Whether we realize it or not, we have all been in a hypnotic state some time or another. Basically, all hypnosis is self-hypnosis because it is impossible to hypnotize a person without his or her willing cooperation.
Daydreaming and absentmindedness are some expressions of a hypnotic state, when you are "lost to the world" and you drift into a zone of your own.
Hypnosis is a state of mind when you are neither fully awake nor fully asleep. It is a trance-like state during which the patient is in an enhanced state of awareness. During a hypnotic trance the conscious mind is suppressed and the subconscious mind is revealed.
A doctor or therapist induces hypnosis by way of suggestion. The therapist suggests ideas, concepts and actions to the patient who is under hypnosis. These ideas become real to the patient and through these ideas, the therapist can extract information of which the patient is unaware.
Although hypnosis is usually used to treat problems related to the mind, it can have a positive effect on the body as well. Hypnotherapy can be used to overcome phobias, negative thoughts or suppressed emotions. Physiologically, hypnosis leads to slower breathing, lower heart rate and slower metabolism. It can also reduce the sensation and awareness of pain and other unpleasant symptoms, such as nausea.
Hypnosis works by altering our state of consciousness. The left side of the brain, which controls the conscious mind, is put to sleep during hypnosis. Consequently, the right side of the brain, which is non-analytical and subconscious, becomes more alert.
Clinical hypnosis is an effective process to bypass the conscious mind and communicate with the subconscious mind. It is the best cure for breaking a habit like smoking, plus it helps in pain management, weight control, relaxation, study habits, sports performance, anesthesia and trauma resolution.
Listed below are the three problems I am most often asked about as a professionally trained clinical therapist. An outline of the relevant therapy for each situation is shown here. Most sessions last approximately 60 minutes .
Quit smoking therapy
This therapy is, quite simply, the best available. The success rate is far higher than you might imagine. In fact, some surveys have shown it to be definitely one of the most effective methods used to get someone to quit smoking.
No drugs are used and there are no unpleasant side effects. Most people experience no withdrawal symptoms, and few or no cravings. So if you're determined to kick the habit, it really can help. A single 90-minute session is all that is needed to do the trick.
Anxiety and stress
Hypnosis is of enormous help in reducing stress and anxiety levels, although there are two distinctly different methods of treatment. Whether you need help for a "one-off" situation like a driving test, for example, or a more persistent and possibly more deeply rooted problem, hypnosis can help you.
The best method for any individual can really only be determined through consultation, many people finding that two or three sessions, spread over a month or so, are sufficient.
Fears and phobias
When you have a fear or phobia that you really cannot get a grip on however hard you try, no amount of well-intentioned "help" from friends or family is likely to solve the problem. In fact, it can even make things worse.
Although it may seem impossible to you now, hypnotherapy can help to remove the problem so that you could simply forget it ever existed in the first place. Using the right sort of therapy means that you won't replace one fear with another, either.
It is often believed that the only way to overcome deep-rooted fears is to "face up" to the feared experience. You may rest assured that this is simply not the case with hypnotherapy and you will therefore not be subjected to any type of exposure therapy.
The writer is a dedicated therapist who has been trained in United Kingdom, United States, Australia and Singapore since 2003 and is the founder of Infinity Point, Singapore.
