Could a trance-like state under hypnosis really cure erectile dysfunction?
So many things can cause erectile dysfunction. There’s your weight, your blood pressure and even your level of sleep. But by far one of the worst causes is the right level of performance anxiety, which happens when you start to question yourself and your body starts to feel like it’s working for you completely. As many men who have suffered from episodes of performance anxiety know well, when shocked, it’s not good for you or your partner.
That’s why, after a recent experience in bed, I decided to seek professional help and eventually turned to a hypnotherapist who assured me he could help me get my mojo back.
Now, if having the best sex of your life is something that interests you, read on. But if you don’t have the time to afford hypnotherapy, don’t worry. There are plenty of other ways to boost your erection.
1 – There’s truth in hypnosis
You’d be forgiven for wondering about the efficacy of hypnotherapy, particularly when it comes to eliminating sexual performance anxiety. So let’s get something straight: hypnotherapy has a proven track record. It really has.
A recent study focused on 79 men with no detectable organic cause for their impotence and divided them into groups treated with testosterone, trazodone and hypnosis. Success rates were 60%, 67% and 80% respectively, with hypnotherapy being the only treatment significantly more effective than placebo.
2 – A real behavioral study
Before a session, my hypnotherapist invited me to fill out a detailed registration form detailing how and when I sleep and for how long, how much alcohol and coffee I consume and how much exercise I get. He reviewed this information and was, suffice to say, appalled.
“I take a holistic approach to hypnotherapy,” he says. “And hypnotherapy is going to help you with your problem. But by looking at some of your life choices, we can get a sense of what’s going on and maybe that’s half the problem, maybe more.”
Apparently, I drink too much, come home too late and drink too much coffee in the morning. The only habit he likes is the vigorous exercise time I commit to daily, and he tells me to stick with it if I want to continue.
3 – You don’t have to be naive for hypnosis to work
Although it’s not a notion I’ll stick with, several people I spoke to before my session seemed to suggest that hypnotherapy wouldn’t work because they’re far too intelligent for that. My specialist assures me that anyone can be hypnotized as long as they are willing to follow your instructions and that everyone is programmable.
“Those who [don’t think of themselves as suggestible] are usually awake, alert people capable of questioning their environment,” he explains. “These people are excellent subjects for hypnosis, because they allow us to talk about the intelligent structure of hypnosis. In fact, they’re the best subjects.
4 – It’s incredible
After discussing my terrible habits, we finally spend some time on hypnosis. We begin by discussing another form I’d filled out that asked whether I rely primarily on my sight, vision or feelings to interpret the world around me. My answers suggest that I’m equally divided between being visual and kinesthetic.
“This information will help me communicate better with you in a moment,” he says, then hands me a headset. He takes a microphone and begins to speak over a very soothing backing track. I close my eyes as he talks about ten o’clock. My body gets heavier and heavier, and each time it reaches “one”, I’m as relaxed as I can be while still being fully aware.
He asks me to visualize a tropical island. He describes the sensory information available to me as I walk over a grassy hill, through a rainforest and onto a beach where I see a fluffy white cloud representing my problems hovering above. Darken. Then dissipate. I feel incredible.
5 – A feeling of well-being
What happened next is a little difficult for me to remember precisely. I was in a trance-like state in which I had lost track of time. Although I never felt under anyone’s control. I remember my hypnotherapist giving me positive affirmations about getting “the hard stuff” at all times. As well as about the vital adventures of my trusty erection. After 5, 10 or maybe 15 minutes – I can’t be sure – he told me again that I was awake. When I opened my eyes, I always felt extremely relaxed and open to suggestion.
6 – You could be hypnotized right now
“You’re in what’s called a hypnagogic state,” he explains. “It’s the transitional phase that occurs between being asleep and awake. You go through it at night and again in the morning. It’s a good time to do some of the positive affirmations you’re going to use. I’ll e-mail them to you now. And, by the way, there are even more ways to turn yourself into a sex god.
7 – It takes determination
My hypnotherapist specifies that for best results, he wants me to continue the work at home. In addition to a pair of BluBlockers that he wants me to wear for an hour or two before bed, there’s an amber bulb that, like the glasses, will keep my melatonin levels from being shaken. I also get brochures on wild Alaskan seafood. Because it stresses the importance of omega-3. As well as on caffeine-free tea and coffee substitutes. As I prepare to leave his office, I also have a box overflowing with original affirmations, rules for writing my own affirmations, audio clips on self-hypnosis. There are at least a dozen articles on the harmful effects of too much alcohol and caffeine and insufficient sleep.
I’ve always hated homework, but if it brings back my mojo, I’m in.
8 – You’ll also need perseverance
As I leave, my specialist tells me that it’s useful to have more than one session. He recommends at least two. “If the sessions are recorded and listened to by a customer for a few weeks, that’s even better,” he says. “We are what we do repeatedly and we do what we think and believe repeatedly. The more you repeat positive suggestions, the more they become part of your state of mind. This affects your reality in a new and better way.”
9 – Hypnosis? It works!
Over the next few days, I cancel an appointment to give myself some time to regroup. Prioritize my sleep, too. I’m also drastically reducing my alcohol intake. My caffeine intake to just two cups of coffee and one cup of tea. All before 2 p.m. (surprisingly, the symptoms of caffeine withdrawal are spared – no headaches or lethargy). Every day, when I wake up and before I go to bed, I say the positive affirmations I’ve received and prepared for myself. Things like: “I’m confident in my ability to have a strong, hard erection when I need it”.
After a 72-hour respite, I make love and everything works perfectly.
