Introduction
Hypnosis has been used for centuries as a treatment for pain relief that is both chronic and during operations. Today its use expands beyond just relief from pain to many other uses. There is, however, much controversy over the use of hypnosis in the medical world, even though repeated laboratory studies have shown hypnosis to be a valid and useful treatment. This is mainly due to the fact that medical schools, from the very earliest of times, made a disconnection between the body and the mind. More recently though, research is showing more and more that the mind can affect the body and visa-versa.
Hypnosis is a powerful treatment that can be used to help ‘cure’ many common problems such as smoking addiction, overeating and other eating disorders, phobias, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and more. Treating these personal issues can help you live a more meaningful and enjoyable life.
Many people have something in their lives they would like to change. Hypnosis might be the answer. Perhaps hypnosis can help you overcome a challenging
part of your life that you have been struggling with for years. It is worth a try, right?
Why Consider Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is often used in place of harmful prescription medication to treat a wide variety of ailments. But what is hypnosis used to treat? The practice of hypnosis is called “hypnotherapy”, and is used either as a solitary treatment or in conjunction with other treatments.
Hypnosis is often used to treat the symptoms associated with emotional, behavioural, habitual, social, and medical issues.
Hypnosis can help people deal with:
– Labour and childbirth
– Irritable Bowl Syndrome discomfort
– Post-op surgery bleeding and pain
– Dental treatment recovery
– Migraine headaches
– Chemotherapy nausea/vomiting
– Weak immune systems
– High blood pressure
– Skin diseases
– Asthma
– Negative behaviours like eating disorders, smoking, drug use, bedwetting
– Anxiety disorders, stress
– Atopic and psoriasis dermatitis
– Phobias
Hypnosis is used to help relax a person, allowing them to become much more relaxed and comfortable. For example, a person with chronic pain will reach a new level of relaxation after a hypnotherapy treatment. This new state of relaxation can alleviate the side effects of the pain, such as depression, and can help avoid problems at work and home, and help them better cope with the pain overall.
Hypnosis works better for some people than for others. It is essential that you are motivated for the treatment to work. It is also key to the success of
hypnotherapy for you to be open and ready to take on the suggestions that come out of the session.
With hypnosis, there are options. Which technique should you choose?
This depends on your personal preferences, and what you want to accomplish. A consultation with a trained hypnotherapist will help you determine the technique that is best for you.
A Brief History of Hypnosis
In one form or another, hypnosis has existed since the beginning of time. For example, animals that hibernate are practicing a kind of self-hypnosis by closing down their bodies while allowing their mind and physical being to renew.
Prior to the 1400’s, when a person was sick it was thought to be intentionally caused by the gods as punishment to mortal man. The healers of the time would
have rituals that involved an altered state of mind, either in the sick person or the healer. Every ritual was different, but they typically involved natural remedies
from the rainforest, fire, music and chanting. A common thread in these treatments is that the ill person would be trying to reach a mental place where the mind would take over the body. This would begin the process of body healing. By believing they were being healed, the power of the mind was unleashed.
Some of these rituals are still practices by indigenous tribes around the world today.
There was mention in written documentation of hypnosis as early as the 3rd century in Egypt.
The 18th century was a popular time for hypnosis, when Franz Anton Mesmer, an Austrian doctor, found he was capable of healing people of illnesses without
surgery or medicine. His studies led him to believe that the body was regulated by a magnetic force, and the use of magnets and hypnosis healed people.
This type of hypnosis was called “Mesmerism”, and was very successful. And is where we get the word ‘mesmerised’ from, meaning a very focused state.
Hypnosis: What Is It?
People tend to either fully believe in hypnosis – or they do not!
There is a lot of misinformation out there on the topic of hypnosis. People think that they have to give up all control of themselves when being hypnotised. That is not true, you retain complete control of yourself.
Hypnosis is a normal, natural state of mind that is achieved by most people, in everyday activities. For example, remember the last time you were engaged in a good book? Or the recent car journey where you do not remember actually how you got to your destination! That relaxed, focused mind-body connection is similar to hypnosis. Add a trained, professional guide that offers positive suggestions, and you have a snapshot of a hypnosis session.
When you are hypnotised, you are still in control of your mind. You remain in the hypnotised state because you want to be there. The power of your mind is being used in hypnotherapy, facilitated by the hypnotist. A seasoned professional can lead the trance a specific way, which is helpful when trying to pinpoint a specific problem.
Think of hypnosis as a type of meditation – only with a hypnotist as your guide. Because of the training and experience of the hypnotherapist, often the results are better than when you use self-induced hypnosis.
For hypnosis to work, you needs to be open to the idea. Remember, you are not handing over control of your mind, only believing in the effectiveness of
hypnosis, which helps the mind-body connection.
Common Hypnosis Myths Dispelled
The entertainment shows on stage and television that show “regular” people in a so-called hypnotic trance clucking like a chicken is really just a show. These people are not hypnotised. There is a lot of misinformation out there about hypnosis that it is time to set the record straight and dispel some of the many common myths about this valuable treatment.
Myth #1: You lose complete control of your mind and body.
Not true. You will not lose control over what you do, feel or say. Hypnosis is simply a more focused and heightened state of
consciousness. You are actually more attuned to your surroundings. You WILL NOT lose control over your personality and your WILL maintain your integrity.
Myth #2: Your therapist will control you like a puppet.
False. Hypnosis is completely voluntary. The hypnotherapist simply uses the power of positive suggestion as the vehicle for change. To cause change, the
hypnotherapist uses suggestion to influence the subconscious mind. A hypnotherapist CANNOT get you to do something that you and your subconscious mind do not want to do.
Myth #3: You will forget everything that happens under hypnosis.
A majority of people that go under hypnosis remember everything that is said and done during the session. In rare cases, people who are susceptible to deep
hypnotic states will experience some level of lack of memory, however this is rare.
And, in fact, if the hypnotherapist is good enough, you may remember things that have been buried in your subconscious for years and hindering you have the life you want. The hypnotherapist can then unblock these memories and the emotions attached to them.
Myth #4: You can be sent into a hypnotic trance against your will.
This couldn’t be farther from the truth. For hypnosis to work at all, you need to be a willing participant in allowing it to work.
How to Use Hypnosis to Your Advantage
If your life is not what you would like it to be, hypnosis could help. It is especially helpful if you are doing things that you do not want to do (so the
subconscious is ruling over the conscious mind). For example, issues such as smoking and eating disorders.
Self-hypnosis can be used as a tool when attempting to improve yourself. Its main function is to help you be more patient while working on your self-improvement. In order for self-hypnosis to work, you must first identify the root cause of the problem. This can be very difficult if you try it without the help of a trained hypnotherapist. Once the root cause is identified, you will need to truly believe that hypnosis can, and will, work for you.
Once the source has been found, you can fix it. For example, if your problem is overeating, it is highly likely that the root of the problem actually has little to do with food itself, rather it is something emotional. Therefore, the goal of hypnosis should be to find the emotional issue, or more accurately the trigger that started causing you to eat.
Once found, you can address it head on. Hypnosis will not work if you are trying to fix symptoms instead of the real reason for the problem.
Perhaps your issues involves “passive dysfunction.” Passive dysfunction is like a mental block, and is when the subconscious gets in the way of change. Using
hypnosis to uncover the real reason for the problem will help you, and your hypnotherapist, to create suggestions that will eradicate the issue.
In discovering your subconscious, ask yourself probing questions. Here are a few sample questions:
1. Who is associated with the problem?
2. Is there a location trigger that could be associated with the source of the problem?
3. When did the problem first start in your life?
4. What, in particular, sparks the behaviour?
5. Why this behaviour?
The answers to these questions can provide valuable insight into your dysfunction, and will be helpful when working on your problem using hypnosis.
What Exactly IS Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is difficult to define. People go in and out of a hypnotic-type consciousness everyday. Hypnosis compares to daydreaming in that you are still completely a part of your surroundings, however, your mind wanders.
In hypnosis, the hypnotist gives suggestions to guide a person through a mind journey. By guiding you through the subconscious, the hypnotist can give powerful suggestions that will help you successfully make changes to your negative self-destructive behaviours, while substituting them for positive ones.
There are five states that need to be present before you can be hypnotised.
They are:
1. Concentration
2. Relaxation
3. Motivation
4. Suggestion
5. Imagination
Hypnosis works because it affects your subconscious mind, which is unable to reason. Since it cannot reason, it accepts and acts upon the conscious mind’s
suggestions, both positive and negative! Before the conscious mind can be used as a tool in change, the five states above need to be in place. According to researchers, the conscious mind takes up only 10% of the human brain. Conscious mind activities are everything you do that interacts with the environment around you. The remaining 90% of your brain is the subconscious mind. This part handles the body’s functions – such as breathing, blinking, muscular and skeletal interactions, and even cellular activity.
The subconscious is also where we get creativity and intuition, as well as emotion and rational/irrational behaviour. The subconscious mind often has
influence over the conscious mind. One of the bad parts of the subconscious mind is that it sometimes draws illogical rationalisations that lead to dysfunctional
negative behaviours.
One of the most important points about the subconscious mind is that it is possible to reprogram it.
Commonly known as the gate between the conscious and subconscious mind, the “Critical Factor” has the power to take in or reject suggestions. When the
Critical Factor sees change as threatening, it rejects the suggestion in an effort to protect.
This is why any suggestions that do not coincide with what is programmed in the subconscious are rejected. The Critical Factor has to be bypassed in order for
change to take place. This means that you will go past emotion, memories, and habits. Once this is done, real change will occur.
The Science Behind Hypnosis
There is more to hypnosis than just self-induced hypnotic tapes or the receiving of suggestions from a hypnotist. While these are both valid parts of hypnosis,
there is more science behind the practice.
Brain waves are influential in the effectiveness of hypnosis. The brain has several states. They are:
– Beta: Waking state
– Alpha: Focused concentration
– Theta: Deep meditation
– Delta: Dream state
When the brain is at the alpha or theta state, hypnosis is effective. The mind is influenced during the delta and theta states. In this situation, the voice is a
powerful tool; hence the hypnotherapist is invaluable here.
The subconscious mind can be seen as the connection between the nervous system and the conscious mind. This is why hypnosis is often used to unblock a
memory that has been locked away and ‘forgotten’ on a conscious level but is still affecting your behaviour.
How it Works
How does hypnotherapy work? A hypnotherapist will offer suggestions that the subconscious mind will accept. Once these suggestions are accepted and
implemented, the mind begins making different choices. As your mind accepts the suggestions given when hypnotised, you will find that next time you are presented with a similar situation, your subconscious mind will tell you to act according to the new suggestions rather than the old.
The Difference Between Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is the clinical term used to describe treatment with a trained professional hypnotist. This is typically used to treat a specific problem such as
shyness, smoking cessation, or weight loss. Hypnotherapy is usually done in a practice with deliberate planning and treatment. But, more and more and because every person is different, the treatment is not plan because the hypnotherapist nor the patient actually know what the root issue is until the patient has been hypnotised. Often hypnosis is done in conjunction with other treatments to solve a person’s problem, sometime in conjunction with a medical doctor.
Hypnosis is the looser term for the same thing; however, it usually involves nonscientific treatment. This can include self-hypnosis at home, and hypnosis for
entertainment purposes.
The image of hypnosis has been abused for entertainment purposes for a long time, which has damaged the reputation of a reliable and helpful tool. Once the
stigma of hypnosis has gone away, the true benefit will come into view.
Uses for Hypnosis
Weight Loss
In addition to eating right and exercising regularly, hypnosis is a powerful tool you can use in achieving your weight loss goals. For many people, their intentions
are good, but they often lack the motivation needed to be successful when getting started. Here is how hypnosis can help:
1. You will experience slow weight loss which is most healthy, and longest lasting
2. You will learn healthy eating to keep weight off permanently
3. You will find new habits that you will enjoy, thanks to hypnosis, like exercise and healthy foods
4. You will have more positive self image as a thin person which will help you lose weight
5. You will remove the stress associated with losing weight, causing you to eat less
6. Your view of the weight loss process will change from negative to positive
7. Your increased confidence will help you become a new person
Why do people have weight problems? For various reasons, however, the most common reason is stress or emotional issues. Most people are multi-tasking and trying to balance family and work. The time crunch, coupled with the fact the many people eat comfort foods when stressed, means obesity and weight gain.
Hypnosis can help. Studies show that cortisol is a major player in the body’s response to stress. Stress signals hormones to stimulate the adrenal glands,
which also activates pleasure seeking behaviours. To many, eating comfort foods – those that are high carbs, high fat, high sugar, and high in empty calories – is a pleasure seeking activity.
Hypnosis relaxes the stress drive, causing the brain to not crave comfort foods and overeating. Hypnosis is also used as a proactive tool to avoid overeating in
the first place.
Hypnosis will help you achieve your weight loss goals by:
1. Helping you get, and stay, motivated
2. Change your food cravings from bad-for-you to healthy choices
3. Face cravings by “thinking thin.”
4. Ensuring that the subconscious doesn’t get in the way of your weight loss efforts (emotional reprogramming)
5. Helps you recognise the difference between true hunger and emotional eating.
Improve Academic Performance
You can use hypnosis to turn poor grades into good ones. If the cause of difficulty in school is caused by your disinterest or dislike in it, hypnosis can help.
The suggestions given to your subconscious by a hypnotherapist will help you begin to enjoy learning and going to school each day, which will then impact your
study habits. Your grades will improve by your more focused attention, effort, and enjoyment that you will get from school.
Memory and Concentration Improvement
Also going hand-in-hand with helping you improve your educational experience, hypnosis will help you remember more and concentrate better. There are a
number of reasons why a person’s memory is compromised. Perhaps lack of sleep, lack of food, stress, or ageing has caused you to not be able to recall
information as easily as before.
There are several points that are important when trying to improve your memory and concentration:
1. Heighten emotional states are typically times of easier concentration
2. You need to have the intention to remember
3. You need a real interest in the subject
4. Use imagery and repetition to create more favorable memory situations
5. Being relaxed is essential for recalling
6. You need to have self-confidence that you can have a strong memory
Hypnosis will help you sharpen your memory and improve your focus. You will notice that your memory improves with the ability to remember more, more often.
Use Hypnosis to Bring Yourself Better Health
Hypnosis helps you listen to your body by listening to suggestions given to you while you are in a state of deep relaxation. When you are deeply relaxed – as in
hypnosis – your immune system is at its optimum.
Hypnosis also helps you sleep better. Sleep is essential for body rejuvenation and self-healing. When your brain and body are able to reach a deep state of
sleep, your immune system improves, and your health issues can begin to become less severe. Think of hypnosis as a break from feeling sick.
Hypnosis is often used for headaches. Migraines and tension headache sufferers use hypnosis to relax and reduce blood pressure. With this, the blood vessels are not as constrained and the headaches diminish. Hypnosis helps headaches because: it relaxes you, stress hormones are reduced, and concentration and
memory are improved.
Hypnosis is used for other common health concerns. Teeth grinding can be eliminated through hypnosis. Irritable Bowel Syndrome is also relieved through
hypnosis.
Diabetes
Diabetes is more than just a biological problem. In addition to troubled blood sugar levels, there is pricey medication, depression, and constant medical care.
Hypnosis can help – especially with depression.
Studies have shown that high blood sugar levels lead to biochemical changes in the brain that cause depression. Unfortunately, many doctors are still only
treating the obvious symptoms of diabetes, and ignoring depression. Nearly 46% of people with diabetes have some form of depression linked to the disease.
A two pronged approach is best for diabetes. If medication is coupled with hypnosis, the disease’s entire impact on the mind and body will be treated.
Eating Disorders
Bulimia and Anorexia are both deadly eating disorders that are treatable if the individual wants to be treated. Both diseases involve a distorted body image
when someone who is not overweight – and is many times dramatically underweight – thinks they are “fat.” These behavioral diseases are difficult to treat.
Behavioural treatments and medication are common for these two disorders, and hypnosis can help the mind change from thinking like a bulimic or anorexic, to a person that has a healthy body image and relationship with food.
Hypnosis can be used to reprogram the way a person thinks.
A professional can use positive suggestions to change a bulimic’s or anorexic’s thought process in regards to eating and related behaviours. Hypnosis is also used to find the root cause for the problem. Many times, eating disorders are caused by a person’s attempt to regain control in their life.
Sales Ability
Being successful in sales means that you need to have the right attitude and a strong belief system. Hypnosis is an excellent tool in helping you develop and
build what you need to be an all-star salesperson. One of the best parts about using hypnosis to improve sales ability is that the results are usually obvious right away. Hypnosis will help you create a persona that will make people want to hear about what you are selling. You will be able to develop the interpersonal skills you need to excel in sales.
Assertiveness
Do you have trouble saying “no?” Do you avoid confrontation at all costs; even if that means you have to compromise yourself to keep the peace? Hypnosis can help people learn when it is appropriate to say no, and when you should add something new to your plate. You will learn to be confident, and turn a stress
situation into a calming one, while still not agreeing to everything.
Anxiety
With anxiety comes the primal “fight or flight” reaction, rapid heart rate, tenseness, and nausea. Hypnosis can be used to reprogram the brain into
knowing how to properly handle stressful situations. It can also be used to develop more confidence, relaxation techniques, and coping skills for anxiety-inducing scenarios.
Hypnosis is also used in helping treat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), after a traumatic event. Or perhaps there is anxiety over any number of phobias
– hypnosis can help with that too.
Smoking Cessation
Quitting smoking is one of the hardest things a smoker can do. However, it is of absolute importance for good health and longevity. Hypnosis helps deal with the crankiness, weight gain concern, and helps you stop smoking once and for all.
Hypnotherapy can stimulate your motivation in the subconscious mind. This can be used to discontinue use of cigarettes or cigars. A trained
professional can help you through the power of suggestion to lose interest in tobacco all together.
Pain Relief
Hypnosis provides welcome relief for people suffering with long-term chronic pain. Pain relief is considered one of the most popular uses of hypnosis. No matter if the pain is caused from an accident, Multiple Sclerosis or Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, hypnosis will help your brain perceive the pain differently. One of the
main benefits of using this type of treatment is that you can avoid the many negative side effects of prescription pain killers, such as addiction.
Other Uses for Hypnosis
Hypnosis is an excellent therapy for many other personal issues. It can help students keep focused and motivated to calmly approach learning in the best
way possible. Hypnosis is also great for attitude adjustments so that you have a better, more positive outlook on life. When advancing your career, hypnosis can help with your written and verbal skills, concentration, professional behaviour, tenacity, presentation, and decision-making abilities.
Hypnosis can help athletes get motivated for better performance. It can help you feel more relaxed and perform better when speaking in public. And lastly,
hypnosis is a wonderful way to tackle tough habits, like nail biting.
Who is a Candidate for Hypnosis?
The answer is almost everyone! Hypnosis can be used to help people through troublesome difficult times in life. Thanks to the versatility of hypnosis, it is now
being looked at more seriously by the medical world. To be a candidate for hypnosis, you will be able to:
1. Be motivated
2. Relax
3. Concentrate
4. Use your creative imagination
5. Hear and respond to suggestions
The Mystery Unveiled: What Does it Feel Like?
Are you reluctant to try hypnosis for fear that you will lose control of yourself, and the hypnotist will get you to say or do things that you normally wouldn’t do? Not to worry – that is only done for entertainment purposes, not in real, professional hypnotherapist offices.
Being hypnotised is like daydreaming. You will be very aware of what is being said and done around you; however you will be very relaxed and focused.
Usually, when going through hypnosis you will be lying down on a comfortable couch and relaxing. You will probably fee light, weightless, and calm.
You may not realise that you are hypnotised in the early stages of it, called pre-induction. That is why it is very important to work with a trained professional that
understands this early part of hypnosis and can use it as part of the overall treatment.
When you are in a hypnotic state, you can remember things more clearly, and your other abilities are enhanced as well. Your hypnotist will guide you to reach
your goal.
What Are the Types of Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is broken down into three categories:
1. The most common type of hypnosis is unconscious hypnosis. Most professional like to use the term “self-suggestion” instead, because
hypnosis is simply suggestions being made to the subconscious. Before unconscious hypnosis will work, the individual must believe that it will
work. This positive thinking, and the belief that something WILL happen, can make it possible.
2. A second type of hypnosis is conscious hypnosis. To change your life and the way you live it, you must be aware that change is required.
3. Lastly, there is self-hypnosis. You can use self-guided audio tapes or books to help you hypnotise yourself. Of course, as previously discussed,
no one can be hypnotised unless they want to be, which is also true with self-hypnosis.
Self-Hypnosis Preparations
You can help yourself through self-hypnosis. There are several steps to hypnotising yourself successfully; to attain the goals you have set.
1. Relax. In order for the subconscious mind to take in suggestions, the body and mind must be relaxed. If you have difficulty doing this, try taking
warm bath to relax the body first, and the mind will probably follow.
2. Move into deepening procedures. This will allow your mind to move from the conscious state to hypnotised. This is the ability to let go of your
thoughts, stop waiting to become “hypnotised” and just let it happen.
3. Try the countdown method. When trying to drift off, and relax, try counting down from ten picturing yourself getting more and more relaxed with the
passing of each number.
4. Suggestion application. This is where you clearly designate your goals, and tell your subconscious to act in a way that will achieve the goals. The
most effective way to do this is to memorise them and organise them in advance so that you are prepared. The most effective suggestions are imagery, which involve no words. It is also important that the suggestions are simplistic and achievable.
5. Termination. This is the ending of your self-hypnosis session. Identify to yourself the ending of the session, which will provide a clear differentiation
between your conscious and hypnotic state. Then you can freely go about your daily business.
Being Successful at Self-Hypnosis
It is not difficult to be successful at self-hypnosis. Anyone can learn how to do it well. In order for it to work, you will need to allow it to happen naturally. Forcing it will not work. Let the hypnosis come over you and avoid constantly critiquing what is happening. Here are some tips to help you be successful at self-hypnosis:
– Develop a self-hypnosis schedule. Practice regularly for 10-30 minutes per session.
– Discover a comfortable position. Most people lay down when self-hypnotising.
– Meet with a professional hypnotist to get ideas and post-hypnotic suggestions that will help you refocus on what you have learned.
– Make an induction tape that will help you get hypnotised. There are many professionally made tapes available as well.
– Have a positive attitude. This will not work if your attitude toward it is negative.
– Don’t focus on the bad behaviours and influences; instead focus on the positive behaviours you are going to replace them with. For example, don’t
thin about how bad cigarettes are; instead think about how wonderful a brisk walk will feel when you replace your smoking with exercise.
Making Hypnotic Suggestions Powerful
In order for hypnosis to be successful, the suggestions need to be on point. A very successful combination is ideomotor questioning coupled with suggestion
validation. How do you validate a suggestion? Ask these types of questions:
1. Is this suggestion an acceptable one?
2. How soon will the suggestion work?
3. To achieve the desired results, is there anything else to do?
4. Will there be work out of this suggestion, and will it be effective?
It is important to keep good records when working with hypnosis. This is especially important for ideomotor questioning. Each question needs to be
deliberate and appropriate, so the hypnotist should plan out each question prior to asking it by writing it down. It is okay to write them on the spot, as the answer to the previous question might impact the next one.
There are a few more tips in successful hypnosis. Do not ask the same questions repeatedly. Take notes through the session because the answers to some
questions can be used again later as a future reference.
Remember that hypnosis and the power of suggestion does not change the person that you are, rather it helps you become the best person you can be.
Conclusion
There are many benefits to trying hypnosis with an open mind. Not only will it help you with your specific problem, but you will also become a happier and more
well-rounded person overall.
Private sessions can be costly, ranging from between £60 to £1000 per one hour session with a professional. While this cost might sound high, especially
since you may need to attend multiple sessions, think about what problem you are trying to resolve. Is that nominal fee reasonable for regaining control of your life from smoking or excessive weight gain? If this is a permanent solution, calculate all of the other attempts costs and it is most likely in the same range.
No matter what way you choose to undergo hypnosis, go into it with an open mind and positive attitude. Create goals that are achievable, and work with a
practitioner that is experienced, qualified, and has the Code of Ethics you are looking for. With this mix of features, you will be setting yourself up for a
rewarding, enjoyable experience that you will be happy you did.