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“The mind/body connection is now
becoming more accepted as research reveals the effects of one on the other.”
Let's take a look into the mind and hypnosis. To begin with, it would be helpful
to clear up some common fears and misconceptions about the nature of hypnosis and its modern day usage.
Hypnosis is not:
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Loss of consciousness
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Weakening of Will or Control
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A process requiring a weak mind
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A giving away of secrets
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A process requiring gullibility
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A permanent state
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A magic wand or potion that can cause you to change a behavior against your
will.
Hypnosis is a naturally-occurring process or state of mind that most of us
experience hundreds if not thousands times during our lives. This natural phenomenon of the mind usually contains
all or some of the following characteristics:
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Focused concentration
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Increased physical and mental relaxation
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Heightened physiological and emotional suggestibility
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Heightened sensory awareness
These characteristics have enabled hypnosis to be used for a wide variety of
conditions, disorders, and problems.
One area of emerging importance is the use of hypnosis for pain management. In fact, hypnosis was recognized
recently by the National Institutes of Health as the preferred complementary approach for treatment of pain
associated with cancer. Research has also shown the benefits of hypnosis in conjunction with natural childbirth.
These are just a few of the many areas in which hypnosis is successfully put to use as an adjunct to traditional
medicine.
ANSWERS
TO QUESTIONS CONCERNING HYPNOSIS:
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What is hypnosis? Hypnosis is a natural process during which the subconscious
mind can be engaged to work to bring about a desired goal.
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How intelligent must I be in order to be hypnotized? Generally, anyone with
normal intelligence has the understanding and comprehension required to experience hypnosis.
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How much do I have to concentrate? Perhaps you have had the experience of
watching a television program so intently or being so immersed in a book that you were unaware that someone
spoke to you. You have probably also at some time discovered a bruise or cut on your body, but were unaware of
how you received it. These things happen because your concentration was focused elsewhere at the time of the
injury or interruption. Anyone having these types of experiences has the capacity of concentration necessary for
hypnosis or relaxation.
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Will I be unconscious during the experience? No. Even though you will feel
profoundly relaxed, you will actually be more acutely aware of everything that is happening. You will notice
things that you may not have noticed before. Since many people expect that hypnosis causes unconsciousness, they
are often confused about this.
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What does hypnosis feel like? Hypnosis feels a lot like daydreaming. You are
pleasantly relaxed, drowsy, and comfortable. In fact, it feels so good that most are eager to experience it
again.
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Is there any possibility of not being able to come out of hypnosis? None
whatsoever.
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Will I remember what happened during my experience? Yes. Your subconscious
mind stores all the experiences you have and can recall them. In the majority of cases, the conscious mind of
will also remember. The therapeutic value of hypnosis depends entirely on subconscious retention, and will be
unaffected by whether your conscious mind remembers the experience.
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Will hypnosis weaken my willpower? No. In fact, quite the opposite occurs. Willpower is actually strengthened through the realization of the capacity
of the subconscious mind to make up for the reduction in willpower caused by stress, anxiety, and tension in our
everyday lives. With hypnosis, you can put this capacity to use to effect your desired change, whether that
is to quit smoking, learn to relax, improve self-confidence, lose weight, or many other beneficial goals.
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Is hypnosis effective in eliminating undesirable habits? Yes. It is a very
effective means provided the person has a real, heart-felt desire to achieve permanent relief. Examples of
successfully-treated habits: Overeating, smoking, nail biting, alcoholism, worry, fears and phobias, digestive
disturbances, and burn out.
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Do medical associations approve of the use of hypnosis? Yes. The American
Medical Association approved hypnosis in 1958. In 1995, the National Institutes of Health recommended that
hypnosis be incorporated to a greater degree in the delivery of health care.
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For what medical conditions has hypnosis proven effective? Hypnosis has proven
effective in the relief of: Cancer pain, insomnia, tension headaches, chronic pain, certain dermatological
conditions, allergies, TMJS, myofascitis, and pain associated with childbirth.
Here are some ways the American Psychological Association’s Society of
Psychological Hypnosis describes Hypnosis:
“Hypnosis is a procedure during which a health professional or researcher
suggests that a client, patient, or subject experience changes in sensations, perceptions, thoughts, or behavior.
The hypnotic context is generally established by an induction procedure. Although there are many different hypnotic
inductions, most include suggestions for relaxation, calmness, and well-being. Instructions to imagine or think
about pleasant experiences are also commonly included in hypnotic inductions. People respond to hypnosis in
different ways. Some describe hypnosis as a normal state of focused attention, in which they feel very calm and
relaxed. Regardless of how and to what degree they respond, most people describe the experience as very pleasant.
Some people are very responsive to hypnotic suggestions and others are less
responsive. A person's ability to experience hypnotic suggestions can be inhibited by fears and concerns arising
from some common misconceptions. Contrary to some depictions of hypnosis in books, movies or television, people who
have been hypnotized do not lose control over their behavior. They typically remain aware of who they are and where
they are, and unless amnesia has been specifically suggested, they usually remember what transpired during hypnosis.
Hypnosis makes it easier for people to experience suggestions, but it does not force them to have these experiences.
Hypnosis has been used in the treatment of pain, depression, anxiety, stress,
habit disorders, and many other psychological and medical problems. However, it may not be useful for all
psychological problems or for all patients or clients. Again, it is the opinion of the authors of this statement
that the decision to use hypnosis as an adjunct to treatment can only be made in consultation with a qualified
health care provider who has been trained in the use and limitations of clinical hypnosis. In addition to its use in
clinical settings, hypnosis is used in research, with the goal of learning more about the nature of hypnosis itself,
as well as its impact on sensation, perception, learning, memory, and physiology. Researchers also study the value
of hypnosis in the treatment of physical and psychological problems.”
Wall Street Journal:
Hypnosis Techniques Work Into the Realm of Medicine
Unlike some drugs and treatments,
hypnotherapists say "hypnotism has no side effects, causes no allergic reactions, is not addictive" and is
relatively cheap, since patients can be taught to hypnotize themselves, the National Post said.
Moreover, hypnotic effects are real as
some studies involving brain scans have shown changes in brain activity during hypnosis.
Earlier this year, Carol Ginandes of
Harvard Medical School and Patricia Brooks of the Union Institute in Cincinnati, sought to determine if hypnosis
could aid recovery for women who underwent surgery to reduce their breast size.
"At one week and seven weeks after
surgery, nurses and doctors participating in the study visibly assessed and measured the wounds of all three groups
... the women who had undergone hypnosis healed significantly faster than the others," according to the
archived Harvard University Gazette article.
And numerous people, among them those
who are allergic to anesthetics used in some surgeries, can attest that hypnosis can make you seemingly numb to
pain.
But the reason people don't feel pain is
still open to question: One theory holds that the words spoken by a hypnotherapist break consciousness into two
streams.
And "even though one stream of
consciousness is aware of pain, this sensation is kept 'hidden' from the other stream, which is intensely focused on
some task or image," the National Post article noted.
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Phil Hamilton
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