How Does Hypnosis Work
Hypnosis can be traced back over 4,000 years ago to ancient Egypt. The ancient Egyptians used to have sleep or dream temples where sick people were healed. These people were put into a trance-like state. Priests would use various forms of chanting to induce them into such a state. Healing would take place while the sick person was in that hypnotic condition. The priests used the power of suggestion to help the sick people obtain a cure for their illness.
Today, hypnosis is being used in many self-improvement categories like weight loss and hypnosis to quit smoking. It has also been used to control certain habits like bed-wetting and thumb-sucking in younger patients. Hypnotherapy is fast becoming popular because it doesn’t involve drugs and has no serious side effects.
Hypnosis is defined as an altered state of consciousness that is usually achieved with the help of a hypnotherapist. A person under hypnosis is usually characterized to have intense concentration, in extreme relaxation and has high suggestibility. Many people believe that hypnosis is also a way of accessing repressed memories, multiple personalities, mystical insights or memories of past lives.
Hypnosis is also used as a therapeutic technique to help gain control over one’s behavior, emotions or well-being. Hypnotherapy also has the potential to aid in the relief of symptoms associated with different health conditions. It’s typically used together with other treatments like quit smoking hypnosis techniques with a combination of herbal supplements.
The most common hypnotic techniques are fixed-gaze induction or eye fixation, rapid progressive relaxation and imagery, and loss of balance. The fixed-gaze induction or eye fixation method involves getting the subject to focus intently on a single object and tune everything else out. The subject is lulled into relaxation as the hypnotist talks to him in a low tone.
The rapid technique is done by overloading the subject’s mind with abrupt, firm commands. A forceful command coupled with a convincing hypnotist gets the subject to surrender his conscious control over the situation. Stage hypnotists usually use this method.
The hypnotic method mostly employed by psychiatrists is the progressive relaxation and imagery technique. The hypnotist’s slow, soothing voice gradually lulls the subject to complete relaxation and focus until full hypnosis is achieved. This method is most often used in self-hypnosis training, relaxation and meditation audio tapes. The loss of balance technique uses slow, rhythmic rocking to create a loss of equilibrium. This method is used in putting babies to sleep.
Proponents of hypnotism view it as an important tool with a wide range of applications. For one, hypnotism can be used to reverse bad habits. Hypnotherapists may suggest ways that subjects may use to attain specific objectives like controlling or stopping cravings related to smoking cessation. Negative patterns of behavior may also be addressed through psychiatric hypnotherapy. If is particularly effective in problems related to phobias and fears. Law enforcement people can also benefit from hypnosis through forensic hypnotism wherein a subject’s deep memories are brought to the conscious level to aid in the solving of crimes. Medical hypnotherapy is also viewed as a useful tool. Hypnotic suggestions are used on patients to ease pain and cure illness.
Hypnosis is considered a complementary and alternative treatment and should be done under the supervision of a trained hypnotherapist. Poor techniques may lead to headaches, dizziness and nausea.