Hypnosis is a complex human condition in which an individual is subjected to concentrated, intentional attention, reduced visual senses, and an increased ability to respond to subtle suggestion. People who have undergone hypnosis report a variety of physical and psychological changes, including the reduction of pain, the induction of feelings of well-being, and the emergence of new skills like creativity or intuition. Hypnosis can be performed by individuals, groups, and therapists. Some clinical hypnosis requires at least two therapists, while others may only require one or perhaps none. A hypnotist who is well trained in several disciplines including clinical hypnosis, mental hypnosis, and clinical psychology, along with medical knowledge, can effectively hypnotize and treat a large number of people.
Patients suffering from cancer, chronic pain, alcohol withdrawal, anxiety disorders, depression, insomnia, OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), and phobias are good candidates for hypnosis. Patients suffering from cancer may benefit from hypnosis for chemotherapy treatment, since hypnosis has been shown to reduce pain and improve overall healing speed. Anxiety disorders can also benefit from hypnosis, as it has been found that hypnosis can reduce the frequency and severity of anxiety symptoms and improve relaxation. People who experience pain, lack of concentration, or poor memory are also good candidates for hypnosis. These individuals may gain relief from severe emotional pain by engaging in self-hypnosis or using a CD program designed to relax and allow the mind to enter a more tranquil state.
For some individuals, self-hypnosis allows them to address pain and other symptoms without the assistance of a health care provider. In fact, self-hypnosis has even been used to help people quit smoking! By inducing positive thoughts in the subconscious, self-hypnosis can increase awareness of the body’s sensations, relax the mind, improve concentration, increase alertness, reduce fatigue, increase energy levels, improve sleep quality, and reduce the onset of arthritis. Smoking cessation experts advocate self-hypnosis in patients who have tried and failed with other methods to stop smoking.
During hypnosis, the hypnotherapist will suggest a relaxing movie or piece of music, play a tape of soft music or engage the patient in a physical activity, such as stretching. The patient may be asked to visualize a warm feeling flowing through his or her body. As the hypnotherapist manipulates suggestions, the patient becomes increasingly suggestible. According to research, suggestibility refers to the ability to respond to suggestions and the degree to which an individual is susceptible to the hypnotic process.
Hypnosis research suggests that false memories or hypnosis can happen in patients undergoing standard medical procedures, like heart surgery. During this procedure, doctors implant hypnosis recordings in the patients’ minds during the procedure. Some patients have described moments when they were led to believe they had died or had their lives threatened in some way. Researchers suspect that this type of hypnosis is not merely an embellishment; rather, the patient may be having hypnosis sessions in order to make alterations to their medical treatments.
Patients undergoing psychotherapy from a qualified therapist can also be exposed to various forms of hypnotic suggestion. Hypnotherapy can include self-hypnosis, which allows the person to go into a relaxed state on their own. This is not the same as clinical hypnosis, which is conducted under the supervision of a trained therapist. Self-hypnosis allows people to control their dreams, thoughts, beliefs, behavior, and physical feelings. Self-hypnosis is commonly used as a therapeutic technique for overcoming phobias and calming anxiety, or as a means of combating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
The technique of hypnosis allows a health professional to use focused attention to implore positive suggestions into the subconscious mind of the patient. The goal is to relax the patient and increase his or her susceptibility to the healing powers of hypnosis. During a hypnosis session, the health professional will direct the patient’s eyes away from objects, place his hands just above the person’s eyes, and tell a few brief but meaningful words to the subject. These words are not audible, but the patient should try his or her best to listen attentively.
The most common use of hypnosis involves relaxation, but in some cases it can also involve pain management. A skilled therapist can use hypnosis in the treatment of a variety of different ailments and conditions. Hypnosis for pain management is particularly useful in dealing with chronic painful conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, shingles, acne, and migraine. This form of pain management allows the patient to experience a deep sense of relaxation. By relieving the patient of his or her tenseness and pain, the therapist can then begin the process of healing the patient by easing the tenseness back down into the body.