What Is Hypnosis?

What exactly is hypnosis? While definitions can vary, the American Psychological Association describes hypnosis as a cooperative interaction in which the participant responds to the suggestions of the hypnotist. While hypnosis has become well-known thanks to popular acts where people are prompted to performs unusual or ridiculous actions, hypnosis has also been clinically proven to provide medical and therapeutic benefits, most notably in the reduction of pain and anxiety.

It has even been suggested that hypnosis can reduce the symptoms of dementia.

How Does Hypnosis Work? When you hear the word hypnotist, what comes to mind? If you’re like many people, the word may conjure up images of a sinister stage-villain who brings about a hypnotic state by swinging a pocket watch back and forth.

In reality, hypnosis bears little resemblance to these stereotypical depictions. According to psychologist John Kihlstrom, "The hypnotist does not hypnotize the individual. Rather, the hypnotist serves as a sort of coach or tutor whose job is to help the person become hypnotized."

While hypnosis is often described as a sleep-like trance state, it is better expressed as a state characterized by focused attention, heightened suggestibility and vivid fantasies.

What Effects Does Hypnosis Have? The experience of hypnosis can vary dramatically from one person to another. Some hypnotized individuals report feeling a sense of detachment or extreme relaxation during the hypnotic state while others even feel that their actions seem to occur outside of their conscious volition.

Other individuals may remain fully aware and able to carry out conversations while under hypnosis.

Experiments by researcher Ernest Hilgard demonstrated how hypnosis can be used to dramatically alter perceptions. After instructing a hypnotized individual not to feel pain in his or her arm, the participant's arm was then placed in ice water.

While non-hypnotized individuals had to remove their arm from the water after a few seconds due to the pain, the hypnotized individuals were able to leave their arms in the icy water for several minutes without experiencing pain.

What Can Hypnosis Be Used For? The following are just a few of the applications for hypnosis that have been demonstrated through research:

The treatment of chronic pain conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. The treatment and reduction of pain during childbirth. The reduction of the symptoms of dementia. Hypnotherapy may be helpful for certain symptoms of ADHD. The reduction of nausea and vomiting in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Control of pain during dental procedures. Elimination or reduction of skin conditions including warts and psoriasis. Alleviation of symptoms association with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Can You Be Hypnotized? While many people think that they cannot be hypnotized, research has shown that a large number of people are more hypnotizable than they believe.

Fifteen percent of people are very responsive to hypnosis. Children tend to be more susceptible to hypnosis. Approximately ten percent of adults are considered difficult or impossible to hypnotize. People who can become easily absorbed in fantasies are much more responsive to hypnosis. If you are interested in being hypnotized, it is important to remember to approach the experience with an open mind. Research has suggested that individuals who view hypnosis in a positive light tend to respond better.

Theories of Hypnosis One of the best-known theories is Hilgard’s neodissociation theory of hypnosis. According to Hilgard, people in a hypnotic state experience a split consciousness in which there are two different streams of mental activity. While one stream of consciousness responds to the hypnotist’s suggestions, another dissociated stream processes information outside of the hypnotized individuals conscious awareness.

Source:verywell

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