Skin Problems

A script for amelioration of persistent picking and scratching of the skin.
 

Begin with your favorite induction and deepener from Hypnotic World, and then as follows:-

Good - that's a really nice relaxation you have right there. But you know that it's so easy to relax even further - much further than you have before  - a different type of relaxation, deeper, and heavier, much deeper.  Even so, I wouldn't want you to drift down into that very relaxed state too quickly - there are many different things that you may need to hear, things you may need to remember later on, if you wish to - but those things which you don't need to remember to forget, well they can simply be left behind, forgotten, but remembered too, and sometimes it can be so helpful to leave behind those things which may have seemed important - and the simple process of forgetting, or remembering those things forgotten, can be so beneficial - allowing a healing to take place- at a different level of your mind -  that special part of your mind we know as the subconscious.

To help you drift down, deeper down into that very relaxed state of mind, I'm simply going to speak to you, but really it's not important for you to listen very carefully to what I say. It will be very interesting for you to notice though, that as I continue to speak you'll find yourself drifting deeper and deeper - in fact, any sound that you hear from this point in time will only serve to help you relax; sounds in the room, sounds in the distance - relaxing you more and more, drifting down, deeper and deeper still. And as you relax, more and more, become aware of something - become aware of the rhythm of your own breathing - notice how in the past few minutes the rising and falling of your chest has become slower, more regular - a sign that your body is relaxing - become aware of that rhythm right now, the gentle rising - and falling of your chest - rising - and falling - your body almost breathing for itself, a calm, tranquil, natural feeling of peace and relaxation.

Notice with some wonderment that your body has it's very own method of relaxation, each time that body exhales, your relaxation becomes deeper, much deeper - drifting down, further down with each breath - more and more relaxed. To guide you into a much deeper state of mind, in just a few moments from now, I'm going to count from one to three, on the count of three, gently open those eyes, look straight ahead, and then I'll tell you to close those eyes - when you do, you'll be twice as relaxed, yes twice as relaxed as you are right now, twice as relaxed.

Ready - ONE, TWO, THREE, gently open those eyes, looking straight ahead - now close those eyes - good, now feel yourself drifting down, floating down and down just like a feather, floating down and down - twice as relaxed, twice as comfortable, deeply hypnotized. And of course, that breathing, that deep, relaxing breathing, can continue to take you deeper and deeper, as that chest continues to rise - and fall - rise - and fall.

You've become so relaxed now that anything I tell you for your benefit, will become firmly embedded in your mind - anything which is to your benefit will be remembered - never to be forgotten.

Just let me say this - you've come to see me about this problem, this problem with your skin .- and I know that it's been troubling you. But take this thought and allow it to sink deeply into your subconscious mind - many people with problems never get to see me at all, simply because of a belief that of "course they'll get around to fixing it one day", which of course they never do. But you can take great pride in yourself. Great pride in the fact that you made a decision for yourself, a decision which brought you here today. Of course, you arrived none too soon, but you know that it's never too late; never too late to change for the better.  You've certainly been troubled by this itch, and naturally, I don't know exactly what it is. What I do know is that you want your itch for success to be kept - and your itch to do many other things can be kept - In fact, there are a number of itches that you will want to keep. So, any itch that you want to keep - be sure to keep it! But let's be sure that you get rid of any itch you want to lose .-. but no more than you are willing to lose.

So as we think of that possibility, it's interesting to realize, how we sometimes deceive ourselves. Some people tell themselves "This is too hard," when they feel the urge to scratch themselves. Briefly, for a moment it can be hard, but what makes it too hard? Of course, it can be hard to learn new habits, but you've done many difficult things before.

The only thing that makes not scratching yourself "too hard" , is that irrational part of our mind telling ourselves that it is. So remember - there may be a few times when it is briefly hard to not scratch or pick that skin - but it's not too hard. In fact, I wonder if you'll be surprised to notice, how much easier it is to stop scratching or picking, than you'd imagined it would be.

Occasionally, when something goes wrong, some people say to themselves, "I can't stand it," and then give in to a tempting urge. They are deceiving themselves. Of course they can "stand it." When we choose not to scratch or pick our skin, we're not going to explode. We won't evaporate.   For the first few hours, choosing to respect our bodies, may not be entirely pleasant, or completely easy, but we can stand it. There is no logical reason why life should always, be perfectly comfortable, and completely pleasant. But, when we choose to do things which are not entirely easy, we grow as people, and you feel good about yourself. Remember, you don't have to scratch those itches, or pick that skin when you feel that urge coming on, you don't have to do it - you used to do it ...... but that was then, and this is now. You don't need it. You briefly want to for a moment, but, you also want to respect and protect your body - it's your most valuable possession - the only one you will ever have.

So now you know. You know what it is that you don't need to do anymore. And, if you ever pick your skin again, it just won't be the same, because now you'll know that you're doing it .- and that's not the same --- is it?  In fact, if you ever reach out to scratch, or pick any part of your body in the future, you'll be filled with an overwhelming feeling, a feeling which will cause you to pull back your hand very quickly, very quickly. And in the back of your mind, you'll hear a voice, a voice not unlike mine, which will say NO, the word NO resounding in your mind; you just don't need that anymore. You can remember to not forget, that you will remember that word -- NO.

Good, very good. Allow yourself some time now, a short time which may seem to be a long time, or a long time, which may seem to be no time at all, to finally decide within that special part of your mind, your subconscious mind, that today was the beginning of the end of this destructive, hurtful habit.

When, and only when, your mind decides on your behalf that this is so, that this habit can leave you forever, you can slowly allow all of your normal bodily sensations to return, stretch your arms and legs, gently open your eyes, and return to this time and place feeling relaxed, calm and so very confident.  Good!