Based on information from The Cleveland Clinic and HypnosisDownloads.
Under the guidance of a professional, qualified hypnotist or hypnotherapist, hypnosis is a heightened level of concentration and concentrated attention that makes you more receptive to recommendations for producing positive, healthful changes in your memories, thoughts, feelings, perceptions, or behaviors.
A trained hypnotist or hypnotherapist uses verbal cues, repetition, and imagery to guide you into a deep state of relaxation and focused concentration known as hypnosis, also called hypnotherapy. Hypnosis is a form of mind-body medicine that enables you to ignore everyday distractions and be more receptive to suggestions to make changes that will improve your health.
Although the exact mechanism of hypnosis is unknown, it is generally accepted that during the deep state of focus and relaxation that is attained during hypnosis:
• Your conscious mind is quiet.
• You are able to access the area of your brain that houses your thoughts, beliefs, perceptions, feelings, memories, and behaviors.
• In this state, you are more receptive to your hypnotherapist’s gentle guidance to help you change or replace the unconscious thoughts that are causing your current behavior.
What are some myths about hypnosis?
• Myth: Hypnosis isn’t real. It’s a form of entertainment.
Clinical hypnosis is a form of medical therapy that is frequently utilized in conjunction with conventional medical methods as part of a treatment plan; it is neither a magic show nor a stage act.
• Myth: You lose consciousness or have amnesia when you’re hypnotized.
You recall everything that happened during a hypnosis session, and you stay conscious of who and where you are. Most people remember everything that happens during a hypnosis session.
• Myth: You’re under the control of your hypnotherapist when you’re hypnotized.
You are in complete control of your behavior; hypnosis facilitates suggestions but does not force you to experience particular events. Your hypnotist or hypnotherapist guides you through the process; hypnosis is something you do for yourself. You cannot be forced to do anything against your will. You will not divulge any information that you would prefer to keep private.
• Myth: Hypnosis is nothing more than deep sleep.
Although some deeper kinds of hypnosis can make you appear to be asleep since your body is incredibly motionless and quiet, hypnosis itself does not equate to sleep.
What conditions is hypnosis helpful in treating?
Hypnotherapy may help treat any number of medical conditions in which psychological factors influence physical symptoms.
Common mental health uses include:
Stress and anxiety, especially before medical or dental procedures; panic attacks; and post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD).
Phobias.
Behavior control issues, including giving up smoking, losing weight, and enuresis (bedwetting).
Common medical uses include:
Insomnia.
Asthma.
Hot flashes during menopause.
Gastrointestinal disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Pain control, including after surgery, childbirth, cancer, fibromyalgia, burns and headaches (migraine and tension).
Skin conditions, including warts and psoriasis.
Side effects of cancer chemotherapy or radiation treatment include nausea and vomiting.
The application of hypnosis for these and numerous other medical disorders is still being researched.
How do people describe the hypnotic experience?
Hypnosis is described in many different ways. One common description is that it seems like you are “zoned in” or in a trance where you are able to block out outside distractions.
This is akin to the experience of being hypnotized; a considerable number of people report feeling at ease and content despite their heightened focus, and the majority describe it as a pleasurable one. Have you ever become so absorbed in a TV series or a good book that you lose track of time or even hear your dog barking?
What takes place in a typical hypnotic session?
There are four stages of hypnosis: induction, deepening, suggestions, and emergence.
Induction
This is the phase where you start to unwind, concentrate, and block out outside stimuli. Your hypnotherapist will lead you through this phase using techniques like progressive muscle relaxation, which involves tensing and relaxing your muscles throughout your body in a specific order, or focused breathing, which involves breathing in for six counts and out for eleven.
Deepener
These first two stages are meant to ease your openness to suggestions. This stage builds on the first, taking your focus and relaxation to a deeper level. This step usually entails counting down or using similar descending imagery, like walking down stairs or slowly sinking deeper and deeper into a comfortable bed.
Suggestions
This is the phase where real changes take place in experience, behavior, or perception; your hypnotherapist will employ imagery and carefully selected language; the suggested changes can be in perception, sensation, emotion, memory, thought, or behavior; they can be symptom-focused (to resolve a symptom) or exploratory (to explore experiences associated with the onset of symptoms).
For example, in order to stop smoking, you will discover what makes you want to smoke, learn how to stop smoking, comprehend resources that can help you stop, break your habit, associate a better response, recognize the difference, and implement the new behavior. You might even be encouraged to visualize your “new” healthy self with clean lungs in front of a mirror and your “old” self with black lungs in the rear.
Emergence
You awaken from hypnosis at this point, and your hypnotist may employ reverse deepeners, like suggesting that you are counting up or climbing stairs.
Use hypnosis as the only method of treatment?
Hypnosis is often used along with other therapies and treatments as part of a complete treatment plan. The decision to use hypnotherapy as a sole treatment or as an add-on treatment in psychotherapy or traditional medicine can be made on the recommendation of a qualified professional who’s trained in the use and limitations of hypnotherapy.
What’s the typical length of treatment with hypnotherapy?
There is no standard duration; the number of sessions required for hypnotherapy depends on the nature and severity of the problem.
Risks / Benefits
Is hypnotherapy effective? Although it has been used since the 1700s, there are still some doubters in the medical community about its efficacy. Despite this, an increasing number of certified and licensed medical professionals are using hypnotherapy in their practices, indicating that it is becoming a more well-recognized form of therapy.
Scientific evidence supporting the benefits of hypnotherapy has been limited but is growing. Some studies show “promising” results or “may be helpful” conclusions. The strongest evidence supporting the use of hypnotic treatments comes from research on hypnosis for treating pain, IBS, and PTSD symptoms. Most medical associations and organizations state that more studies are needed to draw meaningful conclusions about the effectiveness of hypnotherapy.
Is hypnosis possible for anyone?
The capacity for hypnosis varies from person to person, and a person’s apprehensions or anxieties around hypnosis may be obstacles to the process.
What type of person benefits the most from hypnosis?
Like every treatment, hypnosis has potential benefits and drawbacks. For example, it may be ineffective for some ailments or people, but it is more likely to help those who are highly driven to overcome an obstacle.
Is hypnotherapy inappropriate for some people or in certain situations?
Research on the use of hypnosis for memory retrieval is lacking, and caution is advised when using it to manage stressful events from early life as it may create false memories, especially if unintentional suggestions are made, and increase anxiety and distress.
People with severe mental health issues, such as psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations and delusions, may not benefit from hypnosis. Moreover, someone who abuses drugs or alcohol may find it inappropriate..
Additional Common Questions
Is hypnotherapy dangerous?
When carried out by a qualified therapist, hypnotherapy is a safe procedure. Hypnotherapy isn’t mind control or brainwashing. Your therapist can’t make you do something embarrassing or something you don’t want to do.
Is self-hypnosis possible?
It is possible to practice self-hypnosis; methods such as progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing, visualization, and mindfulness practices may function similarly to some aspects of hypnosis. This can be especially helpful for managing recurring health issues, like headache pain, or controlling the side effects of chemotherapy.
What is sleep hypnosis?
The goal of sleep hypnosis is to help you address the underlying causes of your inability to get quality sleep. It can be used in conjunction with other treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. Sleep hypnosis is the use of hypnosis to manage sleep problems, such as insomnia and sleep anxiety.
How do I select a hypnotherapist?
First, look for a professional who’s properly trained, licensed, and credentialed in the fields of hypnosis or medicine, dentistry, psychiatry, psychology, social work, and nursing. This practitioner should have additional training in hypnosis and hypnotherapy techniques. Hypnosis should be used along with their mental health and medical training as an additional treatment tool. Ask the practitioner you intend to see about their training, credentials, and license to practice hypnotherapy. Also ask if they’re experienced in the condition(s) you’re seeking care for.
You’ll want to find a therapist you feel comfortable with and trust. Don’t hesitate to try a different therapist if you feel a hypnotherapist isn’t the right fit for you.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Hypnosis is a shift in consciousness that enables you to tap into your core thoughts, emotions, perceptions, and beliefs—and with the guidance of a trained hypnotherapist—to change your thinking pattern to better manage your health issue. Hypnotherapy isn’t for everyone, but it might be helpful for you. It can be a powerful and successful add-on tool to other, more traditional forms of mental health or medical therapy. If you’re interested, be sure to ask your healthcare provider about hypnotherapy and explore the possibilities of using hypnosis downloads.
SelfHypnosisUSA.com offers professionally produced hypnosis download sessions. These sessions allow you to experience a level of self-hypnosis in the comfort of your home at a time of your choosing. Please browse through the catalog of hypnosis sessions to become familiar with what’s currently available.
