What is therapeutic hypnosis?
Therapeutic hypnosis (hypnotherapy) is a technique used by some psychotherapists to induce a trance-like state of mind that becomes more open to suggestions from the therapist. The technique uses focused attention, intense concentration and relaxation to help people overcome certain psychological conditions.
Hypnotherapy is a type of alternative medicine and is not a definitive treatment. It is usually complementary to mainstream treatments of medication and psychological counselling. Hypnotherapy is performed only for people who are willing to undergo such treatment.
What is the purpose of hypnotherapy?
The purpose of hypnotherapy is to help a person understand and manage their psychological, physical and emotional behavior. The goal of hypnotherapy is to bring about positive changes in a person’s mental state and behavior by making suggestions while they are in hypnosis.
Hypnotherapy may help a person to
- Overcome addictive behaviors, anxiety and phobias.
- Safely explore the mind to address deep-rooted trauma and discover ways to cope with it better.
Though cognitive behavior therapy and medication are the first-line treatments for psychological conditions, hypnotherapy can be used in managing and alleviating several conditions that include:
- Generalized anxiety disorder: Persistent and excessive worry about everyday life. Hypnotherapy can help reduce the anxiety and stress, which may result in reduced dependency on medication.
- Phobias: Unreasoning and excessive fear about something specific or social. Hypnotherapy can bring about a more tranquil state of mind and may help overcome the fear.
- Weight loss: Hypnotherapy along with cognitive behavior therapy can have an effect in modifying eating habits and helping with weight loss.
- Addictive behavior: Suggestion with hypnotherapy may help patients give up smoking and other harmful substance or behavior addictions.
- Chronic pain relief: While hypnotherapy cannot get rid of pain, it may help some people change their response to pain and reduce their need for opioids.
- Irritable bowel syndrome: Hypnotherapy has been found to help alleviate symptoms when conventional treatments with diet and medication are not sufficiently effective.
- Skin conditions: Hypnotherapy is found to be helpful with skin conditions such as alopecia areata and psoriasis, by alleviating stress.
- Depression: Hypnotherapy can help reduce depression by encouraging more positive thinking.
- Sleep disorders: Hypnotherapy may help calm the mind and improve sleep patterns.
- Posttraumatic stress disorder: Hypnotherapy helps a person unwind and talk to the therapist about past trauma, which may help in coping with it better.
- Palliative care: Hypnotherapy as palliative care has been found useful in reducing symptoms in terminally ill patients, and stress in their caregivers.
Does hypnotherapy really work?
Hypnotherapy may not prove useful to everyone. Hypnotherapy is found to be effective in people who are more responsive to suggestions from the hypnotherapist. Hypnotherapy may be counterproductive if the individual:
- Is uncooperative or hostile
- Has cognitive impairment due to brain trauma
- Has certain personality disorders such as
- borderline personality disorder
- dependent personality disorder
- psychosis
QUESTION
Laughter feels good because… See AnswerHealth Solutions From Our Sponsors
Top What is therapeutic hypnosis Related Articles
How Grief Can Affect Your Health
Grief is a natural part of life, but it can cause some health issues, at least for a while. Find out how grief can affect your body and what you can do about it.
How is hypnotherapy performed?
Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic technique to produce an altered state of consciousness (hypnosis) in a person by inducing deep relaxation. While the person in this state, the therapist makes suggestions for behavioral changes during hypnosis. Hypnotherapy is considered complementary or alternative care and does not have a robust body of scientific evidence for its effectiveness.
Mental Health
Mental health is an optimal way of thinking, relating to others, and feeling. All of the diagnosable mental disorders fall under the umbrella of mental illness. Depression, anxiety, and substance-abuse disorders are common types of mental illness. Symptoms and signs of mental illness include irritability, moodiness, insomnia, headaches, and sadness. Treatment may involve psychotherapy and medication.
Mental Health: Celebrities Who Are Open About Addiction
Addiction affects people from all walks of life. See celebrities who’ve battled drug and alcohol use disorders and shared their stories.
Mental Illness
Mental illness is any disease or condition affecting the brain that influence the way a person thinks, feels, behaves, and/or relates to others. Mental illness is caused by heredity, biology, psychological trauma and environmental stressors.
Mental Illness in Children
About 5 million children and adolescents in the U.S. suffer from a serious mental illness such as eating disorders, anxiety disorders, disruptive behavior disorders, pervasive development disorders, elimination disorders, learning disorders, schizophrenia, tic disorders, and mood disorders. Symptoms of mental illness include frequent outbursts of anger, hyperactivity, fear of gaining weight, excessive worrying, frequent temper tantrums, and hearing voices that aren't there. Treatment may involve medication, psychotherapy, and creative therapies.
Panic Attacks Quiz
Could you suffer a panic attack? Take this Panic Attacks Quiz to learn causes, symptoms, and treatments for panic disorder. Use this quiz to learn to recognize the main elements of this serious, yet common disorder known as panic attacks.
Strange Addictions
Are you addicted? People aren’t only addicted to drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes. Patterns of addiction can be found in less obvious places, from shopping to gambling to exercise. Learn what experts have to say about porn addiction, sugar addiction, and the definition of addiction.