Hypnotherapy
Definition of Hypnosis
Introduction
A Few Facts About Hypnosis
What is Hypnotherapy?
Conclusion
Definition of Hypnosis
Hypnosis is an education communication process that allows a person’s conscious and subconscious mind to believe the same message. During hypnosis the body and conscious mind are in a relaxed neutral state while the subconscious mind remains awake and receptive to suggestion. In this state the person suspends critical judgement and exercises selective thinking.
Introduction
Essentially hypnosis is a deep state of relaxation, both mentally and physically. The definition of hypnosis stated above, while sounding quite complex, explains that when a person is relaxed on both the mental (being the conscious) and physical level, the subconscious mind is able to work uninhibited by our normal critical judgements.
There are many misconceptions regarding hypnosis. Many fear hypnosis because they do not understand it. Yet in 1955 the British Medical Association gave its full stamp of approval for Hypnosis to be used by qualified people. In 1958 the American Medical Association followed suite.
A Few Facts About Hypnosis
- Hypnosis is a normal, natural state. Most people are in a similar state when they watch television, drive a car and other things seemingly done on “automatic pilot”.
- All the phenomena of hypnosis can be produced in the so called “waking state”.
- Hypnosis is not sleep. You are still fully aware of everything that is going on around you and you can bring yourself out of this state at any time.
- You cannot be hypnotized against your will, nor can it make you violate your moral beliefs. Hypnosis does not weaken the mind or will.
- There are no unpleasant “side effects” from being hypnotized.
- Hypnotherapists / hypnotists do not possess any unusual or mysterious powers.
What is Hypnotherapy?
Any authority on hypnosis will tell you that all hypnosis is self-hypnosis. Therefore hypnotherapy is just the application of hypnosis in a wide variety of mental, physical and psychological disorders.
During a hypnotherapy session, the hypnotherapist is merely a guide to allow the person to fully use this self-hypnotic ability themselves. The hypnotherapist helps the person to regress back through their life to events that are still affecting them in the present time. By re-evaluating these events, it allows the person to objectively view the circumstances around the events, deal with any emotional issues that are raised, forgive themselves and the other people involved and through this to change their thought patterns or behaviours and positively influence their lives.
Conclusion
Hypnosis can be used to treat many mental, physical and psychological problems. It is however neither a magic bullet nor miracle pill, and healing will only take place if the person undergoing hypnosis is ready and willing to do so.
Many professional sportsmen use hypnosis to help improve their game. Hypnosis can be used in the treatment of insomnia or emotional problems, as a supportive therapy in certain medical conditions, as a relaxation therapy and has even helped people to lose weight or stop smoking. It has also been used as an alternative to pain medication and anaesthetics, especially by professionals in the areas of dentistry, child birth and even surgery.