Most people have arrived at their ideas about hypnosis via the myths and misconceptions presented by television, movies, stories or worst of all, stage hypnosis, which is used for entertainment. Subsequently, hypnosis may well be the most misunderstood therapeutic protocol in use today. Hypnosis can be used for a variety of issues, including focus and memory, overcoming addiction, increasing self-confidence and self-esteem, perfecting sports performance, recovering from grief/loss, overcoming phobias, weight loss and fitness, quitting negative or harmful habits and more.

Although often overlooked for lack of public understanding, hypnosis is a powerful tool that can be used to help change a person’s behavioral patterns, thoughts and perspective. According to a 2008 review article in the journal Nature, there is even an emerging body of evidence that hypnotherapy is clinically effective for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Several well-designed studies have shown long-term benefits for IBS patients, including reductions of abdominal pain, anxiety and depression, the researchers say.

A person being medically hypnotized is simply prompted to drift into a relaxed state and led to bypass the conscious mind while listening to and visualizing healthy suggestions. Harold Pass, an associate professor of clinical psychiatry at Stony Brook University Medical Center, in New York, has also described hypnosis as putting a patient in an enhanced state of relaxation. The patient is not asleep nor unconscious, and does not lose control over his or her actions, Pass says; the patient is more open to suggestions.

“The suggestions are solely for the purpose of achieving his or her agenda. This is much like guided visualization that is often used to perfect sports performance or achieve a goal, such as having more confidence or overcoming a phobia. While in a relaxed state, your mind becomes more open to suggestions and susceptible to believing in the endless possibilities. Using this powerful tool can help us to become what we see in our minds,” says Pass.

Contrary to what stage and movie hypnosis may imply, people under the influence of hypnosis have total control over their thoughts and their actions. John Hopkins Hospital references state, “Some mentally healthy people are unable to go under hypnosis, while others are very susceptible to this form of therapy. However, hypnotism will not work if the person does not want to be hypnotized, and the subject of hypnosis can interrupt it at any time. Hypnotism requires trust and imagination.”

Hypnosis is a real psychological phenomenon that takes place in the brain, so it far surpasses simply talking about issues. In a 2007 study of 200 breast cancer patients that needed surgery, about half underwent a 15-minute hypnosis session before their surgery; the other half talked with a psychologist about their thoughts and feelings before the surgery. Patients that underwent hypnosis required less sedative during the surgery, and perhaps because they were more relaxed, their surgeries lasted 10 fewer minutes on average. They experienced less pain, nausea, fatigue and emotional upset following the surgery. The researchers calculated the hospital could save about $770 per cancer patient by employing hypnosis before surgery.

Practitioners of hypnosis therapy claim that talking about problems and solutions offers around a 30 percent success rate in 50 sessions, whereas hypnosis typically has double the success rate in just a few sessions. One of fectors that help increase the potential for success is for the client and the hypnotist to spend a significant amount of time in pre-consultation. This helps the therapist to understand the client’s goals and desires, motivations and ideals. It also helps the patient focus on objectives, visualize the desired objective and become comfortable with the therapy. 

Deana Chapman is a certified hypnotist and neurolinguistic programmer, Locations in Mary Esther and Navarre. For more information, call 850-261-3596, mail [email protected] or visit DeanaCooperChapman.com.