Can hypnotherapy help with your Tinnitus condition? What does a hypnosis Tinnitus treatment session actually feel like? Let’s explore the alternative treatment modality that is hypnosis for Tinnitus.
What is Hypnosis for Tinnitus?
The definition of hypnotherapy is the process of bypassing your conscious mind to then engage your subconscious mind. When engaged, your subconscious mind is then gently persuaded to embrace positive or neutral emotions to replace negative emotions.
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The aim through hypnosis is to reduce the stress, anxiety and fear that you possibly associate with Tinnitus. It is estimated that about 75% of people who have Tinnitus just go on with life, without being bothered by the ringing. 25% however find it debilitating and affecting almost every moment of their life.
Hypnosis can move you over from that 25% group to the 75% group that isn’t bothered by Tinnitus sounds.
One must also understand that stress, anxiety and fear associated with Tinnitus often makes Tinnitus worse. It’s a vicious cycle. Hypnosis can break that vicious cycle.
How Severe is Your Tinnitus?
Find out by using this THI (Tinnitus Handicap Inventory) Scoring Calculator
While many have reported an improvement of their Tinnitus symptoms after hypnosis, there have been quite a few who have also experienced a reduction in the ringing volume or even a complete stop of Tinnitus in their ears.
Studies Conducted on Hypnosis Treatments for Tinnitus
There have been small scale studies that have investigated the efficacy of hypnosis as a treatment for Tinnitus.
This study investigated the effectiveness of self-hypnosis. It found that an overwhelming 73% of people who underwent self-hypnosis sessions reported an improvement or even a complete elimination of their Tinnitus condition. The study also showed that self-hypnosis helped both with short term (1 week) and long term (2 months) relief.
Another study followed 49 patients who came for Tinnitus hypnosis sessions. 14 patients dropped out of the study. But, the 35 remaining patients reported significant improvement after 5 to 10 sessions. Their THI scores (Tinnitus Handicap Inventory) went from an average of 60.23 to 16.9.
Scientific studies show that hypnosis can shift from your mind’s activitiy from generating Beta waves to Alpha and Theta waves. Beta waves are active, anxious and externally attentive whereas alpha and theta waves are very relaxed and inward focused. You can learn more about the types of brain waves you experience here.
How does Hypnosis work to help you seek relief from Tinnitus?
To understand how hypnosis can work to help you get relief from tinnitus, let’s look at how the human mind typically works.
Let’s for example say that you are going on a walk in a beautiful park. You hear many sounds. Birds chirping, a water fountain, children playing, a busker playing a soothing tune on a guitar and so on. Your brain registers all these sounds but doesn’t give any of them any special attention as you walk by. Then, you hear the growl of what sounds like a big dog behind you. Your brain immediately snaps out of standby mode and focuses on that gnarling sound? Where is it coming from? Turn around and look! Are you in danger? There’s so many intense thoughts that are immediately associated with that sound.
All the other sounds are almost muted in that moment, as if they don’t exist. When a strong emotion, in this case fear, is associated with a certain sensory perception, in this case the gnarling sound, your brain just cannot ignore it.
The same goes for Tinnitus. As long as you feel angry, fearful or anxious about the ringing in your ears, your brain just can’t ignore the sounds. If anything, it will only get worse over time.
Hypnosis can change this for you. What it can do is allow you to identify the negative emotion that you associate with your Tinnitus. It obviously won’t make sense to make Tinnitus a happy or positive sound. But, your mind will be able to accept and practice neutral thoughts towards the ringing sound. You will no longer be angry, fearful or anxious about it. Instead, you will merely acknowledge the sound and move on with it. In some instances, hypnosis can even shut off or gradually fade away the ringing.
It works differently for everyone. But, based on the studies discussed above, hypnosis for Tinnitus is definitely at least worth a try.
What does a Hypnosis for Tinnitus session feel like?
Your hypnotherapist will use your first session to ask you questions about your Tinnitus. It will be similar to a session you might have with a psychologist. Typical questions you will be asked are; Tell me about your Tinnitus. How does it make you feel? What sort of emotions do you feel when the ringing comes on? What would you like to feel instead?
Depending on how this explorative session goes, your hypnotherapist might ask you to come back for another session or proceed with your hypnosis session right away.
During the actual session, your hypnotherapist will use conversational hypnosis to help you reach a relaxed or hypnotic state. You will be encouraged to consciously enter a Theta or Alpha brain wave state where you are open to positive suggestions.
Once there, you will be asked to visualize or think about the negative feelings you feel in regards to your Tinnitus. The anger, frustration, fear and despair is brought to the forefront of your mind. Then, your hypnotherapist will suggest that you replace these emotions with neutral feelings like acceptance, hope and courage. The process is repeated over and over again. The aim of repetition will be to help you quickly and consciously summon your feelings about Tinnitus and then instantly convert it into neutral or positive feelings.
Over 5 to 10 sessions, this process becomes remarkably easier. Repetition will also make it easier for you to practice self-hypnosis for your Tinnitus, at home.
After 5-10 sessions, your Tinnitus will not bother you as much as it did before. You are no longer stressed, anxious or fearful. The ringing goes on the backburner and continues to become less and less important as you keep practicing self-hypnosis.
Myths about Hypnosis for Tinnitus
There are many myths about hypnosis in general. People who don’t consider hypnosis as a potential treatment for their Tinnitus usually write it off as a ‘load of bull’ for the following reasons.
Myths about Hypnosis for Tinnitus;
- Put to sleep – The truth is that you will be wide awake. You might be asked to close your eyes but you can open them at any time you want
- No control or will – This is not true. You are always in complete control of your actions and thoughts. Nothing is done against your will
- You will say things you don’t want to say – Some hypnotherapists will ask you to say words like “Yes”, “No” or “Stop”. These are words that help them instill positive suggestions. At no point will you subconsciously say things you don’t want to say
- Permanent hypnotic state – It’s impossible to remain in an hypnotic state. It is completely up to you to sit through the session or leave at any time you want
Tinnitus particularly troublesome when you lie down? Read our recent post on how to manage Tinnitus while lying down here.
