What is Hypnosis?
When you hear the word hypnosis, you may picture the mysterious hypnotist figure popularized in movies, comic books and television. This ominous, goateed man waves a pocket watch back and forth, guiding his subject into a semi-sleep, zombie-like state. Once hypnotized, the subject is compelled to obey, no matter how strange or immoral the request. Muttering "Yes, master," the subject does the hypnotist's evil bidding.
This popular representation bears little resemblance to actual hypnotism, of course. In fact, modern understanding of hypnosis contradicts this conception on several key points. Subjects in a hypnotic trance are not slaves to their "masters" -- they have absolute free will. And they're not really in a semi-sleep state -- they're actually hyperattentive.
Pychiatrists do understand the general characteristics of hypnosis, and they have some model of how it works. It is a trance state characterized by extreme suggestibility, relaxation and heightened imagination. It's not really like sleep, because the subject is alert the whole time. It is most often compared to daydreaming, or the feeling of "losing yourself" in a book or movie. You are fully conscious, but you tune out most of the stimuli around you. You focus intently on the subject at hand, to the near exclusion of any other thought.
In the everyday trance of a daydream or movie, an imaginary world seems somewhat real to you, in the sense that it fully engages your emotions. Imaginary events can cause real fear, sadness or happiness, and you may even jolt in your seat if you are surprised by something (a monster leaping from the shadows, for example). Some researchers categorize all such trances as forms of self-hypnosis. Milton Erickson, the premier hypnotism expert of the 20th century, contended that people hypnotize themselves on a daily basis. But most psychiatrists focus on the trance state brought on by intentional relaxation and focusing exercises. This deep hypnosis is often compared to the relaxed mental state between wakefulness and sleep.
In this special mental state, people feel uninhibited and relaxed. Presumably, this is because they tune out the worries and doubts that normally keep their actions in check. You might experience the same feeling while watching a movie: As you get engrossed in the plot, worries about your job, family, etc. fade away, until all you're thinking about is what's up on the screen.
The predominant school of thought on hypnosis is that it is a way to access a person's subconscious mind directly. Normally, you are only aware of the thought processes in your conscious mind. You consciously think over the problems that are right in front of you, consciously choose words as you speak, consciously try to remember where you left your keys.
But in doing all these things, your conscious mind is working hand-in-hand with your subconscious mind, the unconscious part of your mind that does your "behind the scenes" thinking. Your subconscious mind accesses the vast reservoir of information that lets you solve problems, construct sentences or locate your keys. It puts together plans and ideas and runs them by your conscious mind. When a new idea comes to you out of the blue, it's because you already thought through the process unconsciously.
Your subconscious also takes care of all the stuff you do automatically. You don't actively work through the steps of breathing minute to minute -- your subconscious mind does that. You don't think through every little thing you do while driving a car -- a lot of the small stuff is thought out in your subconscious mind. Your subconscious also processes the physical information your body receives.
In short, your subconscious mind is the real brains behind the operation -- it does most of your thinking, and it decides a lot of what you do. When you're awake, your conscious mind works to evaluate a lot of these thoughts, make decisions and put certain ideas into action. It also processes new information and relays it to the subconscious mind. Your conscious mind makes decisions based on all of the information stored in your subconscious mind. Hypnosis is simply a way to relax your conscious mind and talk directly to your subconscious mind to make changes at the deepest level.
This popular representation bears little resemblance to actual hypnotism, of course. In fact, modern understanding of hypnosis contradicts this conception on several key points. Subjects in a hypnotic trance are not slaves to their "masters" -- they have absolute free will. And they're not really in a semi-sleep state -- they're actually hyperattentive.
Pychiatrists do understand the general characteristics of hypnosis, and they have some model of how it works. It is a trance state characterized by extreme suggestibility, relaxation and heightened imagination. It's not really like sleep, because the subject is alert the whole time. It is most often compared to daydreaming, or the feeling of "losing yourself" in a book or movie. You are fully conscious, but you tune out most of the stimuli around you. You focus intently on the subject at hand, to the near exclusion of any other thought.
In the everyday trance of a daydream or movie, an imaginary world seems somewhat real to you, in the sense that it fully engages your emotions. Imaginary events can cause real fear, sadness or happiness, and you may even jolt in your seat if you are surprised by something (a monster leaping from the shadows, for example). Some researchers categorize all such trances as forms of self-hypnosis. Milton Erickson, the premier hypnotism expert of the 20th century, contended that people hypnotize themselves on a daily basis. But most psychiatrists focus on the trance state brought on by intentional relaxation and focusing exercises. This deep hypnosis is often compared to the relaxed mental state between wakefulness and sleep.
In this special mental state, people feel uninhibited and relaxed. Presumably, this is because they tune out the worries and doubts that normally keep their actions in check. You might experience the same feeling while watching a movie: As you get engrossed in the plot, worries about your job, family, etc. fade away, until all you're thinking about is what's up on the screen.
The predominant school of thought on hypnosis is that it is a way to access a person's subconscious mind directly. Normally, you are only aware of the thought processes in your conscious mind. You consciously think over the problems that are right in front of you, consciously choose words as you speak, consciously try to remember where you left your keys.
But in doing all these things, your conscious mind is working hand-in-hand with your subconscious mind, the unconscious part of your mind that does your "behind the scenes" thinking. Your subconscious mind accesses the vast reservoir of information that lets you solve problems, construct sentences or locate your keys. It puts together plans and ideas and runs them by your conscious mind. When a new idea comes to you out of the blue, it's because you already thought through the process unconsciously.
Your subconscious also takes care of all the stuff you do automatically. You don't actively work through the steps of breathing minute to minute -- your subconscious mind does that. You don't think through every little thing you do while driving a car -- a lot of the small stuff is thought out in your subconscious mind. Your subconscious also processes the physical information your body receives.
In short, your subconscious mind is the real brains behind the operation -- it does most of your thinking, and it decides a lot of what you do. When you're awake, your conscious mind works to evaluate a lot of these thoughts, make decisions and put certain ideas into action. It also processes new information and relays it to the subconscious mind. Your conscious mind makes decisions based on all of the information stored in your subconscious mind. Hypnosis is simply a way to relax your conscious mind and talk directly to your subconscious mind to make changes at the deepest level.
Medical Hypnosis
Hypnosis has been approved by the American Medical Association for over a half century. More medical staffs are combining hypnosis and other alternative treatments together with accepted medical procedures. Hypnosis and other alternative treatments should not be used as a substitute for medical care.
The following video is a report by ABC News on how hospitals are now using hypnosis to help treat patients.
The following video is a report by ABC News on how hospitals are now using hypnosis to help treat patients.
What can Hypnosis be used for?
Applications include:
- Allergies
- Career Success
- Coping with Death
- Exam Preparation
- Fear of Flying
- Fear of Dentist
- Headaches
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Living with HIV
- Medication Side Effects
- Memory
- Motivation to Work Out
- Nail Biting
- Pain Management
- Procrastination
- Public Speaking
- Reaching Goals
- Relaxation
- Self-Confidence
- Sexual Problems
- Sleep Problems
- Sports Performance
- Stage Fright
- Stop Smoking
- Study Habits
- Stress
- Substance Abuse
- Weight Loss
- Worry
- And much more!
Special Uses of Hypnosis
Stroke - New research show that strike survivors are able to rewire their brains to recover many functions that had been disabled from the stroke. This new research also shows that recovery can occur long after the 90 days limit that was previously believed. Stroke survivors are now able to recover years after the stroke. I have been trained in the use of hypnosis for stroke survivors by Don Mottin, who is a master hypnotist and stroke survivor who has regained all fo his functions back.
Because this recovery can be a long, slow process, I have a special rate of only $25 per session for stroke survivors. This is a process I feel strongly about because my mother was left partially paralyzed by a stroke, and I felt helpless to do anything. Now I want to help as many people as I can.
Cancer - Hypnosis has never been shown to cure cancer, and should never be used as a substitute for traditional methods of treatment. Hypnotherapy has been shown to offer a number of benefits to cancer patients and cancer survivors. These include pain reduction, stress and anxiety reduction and possible enhanced immune system response.
Surgery - In a 2007 study of 200 women undergoing surgery for breast cancer, scientists found that the use of hypnosis prior to surgery reduced the amount of anesthesia administered during the operation, the level of pain reported afterward, and the time and cost of the procedure. Compared to those who spoke with a psychologist before their surgery, those who underwent 15 minutes of hypnosis also reported less nausea, fatigue, and emotional upset after surgery.
Chemotherapy - A 2007 research review shows that hypnosis may significantly reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. The review included six randomized controlled trials, five of which involved pediatric cancer patients.
Breast Cancer Survivors - According to a 2008 study of 60 women with a history of primary history of breast cancer, hypnosis may help cool hot flashes in breast cancer survivors, . This five-week study showed that participants who received weekly 50-minute sessions, plus instructions for at-home self-hypnosis had a 68% reduction in hot flash frequency/severity and experienced an average of 4.39 fewer hot flashes per day. They also showed significant improvements in anxiety, depression and sleep.
Facing cancer can be an emotionally and physically draining process. There is no charge for patients who are going through cancer treatment. This is my gift to you.
Because this recovery can be a long, slow process, I have a special rate of only $25 per session for stroke survivors. This is a process I feel strongly about because my mother was left partially paralyzed by a stroke, and I felt helpless to do anything. Now I want to help as many people as I can.
Cancer - Hypnosis has never been shown to cure cancer, and should never be used as a substitute for traditional methods of treatment. Hypnotherapy has been shown to offer a number of benefits to cancer patients and cancer survivors. These include pain reduction, stress and anxiety reduction and possible enhanced immune system response.
Surgery - In a 2007 study of 200 women undergoing surgery for breast cancer, scientists found that the use of hypnosis prior to surgery reduced the amount of anesthesia administered during the operation, the level of pain reported afterward, and the time and cost of the procedure. Compared to those who spoke with a psychologist before their surgery, those who underwent 15 minutes of hypnosis also reported less nausea, fatigue, and emotional upset after surgery.
Chemotherapy - A 2007 research review shows that hypnosis may significantly reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. The review included six randomized controlled trials, five of which involved pediatric cancer patients.
Breast Cancer Survivors - According to a 2008 study of 60 women with a history of primary history of breast cancer, hypnosis may help cool hot flashes in breast cancer survivors, . This five-week study showed that participants who received weekly 50-minute sessions, plus instructions for at-home self-hypnosis had a 68% reduction in hot flash frequency/severity and experienced an average of 4.39 fewer hot flashes per day. They also showed significant improvements in anxiety, depression and sleep.
Facing cancer can be an emotionally and physically draining process. There is no charge for patients who are going through cancer treatment. This is my gift to you.