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Launch HN: Mindset Health (YC S19) – Hypnotherapy apps for chronic conditions

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Re: Launch HN: Mindset Health (YC S19) – Hypnotherapy apps for chronic conditions

#11

Post by alexnaoumidis »

TACIXAT wrote: post #8
phnofive wrote: post #5

The comparatively effective treatment for IBS was essentially a taped hypnotherapy session - is the rest of the Nerva platform undergoing review? Will you discourage users who’ve used FODMAP, even inadvertently, from signing up?

Please, if you have IBS try concrete treatments like elimination diets with a focus on FODMAPs. Hypnotherapy will not heal your gut.

The FODMAP diet is a great dietary option for managing IBS but gut-directed hypnotherapy has been shown to be just as effective as the diet for people who prefer a non-dietary option. The study we reference that found this result was run at Monash University who created the Low FODMAP diet.

Re: Launch HN: Mindset Health (YC S19) – Hypnotherapy apps for chronic conditions

#12

Post by chrisnaoumidis »

graeme wrote: post #10

Very interesting. I’ve had promising initial results with hypnotherapy for bruxism, though I need to go a few more night doing hypnosis while tracking bruxism to see.

That's great to hear. It's actually one of the areas we're looking at building a product into due to the effectiveness of hypnotherapy with it.

Re: Launch HN: Mindset Health (YC S19) – Hypnotherapy apps for chronic conditions

#13

Post by alexnaoumidis »

spython wrote: post #4

I've had good experiences with hypnotherapy, the most effective being a self-recorded audio. I took a more or less standard hypnotherapy text from Brian Alman and Peter T. Lambrou's book and adapted it to my needs. Experiencing my past self wishing me well, encouraging me, calming me was quite a bit more powerful and trustworthy than any abstract 'radio voice'. Well worth the time to try and record it yourself, for y…

That’s really cool, its taking self-hypnosis to the next level. I personally dislike hearing the sound of my own voice haha but glad to hear you’re finding it helpful.

Re: Launch HN: Mindset Health (YC S19) – Hypnotherapy apps for chronic conditions

#14

Post by TACIXAT »

alexnaoumidis wrote: post #11
TACIXAT wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Please, if you have IBS try concrete treatments like elimination diets with a focus on FODMAPs. Hypnotherapy will not heal your gut.

The FODMAP diet is a great dietary option for managing IBS but gut-directed hypnotherapy has been shown to be just as effective as the diet for people who prefer a non-dietary option. The study we reference that found this result was run at Monash University who created the Low FODMAP diet.

As a celiac who cannot digest some FODMAPs this sounds like complete snake oil. The answer is not eating the foods. I meditate. It would be really reckless if someone told me if I just meditated hard enough I could eat gluten again. You don't know what underlying condition causes the IBS and continuing to consume a food that makes you sick could lead to untold damage.

Re: Launch HN: Mindset Health (YC S19) – Hypnotherapy apps for chronic conditions

#15

Post by graeme »

alexnaoumidis wrote: post #9
phnofive wrote: post #5

The comparatively effective treatment for IBS was essentially a taped hypnotherapy session - is the rest of the Nerva platform undergoing review? Will you discourage users who’ve used FODMAP, even inadvertently, from signing up?

Great question! The approach used in the study also used psychoeducation and breathing exercises as well and we’re in the early stages of an observational study into the Nerva program. What do you mean re discouraging users who’ve tried FODMAP?

I read their comment as perhaps meaning that the study showed fodmap + hypnotherapy was no more effective than fodmap + hypnotherapy. A result I found surprising. (Unless it means the problem was effectively solved in both case, so no more improvement was possible)

Re: Launch HN: Mindset Health (YC S19) – Hypnotherapy apps for chronic conditions

#16

Post by alexnaoumidis »

TACIXAT wrote: post #14
alexnaoumidis wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The FODMAP diet is a great dietary option for managing IBS but gut-directed hypnotherapy has been shown to be just as effective as the diet for people who prefer a non-dietary option. The study we reference that found this result was run at Monash University who created the Low FODMAP diet.

As a celiac who cannot digest some FODMAPs this sounds like complete snake oil. The answer is not eating the foods. I meditate. It would be really reckless if someone told me if I just meditated hard enough I could eat gluten again. You don't know what underlying condition causes the IBS and continuing to consume a food that makes you sick could lead to untold damage.

I am actually Celiac as well and follow a strict gluten free diet so I know where you’re coming from. Although the cause of IBS is unknown, it’s a functional condition which means it’s problem with how the gut works but doesn’t lead to any damage. Instead, it’s thought that visceral hypersensitivity could be at play, where the nerves in the gut are overreacting to the gas and expansion caused by the fermentation of FODMAPs. IBD (and Celiac disease) on the other hand leads to gut damage and we would definitely recommend against using Nerva for that - it will not work.

Re: Launch HN: Mindset Health (YC S19) – Hypnotherapy apps for chronic conditions

#17

Post by graeme »

TACIXAT wrote: post #14
alexnaoumidis wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The FODMAP diet is a great dietary option for managing IBS but gut-directed hypnotherapy has been shown to be just as effective as the diet for people who prefer a non-dietary option. The study we reference that found this result was run at Monash University who created the Low FODMAP diet.

As a celiac who cannot digest some FODMAPs this sounds like complete snake oil. The answer is not eating the foods. I meditate. It would be really reckless if someone told me if I just meditated hard enough I could eat gluten again. You don't know what underlying condition causes the IBS and continuing to consume a food that makes you sick could lead to untold damage.

Gluten isn’t a fodmap. Instead, fodmaps are present in almost all gluten containing foods. But sourdough bread has low fodmaps, but does have gluten.

So I think you’re conflating two issues. Celiac is an absolute intolerance of gluten, whereas fodmap ibs is based on being unable to digest large quantities. No one really knows why, and it’s not implausible some mechanism such as stress reduction or hypnotherapy would help.

Whereas for a celiac no such solution would work, there’s a real inability to digest. Perhaps in your case this extends to some fodmaps, but gluten isn’t a fodmap.

Also fodmap diets are generally elimination + reintroduction.

Re: Launch HN: Mindset Health (YC S19) – Hypnotherapy apps for chronic conditions

#18

Post by spython »

alexnaoumidis wrote: post #13
spython wrote: post #4

I've had good experiences with hypnotherapy, the most effective being a self-recorded audio. I took a more or less standard hypnotherapy text from Brian Alman and Peter T. Lambrou's book and adapted it to my needs. Experiencing my past self wishing me well, encouraging me, calming me was quite a bit more powerful and trustworthy than any abstract 'radio voice'. Well worth the time to try and record it yourself, for y…

That’s really cool, its taking self-hypnosis to the next level. I personally dislike hearing the sound of my own voice haha but glad to hear you’re finding it helpful.

Haha, yes, I took a few tries to get the tone of the voice quite right. Maybe something for to explore in future releases of your app? A guided, self-created hypnotherapy session. Could take away the fear of and resistance to 'losing control' that many experience when the idea of being subjected to hypnosis comes up.

Re: Launch HN: Mindset Health (YC S19) – Hypnotherapy apps for chronic conditions

#19

Post by graeme »

chrisnaoumidis wrote: post #12
graeme wrote: post #10

Very interesting. I’ve had promising initial results with hypnotherapy for bruxism, though I need to go a few more night doing hypnosis while tracking bruxism to see.

That's great to hear. It's actually one of the areas we're looking at building a product into due to the effectiveness of hypnotherapy with it.

I’m going to try the ibs version, as I have that too. Have tried low fodmap before incidentally, it helped.

Re: Launch HN: Mindset Health (YC S19) – Hypnotherapy apps for chronic conditions

#20

Post by TACIXAT »

I believe the IBS product is dangerous. There are foods I cannot digest because my gut has been damaged from celiac disease (high fructose foods). Even if Nerva is effective at treating IBS (perhaps, especially if it is effective) that would be treating a symptom for an underlying disease while maintaining the activity that damages your body.

I am incredibly grateful I never heard about this before trying an elimination diet. The simple fact is that if I pursued and did not also restrict my diet I would be destroying my body and likely end up sicker than I was before. If you have IBS please pursue a real diagnosis and treat or manage any underlying conditions.

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