Hypnosis Finally Awakens the Health Community

Photo by Adrein Van Leen

                                                         

Just stare into the flickering candle...or my swinging watch...close your eyes and take a deep breath and begin to focus on the sound of my voice...

All of these are ways someone might begin a hypnotic induction.

For 8 years before going to graduate school I studied and worked as a Hypnotherapist. I spent hours a day helping people quit smoking (I had a success rate of 90%), lose weight (um, my success rate was not great with weight loss), deal with stress, and help with pain of Childbirth, Chronic Illness/Chronic Pain. I also helped individuals that were having flashbacks from childhood abuse put the pieces together on what they were remembering. I loved it, but eventually got bored of working with smokers every day. I adored helping the abuse victims with their memory blocks, but I was ethically unable to do the interesting work - which was helping them to understand the psychology of what they remembered under Hypnosis: that was left to the Licensed Ph.D.'s. So I went back to school to get a Ph.D. so I could be able to use Hypnosis as a tool with the Gestalt Therapy I was studying.

I found that back in the 90's people were still under the belief that Hypnosis was something scary and evil. I had problems with some Christians who believed that this technique was opening their mind to Satan. I got around that pickle by allowing them to pray before we began (prayer actually puts your brain in an "alpha brain wave" state - which Hypnosis does- so they actually got themselves into self-Hypnosis before I even said a word!).

I had worked as a volunteer at a Hospice and offered to use my skills with patients or family members (for free) to help with the stress of having a loved one die. The Hospice I worked at was too afraid of the technique at the time (this was in the 80's) even though in California they were using it a lot in Hospices. But I was in Cincinnati and as Mark Twain once said, "When the end of the world comes, I want to be in Cincinnati because it's always 20 years behind the times."

It is now 2011 and I have a private practice in Colorado. I don't do as much hypnosis as I used to - usually when I have a sexual abuse victim that wants to remember specific details or if someone is having panic attacks then I will make a CD or MP3 with a hypnotic induction (by the way, WARNING - SHAMELESS PLUG, if you are interested in a Stress Management session, sign up for my MONTHLY NEWSLETTER on the <---- side, and you will get a link to be able to listen to or download a 25 minute session to help your stress - a $100 value, FOR FREE!).

Well, I digress.... today, I picked up my iPad and the first article that I saw was one on MSNBC. It told the story of a woman who had struggled with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) for years. It was so severe she was unable to leave her home. She began working with a Hypnotic CD to help with the symptoms of IBS. Bingo! She isn't cured, but she is much better. When she has pain, she uses the CS and feels less pain within "15 minutes."

It's 2011, why has it taken so long to get good press about hypnosis?  And what IS hypnosis anyway?

What is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a natural state of focused attention. The APA (American Psychological Association Division 30) gives a very brief description of what Hypnosis actually is:

"Hypnosis typically involves an introduction to the procedure during which the subject is told that suggestions for imaginative experiences will be presented. The hypnotic induction is an extended initial suggestion for using one's imagination, and may contain further elaborations of the introduction. A hypnotic procedure is used to encourage and evaluate responses to suggestions. When using hypnosis, one person (the subject) is guided by another (the hypnotist) to respond to suggestions for changes in subjective experience, alterations in perception, sensation, emotion, thought or behavior. Persons can also learn self-hypnosis, which is the act of administering hypnotic procedures on one's own. If the subject responds to hypnotic suggestions, it is generally inferred that hypnosis has been induced."

OK, now you know WHAT hypnosis actually is (not as scary as you thought, I hope!). Many people want to know exactly what is happening to your brain when you are in a state of hypnosis. In order to explain that we need to learn a bit about brain waves: Beta, Alpha, Theta, and Delta (See they aren't only Fraternities or Sororities!)

Beta is the state we are in most of the day. It is when we are completely alert, wide-awake and interacting (your brain waves are functioning at 15-40 cycles per second -"cps"during Beta). Alpha occurs when you are in a state of light relaxation, daydreaming, praying, meditating, and sometimes in a very light state of hypnosis (brain waves: 9-14 cps). Theta is common during REM sleep, dreaming, and very deep Hypnosis (5-8 cps). Delta occurs during deep sleep and unconsciousness (1.5 - 4 cps). So as you can see, you pass through the Alpha and Theta states (light and deep hypnosis) every day when you fall asleep and when you awaken in the morning.

During Alpha and Theta States your body is very relaxed but your brain has created a bridge from your conscious mind to your subconscious mind. This is why someone often can remember their hypnotic sessions, but has a strong desire, or compulsion, to quit smoking. Their subconscious mind also gives them a message that "makes sense" to let go of anxiety or phobias, as well as many other issues. Their mind is open to accepting Post Hypnotic Suggestions that they WANT to accept. If they really DON'T want to quit smoking or lose weight, then they won't.

TRUTH OR FICTION: Myths About Hypnosis

1. The hypnotist will have complete control over you during the session.
Fiction. When you are in a state of hypnosis you will not do anything that you wouldn't normally do in a waking state. So if you wouldn't normally quack like a duck, dance around taking your clothing off, or do anything embarrassing you won't do it under hypnosis. You have to WANT to do something in order for it to work in Hypnosis.Many individuals have seen a Stage Hypnotists "cause" individuals to dance around on act foolishly. Please note that many times these individuals have been specifically chosen by the hypnotists. They are chosen because of their extroverted personality (often the "class clown" type), possibly because they have had a few drinks and are loosened up, and during the exercises before the hypnotist does his show, he is putting people into light states of hypnosis. If someone doesn't respond, the hypnotist pulls them off the stage. S/he realizes these people won't make good subjects. And the most important thing to realize is every time you go into hypnosis you go deeper and faster. So by the time the real show starts the subjects have gone up and down multiple times so they will be able to go much deeper by the time the show has them do the harder things (like becoming stiff like a board). Please remember, it's about WHO was chosen. Many of these people would do a lot of these things without being hypnotized.

2. During Hypnosis you will reveal secrets or do things that you will regret.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Just because you are hypnotized it doesn't mean that you are under a "spell" or truth serum. You are aware of what is being asked of you. You will hear what is going on, and you are ALWAYS in full control. This is why Hypnotically Recalled Testimony is not always allowed in a court case. Depending on how you interview someone you can interject images or situations that didn't occur. One of the ways we help you quit smoking is to have you visualize yourself doing things that normally would have triggered a desire for a cigarette except you "see" yourself doing the activity without smoking. Now these visualizations did not happen, It is not in your memories. But I have suggested it to empower your subconscious mind to see your life as a non-smoker. But in a court case this can be dangerous (for all the obvious reasons).

Where did this rumor come about? I believe that TV and Movies have given individuals this impression. Someone is hypnotized and then walks around, arms straight out in front of them, eyes open, and the next thing you know they have a gun and are shooting someone, they drop the gun, "wake up" and are shocked to realize that someone they love or know has just been shot...by THEM! If you would not normally shoot this person  in the Beta Waking State, you aren't going to do that in the Alpha or Theta States!

3.Hypnosis is part of a cult.
Absolutely not! Technically you pass through a Hypnotic State (or an Alpha or Theta State) every day when you start to wake up, you hear the alarm but you are not quite awake yet. You also go through it every night before you go to bed. Highway Hypnosis occurs when you drive down the highway and suddenly you realize you passed a bunch of exits and don't remember driving past them! Technically, you were in an alpha state - you weren't completely alert (brain waves in BETA) but you weren't totally asleep (Brain waves in Delta or Theta). You were just "zoned out." Like when you meditate or pray. There are no wands, wizards or scary stuff in Hypnosis. It is just a technique to help you utilize your subconscious mind to help you attain the goals or changes you want to make in your life.

4. People who are hypnotizable are weak.
Wrong again. Actually, people that are very bright and strong willed make the BEST candidates for hypnosis. Hypnosis is about following instructions. All I do is talk to you and tell you to "relax parts of your body “or "Imagine X or Y". If you are strong willed, and WANT to quit smoking, or eliminate a habit you don't like, you will be very motivated, therefor you will want to do what I am asking you to do in order to feel more in control of your life.

So, back to the woman with the IBS: if you want to learn more about her case go to this article in MSNBC. If you want more information on Hypnosis, or what I actually do during a hypnotic induction, leave me a message and I will write more about how hypnosis can help you and things to ask a Hypnotherapist before you book an appointment.

The bottom line is that hypnosis has been around for a very long time. It can be beneficial for a multitude of situations, but it isn't magic. And often you need more than one session. I usually record sessions for my patients so they can work with the CD before they go to sleep at night. But no hypnosis is 100% successful. Sometimes you need to sort out why you have the phobia or anxiety so that when you remove it (such as biting your nails) you don't end up with another stress reliever (like eating, or twisting your hair!). So sometimes this needs to be dealt with either a post hypnotic suggestions to NOT create another stress symptom or by doing regressive hypnosis to discover WHY you are doing the behavior you are.


The next blog will briefly go over the basics of a Hypnotic Induction (or at least how I do it!). Stay tuned and don't forget to sign up to get that free hypnotic session. If you want the session but just aren't interested in the Psychological Newsletter just send me your email and I will send you a link to the MP3.


Thanks for reading.

This is Dr Karen, once again, signing off...