Hypnosis, what is it and what is not?
Every day we find ourselves immersed in an excess of information, we hear comments thrown at random, myths, rumors and assumptions ... And all this is confused in the everyday landscape, supposing an obstacle to distinguish reality well. The same goes for the idea we have about some therapies and techniques; for example, we may harbor some confusion or not be clear about what hypnosis is and is not. We have come to hear that it is a manipulation and a farce, or that it is just relaxation, but the truth is that hypnosis is also applied in consultations of serious, trained and competent professionals.
Myths generate fear and take us away from what could benefit us or bring us closer to what could harm us. In this case, we might fear being hypnotized and dominated. However, this fear is unfounded because through hypnosis the person is not deeply asleep or becomes an automaton, therefore can not be forced to perform acts he does not want. Also, usually, remember what you said and done while in that hypnotic state.
Hypnosis does not eliminate the voluntary control of the person or leave it in a state of trance from which it is impossible to leave.
Before starting, it is important that we are informed that this type of technique is going to be carried out and that it will be applied by a professional with knowledge that enables them to do so. It is recommended that you be a professional supported by a training that certifies the mastery of the technique. Once we are sure of this, we will only have to listen to the psychologist or therapist expert in hypnosis, focusing on the ideas and images that he suggests. It is important to maintain a receptive attitude, open to suggestions for change related to our perceptions, emotions, thoughts or behaviors.
What is hypnosis?
There are different types of hypnosis. The one explained in this article is Ericksonian hypnosis, which refers to certain inner sensory and psychic experiences that have been experienced. The trance occurs naturally and spontaneously, achieving a learning and openness of the mind. In contrast, classical hypnosis is based on the state of loss of consciousness, through receiving direct suggestions from the therapist, through a formal ritual, so that the trance occurs. Its purpose is to eliminate the symptom (V Days AAHEA, 2015).
Ericksonian hypnosis aims to create new experiences that allow you to have a different point of the symptom, understand it better and replace it with a more adaptive behavior.
In the same way as cognitive therapies, one of the objectives of Ericksonian hypnosis is the reorganization of the cognitive structures of the person who attends therapy. Hypnosis promotes that she herself performs this process of restructuring without rational and conscious control, so that structures inaccessible to consciousness can be modified (Feixas, 2008).
Hypnosis is based on the connection with the unconscious, leaving in the background critical thinking, in order to access the person's own resources; resources that, on the other hand, may be unknown to the person. This allows you to know yourself better, reduce symptoms and react in a more adaptive way.
Is hypnosis relaxation?
Normally the procedure of hypnosis involves the relaxation of the patient, but relaxation is not essential for hypnosis nor the fact of closing the eyes. There is also awake hypnosis, which can be done with open eyes. Therefore, relaxation is not the same as hypnosis, although it may be useful. According to Dr. Heap, the most relevant aspect that defines hypnosis is the suggestion and suggestion (V Days AAHEA, 2015).
Generally a hypnosis session begins with a "hypnotic induction": it consists of a series of suggestions that aims to help the person to concentrate on his own sensory experience (Nieto, 2009). The therapist does not express orders or give direct instructions to which it is difficult to oppose. This could create more resistance and achieve the opposite effect, that is, the person does not want to visualize or perform what they propose. In some way, hypnosis could be understood as self-hypnosis.
The psychologist proposes, but it is the person himself who truly ends up choosing whether or not to access the suggestions.
There are several factors that influence the degree of suggestibility:
- The person, with their expectations, beliefs, motivation, imaginative capacity, etc.
- The therapist, with his communicative style, hypnotic procedures and management of patient resistance, among others.
- The therapeutic relationship, that is, the bonding and trust between the therapist and the patient.
During hypnosis, experiences can seem very real and intense (to a greater extent when there is a high degree of suggestibility). It is as if you were visualizing a movie, you pay attention to what you are seeing and can be processed as if it were real. This process is possible thanks to suggestibility.
Are we talking about a manipulation?
Due to the influence of the media, such as movies and television shows, sometimes hypnosis has been associated and associated with psychological manipulation, although in reality they have very little to do with it. The only characteristic that relates them is the increase in suggestibility that occurs both in hypnotic processes and in manipulations.
The main difference is that during hypnosis the person can easily get out of this state of increased suggestibility, while in abusive and manipulative contexts the return can be hampered. Therefore, it is not manipulation since it can not induce the person to do something against their will. In addition, it retains the ability to interrupt the hypnotic process if desired (Nieto, 2009).
What can be beneficial for?
Hypnosis is beneficial for both physical (medical) and psychological problems. On the one hand, it is effective in relieving pain, such as, for example, migraines or the chronic pain of fibromyalgia and to reduce the symptoms of chemotherapy (such as nausea) in patients with cancer.
On the other hand, it has been observed that it can be effective in cases of depression (along with cognitive-behavioral treatment), to reduce insomnia and anxiety, to prepare for surgery, to overcome traumatic experiences and even in psychosomatic disorders, like psoriasis and warts.
Hypnosis can be used in motherhood: to achieve pregnancy, improving fertility by reducing stress (when dealing with psychological causes, not biological). It can also improve symptoms such as nausea, reduce pain at the time of delivery and decrease postpartum symptoms.
It can also be useful to give up habits, such as smoking. In any case, it is important that the person is motivated for the change, since he / she will have to work on the detoxification, face the anxiety and elaborate the grieving process associated with the change.
Hypnosis does not guarantee magical or immediate answers, but requires an effort on the part of the person so that their behavior change is real.
In short, we can say that it is a beneficial technique for a wide variety of problems, but because of misconceptions its use is reduced and less research is carried out. More studies would be necessary to verify if it can be more effective, although for the time being it has already proven effective when it accompanies and complements other therapies and psychotherapeutic techniques.
Hello @joelgonz1982, thank you for sharing this creative work! If you're interested, take a look at our magazine @creativecrypto. We are all about art on the blockchain, and learning from creatives like you. Swing by and say hello!
thank you friend I'll take a look at @cretivecrypto
I do like that you posted about hypnosis, but it seems to me that you have not studied it yourself. Are you a hypnotherapist or at least a hypnotist? Do you have any working knowledge of hypnosis? I ask only because most of your article seems to be from quotes and not from your prospective. So I am only trying to understand if you are writing about something you read or something you practice. Hypnosis is a wonderful tool in which to help alter your behavior or the behavior of other and can also be useful for pain reduction. There are may types of induction and even many types of hypnosis levels. But in the end there is only trance or not in trance. Most of society is in a trance and seems to never be in the now, so they walk about being easily manipulated into living a lie for the benefit of those who know how to advertise. ..... Maybe I should write a post on this subject. Anyways thanks for the post. Good luck, and sleep.
do not. I do not practice hypnosis I know about the topic because I read several related articles on the subject and I draw my conclusions about the topic I want to publish I am a psychologist for that reason I always publish topics related to self-esteem, morality, emotions, etc. ..
thanks for the friend advice ..
Great post