Athletes have long been front runners in the areas of using the mind to help the body, and this year is no exception.  Last week the San Francisco Chronicle published an article about the manager of the San Francisco Giants using hypnotherapy to easily leave behind a 36-year addiction to chewing tobacco.  After decades of trying to quit using willpower alone, it only took a single 3-hour hypnosis session to free him from the unhealthy cancer-causing habit.  He admits that he has thought of chewing several times since his session last summer, but hasn’t had any trouble with cravings. He just chooses not to anymore.

His subconscious mind had adopted a belief that chewing tobacco made him better at baseball.  With his livelihood and identity tied to his success in the game, why would his subconscious mind support a change that it would perceive as threatening this success and security? Turns out the chew was actually a distraction and causing stress.  Now that he no longer chews, Bochy reports being even more present and effective in the game.

If you’d like to find out how hypnotherapy can help you be an even better version of you, and get some help dropping habits that are no longer serving you, give me a call at (510) 453-0236 or drop me an email at [email protected]. Batter up!

Gwen Knapp, San Francisco Chronicle Columnist