|
What is Hypnosis?Definition: An artificially induced passive state in which there is increased amenability and responsiveness to suggestions and commands, provided that these do not conflict seriously with the subject's own conscious or unconscious wishes. In other words: A naturally occurring altered state of consciousness in which the concrete awareness of the mind is bypassed while acceptable selective thinking is promoted and established. It is a state of relaxation and focused concentration. In this state you can utilize suggestions for behavior change and you will remember everything. Everyone experiences a measure of hypnosis naturally each day as we go in and out of sleep. The Hypnotist uses his/her natural ability to access that state. In fact, hypnosis has been shown to be a safe, effective way to help improve mental and physical well being. It has been endorsed by the American Medical Association as a valid therapeutic tool since 1958. The following list is not comprehensive and includes only a few of the more common ways hypnosis has been used. Whatever your issue, hypnosis can help you resolve it.
Explanation: Modern understanding of hypnosis dictates that you cannot be forced to believe. Subjects in a hypnotic state are not slaves to their "masters" -- they have absolute free will . They're not in a semi-sleep state; they're actually hyper-attentive . It is a trance state characterized by extreme suggestibility , relaxation and heightened imagination while 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. Using the power of suggestion and trance states, hypnosis delves into the deepest levels of the mind. The result: improved behavioral habits and treatment of a wide variety of health conditions. Today, close to fifteen thousand doctors combine hypnotherapy with standard medical treatments. It is estimated that 94 percent of patients benefit from hypnosis, even if it is only linked to improved relaxation. Hypnosis can benefit many psychological and physical disorders including habit control (behavior modification for cursing, nail-biting, smoking, stuttering), weight management (reprogramming eating habits), pain control (e.g., back pain, arthritis, chronic pain, migraine), stress and anxiety reduction (reduce stress and help put life events in perspective), phobia elimination (e.g., reduce common fears), creativity (remove blocked potential), goal-setting (set and achieve attainable goals), sleep improvement (improve sleep onset and sound sleep), and motivation (increase confidence). Furthermore, it is often used for numerous other health conditions including gastrointestinal problems, respiratory conditions, anxiety, and some dental-related problems such as anxiety or as part of a pain-management protocol. In conventional hypnosis, you approach the suggestions of the hypnotist, or your own ideas, as if they were reality . If the hypnotist suggests that your tongue is swollen, you'll feel a sensation in your mouth and you may have trouble talking. If the hypnotist suggests that you are eating chocolate ice cream, you'll taste the ice cream and feel it cooling your mouth and throat. If the hypnotist suggests that you are afraid, you may feel panicky, but the entire time, you are aware that it's all imaginary. Essentially, you're "playing pretend" on an intense level, as kids do. 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. In this state, you are also highly suggestible . That is, when the hypnotist tells you do something, you'll probably embrace the idea completely, although your sense of safety and morality remain entrenched throughout the experience. A hypnotist can't get you to do anything you don't want. 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 directly in front of you, choosing words as you speak, consciously trying to remember where you left your keys, etc. Accomplishing the above, your conscious mind is working hand-in-hand with your subconscious mind, the part of your mind that performs "behind the scenes". Your subconscious mind accesses the vast reservoir of information that allows you to solve problems, construct sentences or locate your keys. It assembles plans and ideas and runs them by your conscious mind. Your subconscious also takes care of all the substance activities you do automatically . You don't actively work through the steps of breathing minute to minute; your subconscious mind controls that. You don't think through every action while driving a car, 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 the majority of thinking, and it decides much of what you do. When you're awake, your conscious mind works to evaluate thoughts, make decisions and put certain ideas into action. It also processes new information and relays it to the subconscious mind. When you're asleep, the conscious mind gets out of the way, and your subconscious has free reign. The Science: The brain operates in four general states determined by the frequency of the electricity generated by the exchange of chemicals in neural pathways. The four states include Full Conscious Awareness , the Hypnotic State , the Dream State , and the Sleep State . These four states correspond to neuronal electrical activity and are defined by frequency ranges on an Electroencephalogram (EEG), measurements of the electrical activity of the brain. Full Conscious Awareness occurs when the majority of the electrical activity in the brain is in the beta range (14-35 Hz). The Hypnotic State occurs when brain activity is in the alpha range (8-13 Hz). The Dream State occurs when brain activity is in the theta range (4-7 Hz), and the Sleep State occurs when brain activity is in the delta range (.5-3 Hz). Full Conscious Awareness is where which we spend most of our waking hours. In this state, our mind is attentive and uses logic to reason, evaluate, assess, judge, and make decisions. Unfortunately, when making life changes, the conscious mind often gets in the way. In the Hypnotic State , the doorway between the conscious and the subconscious is opened. Memories become easily accessible, and new information is stored. In the Hypnotic State , you are not engaged in critical thinking. You are experiencing without questioning, without decisive judgment or analysis, like when you watch a movie. The hypnotist can facilitate suggestions that are very likely to bond as you are not analyzing those suggestions with the conscious mind. Psychiatrists theorize that the deep relaxation and focusing exercises of hypnotism work to calm and subdue the conscious mind so that it takes a less active role in your thinking process. You're still aware of what's going on, but your conscious mind takes a backseat to your subconscious mind. Effectively, this allows you and the hypnotist to work directly with the subconscious. In numerous studies, researchers have compared the physical " body signs " of hypnotic subjects with those un-hypnotized. Researchers found no significant physical change associated with the trance state of hypnosis. The subject's heart and respiration rate may slow down, but this is due to the relaxation involved in the hypnotic process, not the hypnotic state itself. However, there does seem to be changed activity in the brain. Most notable data comes from electroencephalograms (EEGs). Extensive EEG research has demonstrated that brains produce different brain waves , rhythms of electrical voltage, depending on their mental state. Deep sleep has a different rhythm than dreaming, and full alertness has a different rhythm than relaxation. In some studies, EEGs from subjects under hypnosis showed a boost in the lower frequency waves associated with dreaming and sleep, and a drop in the higher frequency waves associated with full wakefulness. Brain-wave information is not a definitive indicator of how the mind is operating, but this pattern does fit the hypothesis that the conscious mind backs off during hypnosis and the subconscious mind takes a more active role. Doctors and spiritual leaders all over the world claim that hypnotic suggestion can ease pain and even cure illness in some patients. The underlying idea behind this is that the mind and body are inextricably intertwined. When you suggest to the subconscious that the body does not feel pain or that the body is free of disease, the subconscious may actually bring about the change. For example: Using only hypnotic suggestion as an anesthetic, thousands of women have made it through childbirth with minimal pain and discomfort. A National Institute of Health report, which reviewed several scientific studies; showed that women under hypnosis before childbirth had shorter labors and more comfortable deliveries. According to the report, hypnosis may also enhance the immune system. The report looked at one study that found that hypnosis raised the levels of immunoglobulin (an important part of the immune system) in healthy children. Countless cancer patients swear by hypnosis, claiming that it helps to manage the pain of chemotherapy, and some former patients credit their recovery to hypnotherapy. This was confirmed in another NIH report. What's involved in a session? There are many different hypnotic techniques. One method involves leading patients into a state of hypnosis by talking in gentle, soothing tones, and describing images meant to create a sense of relaxation, security, and well being. People under hypnosis may appear to be asleep but are actually in an altered state of concentration and can focus intently when asked to do so by the hypnotist. While under hypnosis, specific goals may be suggested, such as pain control, more peaceful emotions, and less stress, fear, or anxiety. Contrary to popular belief, people under hypnosis are not under the control of the hypnotist. They cannot be made to do something they do not want to do. Quite the opposite is true. Hypnosis is used to help patients gain more control over their behavior, emotions, and even physical processes that cause them problems. Under hypnosis, subjects do not behave as passive robots. They are active problem solvers who incorporate their moral and cultural ideas into their behavior while remaining exquisitely responsive to the expectations expressed by the experimenter. Nevertheless, the subject does not experience hypnotically suggested behavior as something that is actively achieved, but is rather deemed as effortless. something that just happens. People who have been hypnotized often say things like "My hand became heavy and moved by itself" or "Suddenly I found myself feeling no pain." People cannot be hypnotized unless they wish to be, and success depends upon whether the patient is willing and receptive to the idea of hypnosis. Some people can enter into a deeper hypnotic state than others, and are said to be more hypnotizable. A person's responsiveness to hypnosis also remains fairly consistent regardless of the characteristics of the hypnotist: the practitioner's gender, age and experience have little or no effect on a subject's ability to be hypnotized. Similarly, the success of hypnosis does not depend on whether a subject is highly motivated or especially willing. A very responsive subject will become hypnotized under a variety of experimental conditions and therapeutic settings, whereas a less susceptible person will not, despite his or her sincere efforts. (Negative attitudes and expectations can, however, interfere with hypnosis.)
|
Follow us on:  |
Home | Chiropractic Services | Office Location | Articles | FAQ | About Us | Request Appointment |
| © Copyright Health Source FWB | All Rights Reserved Worldwide | |