What is Hypnosis?
Imagine yourself enthralled in a movie. You are sitting on the couch watching a movie, and you are completely oblivious to your surroundings. You are caught up in the action, or you may be caught up in the characters. The scene is slowly developing and you are waiting for the outcome. Suddenly the phone rings, and you are startled, and you jump. The time you have spent watching the movie is a form of hypnosis. Your sense of hearing, sight, smell and touch are suspended for a period of time as you remain focused on particular stimuli, i.e. the movie.
There are many charlatans who utilize hypnosis for a variety of ailments, falsely claiming a magical cure. WARNING: Hypnosis is effective in smoking cessation only about 34% of the time. Subsequently, 66% of the time it is a failure. The same is true for weight loss.
Hypnosis CANNOT force you to do something you would not normally do. Hypnosis cannot be used to take advantage of you.
Benefits of hypnosis include relaxation, meditation and anxiety reduction. It can be used effectively in phobias, and has been used in regression techniques to retrieve past information. Hypnosis when used with certain medications can also be beneficial. Hypnosis can be effective in forensic psychology, as well as certain traumas that people have encountered in their lives.
As with any treatment intervention, individuals seeking out hypnosis as a therapy tool for a medical ailment should seek out a second opinion first. If hypnosis seems right for you at that point, check the credentials and educational background of any hypnotist, as well as how long they have been practicing. A professional hypnotist will be able to document this for you. Don’t settle for anyone less than a professional. Ask for a testimonial from a previous patient, as many hypnotists graciously offer referrals from prior patients.
Hypnosis is not much different than guided visual imagery. Both techniques vary minimally and can have excellent outcomes. My personal experience with my patient population is focused primarily with relaxation, anxiety and panic attacks, test anxiety and focusing on past traumas to recollect memories. My success varies; however this is also due to patient compliance and preconceived negativity prior to the session.
Therapists should look at hypnosis as another tool, another avenue to help the patient reach a state of peace or delve into their past. Patients should be advised of the success and failure rate and be alert for individuals trying to sell them a 100% panacea. That does not exist!