Did you know that “hypnosis” derives from the Ancient Greek word hypnos for “sleep”? For centuries, hypnosis has been used to relieve and control pain, notably during the Civil War, when Army doctors hypnotised wounded men before amputations. Recent studies have verified its efficacy as a pain-relieving tool.
You may already understand a bit more about what hypnotherapy is, but understanding why hypnotherapy works requires a little insight into what happens in the brain when undergoing hypnosis.
Hypnosis can be specifically linked to your brain’s cognitive processing and has been described as “a phenomenon involving attentive receptive concentration.” Essentially, what that means is that hypnosis plays a vital role in controlling selective attention.
Regulating Conscious Awareness
Hypnosis is thought of and defined as a form of regulating conscious awareness, where “mental representations” override behaviour, physiology and perception.
Hypnosis consists of two basic elements: induction and suggestion. Once a state of hypnosis is induced, you’ll experience a receptiveness to adjustments in physiology, feelings, emotions, ideas, or behaviours. This has been defined as ‘hypnotic suggestibility.’ This suggestibility is used by hypnotherapists such as myself to alter different kinds of perception
During the “suggestion” phase, I am able to guide you through hypothetical events and situations designed to assist you in confronting or counteracting problematic habits and emotions. The suggestions offered are tailored specifically to your unique set of challenges.
Enhancing Mind/Body Control
With that groundwork established, I can now divulge WHY hypnotherapy works. In some respects, hypnosis is similar to the guided form of mindfulness, where the goal is to put aside typical judgements and sensory responses and attain a deeper level of attention and receptiveness. A comparison that I absolutely love is likening the hypnotic state to immersing oneself in a book or movie — those moments when the outer world fades away, and your mind becomes entirely immersed in what you are reading or watching. And this is why it works; it places you in a state in which the ego is set aside, allowing your intuition to take hold.
Suggestion then induces a state of agnosia, in which the brain can perceive but cannot recognise various external stimuli. Suggestion also affects visuospatial processing, which is the brain’s capacity to distinguish objects in space and recognise forms, shapes and patterns. Again, this may sound complicated, but what it is referring to is hypnotherapy’s unique ability to provide a space for your brain to process scenarios without physically being in them ‒ something akin to a dream state.
While some people imagine hypnosis as a loss of control, it is actually a method of enhancing mind/body control. Rather than letting pain, anxiety, or other undesirable states of mind take over, hypnosis empowers you to gain more control over your thoughts and perceptions. It’s during these sessions that your brain becomes rewired to overcome old patterns of thinking.
You’ll build coping strategies specifically designed to help you overcome challenges such as depression, anxiety, phobias and addictions. Hypnotherapy can also help you overcome emotional and physical pain or trauma as well as challenges faced in your interpersonal relationships.
Practical Experience Without Physical Presence
It gives your brain the practical experience of dealing with certain challenging situations or emotions; without physically going through them. It triggers all of your body and brain’s normal responses and retrains them so that when you are faced with life’s complex set of challenges, you’ll have the power to manage them in ways that lead to better outcomes.
This kind of long-term application strengthens you from the inside out. Over time, this promotes healthier behavioural and thought patterns, leading to long-term and sustainable change as opposed to quick fixes.
Centuries of practical application, accompanied by a growing body of theoretical and practical scientific evidence, indicates why hypnotherapy works. Now that you have built a theoretical understanding of it, the only thing left to do is to begin the journey into practical application.
Guidance From A Licenced, Qualified And Experience Hypnotherapist
Another core reason as to why hypnotherapy works is because it is practised by trained and qualified hypnotherapists. Allow me to introduce myself: My name is Dr John Souglides, and I am a certified hypnotist, licensed by the International Medical and Dental Hypnotherapy Association, the General Hypnotherapy Association and the American Hypnosis Association.
I hold four doctorates and have over three decades of experience with guiding groups, individuals and corporations in all parts of the world towards overcoming fears, depression, anxiety, and unwanted phobias and habits. But don’t just take my word for it; take a look at what some of my clients say. Take practical steps towards living the life you deserve, and book your appointment today.