Since hypnotherapy can be effective for a percentage of the population for various treatments, why is it not offered as a standard therapy for everyone in terms of setting them up for health benefits at a younger age? For example, some people claim to have had successful results with hypnotherapy as a smoking cessation tool. If it’s effective, why is it not offered more widely as a smoking prevention tool, or healthy eating tool, or any other pro-healthy lifestyle aid before those bad habits are formed? Preventing smoking, or suggesting healthy food habits at a young age would save the NHS (or other public healthcare provider) billions long-term if it was effective. It seems like, if hypnotherapy is generally accepted as a mechanism to treat certain conditions (which it appears to be in various quarters of traditional medicine), why is it used more as a reactive treatment rather than a proactive one?

  • Quicky@lemmy.worldOP
    3·
    3 months ago

    Yeah, I can absolutely see the controlling aspect. That said, schools, parents and health institutions already provide education geared towards positive health habits, which you can argue is similarly controlling.

    I’m not suggesting hypnosis should be forced on everyone at birth - it’s not something I’ve ever considered for myself. It’s more of a shower thought. I was wondering why it’s not more widespread as a preventative mechanism if, as seems to be the case through various studies, it can have a positive effect on the reduction of pain, addiction and various psychological issues.

    I really don’t agree with your last sentence though. “Fixing” problems before they arise is exactly why we, particularly governments, already spend millions on the promotion of wellbeing and heathy lifestyles in order to prevent health issues in later life.

    • Samvega
      1·
      3 months ago

      I really don’t agree with your last sentence though. “Fixing” problems before they arise is exactly why we, particularly governments, already spend millions on the promotion of wellbeing and heathy lifestyles in order to prevent health issues in later life.

      I’m pretty familiar with the differences in life expectancy statistics caused by health inequality. I’m not sure that you can truly promote wellbeing in a world where people are treated like they’re vastly less valuable.

      • Quicky@lemmy.worldOP
        3·
        3 months ago

        Well “the world” is a big place, but health is already a factor within education in countries that don’t want their population to become a burden on the state, while also maximising their workforce.