiction, this will allow you to gain an understanding of the problem on a conscious level through counselling. Your therapist will discuss with you how the problem presents itself, the impact that it has on your life and how you would prefer to feel as well what you would prefer to focus on.

This information will be utilised under hypnosis, helping you to create new possibilities for your life. The subconscious will be engaged in the process so as to allow for the resolution and healing of past traumas, grief and loss, as well as increasing self-esteem and self-worth.

Hypnosis adds a unique layer to therapy by not just understanding the problem on a conscious level, but addressing underlying causes at a deeper level, so as the mind can begin to process and create real and positive change. A program of hypnotherapy can help you on your road to recovery to becoming free of your addiction.

At Freedom from Food, we believe that no two people are the same and should therefore not be treated the same. Please contact us today if you would like to know more about treatment for addictions.

If you or someone that you love are suffering from depression, the important thing to know is that you are not alone. There is help available.

When a person is experiencing an episode of depression it can seem like there is no way out. It can be difficult to rationalise or think clearly if you are in a downward spiral. Simply ‘thinking yourself out of it’ may not be possible. Whilst of course it is normal to feel sad or low; if these feelings go on for weeks, months or even years, it may be time to explore alternative options.

Depression can affect your mental as well as your physical wellbeing. Symptoms will vary from person to person, and may include:

• Persistent low moods
• Persistent feelings of helplessness or hopelessness
• Losing interest in activities once found enjoyable
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Loss of appetite or a change in eating habits
• Persistently lacking energy
• Difficulty concentrating
• Feelings of irritation, agitation or even anger

and many more.

If a person is depressed, it is important to be aware that they may be having thoughts of hurting themselves or of suicide. If you or someone you know are having these thoughts please contact Lifeline (ph. no. 13 11 14) or your doctor. If you require immediate assistance, dial 000.

If you decide to go ahead with a program of hypnotherapy and counselling, this can help you to gain an understanding of the problem on both the conscious and unconscious levels. Your therapist will discuss with you how the problem presents itself, the impact that it has on your life and how you would prefer to feel as well as what you would prefer to focus on.

This information will be utilised under hypnosis to help you create new possibilities and dramatic shifts in your thinking. The subconscious will be engaged in the process, so as to allow for the resolution of past traumas, hurt, grief, or other underlying reasons which keep you stuck.

The benefits of using hypnotherapy to manage depression can include:

• Improvement in your ability to identify, manage and express difficult emotions
• Improvement in your ability to manage difficult life circumstances
• Improved sense of purpose and direction
• Increased self-esteem or self-worth
• Increased focus and concentration
• Improvement in moods
• Improvement in energy levels
• Improvement in sleep quality

And much more.

At Freedom from Food, we believe that no two people are the same and should therefore not be treated the same. Please contact us today if you would like to know more about treatment for depression.

If you or someone that you love are suffering from anxiety, the important thing to know is that you are not alone. There is help available.

Whilst it is normal to feel stress or worry in response to life circumstances, these feelings usually subside once the stressful situation has been resolved. Anxiety is different in that even when the stressful situation is no longer present, the feeling persists. Think of it as an alarm which has been pressed and become stuck! If this goes on for weeks, months or even years, it may be time to explore other options for treatment.

Persistent anxiety makes coping with life very difficult, and it can have serious mental and physical health consequences. There are many different types of anxiety ranging from:

• Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
• Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)
• Specific phobias
• Panic Disorder or panic attacks
• Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD – see also, Trauma & PTSD)
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

The benefits of using hypnotherapy to manage anxiety may include:

• Improved ability to ‘un-stick’ the alarm and calm the body and the nervous system
• Improved ability to relax and calm a racing mind
• Improved ability to identify and deal with triggers
• Increased self-esteem or self-worth
• Increased focus and concentration
• Improvement in moods
• Improvement in energy levels
• Improvement in sleep quality

And much more.

At Freedom from Food, we believe that no two people are the same and should therefore not be treated the same. Please contact us today if you would like to know more about treatment for anxiety.

When a person has experienced a traumatic event in their life, sometimes this event may stay with them, interrupting daily functioning or even turning into post-traumatic stress disorder.

A person who has experienced trauma or has PTSD may be experiencing some of the following symptoms:

• Intrusive memories and thoughts including flashbacks and nightmares. These intrusive thoughts may be provoked by situations which remind them of the trauma or they may appear to be unprovoked.
• Avoidance of situations or stimulus associated with the trauma, which begins to interrupt daily functioning
• Negative moods and detachment from people or activities, which were once enjoyed
• Increased anxiety and reactivity; a heightened sense of needing to respond to danger
• Panic attacks
• Feelings of suicidality

Whilst this may seem like an overwhelming list of symptoms to cope with, the good news is that there is that you do not need to suffer like this forever. Some of the most effective therapies used to treat trauma and PTSD can be found in very specific hypnosis techniques which are designed to allow a person to process trauma, resolve it within themselves and create a healthy detachment from what happened.

Please contact us today if you would like to know more about treatment for trauma and PTSD.

There is a growing body of evidence supported by scientific research, which shows the effectiveness of using hypnotherapy to manage what were once considered to be purely physical disorders.

Conditions such as IBS and other gut related health conditions, as well as many auto-immune conditions and chronic pain, have shown an improvement in symptoms, severity of symptoms and a reduction of flare-ups, in response to treatment with hypnotherapy.

Whilst we do not know exactly why this is the case, science is uncovering more and more evidence of the connectedness between the brain, the gut and the body. In addition to this, chronic pain (pain which is not attributable to an acute injury or illness) is largely regulated by the brain and the nervous system.

Please contact us today if you would like to know more about hypnotherapy for the treatment of chronic pain conditions.