Self-hypnosis for Schizoid Personality Disorder
By
PsychReel
In this blog post named ‘Self-hypnosis for Schizoid Personality Disorder,’ we will be talking about what is self-hypnosis, what Schizoid personality disorder is, symptoms and causes of SPD, pros & cons of self-hypnosis, and also a step-by-step guide to practice self-hypnosis.
Self-hypnosis for Schizoid Personality Disorder
Self-hypnosis has been used as an alternative technique to help people with various disorders like borderline personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder, dissociative identity disorder, etc.
Before we get to how self-hypnosis can be used for schizoid personality disorder (SPD), we need to understand what is hypnosis and schizoid personality disorder.
What is Self-hypnosis?
Self-hypnosis entails becoming completely immersed in the experience while making positive ideas to yourself about how to achieve your objectives.
Self-hypnosis, unlike working with a therapist, is an individual practice. It may be an extremely empowering practice as you learn to have more control over your thoughts and behaviors while also taking care of the physical and mental aspects of your health with the advantages of self-hypnosis.
Self-hypnosis is a method of creating an internal state that has been used for years.
While it may seem difficult to enter a trance, it is one of the few types of hypnosis that is not as difficult as it sounds. As we know from the introduction, man is in a trance state several times a day. Interestingly, you sleep at night and go into a light trance before a night of deep sleep.
The brain waves that help us work give us an idea of how we go into a trance state. Our “awakened” brain waves are called beta waves.
Alpha waves are lower levels, followed by theta waves and finally delta waves. Beta waves are the fastest of the four-wave types, and delta waves are the slowest. You want to go from beta to alpha and ideally theta to go into a trance state. You don’t want to enter the delta as it will put you to sleep.
What is Schizoid Personality Disorder (SPD)?
People with SPD are those who are emotionally isolated and indifferent to the world around them. They have little desire for relationships and few emotional attachments to family members. They express little or no discomfort.
When it comes to working, they prefer isolated studies in subjects that do not require human contact and connection. They may like stand-alone games such as computer games and puzzles.
In the interview, his thoughts are clear and reality tests sound. The best cartoon of a person with a schizoid character would be a single, outdated, lab-oriented, frustrated professor.
The differential diagnosis of schizoid personality disorder includes schizophrenia, paranoid personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive, and runaway personality disorders.
What does the research say about schizoid personality disorder?
It is estimated that schizoid personality disorders affect approximately 7.5% of the population, and men are diagnosed twice as often as women.
Like other personality disorders, close relatives of people with SPD have a higher chance of developing a schizoid personality disorder, but this relationship is less stable.
Most people who have had SPD in the past lead better lives when they seek proper treatment, psychotherapy, and work through their issues.
If you’re facing this, it may be a good idea to seek the help of a therapist or other mental health professional. You can find a therapist at BetterHelp who can help you learn how to cope and address it.
Symptoms and Causes of Schizoid Personality Disorder (SPD)
Symptoms of SPD
• They may appear often cold to themselves.
• They have very few lasting relationships and most are limited to their family members
• They like to spend a lot of time alone.
• They may intuitively misunderstand others, which can put them at risk of becoming victims.
• Emotional experiences are temporary and infrequent.
• They can be forced to act, feel and live like everyone else.
• They may try to express their views.
• They may want to feel something and try to indulge in self-harming tendencies
Causes of SPD
The causes of schizoid personality disorder are unknown, but it is thought to be caused by inherited and environmental factors.
The risk of developing human SPD is increased if a family member already has schizophrenia, schizoid personality disorder, or schizoid personality disorder. A stressful childhood history may be associated with the onset of SPD later on, especially if they grew up in an emotionally distant and toxic family.
Treatment for Schizoid Personality Disorder
Even under the weight of schizoid personality disorder, people with SPD do not seek treatment. Instead of asking for help, they may withdraw and resist any treatment or help from close ones.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy can be a difficult course of action for someone with SPD, but it can also be a very effective technique for changing their viewpoint and improving their quality of life.
Because people with SPD find it difficult to relate to, trust others, and express their opinions, it may take a long time for effective psychotherapy to lead to significant evolution. But for those making this rescue journey, the effort is well worth it.
Because SPD causes internal turmoil as well as external disconnection, it is beneficial for the client to be in a safe, welcoming and communal environment that supports individual and environmental therapy.
CBT
Techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy help the client change the way they perceive and react to others. However, it can also be an opportunity to help them understand and protect their boundaries.
Family therapy
Family therapy sessions are part of a long-term therapeutic programme. Family members and other close ties may learn more about how to support loved ones with schizoid personality disorder during this time.
After all, compassion is not the denial or “correction” of a person’s identity; It is about exploring and embracing possible experiences and relationships, even when the client feels secure and confident.
Residential care programs
People with SPD often find it easier to be alone. In this way, they do not try to feel or be something that does not exist. They don’t need masks or artificial responses to make the people around them feel good or accept them.
The residential care setting works to address these expectations and barriers to recovery. The right program will help the client find a productive and healthy balance between the alone time they need and the social relationships that provide opportunities for an inclusive life and personal growth.
Under the guidance of a warming care team in long-term inpatient treatment, a person with SPD can approach their healing journey at their own pace – as usual, colliding with the speed and impatience of their daily environment, reversing the overall problem.
Individual vs Group therapy
After individual therapy helps the client develop self-awareness and confidence, group therapy can be an opportunity to connect, trust, and work together with others.
Medications
Although specific drugs are not formulated for the treatment of schizoid personality disorder, there are medications that may be useful in the treatment of co-occuring disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Pros and Cons of Self-Hypnosis
Advantages of self-hypnosis:
- Self-hypnosis uses your subconscious mind to develop positive attitudes and stimulate positive habits.
- Deals with mental health issues such as depression
- Helps with sleep disorders and weight loss
- Stimulates personal growth
- Uses the power of the mind to overcome chronic pain experiences
- Helps manage stress and anxiety issues
- Proven results from addiction and pain management
Disadvantages of self-hypnosis :
- If you don’t want to try self-hypnosis, it is ineffective because you don’t believe in it.
- Self-hypnosis is not a quick fix. In most cases, it takes 4-6 sessions to create lasting healing and change for the full results of hypnotherapy.
- It also does not work for everyone
- It is not easy to practice, even though it sounds easy, it is difficult in practice.
Self-hypnosis step-by-step guide for schizoid personality disorder
- Get comfortable and wear light clothing
- Find a calm spot for yourself
- Set your goals and expectations from self-hyponsis
- Find something easy to concentrate on like a flame of a candle.
- Start by taking deep and slow breaths
- Let go of all your muscle tension and relax
- Visualize your happy place or places that give you calm and soothe you
- Spend time in your happy space like standing in a meadow and feeling the wind on your face
- Affirm that you are doing well and feeling calm
- Work towards the goal you set for yourself
- Talk to yourself about your goal
- Affirm your goals through your words
- Open your eyes slowly and come back to the normal state
Self-hypnosis and its effectiveness for schizoid personality disorder
There are not many studies to prove the effectiveness of self-hypnosis in people with personality disorders. In general, since people with schizoid personality disorder do not pay much attention to how they behave or how it affects other people, they are not open to experiences.
But there is no harm in giving it a try, what if it helps.
Conclusion
We discussed what self-hypnosis is, what is a schizoid personality disorder, the symptoms and causes of SPD, the pros, and cons of self-hypnosis, a step by step guide of self-hypnosis for people with SPD.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs): Self-hypnosis for schizoid personality disorder
What type of personality has hypnotic susceptibility?
People with dissociative disorders, like dissociative identity disorders and disorders where there are psychotic symptoms present, are most susceptible to hypnotic suggestion.
What do people with schizoid personality disorder prefer?
People with Schizoid personality disorder prefer to be alone and do all their stuff alone. They work best in positions which require you to work alone.
Can you heal from schizoid personality disorder?
There is no permanent cure for Schizoid personality disorder, however the symptoms can be managed. Some people might be able to hold a job and lead a normal life whereas some others cannot.
Does schizoid get worse with age?
Most personality disorders do get worse with age. People might find it difficult to manage their symptoms as they get older and managing symptoms even feel tedious after a point.
Can you hypnotize yourself?
Self-hypnosis is possible. It takes time to properly practice self-hypnosis as it is something which requires a lot of patience.
What kind of person is the best candidate for hypnosis?
Children and young adults are good candidates for self-hypnosis because they are suggestible and also have good imagination. Also if you do not believe that you can be hypnotised or if you do not trust your Hypnotherapist then you probably cannot be hypnotised. That is because Hypnosis requires complete relaxation and trust.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.).
Thylstrup B, Hesse M, (2006). “I am not complaining”- Ambivalence construct in schizoid personality disorder. Am J Psychother. 63: 147-167.
Wang, F., Chen, W., Huang, J. et al, (2011). Preliminary study of relationships between hypnotic susceptibility and personality disorder functioning styles in healthy volunteers and personality disorder patients. BMC Psychiatry 11, 121.
