Hypnosis and ADHD
If you know me personally, you probably know I am one of those people with an ADHD-brain. Which is going very well with having hypnosis as a hobby, cause gosh... I've been hyperfixating on learning hypnosis for almost 7 years now!
A lot of people with ADHD think that they can't be hypnotized because they have ADHD. Yeah... if you work with hypnotists that only use PMR (progressive muscle relaxation), than you're gonna have some trouble...
What a lot of people don't realise, is that with the right techniques people with ADHD are often the best hypnotees! Yeah, you gotta have to work around their concentration problems, racing thoughts and tendency to be very analytical, but their creativity and playfulness can give them amazing experiences and make them great hypnotees! And did you know that people with ADHD can hyperfocus on something when they really like and enjoy it? Ever seen someone with ADHD get distracted while being creative or playing their favourite game? Yeah, that's what I thought!
Over the years as both a hypnotist and a hypnotee with ADHD, I have learned that hypnosis can help A LOT with ADHD! You know how relaxing it is to finally be able to quiet down your thoughts, when your thoughts are constantly racing on default?! Learning how to activate hyperfocus when you need it, learning how to regulate your emotions, and learning how to feel more confident and motivated are some of the wonderful things (self-)hypnosis can help with! Just with the right techniques!
Here are some tips for working with ADHD brains: - Make it engaging: Ofcourse ADHD brains are going to zone out or wonder off when they're forced to listen to someone yapping on and on and on. They can't be focusing on the same thing for a very long time, cause their mind WILL wonder off! Except for when you keep them active! Make the session engaging! Make them answer questions, do a yes-set induction, use a conversational style, keep them focused on a task (or more for an overload), keep the trances short and wake them up once every while to discuss their experience.
- Confusion: Are they thinking a lot? Just give them too much to think about! Short circuit their brain and make them confused. They will be looking for a way to make it make sense, which is when they're very susceptible for suggestions. Confusion inductions are fun and work great for ADHD brains! Always be one step ahead!
- Overload: ADHD brains are very easily overstimulated. USE IT AGAINST THEM! Overload inductions, like the 7+/-2 induction, are awesome techniques that work GREAT on ADHD brains!
- Rapid inductions: Not just because they're fun and playfull, but also because it's just quick! Don't take too long, or else that ADHD brain is about to get bored. If you make it quick, you'll give them no time to get distracted or bored!
- Playfullness: Use that playful mind! Use that creativity! Go get silly! Make it fun! The more they enjoy it, the easier it is for them to hyperfocus
- FRACTIONATION!!! my beloved: Nothing as engaging and fun as fractionation! It keeps them active and focused, it feels incredibly satisfying, has a lot of rapid techniques, it's very playful, and bonus: it takes them deeper!
- Use everything against them: Be sneaky! Observe and communicate, and use what they say against them! Suggest everything can make them go deeper. Do they tend to fidget a lot? Suggest the more the fidget, the more they relax. Do they tend to giggle? Suggest the giggling gets stronger, but only takes them deeper! Be ahead of that distraction, with suggestions like: "Every little distraction, will take you even deeper" "Every little thought can be there and fade away as you focus more and more on my voice" "Allow your body to adjust and move whenever it needs to. It'll just bring you deeper and deeper"
Using the right techniques and being flexible with the hypnotee in front of you can make you give them the BEST experiences! What are your thoughts on hypnosis and ADHD? (if you have any thoughts ;p...)