Hypnosis is a form of guided meditation that allows you
to narrow your focus on a specific subject and uses all
your senses. Similarly, when our minds are concentrated and
focused, we are able to use our minds more powerfully.
Because hypnosis allows people to use more of their
potential, learning self-hypnosis is the ultimate act of
self-control.
While
there is general agreement that certain effects of
hypnosis exist, there are differences of opinion within
the research and clinical communities about how hypnosis
works. Some researchers believe that hypnosis can be
used by individuals to the degree they possess a
hypnotic trait, much as they have traits associated with
height, body size, hair color, etc. Other professionals
who study and use hypnosis believe there are strong
cognitive and interpersonal components that affect an
individual's response to hypnotic environments and
suggestions.
Recent
research supports the view that hypnotic communication
and suggestions effectively changes aspects of the
persons physiological and neurological functions.
Clinical hypnosis is
used in three main ways.
First,
to encourage the use of imagination. Mental
imagery is very powerful, especially in a focused state
of attention. The mind seems capable of using imagery,
even if it is only symbolic, to assist us in bringing
about the things we are imagining. For example, a
patient with ulcerative colitis may be asked to imagine
what his/her distressed colon looks like. If she
imagines it as being like a tunnel, with very red,
inflamed walls that are rough in texture, the patient
may be encouraged in hypnosis (and in self-hypnosis) to
imagine this image changing to a healthy one.
A
second basic hypnotic method is to present ideas or
suggestions to the patient. In a state of concentrated
attention, ideas and suggestions that are compatible
with what the patient wants seem to have a more powerful
impact on the mind.
Finally, hypnosis may be used for unconscious
exploration, to better understand underlying motivations
or identify whether past events or experiences are
associated with causing a problem. Hypnosis avoids the
critical censor of the conscious mind, which often
defeats what we know to be in our best interests. The
effectiveness of hypnosis appears to lie in the way in
which it bypasses the critical observation and
interference of the conscious mind, allowing the
client's intentions for change to take effect.
