We live in a society where approval of others can have a significant influence on our lives. How many times have we found ourselves wondering if our actions, ideas, or even our appearance are approved by those around us? Unfortunately, this pursuit of approval can turn into an emotional dependency, altering the way we live and perceive ourselves, preventing us from achieving emotional and psychological well-being.

It is in this context that the Brazilian Society of Hypnosis (SBH) emerges as a reliable and respected source in the study and practice of clinical hypnosis, dedicated to promoting mental health and assisting those facing emotional dependencies. With a definition aligned with the guidelines of the American Psychological Association (APA), hypnosis is presented as a powerful tool to help in various cases where stress and anxiety can hinder progress and improvement.

We believe in scientific hypnosis as a great enhancer of health treatments, increasing effectiveness when combined with evidence-based practices. With this, we aim to provide health professionals with the opportunity to elevate their professional reach to better serve their patients.

Understanding the Desire for Approval

Understanding the human desire for approval from others is the first step on this journey. We are social beings, and it is normal to seek the opinions of others. However, when this longing turns into a constant need, it can lead to serious consequences for emotional and mental health, leading to stress, anxiety, and much more.

Consequences of Approval Dependency

Emotional dependency can erode self-esteem, making the individual a hostage to the opinions of others. Symptoms such as fear of rejection, low self-confidence, insecurity, and anxiety, among others, may occur.

Understanding the Desire for Approval

Understanding the desire for approval is essential in the quest to help people emotionally dependent on this approval. At some point, we all hope for or seek the approval of others. It is natural to want to connect with others and be valued by them.

What drives this constant search for approval?

The answer lies in our upbringing and society. We are often raised to please others and meet social expectations. This can lead to a cycle of constant seeking of approval that limits authenticity and emotional autonomy.

Why is it important to understand this need?

Because emotional dependency on approval from others can lead to insecurity, self-censorship, and even affect mental health. Understanding this need is the first step to building a respectable self-esteem and breaking the cycle of dependency.

And what is the role of clinical hypnosis in this process?

Clinical hypnosis can be a powerful tool in the process of breaking free from emotional dependency on others’ approval. It acts as a light that illuminates consciousness and emotions, helping the person recognize the dependency and find ways to achieve emotional autonomy.

Consequences of Approval Dependency

The constant search for approval from others can lead to a variety of negative consequences. The first and most visible is the loss of identity. You end up molding yourself so much to others’ desires that you forget who you truly are.

Repeatedly, you may find it difficult to make decisions on your own, as you are used to basing them on others’ opinions. This is extremely detrimental to your independence and personal autonomy.

Another common consequence is chronic insecurity. This occurs because, by worrying so much about others’ opinions, you allow external validation to determine your worth.

“Am I doing it right? Did they like me? Am I good enough?”

These are frequent questions, and the answer will never be sufficient. After all, others’ approval is fickle. Someone may approve of you today and disapprove tomorrow. Therefore, basing your worth on this is like building a house on sand.

Emotional dependency on others’ approval can also lead to stress and emotional exhaustion. This is because it is exhausting to constantly try to please others and avoid their displeasure.

Finally, but not least, the incessant search for approval hinders your personal growth. This is because, in trying to please everyone, you end up avoiding criticism and constructive feedback, which are essential for our development.

Identifying Emotional Dependency

A powerful way to identify emotional dependency on others’ approval is to pay attention to your reactions. Do you feel devastated or depressed when someone criticizes you? Do you feel helpless fear of any rejection? These are strong indications of emotional dependency.

But then, how to overcome this dependency? One of the answers lies in self-observation. Monitoring and documenting your feelings and actions is an effective way to create self-awareness. Note your interactions and reactions, and over time, you may identify triggers that lead to excessive seeking of approval from others.

It also helps to understand that approval from others is something over which we only control a part. In fact, someone’s opinion of us is more a reflection of them, their values, experiences, and perceptions. Understanding this gives us a form of emancipation.

Look within, listen to your inner voice, and trust your own judgments. Consider consulting health professionals who help strengthen emotional awareness. Many of them use clinical hypnosis techniques as a therapeutic tool.

Clinical Hypnosis in Overcoming Approval Dependency

We long for approval from others because we long for connection and acceptance. This need makes us adapt our behaviors, often abandoning our authenticity in exchange for others’ approval. The vicious cycle of resulting emotional dependency can be challenging to break. However, there is an effective way to address this concern: clinical hypnosis.”

How clinical hypnosis can help

Clinical hypnosis has proven to be a useful technique in overcoming various emotional conditions, including dependency on others’ approval. Hypnosis sessions allow us to access our automatic thoughts and behaviors and work to modify how we interpret our environment and react to it.

Through hypnosis, we can redirect focus to self-acceptance instead of seeking external approval. In this way, we begin to value our opinions and feelings, which in turn helps consolidate our self-esteem and emotional autonomy.

The path through hypnosis

During hypnosis sessions, you will be in a state of focused consciousness, allowing greater access to your automatic thoughts and behaviors. The therapist can then help you reinterpret how you perceive the need for others’ approval and how you react to it.

This paves the way for transforming emotional dependency into emotional independence, allowing you to live in a more authentic and fulfilling way.

In short, clinical hypnosis is an effective means to deal with and overcome dependency on approval from others. In the pursuit of mental and emotional health, it emerges as a powerful tool for self-knowledge and emotional liberation.

Approaching Self-Acceptance

It may seem like a daunting task to detach from the weight of “approval from others”. But this is where the process of self-acceptance plays its crucial role. Self-acceptance is the recognition and appreciation of who you truly are.

Follow only one path: your own. What does it matter if others do not approve of your career choice, lifestyle, or personal decisions? The key to achieving self-acceptance is to honor yourself, recognizing that your opinions and feelings are valid and important, regardless of what others may think.

It is fair to question: “But isn’t this being selfish?”. No, it is not. Self-respect and self-esteem are fundamental to mental health and should not be confused with selfishness. Devoting care and attention to yourself does not undermine the care and attention you give to others. On the contrary, it strengthens us to better care for the people around us.

Engaging in self-acceptance/clinical hypnosis techniques is an excellent first step on this journey. Through this approach, you can learn to appreciate yourself, not to beat yourself up for past mistakes, and begin to enjoy life without the burden of incessantly seeking approval from others.

You will also develop skills to manage self-criticism, recognize and value your strengths, and learn not to let others’ opinions define you.

Setting Boundaries and Gaining Emotional Independence

An important step in overcoming the need for approval from others is setting your own boundaries. This means learning to stand your ground, to say ‘no’ when necessary, and to respect your own needs and feelings. After all, the reality is that we cannot please everyone, and we should not sacrifice our well-being for others’ approval. This only causes us stress and dissatisfaction.

Emotional independence, in turn, involves recognizing that each of us is responsible for our own emotions. Of course, the environment and others influence us, but at the end of the day, we decide how to react to these influences. This means that instead of seeking external approval, we should cultivate self-approval.

But how to do this in practice? Here are some tips:

• Practice self-acceptance: accept yourself as you are, with qualities and flaws, without seeking perfection.
• Invest in self-knowledge: the more you know yourself, the easier it is to deal with your own emotions.
• Talk about your feelings: expressing emotions instead of suppressing them helps to deal with them in a healthier way.
• Set personal goals: have clear objectives for your life and work to achieve them, regardless of others’ opinions.

Achieving emotional independence is not an easy task, but it is a journey worth taking. And clinical hypnosis can be a great ally in this process. Are you ready to embark on this journey?

Hypnosis Exercises for Self-Esteem and Autonomy

Hypnosis exercises can be a powerful tool to help strengthen self-esteem and promote autonomy. Here are some exercises we suggest to our clients at the Brazilian Society of Hypnosis.

Visualization of better responses: This exercise involves revisiting past experiences where “approval from others” was a dominant factor. Now, in the relaxed state of hypnosis, imagine yourself responding differently to these situations. Visualize yourself acting with confidence and independence, rejecting the desire for external approval.

Practice of self-dialogue: This practice can be useful for replacing negative thoughts with positive affirmations. In the state of hypnosis, you will reprogram the thoughts that link self-worth to “approval from others“. Repeat to yourself – “My self-esteem does not depend on others’ opinions. I am enough on my own”.

Focus on breathing:

This simple exercise can promote relaxation, necessary for hypnosis. Focusing on breathing can help silence the need for “approval from others“, allowing even greater focus on achieving emotional autonomy.

Of course, all these hypnosis exercises for self-esteem and autonomy are best performed with the support of an experienced hypnotherapist professional. Professional guidance ensures that you are doing the technique correctly and safely while seeking to improve your self-esteem and break free from the habit of seeking approval from others.

Signs of Improvement and Emotional Development

Imagine the following situation: you are on a road full of potholes, but you can see that they are being repaired. Similarly, on the road to emotional development, you can notice signs of improvement. Discovering that you do not need approval from others to be happy is liberating.

The first signs of progress may be subtle, but they are essential. You start to feel better about yourself, less anxious and stressed, even when facing rejection or disapproval. Additionally, there is an increase in self-esteem and confidence in your own abilities and decisions.

What is the purpose of others’ approval?

The need for approval can give way to the recognition that it is vital to prioritize your own needs and desires. This does not mean you stop caring about others’ feelings and opinions, but that you no longer depend on them to find personal fulfillment and happiness.

You are good enough

An important milestone is when you truly internalize and accept the idea that you are good enough as you are. You do not need to change to please others or conform to their standards. After all, your approval is what counts.

Establish boundaries

Finally, learning to set boundaries and say “no” without guilt or fear of rejection is a clear sign that you are becoming more emotionally independent. Thus, we are focused on rejecting emotional dependency and achieving a fuller life.

Prevention and Valuation of Mental Health

Mental health is a vast field and requires constant care. When working with clinical hypnosis to help people deal with dependency on approval from others, it is important to always remember the valuation and prevention in mental health.

In the context of clinical hypnosis, we can understand prevention as a set of measures adopted to prevent the emergence of mental disorders or to prevent existing conditions from worsening. Valuation, on the other hand, refers to the recognition of the importance of mental health in the overall well-being of individuals.

So, how can we unite these two concepts in our daily work as hypnotherapists?

1. Education

We need to educate people about the importance of mental health and the necessary care to maintain it. Showing that seeking approval from others is normal but cannot become a dependency is fundamental.

2. Personal Care

Many times, we forget to take care of our own mental health. How can I help others if I am not well? Anxiety, stress, and feelings of inadequacy are signs that something is not right.

3. Social Support

Encouraging the formation of support networks is an excellent prevention strategy. Having someone to talk to, who offers support in difficult times, is essential.

Let’s make mental health a priority?

Conclusion

In conclusion, we understand that approval from others is a sentiment that strongly influences how we live, make choices, and behave. While it is a basic need for social interaction, always seek balance to avoid becoming a hostage to this approval.

Clinical hypnosis, with its focus on cognitive restructuring and changing automatic behaviors, provides important tools for those who want to help people overcome this emotional dependency. Combined with evidence-based practices, scientific hypnosis enhances any treatment, helping achieve better results, whether in dealing with patients or in your own process of self-knowledge.

The path to change

Do not let approval from others dictate the terms of your life or the lives of those you seek to help. By incorporating clinical hypnosis into your practice, you have the chance to promote significant changes, resulting in more autonomy, self-esteem, and confidence in social interactions.

If you are interested in learning scientific hypnosis to apply professionally, boost results in your current profession, or even start a new career, the Brazilian Society of Hypnosis may be your next step. We have a range of training and postgraduate courses in hypnosis based on evidence.

So, why not start today? Access and learn about our course options through the link: hypnosis courses. Join us in the mission of promoting emotional health through hypnosis.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can approval from others affect our mental health?

The constant pursuit of approval from others can negatively affect mental health, resulting in stress, anxiety, and low self-esteem. When we rely on external recognition for internal satisfaction, it becomes difficult to cultivate self-confidence and self-love.

Can clinical hypnosis really help overcome approval dependency?

Yes, clinical hypnosis has proven effective in this area. The process aims to change subconscious thought patterns, helping the person gain more emotional autonomy, boosting self-acceptance, and strengthening self-esteem.

How can I identify if I am overly dependent on others’ approval?

Some people may feel constant discomfort if they do not receive others’ approval, a sense of personal invalidation, or a constant fear of rejection. It is important to seek help from a qualified professional if you notice these symptoms.

What is self-acceptance, and how can I develop it?

Self-acceptance is a state of gratitude and appreciation for who you are as an individual. You can develop self-acceptance through the constant practice of positive self-affirmations, mindfulness exercises, and treatments like clinical hypnosis.

Are there specific hypnosis techniques to aid in emotional independence?

Yes, there are. They include visualization, suggestion, and induction techniques that are tailored to the client’s individual needs. They aim to change negative thoughts and attitudes related to approval dependency.

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