Hypnosis is a therapeutic technique in which clinicians make
suggestions to individuals who have undergone a procedure designed to relax
them and focus their minds.
Although hypnosis has been controversial, most clinicians now
agree it can be a powerful, effective therapeutic technique for a wide range of
conditions, including pain, anxiety and mood disorders. Hypnosis can also help
people change their habits, such as quitting smoking.
According to the American
Psychological, hypnosis is a procedure during which a health professional or
researcher suggests while treating someone, that he or she experience changes
in sensations, perceptions, thoughts or behavior. Although some hypnosis is
used to make people more alert, most hypnosis includes suggestions for
relaxation, calmness and well-being. Instructions to imagine or think about
pleasant experiences are also commonly included during hypnosis. People respond
to hypnosis in different ways. Some describe hypnosis as a state of focused
attention, in which they feel very calm and relaxed. Most people describe the
experience as pleasant.
Is there evidence that hypnosis works?
Yes. While there are plenty of examples in the scientific
literature attesting to the usefulness of clinical hypnosis, a study published
in the journal Gut is noteworthy. The study involved 204 people suffering from
Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Treatment consisted of 12 weekly sessions of hypnosis
(lasting about one hour each). Fifty-eight percent of the men and 75 percent of
the women reported significant symptom relief immediately after finishing
treatment. More than 80 percent of those who reported initial relief were still
improved up to six years later. Fewer than 10 percent of the participants tried
other treatments after hypnotherapy. (Gut, November 2003).
Practical uses for hypnosis:
Hypnosis has been used in the treatment of pain; depression; anxiety and phobias; stress; habit disorders; gastro-intestinal disorders; skin conditions; post-surgical recovery; relief from nausea and vomiting; childbirth; treatment of hemophilia and many other conditions. However, it may not be useful for all psychological and/or medical problems or for all patients or clients. The decision to use hypnosis as an adjunct to treatment should only be made in consultation with a qualified health care provider who has been trained in the use and limitations of clinical hypnosis. In addition to its use in clinical settings, hypnosis is used in research and forensic settings. Researchers study the value of hypnosis in the treatment of physical and psychological problems and examine the impact of hypnosis on sensation, perception, learning and memory.