Hypnotherapy: Alternative Fibromyalgia Treatment FAQ

Many people have seen stage hypnosis where a person will act like a chicken, or Hollywood interpretations of hypnosis where people will do things they would not ordinarily do. Read these FAQs to discover the real facts about hypnosis and how it can change your life.

What really happens in the mind during hypnosis? How does it work?

Let’s take the mystery out of hypnosis. It is a completely natural state of mind. Although you may not have been formally hypnotized before, you have experienced this state of mind countless times. You’ll understand that better when you know what it is that really happens in your mind during hypnosis.

For the moment, imagine dividing your mind into two parts. One part is the conscious mind, filled those things you are fully aware of. One part is the subconscious mind, which works like a giant CD recorder. Every experience we’ve ever had in our lives is permanently stored there. Of course it would be too much trivia to be constantly aware of, so you can think of it as a filing system that is accessible to us with hypnosis and other methods.

The subconscious mind also controls those bodily functions over which we do not need to exercise conscious control, such as heart rate, breathing, digestion, and so forth. With practice, you can gain the ability to bring many of these “involuntary” bodily functions under your voluntary control.

Imagine, if you will, a filter, screen, or network which lies over the subconscious mind. Let’s call it the critical factor. You can think of it as a kind of protective mechanism so that every single thing we are exposed to does not become accepted as truth by the subconscious mind and become acted upon. In hypnosis we are purposely bypassing the critical factor of the mind so that ideas which are beneficial to us can make a deep and lasting impression on the subconscious mind. The critical factor of the mind merely becomes less active through a variety of methods but it never disappears. It is simply less active and it will return to full activity should any suggestion be presented which your mind did not deem to be in its best interest. You are not a blank slate in hypnosis and you will not accept just any suggestion that is presented.

Think about sometime when you were watching a sad movie and maybe you were crying or at least feeling some emotions coming up. The critical factor was still active enough that you know it was just a movie and yet it wasn’t bombarding you with interfering thoughts like, “Why are you crying? This lady is not dead. You saw her on Oprah today.” And yet, if your friend taps you on the shoulder and asks if you want some popcorn, you can respond and then instantly return to the movie and be right back into it again. We go into and out of our subconscious mind all day long. Every time we are involved in some creative activity, every time we drive along in our car and suddenly realize we don’t remember the last mile we drove, every time we are feeling our emotions or acting out of some previously formed habit.

It is estimated that we spend between 50% to 80% of our waking hours in our subconscious mind. It is a common and completely natural state of mind that we have all experienced countless times before, but we just didn’t call it hypnosis.

How do I know I can even be hypnotized?

Since hypnosis is a completely natural state of mind, there is no such thing as a person who can not be hypnotized. A thorough explanation of hypnosis and a careful instruction in reaching that wonderful state of relaxation takes place during the very first session. Remember it is a natural ability of the human mind and you will find it extremely relaxing and enjoyable.

Will I know what is going on while I am hypnotized?

Absolutely! Hypnosis has nothing to do with being asleep or unconscious in any way. You will hear everything, remember everything and know exactly what is going on the entire time. You are always in control.

I have seen stage shows where people who were hypnotized did a lot of crazy and silly things. Will that happen to me?

Absolutely not! When a person goes up on the stage to participate in an entertaining show of hypnosis, they have a certain contract in mind. They know that they are going to be asked to do a lot of silly things and they agree to do that at some level of their mind. If we were to bring the ’star’ of the show to my office for a sleep problem, they would not respond to any suggestions that they had responded to when they were in the entertainment setting. The context in which the hypnosis is taking place and the understood purpose of the hypnosis in the individuals mind always determine the type of responses that can be elicited. You cannot be caused to do anything in hypnosis that you would not ordinarily do. And of course, in a clinical setting, all suggestions would pertain precisely to the goal of your gaining more and more control in your life!

What will I feel like when I am hypnotized?

Actually, everyone has a different subjective experience, so I can only give you some of the common reports. Some persons liken it to the peaceful feeling they have just upon awakening on a morning when they don’t have to get up right away. They are fully aware of where they are and what’s going on, but it’s just very peaceful and relaxing to lie there, sort of a gray area between waking and sleeping.

Most people think that hypnosis should be more like the state of sleep itself where we are not consciously aware of anything. They expect to “wake up” from hypnosis as from a sound sleep. Since we are never “asleep” in hypnosis, we don’t need to “wake up” from it. It is simply a very comfortable and natural state of mind, which we enter into and then back out of.

Think of it this way: If we gathered a group of individuals around a swimming pool and asked them to enter into the pool, we would see a variety of methods. Some would dive in and some would head down to the steps to gently test the water with their foot. The same is true with a group of people entering hypnosis. Some will dive right in and enjoy a deeper quality of relaxation than they ever have in their whole life and they will love it. Others will just gently test the shallow waters.

The point is; it doesn’t matter which you do. You need only a light to medium state of hypnosis to bring about positive behavioral change. Those individuals who enter into a deeper state of hypnosis will not necessarily “do better.” There is no correlation between depth of trance and therapeutic value. If one has never formally experienced hypnosis before, they may be uncertain if they are “really hypnotized.”

What do Medical organizations say about hypnotherapy?

Medical organizations such as the Mayo Clinic, the Harvard School of Medicine, and WebMD agree that hypnosis is an effective treatment that has the power to help you change your life.

To learn more, click one of the links below to read the articles on their sites.

Mayo Clinic: Hypnosis
People have been using hypnosis to promote healing since ancient times. However, in the past 50 years, it’s experienced a resurgence among physicians, psychologists and mental health professionals.

National Institutes of Health: Hypnosis Effective in Reducing Chronic Pain
The National Institutes of Health, a division of the United States government, has issued a consensus statement that states hypnosis can reduce chronic pain associated with cancer and other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and tension headaches.

Intellihealth by Harvard Medical School: Hypnosis
Today, it is widely used for addictions, such as smoking and drug use, for pain controls, and for phobias, such as the fear of flying.

WebMD: Hypnosis for Pain
Can the power of suggestion really help you reduce pain, anxiety, and blood pressure? It just might.

WebMD: Got High Anxiety?
Forget about Valium and breathing exercises to calm you down. Hypnosis may do the trick.

Hypnosis.com
The American Board of Hypnotherapy hosts this site, which provides detailed informatin on how hypnotherapy can change your life.

Written by Gwenn Henkel, a Certified Medical Hypnotherapist, Hypnoanesthesiologist, and Master Hypnotherapist. She is a member of The National Board for Hypnotherapy and Hypnotic Anaesthesiology, the American Association of Professional Hypnotherapists, The American Board of Hypnotherapy, and The International Association of Counselors and Therapists.

Article found at Entrancing Life Hypnotherapy

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