During Hypnosis, the body and conscious are in a relaxed neutral state while the subconscious mind remains awake and receptive to suggestion. Hypnosis is an education-communication process to a person’s mind that allows his/her conscious and subconscious minds to believe the same message.
It can be very beneficial in many cases as a therapy in itself. It is a valuable adjunct in psychotherapy and psychiatry.
Most hypnotherapists, on interviewing a new client, will ask the client what he or she thinks hypnosis is. Replies range from sleep, to unconsciousness, to surrender of mental powers and control, to magic, to voodoo. All are in error.
Hypnosis cannot be sleep. In most cases the subject is fully aware of communication and is able to respond on request either verbally or signal. Nor is unconscious involved. A subject asked to make a specific movement will comply with the request unless it is objectionable, in which case there will be a refusal.
There is no surrender of mind or control. A person who does not want to be hypnotized or be induced to do or say anything which violates personal standards of behavior or integrity. There is neither magic nor voodoo involved. Any hypnotherapist can explain the actions or behaviors seen in stage, film or television shows where the subjects seem to follow directions mindlessly.
Medical interest and acceptance expanded following World War II when the use of hypnotherapy proved especially helpful to surviving battlefield casualties suffering from shock, injury, battle fatigue and various psychological disorders. As understanding increased hypnosis began to be recognized as an important adjunct to counseling psychology, psychotherapy, psychiatry, and also medical fields including neurology, obstetrics, emergency medicine, burn therapy and others. Hypnosis is finding increasing usage in dentistry and other areas where pain control is important.
How Does Hypnosis Help People?
The ability to reprogram emotional attitudes and reactions is a latent talent within every human being. Hypnosis is the most functional and reasonable way to train life-long attitudes, rather than suffer a lifetime of emotional accidents the conscious mind is unable to change.
The subconscious mind receives and retains, neither accepting nor rejecting, all the messages we receive from our backgrounds, whether genetic, social, religious or experiential, plus all the conflicts (large or small) that enter our lives daily. When or whatever reason the conscious mind (which deals with everyday living, logic, reason, etc.) becomes overloaded, the subconscious prepares us for what is considered appropriate action (usually fight or flight). However the subconscious mind does not analyze, as does the conscious mind, but accepts all messages in the literal sense.
Are the Results of Hypnosis Permanent?
Suggestions stay with some individuals indefinitely, others need reinforcement. The effects of hypnosis are cumulative: the more the techniques are practiced and post-hypnotic suggestions are brought into play, the more permanent the results become. Self-hypnosis training and reinforcement tapes for home use also provide additional help.
Your first visit with your hypnotherapist will, primarily, be exploratory. You will learn about hypnotism and become comfortable with it. Your hypnotherapist will discuss your interests and your desires to determine if hypnotherapy can accomplish what you want to achieve.
How Does The Subconscious Accept Hypnotic Suggestions?
Hypnotic suggestions bypass the intellectual mind, called the “conscious”, and zero in on the subconscious. When given a new suggestion that is within the bounds of a person’s belief system and moral orientation, the subconscious mind accepts it literally as a new reality.
The subconscious is also the seat of all memory. Traumatic events can be buried or suppressed in the subconscious. A major benefit of hypnotherapy is its ability to uncover and bring into the light of understanding the buried information or experience, which may be the cause of a troublesome disorder or chronic pain syndrome. This is where the hypnotherapist does her greatest work, in helping clients resolve barriers and in doing so, reach their highest levels of heath and well-being.
In What Areas Is Hypnotherapy Helpful?