hypnosis and hypnotherapy

hypnosis and hypnotherapy

Since time immemorial, man has come up with natural cures to help with an array of diseases and conditions. Unfortunately, some of these cures don’t work at all. Modern medicine has helped burst the myths of these old cures that don’t work, as well as strengthen the effective treatments.

One alternative treatment method is the use of hypnosis.

Now, when your first hear the term hypnosis, you may pull a memory from what pop culture has made hypnotism to be. Unlike in the movies, hypnotism is more than making someone bark like a dog or quack like a duck.

Below, let’s examine what hypnosis is, it’s place in modern medicine, it’s advantages, and how you can hypnotize yourself.

What is hypnosis and hypnotherapy?

As already established, the hyped movies that relate hypnosis to swinging pendulums and cliché ‘you are now getting drowsy’ quotes are off.

What then, is hypnosis?

According to the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (1), hypnosis is a method of relaxing, intensely concentrating, and focusing on achieving a state of trance or heightened awareness. While hypnotized, your attention will be so focused either on an object or something else that you won’t notice what is happening around you.

Self-hypnotism is a technique where you hypnotize yourself by putting yourself in the trance. This process is also known as hypnotherapy.

Through hypnotherapy, you can reprogram your brain to get over certain habits or to nature new practices.

While hypnotherapy sounds like a complexly intricate process, it is actually easy, and with proper guidance, you will learn to self-hypnotize.

What are the advantages of hypnotizing yourself?

Before learning how to self-hypnotize, you first need to learn the benefits you could experience form the process.

Some of the scientifical advantages form hypnotherapy include;

1. Self-hypnosis can help you sleep better and for longer

In most previous studies seeking to investigate the effects of hypnotherapy on sleep, they focused on how long or short the subjects were able to sleep after hypnosis therapy. While the results were impressively positive, they did not give any indication of the quality of sleep.

In one study, however, researchers from Switzerland (2) wanted to measure the quality of sleep after hypnotherapy. The study sought to monitor the brain activity of participants after undergoing hypnosis. The women who were thought to benefit more from hypnotherapy experienced better sleep – up to 80 percent than those who had no hypnotherapy.

These results are of significant importance and value to people who have a hard time sleeping.

2. Hypnotherapy can help you calm down

When most people start stressing, they often start overthinking. You can get stressed form anything, from getting your exam results, making a presentation at work, or even your health. Overthinking won’t help you accomplish much. Fortunately, with the power of self-hypnotism can help you learn how not to overthink everything.

Research shows that hypnotherapy can help you take control of the thoughts that stress you and reframe them in a positive manner (3). This will help you get a hold of your thoughts and get knowledge on how to stop your brain from overthinking.

In one study (4), hypnotherapy was proven to help with stressful processes such as giving birth.

3. Hypnosis can help with hot flashes

Research was done amongst women who had at least 50 hot flash episodes in a week. The women underwent five hypnotherapy sessions every week. The results from this study were a reduction of the hot flashes frequency by a staggering 74%. (5)

Other health benefits experienced form self-hypnosis include;

• Easing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms by 71% (6)
• Hypnosis calms nervousness
• Hypnotherapy helps balance your hormones
• The process can help you quit habits such as smoking

How do you hypnotize yourself?

To many people, hypnotizing themselves not only sounds complicated, but many also deem it as a dangerous and unsafe procedure. However, hypnotherapy is a simple process, and when acutely followed, you will get to enjoy the benefits above.

Here’s a simple three-part process to help you hypnotize yourself.

Step 1: Keep it simple

Many times, people try to overcomplicate the process. However, you should keep it as simple as you can; this will help you maximize the results.

Start by defining how long you’d like the session to take. Ideally, while starting, you can self-hypnotize for a few minutes, and then continually increase this.

For example, you can start with a ten-minute session.

Then, you want to set out an objective. What do you want to achieve from the hypnotherapy session? Have a specific idea of what it is you want to work on.

For instance, you can self-hypnotize to get rid of stress or to feel more relaxed.

Step 2: Put yourself in the trance

The easiest way to get into a trance is to start by focusing on your breathing. Breathe slowly through your nose and exhale through your mouth.

While this sounds like a simplistic process, it is highly effective.

However, no one can force you to self-hypnotize. If you are doing it out of your own will, you have to mean it and to try as much to actualize it.

One way you can use to get deeper into your trance is to imagine yourself walking down a flight of stairs. Count down each step you take, from one through ten. With each number, allow yourself to feel more relaxed. When you get to the tenth staircase, feel the tranquility and calmness surrounding you.

You might be aware of the changes as you go through the above steps, whether you are or you’re not, allow your unconscious mind to lead you through the process.

Step 3: Relax and be transformed

Now, you’re in a deeply relaxed state. At this stage, you don’t need to do much. You’ve already given your unconscious mind the marching orders; now, you just have to trust the process.

You may experience a sinking or floating sensation. Some people feel like they’re sitting or lying down. Don’t let this alarm you; this is the experience your mind has chosen; let it work its way.

Ultimately, hypnotherapy is a process that can help you not only relax, but get rid of pain, additions, or even get healthier. As you continue practicing self-hypnotism, you’ll get better at it, and the results will be more apparent. However, if you notice you are suffering from stress, IBS, or any of the other conditions aforementioned, it is advised you visit a health professional.