According to the charity, Action on Addiction, one in three people in the UK have an addiction to something – whether it is drugs, alcohol, nicotine, gambling of even being online. 
Addiction is defined as not having control over doing, taking or using something to the point where it could be harmful to you.
People often talk about ‘rehab’ or other radical forms of treating their addictions – quite often requiring more than one visit.
But clinical hypnotherapy can provide a quick, painless and efficient cure for many addictions. The National Council for Hypnotherapy, the UK’s leading not-for-profit professional hypnotherapy association, says this is because hypnotherapy directly with the sub-conscious, bypassing the critical mind and getting to the root of the issue.
This allows changes to be made that support the goals the person has set in wanting to break the habit.
There are lots of reasons why addictions begin, says the NHS. In the case of drugs, alcohol and nicotine, these substances affect the way someone my feel, both physically and mentally.
These feelings can be enjoyable and create a powerful urge to use the substances again.
Being addicted to something means that not having it causes withdrawal symptoms, or a ‘come down’. Because this can be unpleasant, it’s easier to carry on having or doing what the body craves, and so the cycle continues.
And, while some bodies says an addiction is a disease, Dr Marc Lewis, a developmental neuroscientist famous for detailing his own years of drug addiction and abuse, refutes this conventional disease model of addiction.
In his latest book he argues that considering addiction as a disease is not only wrong, but also harmful. Rather, he argues, addiction is a behavioural problem that requires willpower and motivation to change.
Internationally renowned hypnotherapist and self-esteem speaker Mark Tyrrell, says addicts have a set of beliefs that drive their behaviour and, in treating addictions, hypnotherapists should be careful not to use too much aversion therapy.
Rather, he said, point out that the addictive relationship is an abusive and one-sided one with the addict and their body and health being the party that is being abused.
He agrees that an addiction is not a disease but should be treated in the context of the addictive behaviour.
The NCH says humans have evolved to survive and thrive so the subconscious, the heart of our being, is always creating mechanisms that support this.
“However, sometimes things get distorted and what your subconscious thinks is a protection mechanism becomes an unwanted habit that causes upset rather than allowing you to survive and thrive.”
If a person with an addictive or unwanted habit wants to change, hypnotherapy has an enviable success rate. The NCH has highly-qualified and trained therapists around the UK who can help. To find one near you, simply use the NCH directory by clicking here.