Case Study on Hypnotherapy for Hunger as a Side Effect of Medication

The client is a man in his 50s, working in a technical profession. At the time I saw him he was under treatment for depression using Efexor (Venlafaxine), an antidepressant of the SNRI class, and was experiencing frequent hunger as a side effect. This had led to weight gain. He is 187cm tall and at the time of our appointment weighed 97kg (BMI of 27.7, which is considered overweight). He wished to return to his former weight range of 82-84kg (BMI around 24). 

Background

The client's main exercise was working around his rural property, gardening, cutting scrub and the like. I asked about his diet and he reported that it included items such as wholemeal bread - he was not eating low-satiety foods, in other words.

Procedure

After the usual discussion of hypnosis, I used my "blue sky" visualization induction with the "blue sea" deepening. I began a "parts conference" (encouraging inner mental conflicts to resolve), but partway through realized that this might be redundant if his symptoms arose from a readjustment of brain chemistry, so I asked for an idiomotor signal (movement of a finger) if the parts conference was unnecessary. I received a clear signal that it was.

I also gave suggestions that the brain should adjust its responsiveness to the hunger signals from body to brain, turning down the strength of the signal like turning down the volume on a radio. I included the suggestion that this adjustment would cause reduction of energy intake to the point that the client's weight would return to his desired weight level. I then gave the client an image of a control booth which allowed him to adjust the signal strength consciously when he realized that the signal was stronger than necessary, and suggested that the links between mind and body would strengthen over time to make this control more effective. 

As per my usual practice I gave him the recording of our session on CD, accompanied by my Positive Eating pre-recorded track.

Subsequent to Session

At one-week follow-up, the client had listened to Positive Eating a couple of times but not to the session track. He reported that the situation was much improved already.

At one-month follow-up, he reported that he had had an occasion of "sliding back" but overall the hunger pangs were "nowhere near" as bad.

At just over three months, he reported slow steady progress to the point where the situation was now under good control. At this point I asked for and received his permission to publish this case study.

Client's Report

The client had this to say:

"The overall experience was positive with the benefits apparent immediately after the session. The session was conducted in a professional environment with appropriate opportunities to alter the path of the session e.g. the "parts conference" was not leading in the best direction so Mike changed course. As with most people who have been hypnotised, I was convinced that nothing had happened during the session and I could recall significant events throughout. It must have had the desired effect as my hunger pangs are all but gone,my weight is approaching the half way mark towards the goal. The follow-up calls from Mike show he retains an interest in the clients progress, was always welcome and beneficial. I would not hesitate to recommend Mike to anyone considering hypnosis as a prime or alternative treatment."