All about: Hypnosis

Hypnosis is a state of mind in which the participant is open to the suggestions of the hypnotist. Hypnosis can help you to make many positive changes within yourself. To learn more about hypnosis and to find out exactly how hypnosis works, keep on reading.

Overview

Hypnosis works with the subconscious mind, which is located in the right side of the brain. It controls our thoughts, habits and feelings. The subconscious mind is almost the opposite of the conscious mind, because it accepts all the information that it receives unquestionably. This uncritical acceptance can be used by hypnotherapy in order to encourage changes in behaviour or habits.

Question and answers about hypnosis

What is hypnosis? Hypnosis is a different state of consciousness. Hypnosis is not the same as sleep. It is actually an intermediate stage between wakefulness and sleep. Hypnosis uses guided relaxation and focused attention to help the person to achieve a different state of awareness. The individual's concentration is so intense that anything else is temporarily blocked out. This enables the person to focus on specific feelings, memories or thoughts.
How does hypnosis work? It works by encouraging the person to focus his attention on something specific, like a thought or a feeling, while trying to block any distractions. This makes the person more open to suggestions. Hypnosis is an aid to psychotherapy, and not so much a treatment in itself. During the hypnotic state, people can explore painful feelings and memories more easily. Hypnosis can be used as suggestion therapy to help people to change certain behaviour, or as patient analysis to find the causes of a disorder.
Does hypnosis really work? Hypnosis does work, but it may not work for everyone. If the person is negative and refuses to participate, then hypnosis won’t be effective. Almost all people can be hypnotised if they are willing, apart from people with an IQ below 70 and people who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
What is hypnotherapy and does hypnotherapy work? Hypnotherapy is a form of treatment that takes place while the person is in hypnosis. When the method is used by a trained therapist and under the proper conditions, it is safe and can actually help the patient. Hypnotherapy has been used for many medical conditions, such as blood pressure regulation, pain control, irritable bowel treatment, skin conditions, strengthening of the immune system, asthma, smoking cessation and the treatment of eating disorders. Hypnotherapy is very effective in treating anxiety, depression, addictions and various psychosomatic symptoms. Hypnosis/hypnotherapy should be performed with the help of qualified health professionals such as psychiatrists, psychotherapists and psychologists who have been trained in this type of therapy.