My bachelor's degree and master's degree are in psychology, and have studies hypnosis, self-hypnosis, progressive relaxation, and related therapies, both in terms of what they can do, and a very little bit on how to do them.
The "magical" hypnosis most of us associate with the word (act like a chicken, wake up without remembering a thing), is mostly bogus. Very few people can ever be hypnotized so deeply that they don't remember the session. The magic tricks are just that, tricks.
Hypnosis is probably better described as deep relaxation combined with suggestion or persuasion. Basically, you or someone else is trying to eliminate all distractions and then trying to "convince" you to change habits.
One session, generally isn't going to do squat, but if you play a tape or use self-hypnosis (just deep relaxation, while "talking" to yourself or practicing thinking or imagining new, better habits), over time it can be very effective.
The biggest problem with it, is that it takes practice, and isn't a magic bullet. Like anything that takes time and repetition, we often give up because it's not the most exciting thing to do, and we lose interest.
I do use self-hypnosis for pain relief. Using physical techniques to relax (like clenching and then releasing muscle groups, or just imagining myself floating, or melting), while imagining the pain dissolving, or similar images.
That's basically self-hypnosis. I could just as easily use images of changing my unhealthy habits, and I've tried it, and it does work, but the effects are subtle, not dramatic, so I get lazy, or give up, or just don't think to use it.
Just like all of the other small changes that make a difference.
I think that's why sustained weight loss is so very hard. This isn't something that can be fixed by one dramatic change, but by many small changes over time. It's so hard not to want it done yesterday, you know?!
As for hypnosis or self-hypnosis, it's a tool that can be used, but it isn't ever going to be successful alone. And whether it's something you find as useful and doable as all of the other small changes you need to make, really is a very individual thing.
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