Since around the 18th century, hypnosis has been treading the line between quackery and therapy. But it has increasingly been using steam as an effective treatment for chronic diseases.
What is Hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is a treatment that helps to get a person in an altered state of consciousness. This state is known as trance. An individual is deeply relaxed when in a hypnotic state and very open to suggestions. Hence hypnotherapy helps treat several health problems, including:
- Stress
- Skin diseases
- Weight loss
- Depression
- Sleep disturbances
- Smoking cessation
During a typical hypnotherapy session, the hypnotist leads the person to a relaxed state. Once the person is calm but alert, the hypnotist brings attention to the behaviors they would like to change. The hypnotist then gives words of encouragement. He says, “You don’t feel stressed anymore.” Also, he may provide ideas, like, “Any time you feel stressed, just pause, breath, and feel energized.”
The hypnotist gives affirmations and positive behavioral advice. After that, he will eventually guide them back to their normal state. Before the session’s conclusion, the hypnotist and the person will discuss the experience.
History of Hypnotherapy
There is nothing new about inducing trance-like states to alter actions or enhance mental states. Such practices may have a link with religious or spiritual traditions. More formal exploration of hypnosis’s therapeutic uses began in the late 1700s. But it did not gain scientific credibility until much more recently. For example, Jean-Martin Charcot, have pioneered hypnosis to treat a condition known as hysteria.
Modern researchers have further researched:
- How we can use hypnosis
- What conditions it can treat,
- Compared to other treatments, how useful it is
Such scientific studies have supported the use of hypnotherapy as an alternative therapy. This technique may gain greater acceptance in treating different conditions.
Why is it done?
Hypnotherapy can be an effective way to cope with stress and anxiety. In particular, hypnosis may reduce stress and anxiety even before a medical procedure.
Hypnosis has been studied under other conditions, including:
- Pain control. Hypnotherapy can help with burning pain, cancer, childbirth, irritable bowel syndrome. Also, it can help in fibromyalgia, temporomandibular joint problems, dental surgery.
- Hot flashes. Hypnosis may relieve the symptoms of hot flashes of menopause.
- Change of behavior. In curing insomnia, bed-wetting, smoking, and over-eating, hypnosis had some effectiveness.
- The side effects of cancer treatment. Hypnosis may reduce the side effects of chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
- Mental conditions of health. Hypnosis may help to treat signs of stress, phobias, and post-traumatic stress.
How It Works?
During a hypnotherapy session, people undergo a process that causes a trance-like state. So it helps them focus their minds, respond easily to suggestions, and become deeply relaxed. Hypnotherapy uses increased awareness of the hypnotic state to help you focus more deeply. In hypnotherapy:
- The hypnotherapist can guide you to visualize yourself in a state of peace and relaxation. You stay relaxed even when confronted with a problematic behavior or an object of your fears.
- Your hypnotherapist may make gentle suggestions for behavioral changes. This can help you overcome your problem. For example, you may see yourself as a supportive therapist during a phobic reaction. So you learn to trust yourself and your ability to get through the situation.
- The hypnotherapist may teach you some cognitive-behavioral coping skills. For example, guided imagery and STOP! This is the technique, which you can use when confronting fears or anxieties.
- The hypnotherapist may encourage you to talk about the first time you’ve experienced the behavior or problem you’re trying to overcome. Also, he may ask how you’ve felt at that time.
- Some people may have dramatic results. In other cases, people may just feel very relaxed.
What happens to the brain during hypnosis?
The brains of 57 individuals were analyzed by Harvard researchers during supervised hypnosis. They’ve found that:
- Two areas of the brain responsible for processing and controlling what’s going on in your body have increased activity during hypnosis.
- Likewise, your brain’s area responsible for your actions and the area that is aware of those actions appear disconnected during hypnosis.
Effects
Some of the effects that hypnotherapy might have included:
- Awareness: Some people remain fully aware of it throughout their experience. They remember everything that’s going on. And they’re even able to have conversations while under hypnosis. Some people may experience very deep states of relaxation. They may even feel disconnected from what’s going on.
- Focus: Most of the time, our surroundings are distracted. If your TV is blaring, your kids are demanding love, etc., it can be hard to focus on yourself. Our conscious minds are also convulsed. You may be worried about paying a bill, worried about the upcoming project, etc. The counseling session intends to break through these day-to-day issues. And it encourages you to focus entirely on the topic at hand.
- Relaxation: You feel deeply relaxed in a hypnotic state. Your conscious mind is quiet. Allow your unconscious mind to concentrate deeply on your issue. You are therefore calmer and thus more receptive to coping with your problems or worries.
- Many hypnotherapists use a series of soothing phrases, such as “you are safe” and “no one can harm you,” to reassure their clients so they can objectively confront their problems through hypnosis without getting a panic reaction.
Uses of hypnotherapy
There are several different reasons a person may choose to try hypnotherapy. Analysis suggests that some applications might include:
- Chronic conditions in pain
- Signs of dementia
- Nausea and vomiting correlated with chemotherapy
- Pain during labor, dental, or surgery;
- Skin conditions, such as psoriasis and warts
- Signs of irritable bowel syndrome; (IBS)
- Attention symptoms-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Registered physicians can also use hypnotherapy and psychologists to treat conditions such as:
- Anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Is Hypnotherapy Dangerous?
Hypnosis is not a dangerous technique. It does not mind control or brainwashing. Moreover, a therapist cannot make a person do anything embarrassing. The biggest concern is that you may create false memories.
Risks of Hypnotherapy
Hypnosis by a qualified therapist or health care provider is a healthy and complementary treatment. Hypnotherapy may not be appropriate in individuals with serious mental illness.
Adverse reactions to hypnosis are rare, but they can include:
- Headache
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Fear or distress
- Creating fake memories
Be cautious as hypnosis work through stressful events from the beginning of life. This practice can cause strong emotions and may risk the development of false memories.
The Bottom Line
Hypnosis carries the stereotyping of stage performances. However, hypnosis is a genuine psychological technique that is an effective medical treatment for various disorders. For instance, this includes insomnia, anxiety, and the treatment of pain.
You must use a licensed hypnotist so that you can trust the guided hypnosis method. So, they will create a structured plan to help you meet your individual goals.
