It’s been said that all healthy behaviors, which then become habits, compulsions, or addictions, begin in our search for a means of managing with anxiety in a world that feels ambiguous and unreliable. Curiously, not every habit becomes an addiction. Most often we are able to make a decision about how to use the specific activity. For example, while it is natural for adults to engage in sex on a regular basis, most of us maintain our ability to choose who our intimate partner will be, and how and when we will participate in the activity. This regular activity, which also has the ability to relieve stress, never becomes an addiction because we continue to exercise our power of choice.

In my experience many of the people that turn to unhealthy habits are highly intelligent, AND highly sensitive, souls. Because of these gifts information and energy may feel like an emotional assault psychologically, emotionally and physically. This, then, develops into a feeling of being overwhelmed in all these areas of our being. Seeking relief, we look for tools to manage our distress. For some these tools look like smoking, over eating, alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex… and sometimes seemingly innocuous compulsions like cleaning, become the means of turning down the noise and discomfort.

Sometimes these tools work as an immediate, albeit temporary, fix, allowing us a brief time-out, if you will.  When we use the unhealthy tool too we may develop a habit, which may become a compulsion or even an addiction. The behaviors may then become another overwhelming problem that leaves us feeling powerless and out of control.

Through the use of hypnosis and other Course Correcting Techniques we are able to access the powerful subconscious mind, and regain control of our ability to choose in which activities we will participate, when and for how long. Using these tools are able to connect with Divine Self and consider what we really want. We are learn to PAUSE, before engaging in any behavior. We also learn how to release negative emotions, and develop new neural-pathways.  Conscious choice become natural, easy and effortless. Ultimately, this leads to a more fulfilled, healthy, happy and productive life.