can hypnosis be used to forget?

[LucyMay]

Hi everyone
I am new to the forum and completely new to hypnosis. I have turned to the idea of hypnosis in desperation for some help with a problem I have recently developed. I don’t want to mention the specific problem for the simple reason that I picked up this problem from reading a post (not on this forum) about somebody else who had this problem. Therefore I don’t want to give anybody else the problem in the same way it has taken hold of me, but it is basically a habit I have picked up that I can’t get out of my head.
I have had a problem with a different ‘habit’ for quite a while. On going on the internet to see if other people had this problem and how they dealt with it I came across someone with a different problem and have since been completely taken over by this, I can’t get it out of my head and it is taking over my life and consuming all my thoughts.
What I really wanted to ask is can hypnosis be used to help you forget about something? I only developed this new problem about a month ago and wondered if I could be hypnotised back to that point to change this experience, so I forget about reading that post on the internet and my thoughts regarding this from that point forward. I have no idea if this is possible with hypnosis. I read somewhere that hypnosis can be used to prevent conscious recall of an event, so I don’t know if this could be applied to my situation. I realise there are now many more memories from that point where I read the post on the internet, which could remind me of this problem so I don’t know if hypnosis could work for me? I have read ‘changing history’ does work and work well and that memories can be changed but I don’t know if this can happen.
I have had problems before this month with a problem I have been aware of for ages and I have a lot of problems with stress/worries. I have recently had a session of NLP to try and help me. I can really see how this could benefit me and help with my stress problems and the things which have been problems long-term. However I am still feeling very negative as to the fact that I have developed this very recent problem and I can’t get the thought out of my head (no matter how much I tell myself that I can’t change the past) that if only I hadn’t gone on the internet and read that post I wouldn’t have given myself this problem that has turned into a huge issue for me. Its not stress or worry that gave this to me, just reading about someone else with it and then a non-stop focus on it.
I just want to forget the memories associated with it from the last month and then I can use the NLP techniques to help me with my previous problem and stress/worry. Is it possible hypnosis can give me what I am looking for - an amnesia surrounding this event about a month ago and the subsequent memories I have had since then surrounding this? I realise I am being a bit vague about this, but I really don’t want to give anyone else this issue that I have been given and I realise some people on this forum may have similar issues to me and may easily focus on what I am doing if they knew what it was.
Another of my questions was that if hypnotherapy could help me to forget this, would it be more likely to be successful if I had it pretty quickly as the problem is so recent? I am not wanting to go into all my past problems before that time with a hypnotist as I know the NLP will help me with this, its just this one specific thing I really want to sort out.
I’m really grateful for whatever information anyone can give me.
Thanks very much
LucyMay

[Merlin]

Hypnosis can likely resolve this issue.
I don't know if 'forgetting' is the best answer though.
There may be better solutions.
A hypnotherapist generally tailors the solution to the particulars of the person and their needs rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

[Terry]

You do not develop any problem by just reading about it unless you are already predisposed to it, therefore your premise about forgetting it is, invalid even if someone was willing to do this for you.
A competent practitioner will be able to help once they are given the proper information. However nobody here can help, it needs to be a face to face consultation, so you waste you time unless you seek local help, or travel to were such help is available.

[Poodle]

You want to forget. Forgetting something can cause what was forgotten to occur again. What you really need is to remove the emotions from what you wish to forget thereby rendering it to just absolutely close to zero but still retaining the memory of it so it does not reoccur.

Both the above answers are correct. Hypnosis can do this and it does need to be in person with a well trained and skilled hypnotist.

Be well,
Pood

[skip]

Hi Lucy,

I cannot help but wonder what you would prefer your thoughts to be consumed by, and how many things in your life you have already forgotten.

skip

[LucyMay]

Thank you all for your replies. I know you’re all right and it is best to try and resolve this issue rather than just forget it. I have had an appointment with a NLP practitioner/hypnotist and I have taken positives away from it with all my other problems, but was still feeling negative towards this recent one. I was going to ask him the specific question I asked on this forum (as I went to him with other issues I hadn’t specifically said can you help me forget just this more recent one.) I thought I’d just feel out what you thought on here before asking him though as I’m one of these people who would ask non-stop questions about everything if I could, so I didn’t really want to ask something that wasn’t relevant! (not that he would have minded). Anyway I think I’ll need another appointment with him to try and help me more but have had a more positive day today, even with my more recent problem. I guess it will just take time with ups and downs and I just have to be patient and practice what he taught me rather than just expect an ‘instant’ cure! Anyway off to listen to one of my Cds from my session now and get some relaxation practice in! Thanks again. LucyMayx

[jeff]

I am currently studying "formally" hypnotherapy. The question can hypnosis make you forget was discussed at our last class! The answer was no. I am sure a skilled practitioner would however be able to help you.