Hypnotherapy
Overview
What is hypnotherapy?
The term "hypnosis" is derived from the Greek word hypnos ,
meaning "sleep." Hypnotherapists typically use exercises that bring
about deep relaxation and an altered state of consciousness, also known
as a trance. Many people routinely experience a trance-like state while
they are watching television or sitting at a red light. A person in a
trance or deeply focused state is unusually responsive to an idea or
image, but this does not mean that a hypnotist can control his or her
mind and free will. On the contrary, hypnosis can actually teach people
how to master their own states of awareness. By doing so they can affect
their own bodily functions and psychological responses.
What is the history of hypnosis?
Throughout history, trance states have been used by shamans and
ancient peoples in ritualistic activities. But hypnosis as we know it
today was first associated with the work of an Austrian physician named
Franz Anton Mesmer. In the 1700s, Mesmer used magnets and other hypnotic
techniques (hence the word, mesmerized ) to treat people, and
while he achieved a number of dramatic "cures" for blindness, paralysis,
headache, and joint pain, the medical community was not convinced.
Mesmer was accused of fraud and his techniques called unscientific.
Hypnotherapy regained popularity in the mid-1900's due in to the
notoriety and career of Milton H. Erickson (1901-1980), a successful
psychiatrist who used hypnosis in his practice. In 1958, both the
American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association
recognized the therapy as a valid medical procedure. And since 1995, the
National Institutes of Health has recommended hypnotherapy as a
treatment for chronic pain. Other conditions for which hypnotherapy is
frequently used include anxiety and addiction; see the section entitled
What illnesses or conditions respond well to hypnotherapy?
How does hypnosis work?
When something new happens to us, we remember it and learn a
particular behavior in response to that circumstance. Memories stored in
our brains hold the original physical and emotional reactions that
occurred when the given memory was first formed. Each time similar
events occur again, the physical and emotional reactions attached to the
memory are repeated. These reactions may be inappropriate or unhealthy.
In hypnotherapy, the trained therapist guides you to remember the event
that led to the first reaction, separate the memory from the learned
behavior, and reconstruct the event with new, healthier associations.
During hypnosis, a person's body relaxes while his or her thoughts
become more focused and attentive. Like other relaxation techniques,
hypnosis decreases blood pressure and heart rate, and alters certain
types of brain wave activity. In this relaxed state, a person will feel
very at ease physically yet fully awake mentally. In this state of deep
concentration people are highly responsive to suggestion. If you are
trying to quit smoking, for example, a therapist's suggestion may
successfully convince you that in the future you will have a strong
dislike for the taste of cigarettes.
There are several stages of hypnosis. The process begins with
reframing the problem; becoming relaxed, then absorbed (deeply engaged
in the words or images presented by a hypnotherapist); dissociating
(letting go of critical thoughts); responding (complying whole-heartedly
to a hypnotherapist's suggestions); returning to usual awareness; and
reflecting on the experience.
What happens during a visit to the hypnotherapist?
During your first visit to a hypnotherapist, he or she will ask you
questions about your medical history and what brought you to see them –
in other words, what condition it is that you would like to clear up.
The specialist will then, likely, explain to you what hypnosis is and
how it works. You will then be directed through relaxation techniques
with a series of mental images and suggestions intended to change
behaviors and alleviate symptoms. For example, people who suffer from
panic attacks may be given the suggestion that, in the future, they will
be able to relax at will. The hypnotherapist will also teach you the
basics of self-hypnosis and give you an audiotape for home use. This
enables you to recreate the feelings you experienced during the session
and reinforce the learning on your own.
How many treatments will I need?
Each session lasts about an hour, and most people begin to improve
within 4 to 10 sessions. Together, you and your hypnotherapist will
monitor and evaluate your progress over time. Children (aged 9 to 12),
because they are easily hypnotized, tend to respond after only one or
two visits.
What illnesses or conditions respond well to hypnosis?
Hypnosis is used in a variety of settings – from emergency rooms to
dental offices to outpatient clinics – to relieve conditions with an
emotional or psychological component. Studies suggest that hypnosis may
improve immune function, increase relaxation, decrease stress, and ease
feelings of anxiety.
Hypnotherapy is effective in reducing the fear and anxiety that
accompany pain and uncomfortable medical or dental procedures. For
example, when used during an operation, hypnosis may improve recovery
time and decrease anxiety as well as pain following the surgery.
Clinical trials on burn patients suggest that hypnosis decreases pain
(enough to replace pain medication) and speeds healing. Generally,
studies indicate that using hypnosis can lessen your need for
medication, improve your mental and physical condition before an
operation, and reduce the time it takes to recover. Dentists also use
hypnotherapy to control gagging and bleeding.
A hypnotherapist can teach you self-regulation skills. For instance,
someone with arthritis may be told that he or she can turn down pain
like the volume on a radio. Hypnotherapy can also be an effective tool
for managing chronic illness. Self-hypnosis can enhance a sense of
control, which is often eroded by chronic illness. Children may benefit
the most from hypnosis, probably because they are most easily
hypnotized.
Studies on children in emergency treatment centers show that
hypnotherapy reduces fear, anxiety, and discomfort and improves
self-control and cooperation with medical personnel.
In another study, 83 percent of children significantly or completely
recovered from the following:
- obesity
- asthma
- fecal incontinence
- anxiety
- pain
- problematic habits (sleep walking, thumb sucking, nail biting)
Other problems or conditions that respond well to hypnotherapy
include:
- inflammatory bowel diseases (namely, Crohn's disease and
ulcerative colitis)
- sleep disorders, including insomnia
- addictions
- warts
- bedwetting
- fibromyalgia
- irritable bowel syndrome
- phobias
- labor and delivery
- fractures
- skin disorders (such as acne, psoriasis, and eczema [atopic
dermatitis])
- migraine headaches
- stress
- tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- cancer related pain
- weight loss
- eating disorders, namely anorexia and bulimia
- indigestion (dyspepsia)
Are there any risks associated with hypnotherapy?
Before considering hypnotherapy, you must obtain a proper diagnosis
from a physician to understand what is being treated. This is especially
true if your condition is psychological in nature (for example, a phobia
or anxiety), in which case it is important to first be evaluated by a
psychiatrist. Without an accurate diagnosis, it is possible that
hypnotherapy may exacerbate your symptoms. Also, very rarely,
hypnotherapy leads to the development of "false memories" fabricated by
the unconscious mind; these are called confabulations.
How can I find a hypnotherapist?
Most hypnotherapists are licensed medical doctors, registered nurses,
social workers, or family counselors who have received additional
training in hypnotherapy. For example, members of the American Society
of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH) must hold a doctorate in medicine,
dentistry, podiatry, or psychology, or a master's level degree in
nursing, social work, psychology, or marital/family therapy with at
least 20 hours of ASCH-approved training in hypnotherapy. Similarly, the
American Psychotherapy and Medical Hypnosis Association provides
certificates for licensed medical and mental health professionals who
complete a six to eight week course.
To receive a directory of professionals practicing hypnotherapy near
you, contact:
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