When you hear the word "hypnosis" do you immediately picture a shady
character swinging a watch in front of your face trying to make you do something
you don't want to do? If so, it's time you learned the facts about this growing
alternative therapy.
Hypnotherapy is the name given to hypnosis when it's used for medical
purposes. The medical community recognizes hypnotherapy as helpful for a number
of health conditions. Most commonly, hypnotherapists treat anxiety and stress,
pain, smoking, and overeating. There are other uses for hypnotherapy, however,
including help with asthma, childbirth, diabetes, eczema, irritable bowel
syndrome, sleep problems, surgical procedures, tics, and Tourette's syndrome. A
study in 1999 suggested that hypnosis may help bone fractures heal faster. And
it may reduce the need for pain medication during the healing time.
In a hypnotherapy session, a hypnotherapist will work to bring you into a
trance-like state. This state is a normal part of human consciousness. It is
not, contrary to popular belief, an unnatural psychological state that can be
suddenly brought on. In fact, many of us enter this state on our own on a
regular basis—we refer to it as
"drifting off into space" or "spacing out." A hypnotized person is fully aware
of what's going on and can end the session if feeling uncomfortable. About 20
percent of people take to hypnotic suggestion easily and enter deeply into this
state. If you are one of these, you may not remember a therapy session after
it's done. Another 20 percent may not respond to a hypnotherapist's suggestions
at all. The rest of us fall somewhere in between. Children (over 5 years of age)
generally respond well to hypnotherapy.
The most common technique used by hypnotherapists is to repeat a direct
command in a low, steady tone of voice. Once a trance-like state is achieved, a
hypnotherapist can suggest how you should feel about something when you wake up.
For example, if you're trying to quit smoking, he or she may suggest to you that
in the future you will be disgusted by the taste of cigarettes.
Hypnotherapy may be a good choice if you want to learn how to relax or if you
have a stress-related health problem. However, if you have a strong desire to
remain in control of your circumstances you may not be able to find help in
hypnotherapy. It's also important that you feel comfortable working with a
hypnotherapist. You will need to be an active partner and commit yourself to
regular self-hypnosis, which your therapist will teach you. You will benefit
most by practicing 15 to 20 minutes of self-hypnosis every day.
You should only see a hypnotherapist who is professionally qualified.
Preferably, find someone who also has training in psychiatry or psychology.
Hypnotherapy is a powerful tool; you need to feel confident that your therapist
understands your goals and will direct you appropriately. To find a therapist,
go to the National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists' Web site at
www.natboard.com or the International Registry of Professional Hypnotherapists'
site at www.hypnosis.org. And discuss your hypnosis plans with your
doctor.
