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There are several myths concerning hypnosis, originating principally from media presentations such as novels and fictional films. It is a legitimate and well-studied adjunct to treatment for various conditions such as stress, anxiety, pain after surgical procedures, and obesity.
Note that it is not a therapy by itself, but essentially for holistic management of various conditions. Since the 18th Century, hypnotherapy has been treading between medicine and quackery. Currently, it is picking up as treatment options for numerous ailments.
What is Hypnosis?
Hypnotism refers to a top-down control of consciousness awareness. Additionally, hypnotism can be described as a mental situation where mental irritations override behavior, perception, and psychology. It is a treatment option that helps you cope up with and manage various conditions.
To achieve this, a professional hypnotist will guide you into a trance-like state. While in the relaxation state, they may make suggestions to help you become open to the therapeutic environment.
What would you experience when you are hypnotized?
When hypnotized, a trance-like experience is quite common. An example is daydreaming or zoning out when watching a video. Note that actual hypnotism is not associated with swaying a pocket watch. Neither is it performed on stage as entertainment. Most individuals view hypnotism as an altered state that requires collaboration.
They believe hypnotherapy is crucial for psychological conditions and it is an adjunct to medical treatment. They also believe that hypnotism enhances several abilities, including memory. With validation from the medical and psychological establishment, individuals are open to hypnotism.
Authors argue that hypnotism involves suggestions and induction. Hypnotic induction refers to the initial direction delivered during hypnotherapy. On the other hand, hypnotism suggests implications that elicit involuntary responses from the subjects who believe they lack control over the situation. In hypnotic suggestibility, you will experience an alteration in behavior, thought, emotions, sensation, and physiology.
So, How Does It Actually Work?
During the session, a specialized hypnotist will induce focused attention. It is a guided session with repetitions and verbal cues. Note that the trance-like state resembles sleep in several ways. However, you will be fully aware of what is taking place. While in a relaxed state, the therapist will make suggestions to assist you in achieving therapeutic goals.
Because of the heightened state, you are likely to give in to the advice and proposals, which would not be the case if you were in the normal state of mind. In the normal state, you may brush off or ignore the proposals. Upon completing the session, you may exit by yourself, or the specialist will help you get out of the relaxed state.
Hypnotherapy places seeds of various thoughts into an individual’s mind during the relaxed state. Soon, the changes prosper after taking root. Besides, the therapy clears the way for acceptance and deeper processing. It is believed that in the normal mental state, the mind may reject guidance and suggestions.
How Specialists Carry Out Hypnotism?
A hypnotist may choose certain people from a crowd based on their suggestibility. It is possible because the level of suggestibility varies from one person to the other. Hypnotism has five major stages.
1. Understand Client’s problem
Most of the time a hypnotist need to understand the client’s problem first, in order to find out what he can help, and in which way he can help.
While there is a way to NOT knowing the exact details of the problem and still doing hypnotherapy, it is usually a good start by knowing: What is hypnotist trying to solve?
2. Hypnotic Induction
The specialists employ numerous techniques in inducing hypnotism. A hypnotherapist will take you through four steps. They will ask you to:
- Close your eyes
- Imagine that you cannot open your eyes
- Try opening your eyes while assuming they can’t
- Relax your eyes and the entire body
3. Eye Fixation (Catalepsy) Technique
It is not “real” catalepsy, but just a way to get focus and attention of a client. It involves gazing at particular objects till the eyelids get heavy and close. After that, the individual drifts into relaxation.
4. The Arm-Drop
In this technique, you will fix the gauze at one of your fingers as you keep the forearm vertical. It is continued till your hand gets heavy and drifts downwards. As the hand lowers, your eyes will get heavier and shut.
5. Progressive Relaxation
In this technique, you will settle down comfortably as you focus on inhalation and exhalation. You will also be required to relax the body.
Making Hypnotic Suggestions
“Going Deeper” Suggestion
After completion of induction, the therapist will deepen hypnotism because individuals respond positively in such states. Some of the techniques employed during induction may still be useful. They include:
- Counting
- Deep breathing and counting
- Moments of silence
- Visual imagery
- Progressive relaxation
Posthypnotic Suggestions
While still in the hypnotic state, your specialist may make the following suggestions:
- Counter the challenge with behavior
- Terminate addictive habits such as smoking
- Alter response to symptoms associated with pain
The standard way to terminate a hypnotic state involves counting up to five or the reverse.
Origin of Hypnotism
Hypnotherapy practice can be traced back to ancient Greece and Egypt. Cultures incorporated religious centers where individuals came to seek help for their challenges. The ancient practitioners used hypnotism in inducing dreams which they analyzed to understand the origin of a given trouble.
Several references are available on hypnotism and trance. In 1500 BC, the Hindu Vedas mentioned the hypnotic procedures. A trance-like state is common in several practices, including religion, yogic, voodoo, druidic, and shamanic.
The Pioneer of modern hypnotism was Franz Mesmer, an Austrian physician. Mesmer believed that diseases result when magnetic forces within your body get blocked, hence animal magnetism theory. He is also responsible for the hypnotist image, which is very popular with magnetic eyes, a goatee beard, and a cape.
Another hypnotism pioneer is a Scottish eye physician, James Braid. He developed an interest in mesmerism by chance. He realized that by fixating upon something, an individual could get into a trance.
The popular swinging watch that most people relate hypnotism with was used in ancient times as a fixation object. James Esdaile, an Indian-based British surgeon (1808-1859), recognized the role of hypnotherapy in managing pain. He carried out several significant operations while using hypnotism as the only anesthesia.
Controversial Evolution
The discovery by Doctor Franz Mesmer in the late 18th Century revolutionized the practice of psychiatry. He realized that some of the patients he attended to healed spontaneously by changing their levels of consciousness. Mesmer described the ability to levels of consciousness as a form of magnetism.
It may sound strange, but he termed it as animal magnetism. It was more of a rediscovery and not a discovery of an essential ancient tool. Mesmer’s work had medical potential. Unfortunately, King Louis XVI shut down Mesmer’s methods due to fear of the unknown. The discovery got stigmatized and was not allowed in the medical practice.
Because of the strong devotees that Mesmer had, they continued with the practice secretly. It expanded and evolved with time to be mesmerism. Mesmerism became stronger and evolved into the current hypnotism. Note that this personal healing concept is applied widely, even beyond the medical settings.
So, Is Hypnotism real?
Hypnosis (and Hypnotherapy) is real. You can get hypnotized as long as you are willing and ready. Once you embrace it, it is a vital tool for healing. The practice is life-changing, more so if you are attended to by the trained therapists. The specialized therapists will help you create an individualized treatment plan as you seek deep healing. It would be best if you get a certified hypnotherapist’s services so that you trust the process.