Breaking Free from Unhealthy Habits: It’s Not About Willpower

Unhealthy Habits - More Than Just a Bad Habit

We often talk about habits like they’re simple things, just something we need more discipline to fix. But if you’ve ever tried to stop something like smoking, overeating, nail biting, or doom-scrolling at 11pm… you’ll know it’s not that simple.

Because habits are rarely just behaviours. They’re often coping strategies, things we’ve learned to rely on when life feels overwhelming, scary, lonely, or stressful.

Behind almost every unhealthy habit, there’s usually an unconscious belief quietly driving it. And until we uncover that, change can feel impossible.

I’ve Been There Too

I’ve seen this pattern play out with many of my clients. But I’ve also seen it in myself.

When I burned out (multiple times), I didn’t just collapse into exhaustion, I reached for the things that gave me comfort. For some people, that’s sugar. For others, it’s cigarettes, wine, or endlessly scrolling on their phone just to numb out. Whatever the outlet, the pattern is often the same:

“I don’t feel good enough / safe / in control / seen... so I reach for something that helps me not feel at all.”

The truth is, many of the habits we beat ourselves up over are actually ways we’ve learned to cope with discomfort — often from very early in life.They made sense once. But now? They might be holding us back.

Why Willpower Isn’t the Whole Story

If you’ve ever thought: “Why can’t I just stop?”, please hear this: It’s not because you’re weak. It’s because your subconscious mind thinks it’s helping you survive.

That part of you, what I sometimes call the Inner Protector, isn’t trying to sabotage you.It’s trying to keep you safe in the only way it knows how.Even if it’s using outdated or unhelpful strategies.

And that’s where Cognitive Hypnotherapy (QCH) can be so transformative.

How QCH Therapy Helps You Break Free

QCH isn’t about surface-level behaviour change or “just say no” tactics.It’s about getting to the root, the belief, the emotion, the memory, that your habit is unconsciously tied to.

Together, we gently explore:

• What this habit gives you (comfort, escape, distraction)

• What it might be protecting you from (stress, fear, shame)

• What beliefs might be living underneath it (e.g. “I can’t cope,” “I’m not strong enough,” “I need this to feel ok”)

Then, using tailored hypnotherapy techniques and Wordweaving (a powerful therapeutic language model I use), we help rewire those beliefs, so your subconscious no longer needs to rely on the old habit to feel safe.

Change Is Possible—And Often Easier Than You Think

The good news?

Once your subconscious truly understands that you are safe, you are enough, and you have other choices, the habit can begin to fall away, without the exhausting battle of willpower.

It becomes easier to pause. To choose differently. To find healthier ways to meet your needs. And to finally stop fighting yourself.

Ready to Feel in Control Again?

If you’re tired of trying to change this on your own, and ready to get to the real reason it’s been so hard, I’d love to help.

I offer a free, no-obligation consultation where we can explore what’s been going on for you and how QCH Therapy might help.

Because you’re not broken. You’re not weak. You’ve just been surviving the best way you knew how. Now it’s time to thrive.