Hypnotherapy

I've done all of the CDs (except sleep learning). I use the subliminal in my PC all the time at home when working. I like the hypno CD best. On at least two occasions when I was able to really relax, I got so much enjoyment. Caught myself smiling while giving suggestions because it felt really good to imagine myself in certain ways (e.g. "sober", healthy & happy ...). I think this one has been most helpful to me.

I try not to figure the rest out (i.e. subliminal), perhaps because I can't. My job requires travel so I'm not able to use the CDs sometimes. On those evenings, I have tried self-hypnosis like the CD says ... I probably need more work on it. I try using the suggestions before I fall asleep a lot, and if I wake up in the middle of night.

I have never tried hypnosis like this, but I thought it was well worth the try. I think it's adding value and I plan to continue!

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gracie

I am using the CD's as well. I am doing some of the vitamins, but not the topamax. I am still drinking, but much much less--and I drink so much slower. That in of itself is a miracle.

I keep falling asleep as well. Today I laid down at 3pm determined to find out what is being said--I will stay awake the whole time-hah! My husband woke me up at 5pm.

I know that since using the CD's I am much more relaxed and do not seem to have to drink as much.

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discovery0823

Awesome thread. I had a slight fear of being hypnotized when I first began this program. I couldn't relax and fought it. After listening to all of them and deciding that there was nothing sinister lurking, I decided (and it was a decision) to relax and "go deeper".
I had a very tough night last ight with a friend, and dumped out the remaining wine I had in the house so as not to be tempted. It worked. It was too late and I was too lazy to go out and look for some, so I clung to the hypno CD's and listened to the clearing one, the subliminal while I got ready for bed and the sleep learing one. I can't sleep to the sleep learning one either, but for some reason, I can fall asleep to the subliminal one. I think it's because I grew up at the ocean? Either way, I wake up and am conscious of a weird feeling when I sleep to the sleep learning one. I think it is working and is another great tool in the toolbox of My Way Out.

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shellseeker

I have the opposite...I also love the Cd's but stay awake for them all....so I am afraid that I'm not being hypnotized very well, I do feel that they are working however. I can go all day without drinking, don't know if it is the topa, cd's, self control...during the self hypno part of the cd, I do give myself some messages and that part works great. I also do the Clearing tape about every other day and the Subl. cd daily while on the computer with you guys. The sleep cd I can only listen to for about 1 hour a night because for some reason I can not sleep to it...Does any one else have this problem? I seem to wake up every 20-30 min. if I have it on replay. If I don't have it on, I can sleep though the night, strange. Love the rest of the cd's. Let me know if any one else has trouble sleeping with the sleep cd please.
Thanks,

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ttfme

Rigpa and I are about the same length of time sober...he's a little longer than myself...six months. I'm using Topa, he's not. Both of us have had great success with the program.

To use medication or not is a very personal choice, and the program works either way. The medication is simply a tool in the arsenal to help you through this journey. Sobriety ultimately comes from within you.

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HadEnough

How well I know that feeling of being compelled to drink. I can't count the times I have promised myself I wouldn't drink, had every reason not to, yet found myself in the liquor store on the way home anyway. Then once the purchase was made I would say, "ok but definitely no more than this bottle of wine" (or vodka, depending on the night). Yet a couple of hours later, I'd be calling a cab or walking to the store to get a second bottle. I suppose choice was there somewhere -- probably for a split second while I was pulling into the liquor store parking lot -- but it sure didn't feel like it.

It sounds like the house you're building already has a pretty firm foundation: you're being honest with yourself and you're motivated to change. I think you'll find both the topa and the hypno to be excellent additions to your toolbox.

I've been on Campral about 2 months now, and while it hasn't been the proverbial "magic bullet," I do think it helps take the edge off the cravings. Kudzu seems to help as well. One of the suggestions I use in my hypno is "I find it easy not to drink or smoke." When I start thinking about alcohol or tobacco I remind myself of this.... actually it's more like it just pops into my head. I don't always believe it, mind you, but at least the phrase comes to me every time.

Good luck with the topa and keep us posted on how you're doing. Hang in there!

Mike

I'm one who believes in them totally in fact for me they have been more helfpul than the topo. I quit the medicine after 12 weeks cos I was payiing out of pocket......but craving came back but I wasn't doing the cds any more either. so I started all over but I kept changing things and tweaking and reading what Dr. Garcia was talking about and then I found something that has worked as long as I stick with it, its pretty amazing and the cds are key to it for me anyway.....I noticed when i started them again......with suggeting very direct things to make drinking repulsive to me or that I didn't care about it all, etc etc etc and what I am using now in the sixth month is in the morning: kudzu, all one, evening primrose oil, and then hypno at night two or three times a week. Plus workout three times a week. For me this works I just dont need the medicine but I don't think I could do this w/o the cds....they seem to keep me under control . I used to drink a bottle of wine every night at least, now I can go three days, no wine, and when I drink it's one or two glasses and I don't chug it or sometimes I even leave some behind.....its pretty cool. I did gain a couple of pounds back I lost after going off the topo because I'm a little hungrier but its okay I couldnt afford to loose that much anyway....also I try to not eat sweets.

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samsee

Even though I am a beginner here, it was the addition of the Cd's within the program that made me think this is the one for me. I am an educator and have done a lot of research on how people learn. In fact, there is a great book out of the US called exactly that which goes over the latest research on learning.

Whilst alcohol has a physical side, it also has a habitual, learned side ... like any thing we do regularly there are a whole lot of unconscious triggers that come up with the answer "alcohol". So consciously, deliberately retraining the unconscious brain makes sense to me ... since it is unconscious we mostly aren't aware of the complicated training we have given our brains with respect to alcohol.

The only thing I have added is to do a suggestion technique that goes along the lines of "I have become used to gulping down my drinks and immediately refilling them" (which acknowledges my learned behaviour) "But now I can see myself sipping one drink all night" (setting up the new behaviour). That is mine, but it has been shown that it is important to dig out the unconscious behaviour first.

Anyway, it has worked for me before and I will let you know how it does this time round ... The book is "How People Learn" and the ed is Bransford et al. You can google it.

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Expat04

You are right, people have different experiences with the hypno CD's. I have not bought them because a few people had commented on the mispronounciations, grammatical errors and annoying diction of the speaker - as an old copy editor I don't think I would be able to benefit from the CD's because I would be too put off by those things. But other people swear by them so I would say it's a very individual experience. I do try to make time to still my mind and meditate, and I'm a big believer in creative visualization. Instead of the old "I'll believe it when I see it" attitude I prefer the "I'll see it when I believe it" one.

I've been sober for about a month now thanks in large part to this board, the nutritional supplements (especially the kudzu and l-glutamine), increased exercise and a LOT of effort. In my opinion there is no one or easy answer. Should I find myself unable to cope with cravings, or wavering in my resolve, I won't hesitate to take Topamax. MWO is very much an integrative program and I think each of us has to tailor it to best meet our individual needs. I find lots of good information in the posts.

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AllegraC

Greetings...I've been on the program for 27 days. Started day 1 with cd's,supps and Campral. I'm going for 30 days of abstinence and hopefully moderation. Haven't slipped yet and really haven't had a huge urge. Amazing considering Super Bowl has come and gone. Usually a case of beer then...no matter who's playin! I feel the cd's have been a huge part of the success. You can do the subliminal anytime...and need a hour a nite for the others...the sleep learning in my opinion has been the best...I sleep 7-8 hours now ...real sleep...passed out for 7 hours is very hard on the body after 30 years of 12-20 beers daily. Tried hypnosis 10-11 years ago with a therapist with absolutely no success. Good luck to all..just a couple of posts but lots of reading ..thanks.