What Is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis, also called hypnotic suggestion or hypnotherapy, is a trance-like state that causes individuals to have heightened concentration and focus. The technique is usually accomplished with a therapist's help. They use mental images and verbal repetition to bring patients into the state. During hypnosis, patients generally feel relaxed and calm, and they may be more open to suggestion. Hypnosis is used to allow clients to cope with pain or anxiety, or to gain a better sense of control over undesired behavior. It's rare to experience adverse reactions to hypnotherapy, but some individuals might have headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, anxiety, or the creation of false memories.

Defining Hypnosis

Hypnosis is a technique that brings individuals into a point of heightened focus and increased suggestibility. The therapist will use soothing verbal repetition and mental imagery to ease the patient into a state similar to a trance. When the mind relaxes, it becomes more open to transforming messages. Though many individuals believe hypnosis puts patients to sleep, they actually remain fully awake during a session. Actually, the average human will enter a hypnotic state at least twice each day without noticing. Research has shown not everyone can be hypnotized, and there are some ethical questions about the practice researchers are still aiming to answer.

Mental Benefits Of Hypnosis

There are multiple documented mental benefits of hypnosis. The therapy can help treat mental health conditions like generalized anxiety, phobias, and post traumatic stress. This can sometimes be achieved by using the hypnotic state to form a positive emotional association with triggering concepts or images. In many cases, hypnosis is used to help change behaviors individuals want to stop. It's showed some success with treating insomnia, helping individuals quit smoking, minimizing overeating, and stopping bed-wetting in the middle of the night. The hypnotic state is very relaxing for the patient while they're in it. Because of this, hypnosis might also be used to relax someone immediately prior to an uncomfortable medical procedure, such as a breast biopsy.