HypnosisannonOver the years, hypnosis has overcome a lot of skepticism.
Thisresearch paper will explore the art, use, and questions about hypnosisboth in recreation and in therapy. In this paper, you will learn whathypnosis is, different types of it, and different techniques for using it. Hypnosis, as defined by Roy Hunter, is “a natural state of mind,induced in everyday living much more than it is induced artificially”. Another definition by Hunter is “guided meditation”. Many people do notrealize this, but you can be hypnotized by many things. Anytime youbecome engrossed in a book or a movie, you may enter a sort of meditativetrance.
There are different techniques for induction into a hypnotictrance. One is eye fixation. This simply uses a fixed gaze, and was verypopular in the 1800’s and is most commonly used by Hollywood. Another isprogressive relaxation or imagery. You have someone imagine being in asafe or peaceful place, and then awaken to full consciousness.
Anotherinduction method is the mental confusion method which confuse theconscious mind to the point where it just lets go and becomes relaxed. Another one is shock to nervous system. This technique is commonly usedby stage hypnotists and it is employing a sudden exited command in asurprising way. The participant will experience a “moment ofpassivity”(Hunter)where they’ll either resist the trance or “let go” intohypnosis. Hypnosis also has some useful situations.
One would be in the areaof memory. When you are entranced in the hypnotic state, your sense ofmemory is enhanced. Although this is true, the things which areremembered can not be regarded a truth. Sometimes when a person isentranced, they will ‘remember’ things that never actually happened, buthave great personal significance. One area that has caused tremendous controversy is in the area ofhypnotizability.
The question has been raised many times if there arecertain people who can be hypnotized and certain people who cannot behypnotized. There are indeed people who can and cannot. The only thingit depends on is how well you can focus. People who have better focusgenerally have better results with hypnotizability, and people who have aharder time focusing generally tend to be less susceptible, as a generalrule. Although hypnosis is totally safe as long as your hypnotist iscompetent and trustworthy, some skeptical people still have fears andconcerns.
This, once again, all relies on how ethical your hypnotist is. Some people also think that people lose control of their actions when theyare hypnotized. In a way, you do “lose control”. From what I’ve learned,you enter what I’d describe as an “uninhibited state” where things thatyou would normally find horribly embarrassing would seem perfectly normal,but you do not give up control over moral decisions. A person in ahypnotic trance can come out anytime they want to if they are asked to dosomething that goes against their moral values.
Another use of hypnosis is in therapy. This is called hypnotherapy. Hypnotherapy, as defined by Hunter is “the use of hypnosis forself-improvement and/or the release of problems. All hypnotherapy employshypnosis, but not all hypnosis is hypnotherapy”. Another definition is”any form of psychotherapy practiced in conjunction with the hypnoticmodality, within that altered state of consciousness called a hypnotictrance”(source unknown).
Hypnotherapy has a wide variety of uses. Somesurgeons and anesthesiologists use it in controlling pain, relaxing thepatient, relieving postsurgical depression, and controlling nausea. It ishelpful in treating sexual disorders such as impotence and frigidity, andthe psychosomatic disorders. Treatment of problems using hypnosis hasbeen used throughout history. Anton Mesmer is considered the first modernhypnotherapist. He is the one to come up with the term “animalmagnetism”.
Some people believe that hypnotherapy can be used as a substitute forcognitive counseling. This is not true. Hypnotherapy can be used forsome things, but some things just can’t be solved by solved byhypnotherapy. For example, hypnotherapy is not a substitute for marriagecounciling. Hypnosis cannot solve all of life’s problems. In conclusion, hypnosis is a natural state of mind and anyone withenough focus can enter the hypnotic state.
Also, hypnotherapy is good fortreating many illnesses.
