Stressed? Overwhelmed? Relax With Hypnosis!

What is Hypnosis?
by Mike Wedge

 

Hypnosis is actually a heightened state of awareness rather than a state where the mind is vulnerable to inappropriate suggestion.

The word hypnosis conjures many different images in our minds. They are frequently based on our exposure to stage hypnosis or how hypnosis is portrayed on television and in movies. The reality is, of course, quite different. Hypnosis is a naturally occurring state which has profound therapeutic benefits with far reaching implications.

Although the therapeutic use of hypnosis predates recorded history, the word hypnosis has only recently come into the vernacular. Franz Anton Mesmer introduced the concept of animal magnetism, also known as Mesmerism, a couple hundred years ago. He gained quite a following and was popular with French nobility. Although he did not realize it at the time, Mesmer had stumbled across the state which is now known as hypnosis. Dr. James Braide became interested in Mesmer’s work more in an attempt to discredit Mesmer than to embrace his concepts. Rather than discrediting Mesmer, however, Braide became fascinated with Mesmer’s ideas.

It was Dr. Braide who first introduced the word hypnosis, which is derived from the Greek, hypnos, meaning sleep. With further study, Braide realized the word hypnosis was technically incorrect, as hypnosis does not involve sleep, but by that time the word had gained root and was a part of the popular vernacular. A friend of Braide’s, Dr. James Esdaile, began experimenting with hypnotic anesthesia in the mid-1800s. He was so successful with hypnotic anesthesia that the surgical death rate dropped dramatically.

From these early days, hypnosis has grown in acceptance. It was even recognized by the AMA in the 1950s. Although hypnosis is a fascinating field of study, which has profound implications in the areas of human potential, medicine and psychotherapy as a therapeutic tool, it still remains a bit cloaked in mystery and misunderstanding.

What is Hypnosis?

Ask ten people for a definition of hypnosis and you probably get ten different answers, maybe more. A good working definition of hypnosis is that it is the bypass of the critical factor and the establishment of selective thinking. Sounds good, but what does that mean?

For the sake of explanation, let’s view the human mind as consisting of two parts: the conscious mind and the subconscious mind. The conscious mind is rational and analytical. It holds our short-term memory and is the seat of will power. The conscious mind is the area in which talk therapists (psychologists and other counseling therapists) work. From the vantage point of the hypnotherapist, the conscious mind is inefficient and difficult to work with.

The subconscious mind holds our permanent memory, is the root of our emotions, stores our habits and has a basic role in self-preservation. The subconscious mind stores our basic programming – that which is the result of all our life experiences, both good and bad. It has been said we live in the light of reflected action. This simply means our actions today are a result of our life experiences which continue to exert influence over us. The subconscious mind is the realm of the hypnotherapist, who finds it an incredibly efficient way to bring about desired change.

Our critical factor is a function of the conscious mind. Simply put, the critical factor passes judgment on any and all thoughts and suggestions directed toward the individual. It’s the part of the brain that responds to the suggestion, “You have a great memory,” with the response “No, I don’t; I can’t seem to remember anything.” As a result, the positive affirmation “I have a great memory” never takes root in the subconscious mind to bring about the desired change.

Hypnosis is the process by which the critical factor is bypassed and suggestions are allowed into the subconscious mind where real and immediate changes can be made. It is important to point out that the process of critical factor bypass does not leave one open to inappropriate suggestions or manipulation. In fact, the critical factor will immediately become active the moment an inappropriate suggestion is made.

Hypnosis is actually a heightened state of awareness rather than a state where the mind is vulnerable to inappropriate suggestion. Many people are fearful of hypnosis due to the inaccurate belief that they may lose control or fall subject to the desires of the hypnotherapist. This is absolutely untrue. Why then, you might ask, do people behave the way they do during stage hypnosis? Excellent question! Those that are involved in a stage show are allowing suggestions for goofy behavior to take effect because they want to be part of the show. If they were not interested in participating, or if they found the suggestions unacceptable, there would be no change in their behavior.

The second part of our working definition is the establishment of selective thinking. After critical factor bypass has been achieved, selective thinking is established once an acceptable idea or concept is made and the mind wraps itself around the suggestion and makes it its own. Selective thinking is the process by which a concept or idea is completely accepted without reservation by the subconscious mind. Or, put another way, the subconscious mind mentally wraps itself around the concept, idea or suggestion. An integral part of hypnosis is the correct formulation of suggestion by the therapist and an understanding of the various attitudes towards a suggestion by the hypnotized individual. The success or failure of a hypnosis session is heavily dependent on these two variables.

Some facts about hypnosis:

	Everyone capable of concentrating can be hypnotized.
	There is no danger of not coming out of hypnosis.
	Hypnosis is a natural state which you move in and out of throughout the day.
	You will hear everything during hypnosis. In fact, hypnosis is a heightened state of awareness.
	No one gains control over you during hypnosis. You are always in total control.
	Hypnosis is completely safe and a direct route to rapid and permanent change. Whether you want to remove a phobia, control pain, reduce stress, or enjoy a painless childbirth, hypnosis is a most effective and efficient method to obtain your goal.
	Hypnosis is useful in many other situations, including weight loss; stopping smoking; controlling nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy and pregnancy; stuttering; memory improvement; sports improvement; various medical conditions; and recreational age regression to relive a part of your life.

There is so much more that can be said about hypnosis. It’s a fascinating subject with countless benefits to those who know how to use it.

Michael Wedge, DCH, M.Ac.O.M., L.Ac., has a private practice in Palmer. For more information on hypnosis, contact Premier Acupuncture & Complementary Medicine, 745-7928; visit www.premier-acupuncture.com and www.physioscan.net or email physioscan@alaska.net.

Understanding Hypnosis
by Deb Lachinski

 

Hypnosis is a valuable tool for accessing deeper realities in order to shift the mind toward wellness.

Historically, hypnosis has been used in hypnotic practice and trance states for the purposes of healing ritual. For example, shamans of tribal medicine include repetitive activities such as singing, drumming, chanting and dancing to alter the state of consciousness in order for healing to take place. Today, hypnosis is used to compliment and enhance the healing properties of modern medicine, dentistry and psychotherapy. As such, it is a valuable tool for accessing deeper realities in order to shift the mind toward wellness.

Most everyone experiences hypnosis. As you learn something new, such as riding a bike, swimming, or doing Kung Fu, you are undergoing self-hypnosis. When you watch television or a movie with focused intent, you are encountering self-hypnosis. If whatever you hear or see changes your mind about what you feel or think about something or someone, you are experiencing self-hypnosis. Hypnotherapy uses this same principle to help people to change their mind about a behavior that is creating difficulty in their life.

How Does It Work?
There is more to hypnosis than simply reading words on a page or listening to a creative visualization or relaxation tape. The shift occurs as a result of both how relaxed and aware you are.

There are four types of brain waves: beta (waking state); alpha (focused concentration); theta (deep meditation); and delta (dream state). Hypnosis works when brain waves resonate at a level of focused concentration and deep meditation. When in these states, the mind can be influenced by anything close by that is perceived by the senses. Voice as well as visualization cues are the most powerful elements in inducing hypnosis.

Have you ever been driving and missed the turn-off because you were singing a tune with the radio, rehearsing in your mind something you did earlier or need to do later, or conversing with someone? Your brain wave activity was in the alpha (focused concentration) state. It was your subconscious mind that was actually driving the car. Similarly, it’s actually my subconscious mind making my fingers type these words while my conscious mind is thinking about what to type. Our conscious actions are a by-product of the subconscious movement of the mind through the electrical circuitry of our brain, while conscious thoughts are delayed by a fraction of a second. This means that my typing movements happen before I have a conscious thought connected with the movements.

In short, the subconscious mind is the connection between the nervous system, which is under the direction of the physical brain, and the conscious mind. The subconscious mind is the storehouse of all memory, including our current life and past lives. When there are memory blocks, hypnosis helps the conscious mind access the subconscious mind's "library" through deep meditation and focused concentration.

The Power of the Subconscious
The subconscious mind is the aspect of our being that opens to healthy suggestions that create change. All it needs is something new to remember! When our subconscious mind has no direction or experiential memory to draw upon, the conscious mind rules. However, the conscious mind is often stuck in moments of instant gratification influenced by subconscious memory of past results from instant gratification. It's that out-of-control conscious mind that elects behaviors which create unhealthy consequences, while the subconscious mind repeats that pattern at an unconscious level.

For example, we can easily convince ourselves that we really need that fabulous painting or trip to the Bahamas. When we make our purchase, it is because the subconscious mind has not learned to discriminate based on consequences. The subconscious mind does not "think," so there are no consequences at this level unless it has been trained. It has nothing but old physiological patterns to go upon and, thus, directs the brain to tell the hands to pull out the pocketbook.

Hypnosis can train the subconscious mind to realize (not "think") the consequences of any behavior by seeing the future. Simply, the behaviors you need to change are replaced by activities with positive outcomes. As a result, the subconscious mind automatically influences the brain to create the activities in the body that move away from behaviors with consequential negative outcomes.

The Key of Suggestion
An important key in hypnosis is your level of awareness, or concentrated and focused absorption. If you can look at a spot on the wall and perceive it without thinking about it or letting your mind go dull, you have achieved a level of awareness required for hypnosis. In this focused state, you can experience deep meditation. You can also experience suggestion.

Suggestion is the key and solution to problem-solving in hypnosis. Suggestion is reflexive. When given a suggestion in the theta state, the subconscious mind grabs hold of the concept and redirects it through activity.

Clearly, hypnotic suggestion requires educated wisdom regarding deciphering how the individual perceives his or her world. Words and phrases are specifically designed to recreate the receivers' world into one that is accepting of positive change.

A person who is self-motivated for changing unhealthy behaviors or is in need of discipline for changing old habits or addictions may benefit from hypnosis. If your spouse or friend encourages you to use hypnosis to stop smoking, don't even attempt it unless you can see yourself as a non-smoker and truly want to quit. If your partner suggests hypnotherapy to lose excess pounds but there are secondary gains for being overweight, then hypnosis may not be the choice of the moment. It is more important to want to reduce weight because you feel it is right for you, not because someone else wants you to do it.

Other Uses for Hypnosis
In some cases, hypnosis is used to uncover blocks to stopping an addiction or creating the discipline necessary to start a new project. Some popular methods for releasing blockages include age or past-life regression. There are numerous accounts of how past-life regression has uncovered a cause for a current life medical condition.

Hypnosis can also be used for visualization, such as in guided imagery to help boost the immune system during treatment for cancer. Hypnosis has also been used beneficially as pain management to assist the dying for ease of transition. There is increasing interest in the use of hypnosis for childbirthing, dentistry and numerous medical procedures. Successful treatment of test anxiety, poor memory, compulsive buying or binge eating, as well as the above-mentioned weight loss and smoking habits can be achieved with hypnosis. Both children and adults can release phobias of bugs, certain animals, dentistry, having blood drawn or flying in airplanes, to name just a few. Previous traumatic memories can also be transformed into learning experiences as well as build the foundation for self-confidence in other situations. The possibilities of using hypnosis for increasing our health and well-being are endless!

Dr. Deb Lachinski can be reached to discuss self-hypnosis training at the IASC/Taoism Center for Wellness, 344-5533 or by email: spiritma@iasc-ak.org.