Hypnosis is a state of consciousness involving focused attention and reduced external awareness having an enhanced capacity for response to suggestion, as explained in Wikipedia.
During hypnosis, a person is said to have heightened focus and concentration. The person can concentrate intensely on a specific thought or memory, while blocking out sources of distraction. Hypnotized subjects are said to show an increased response to suggestions.
A hypnotized person displays certain propensities, most notably heightened suggestibility and responsiveness. It is because of this this heightened state of mind that you can use hypnosis to make changes to your self beliefs, and patterns of thinking safely and naturally. After experiencing hypnosis, some people are able to induce hypnosis on themselves.
Psychologist, John Kilstrom (2001) states “The hypnotist does not hypnotize the individual. Rather the hypnotist serves as a sort of coach or tutor whose job is to help the person become hypnotized.”
Changes In Senses & Perception
Hypnosis works by relaxing you into a state where your brain shifts its activity. On a brain scan, a person in hypnosis shows the brainwave activity as experienced in the early years of our lives when our minds were able to sponge up information and immediately integrate it. This same accelerated learning occurs in hypnosis, bypassing the conscious mind so that unconscious beliefs and perceptions change.
Some of the most dramatic effects that can be seen with hypnosis are changes in sensation and perception. Some of the sensory changes include temporary blindness, deafness or loss of feeling in a part of the body. The changes in feeling can be very helpful for people who need anesthesia for surgical procedures or for chronic pain.
Studies on hypnosis have shown that a hypnotized person being told pain cannot be felt, will not consciously experience the pain of a pinprick or having the arm immersed in ice water.
When it comes to perceptions, a hypnotized person can be told a good friend is sitting across the room, and this person will not only see this friend but can give vivid detail of the friend and even touch this friend. The opposite can be experienced also. If told something with a foul odor does not smell, the hypnotized person will not consciously perceive any odor.
Limits of Hypnosis
Although effects of true hypnosis can be very dramatic, there are limits to the behaviors influenced by hypnosis.
1. You cannot be hypnotized against your will.
2. You will not behave in manners contrary to your moral and ethical values.
3. Hypnosis cannot make you stronger or give you new talents.
Healing the Body with Hypnosis
The body is designed to heal itself. Although this is an automatic process, hypnotic techniques can enhance and accelerate this process. By directing the subconscious mind to focus energy on a specific system in the body, more natural healing resources will go there. As an example, if you used hypnosis to help the healing of an injury or burn, you could accelerate the process so the healing happens in half the time it would take for the normal, unassisted healing to occur.
According to Dr. Steven Gurgevich, along with other doctors, the medical use of hypnosis can benefit asthma, back pain, brain injury, burns, cancer, childbirth, erectile function, eyesight, fertility, fibroid healing, headache, hypertension, immune system, irritable bowel syndrome, liver conditions, migraines, multiple sclerosis, neck conditions, pain, pregnancy, side effects of chemo or radiation treatment, skin conditions, spinal cord injuries, stimulating hair growth, strokes, surgery and recovery, tinnitus,and ulcers, just to list a few of the medical benefits.
There are also the benefits of changing behavioral patterns, which will promote a longer, healthy lifestyle – addictions, anxiety, depression, insomnia, smoking cessation, stress, weight loss.
Who Should You See?
You want to be sure to consult a licensed clinician. A couple of reputable groups are The American Society of Clinicao Hypnosis (www.asch.net) and The Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis (www.sceh.us). The can supply you with information of health care professionals in your area. Although still in the beginning stages, some insurance companies are covering hypnosis to treat am assortment of disorders.
For those unable to visit a hypnotist, there are also reputable hypnotherapists who provide recordings that can be used to hypnotize and help with the healing process. The ones I have used and found very helpful are Dr. Steve G. Jones and Natural Hypnosis. Because of the healing benefits I have received with headaches, skin and pain from using recordings made by these two sites, I have become an affiliate. I will make a commission if you should choose to purchase any products. They do offer some free hypnosis sessions, should you wish to try them out first. They both have exceptional and reliable recorded sessions that can help with healing.
I would love to hear of your experiences with healing through hypnosis.
To your abundance!