Hypnotherapy draws upon our natural ability to enter into a state of mind where we are deeply relaxed yet focused. Under these conditions, the mind is open to suggestions and ideas that can improve health can be absorbed.
There are many myths about hypnosis. : It is often viewed as a:-‘ stage trick or a type of mind control in which the hypnotist sends someone into a sleep-like trance before telling them to do embarrassing things. However, although the process of hypnosis remains mysterious to an extent, It is a perfectly natural practice. Hypnosis is a state of awareness that goes beyond deep relaxation. In- hypnosis, you are able to concentrate very deeply on certain aspects of your surroundings while others fade into the background. This is a state of mirid very similar to becoming absorbed in a book or a film, so reality retreats from t the front of your mind.
All hypnosis is in some way self-induced. No one can be forced into a state of hypnosis unwillingly. The hypnotist is there to help the patient access. His or her own unconscious ‘mind. Some people enter a state of hypnosis more easily than others. This is not a sign of weakness; it just means they can easily enter into their inner world. Generally, younger people are easier to hypnotise than those who- are older, and they can get help with problems like depression or addiction.
The power of hypnotherapy
During hypnosis, the mind is more open to suggestions. A hypnotherapist (a therapist who uses hypnosis to treat problems) can use this to help instil positive ideas to improve the patient’s health. For example, during hypnosis, it may be easier to accept the idea of giving up smoking or to release memories of long-buried problems that could be a contributory factor in stress related ailments like eczema, asthma and psoriasis. Hypnotherapy is a powerful treatment for anxiety, eating disorders and phobias of all kinds.
The hypnosis experience
So, what does hypnosis feel like? On the first visit to a hypnotherapist, patients may feel apprehensive, perhaps wondering if they will emerge from the trance. Hypnosis has three main stages – light, moderate and deep. The hypnotherapist begins by asking the patient to focus on a fixed point. And breathe slowly. The hypnotherapist will then talk the patient through a routine – perhaps imagining descending in a lift – that will help him or her achieve a hypnotic state, and then treatment can begin. In a hypnotic state, such suggestions can make a powerful impression on the mind.
Anyone with a serious medical condition should be wary of hypnotherapists who do not have a detailed knowledge of the illness. As with any form of complementary therapy, people should only consult a properly qualified therapist whom they like and trust.
Self Hypnosis
You do not need to visit a hypnotherapist to benefit from hypnosis. It is quite easy to put yourself into a relaxed, hypnosis-like state.
- Find a quiet, undisturbed place. Ideally, sit rather than lie down to prevent yourself from falling asleep. Plan the kinds of suggestions you want to practise – for example, a specific goal, such as giving up smoking.
- Take three or four slow, deep breaths, holding your breath for a couple of seconds, then letting go with the word ‘relax’.
- Focus your attention by concentrating on a point on the wall.
- Tell yourself you are going to take three special breaths – the first to relax, the second to move towards hypnosis and the third to be in hypnosis.
- After the breaths, release all tension from your body by systematically relaxing the muscles from your toes to the top of your head.
- Now imagine a staircase with ten steps leading you to a special place. Count down from ten to one as you descend the stairs.
- Visualise your place, and try to experience how it sounds, smells and feels.
- Now begin your positive suggestions relating to the goal of your self-hypnosis.
- When you are finished, count yourself back up from one to ten, telling yourself you have enjoyed a wonderful session of relaxation and that when you emerge, you will feel refreshed.
Hypnosis As Anaesthetic
Hypnotherapy can help patients get through painful physical examinations. An American doctor, Michael Nash, reported the experience of a patient who had to have a bladder examination every three months for five years after the removal of a tumour. He refused a general anaesthetic, and an epidural (a spinal anaesthetic) was considered medically dangerous. The first time the patient was examined, he had to be held down as he struggled with the pain, which was a distressing experience for all concerned. Dr Nash decided to teach the patient self-hypnosis. Before the second examination, the patient took 60 seconds to prepare himself. Ten minutes later, the examination was over, and the patient reported feeling none of the pain of the previous examination. And the six people waiting to hold him down went for a coffee instead.
