What is Hypnosis?
- What Hypnosis Is
- The Conscious and the Subconscious Mind
- How Hypnosis Works
- Your Role
- The Role of the Hypnotist
- How Hypnosis Can Help With Pain and Stress
What Hypnosis Is
Hypnosis is usually described as a state of focused attention. It is like looking through a telescope, you see only a very select image to the exclusion to other information. We all slip into this state to varying degrees during the day for example when daydreaming, driving, or focusing deeply on a task. During these times we tune out the outside world and let our minds focus. However we are able to “snap” out of this state easily if something alarms us such as a loud noise, a sudden change in temperature etc. Hypnosis is very much the same. With the guidance of a hypnotist you become very focused and are able to tune out outside “noise” including your own chattering conscious mind. However just as mentioned above you can leave this state if something alarms you such as a loud noise or if you are not comfortable with what is happening. In hypnosis you are in control. It does not appear to be this way when we see it on stage but in those cases the subjects have decided that they will participate in the silly requests of the hypnotist. If the requests are too far out of the subjects value system they will not comply. No one can force you to relax and no one can force you to concentrate thus if you do not want to be hypnotized you won’t be.
Hypnosis has been around for centuries and is an accepted form of treatment and endorsed by the American and British Medical Associations and the American psychological Association. You may benefit from hypnosis if you:
- Are motivated to change a current problem or issue
- Are willing to look at the potential emotional / subconscious beliefs which may be contributing to the issue.
In summary hypnosis is
- A state of focused attention
- A state where you tune out your conscious mind
- A state you are in control of
- A state you can bring yourself out of if you wish
The Conscious and the Subconscious Mind
It is theorized that there are 2 main functions to your mind. These are not physical areas but govern different functions. The conscious mind is what we are most familiar with.
Conscious mind functions are
- Logic
- Planning
- Reasoning
- Will power
- Temporary memory
Subconscious mind functions are:
- Emotions
- Patterns of thinking
- Patterns of behaving
- Creativity
- Imagination
- Permanent memory
It is the subconscious mind which stores our feelings about present and past events. It is also where patterns of thinking and behavior are set. Often people want to change a habit like nail biting or smoking. So, at a conscious level they know exactly what they should do (logic) and they push themselves to do it (will power). However, if the patterns of thinking and behaving have not changed in the subconscious the behavior often persists. In hypnosis you allow greater access to these underlying thoughts and feeling and can change them. Thus you are using both your conscious and your subconscious to help you overcome whatever your concern is.
How Hypnosis Works
As mentioned above in hypnosis you allow yourself greater access to your inner thoughts and feelings. In this state of focused attention your conscious logical mind is less involved and you are more open to beneficial suggestions. It is that simple, you decide you want to enter hypnosis and you decide what information comes forth, you do not need to disclose any information if you are not comfortable doing so. With effort from you and guidance from the hypnotist you can change your perceptions, feelings, thoughts, and behaviors to more positive ones.
Your Role
Hypnosis is something you actively participate in! In order to access the subconscious thoughts/ feelings you need to relax, let your mind be open and follow the instructions of the hypnotist. The more you follow the instructions the better the results. It is important that you do your homework between sessions to support the changes you wish to see.
It is recommended that you practice at home CDs to support the positive changes you make are a great tool. The results from one session per week are greatly increased if you practice self-hypnosis. During the week, between sessions, keeping your conscious mind open to new thoughts and consciously changing your behaviors is important too.
The Role of the Hypnotist
The hypnotist is a knowledgeable guide. S/he will guide you through a series of mental exercises to relax your body and mind. S/he will then use a variety of techniques to help you. Some of these techniques help you access your thoughts and feelings others may be positive suggestions to support the changes you want to make.
Hypnosis is not recognized as a distinct profession and as such is not regulated in Ontario. It is a tool and should be used by someone with training in its use. It can be applied to many different areas such as medicine, dentistry, motivational coaching, pain management, counselling etc.
How Hypnosis Can Help With Pain and Stress
Hypnosis for pain relief has been studied extensively and the value of hypnosis is clearly proven.
Pain is a physical as well as a mental and emotional experience. Did you ever wonder why:
- athletes can play their sport with a broken bone and not report pain
- recovering wounded soldiers need less pain medication than civilians
- moms delivering babies in some cultures do not report pain
- the placebo effect works
This is because these people are experiencing the emotional and mental aspects of the situation differently. The athlete is so focused on the game, the soldier is so relieved to be safe in a hospital away from danger, the moms see the experience as natural and positive and are not fearful and, expecting something to work makes it work better. Their ability to have minimal to no pain is not due just to a conscious choice, their subconscious beliefs support the experience. Your mind has a strong influence on your body. You can learn to alter your sensations, change patterns of thinking that contribute to pain, and change your perceptions of events and experiences that may have contributed.
Pain is the body’s “alarm system”; it may be a sign that something needs to be addressed medically. It is essential to have your pain evaluated by a physician. However, sometimes pain lingers long after it should and becomes chronic. Our minds and our bodies aren’t two separate things! What we think and how we feel can affect us physically. When pain is experienced there is a sensory (or physical feeling) component and a cognitive (or mental / emotional) component. Chronic pain often affects people in every aspect of their life and this can cause a lot of stress and anxiety. Hypnosis sessions and practicing self-hypnosis can help you gain control of your pain and start to calm stress and anxiety.
Hypnosis is also used frequently for stress reduction. Stress is present in everyone’s life to varying degrees. Stress reactions can be in the form of nervous habits (e.g. teeth grinding or nail biting), poor sleep or racing thoughts. Physical signs of stress such as sweaty palms, racing heart, increased blood pressure are also very real evidence of the connection between the mind and the body. A strong stress reaction can also be in the form of a phobia with the above signs being present in relation to a specific object or event. Hypnosis can help to alter your subconscious thought and behavior patterns and change your perspective on the stress thus allowing new more positive thoughts and behaviors to be present.
