We have heard of hypnosis all the time and it is marred with controversy as to its credibility. For laymen, hypnosis might be erroneously perceived as a sort of magic trick that enables practitioners to delve into the secrets of a person on a subconscious level. Hypnosis is one of the most misunderstood methods of psychological intervention. To date, there are still some misconceptions about it.
Scientifically speaking, hypnosis has been identified as a psychological phenomenon that has valid uses in clinical practice. It is a state of highly focused attention or concentration, often associated with heightened suggestibility, mental relaxation and enhanced imagination. It is a medically recognized technique that uses innate mental powers to promote all kinds of mental and physical improvements.
Historical Proofs
Hypnosis has a long and rich history dating from the late 18th Century in Paris when German physician Franz Mesmer, from whom we get the term “mesmerize”, was the first recorded figure to utilize hypnosis for clinical application.
Later in the 19th century, British physician John Elliotson and Scottish surgeon James Esdaile, among others, reported the successful use of mesmeric somnambulism (deep hypnotic trance state) as an anaesthetic for surgery. John Elliotson performed over one thousand painless operations using hypnosis. James Esdaile successfully completed over 3,000 surgeries using only hypnosis to produce insensitivity to pain and the mortality rate during operations dropped from the normal rate at that time of 25-50% down to 5%.
James Braid, another British physician, speculated that somnambulism was caused by the paralysis of nerve centres induced by fixation of the eyes on an object. He renamed the state “neurohypnotism,” a term later shortened to hypnosis. He published his findings in Neurypnology (1843), arguably the first book on ‘hypnosis.’
In the late 1880s, A.A. Liebeault and Hippolyte Bernheim, two French physicians, emphasized the role of suggestibility in producing hypnotic effects. Sigmund Freud, Austrian neurologist, began to develop his psycho-social theories of mental illness after observing the suggestibility of hysterical patients when they were hypnotized.
William James and other early psychologists in the United States became interested in hypnosis because it seemed to involve changes in conscious awareness. During 1920s Clark Hull conducted an extensive series of experiments on hypnosis initiated at the University of Wisconsin and continued at Yale into the 1930s. He published his book entitled “Hypnosis and suggestibility: An Experimental Approach” in 1933. In 1923, P.C. Young presented the first systematic experimental work on hypnosis, in a doctoral dissertation completed at Harvard.
After World War II, interest in hypnosis rose rapidly. Ernest Hilgard, together with Josephine Hilgard and Andre Weitzenhoffer, founded a laboratory for hypnosis research at Stanford University.
Despite the impressive historical proof of the phenomenon’s credibility, there are still several questions about its effectiveness. However, you will be amazed when you know what research says about hypnosis. Peer-reviewed medical journals are full of studies showing that hypnosis works and that hypnosis methods can change a life. Here are some of the most outstanding scientific proofs and empirical pieces of evidence to dispel the misconception behind hypnosis and confirmed that hypnosis really works.
1. It can overcome bad habits and addictions
Hypnosis has been proven to successfully help people quit smoking, overcome phobias, and control pain.
The University of Washington School of Medicine, Depts. of Anesthesiology and Rehabilitation Medicine, Int reported that of the 43 consecutive patients who have undergone hypnotherapy, 39 was reported to have remained abstinent from smoking at follow up of 6 months to 3 years post-treatment.
There is also evidence showing that hypnosis, combined with other traditional therapies, can help eliminate addictions and compulsions such as sexual addiction and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Bryant, R., Moulds, M., Guthrie, R., et al.(2005) showed that hypnotically facilitated cognitive-behavioural therapy can help in the treatment of a number of psychological/psychiatric disorders.
2. It is clinically proven to reduce pain
Mark P. Jensen and David R. Patterson of the University of Washington made one of the best endorsements of hypnosis as a cure for chronic pain. In that scientific study, the authors determined that hypnosis is effective for reducing chronic pain, although outcomes vary between individuals.
It is also used in the area of natural birth. Studies have shown that prenatal hypnosis preparation can result in less use of sedatives, analgesia, and regional anaesthesia during labor. Hypno-birthing is a method of pain management that can be used during labour and childbirth which is now widely used.
A recent ‘Clinical Review’ of hypnosis and relaxation therapies published in the BMJ looked at the existing research on hypnosis and concluded: ‘Randomised controlled trials support the use of various relaxation techniques for treating both acute and chronic pain,’ (Vickers & Zollman, ‘Hypnosis and relaxation therapies,’ BMJ 1999;319: 1346-1349)
“As an anesthesia: Our case confirms the efficacy of hypnosis and demonstrates that it may be valuable as a sole anaesthetic method in selected cases. Hypnosis can prevent pain perception and surgical stress as a whole, comparing well with anaesthetic drugs.” Facco, E., Pasquali, S., Zanette, G., & Casiglia, E. (2013).
Basically, the studies of these respected scientists prove that hypnosis can reduce the intensity dimension of pain and reduce the unpleasantness of the pain.
3. It can help hasten the recovery time after surgeries and medical treatments
Two studies from Harvard University show that hypnosis significantly reduces the length of time for healing post-surgery.
The first study was with a patient with ankle fracture. Subjects showed that after eight (8) weeks and a half, they were healed. This implies that hypnosis helped heal bone fractures 41% faster.
The other study focused on people having breast reduction surgery. The study revealed that the subject patients who were under hypnosis showed healing at a significant speed than the normal recovery time.
Multiple studies also reported positive results in reducing significantly nausea and vomiting in cancer patients during chemotherapy.
4. It can overcome insomnia
Studies show that patients sleep significantly longer when on they practice self-hypnosis and there is even a tendency to reduce the time it takes for them to go to sleep.
Untas, A., Chauveau, P., Dupré-Goudable, C., Kolko, A., Lakdja, F., & Cazenave, N. (2013) investigated the effect of hypnosis on anxiety, depression, fatigue, and sleepiness in hemodialysis patients. Twenty-nine patients participated in the 15-day study. A single hypnosis session was performed on Day 8. Anxiety, depression, fatigue, and sleepiness were measured at baseline, on Day 8, and on Day 15 (HADS, MFI, ESS). Daily fatigue was also measured numerically. Anxiety, depression, and sleepiness significantly decreased after hypnosis.
5. It can help in weight management
Scientific researchers analyzed 18 studies comparing cognitive behavioural therapy supplemented by hypnosis. According to the analysis made by Kirsch, I., Montgomery, G., Sapirstein, G. (1995), those who received hypnosis lost more weight than those who are not under hypnosis. Moreover, those who lost weight also were able to maintain their weight loss two years after the treatment.
An analysis of five weight loss studies reported in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology in 1996 showed that the “… weight loss reported in the five studies indicates that hypnosis can more than double the effects” of traditional weight loss approaches.
6. It can increase self-esteem and reduce anger
Two hundred and seventy-one veterans who were admitted to Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Programs (SARRTPs) were made to use self-hypnosis at least 3 to 5 times a week. After the 7-week follow up, it revealed that the level of self-esteem and serenity increased significantly and that there was lesser anger within the group.
7. It can help to increase happiness
Nicole Ruysschaert reported in American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis Vol. 56, Iss. 3,2014: Hypnosis is presented as an efficient companion intervention to work on these variables in a creative way and to pave the way to a happy and full life. The following results are presented: (1) hypnosis allows for increased executive attention with control of emotions, (2) focusing on positive imagery contributes to strengthening “happy pathways,” and (3) emotions about the past, present, and future is subject to change.
8. It can help to overcome fear and anxiety
Various case studies have reported the successful use of self-hypnosis in treating post-traumatic stress disorder, public speaking, simple phobia and panic disorder. Overall, previous speculations and empirical findings suggest that increases in a sense of self-reliance, self-control and self-efficacy may be central to the alleviation of anxiety through self-hypnosis.’ (Lucy O’Neill, Amanda Barnier, & Kevin McConkey, ‘Treating Anxiety with self-hypnosis and relaxation’, Contemporary Hypnosis, 1999, vol. 16 (2): 68)
Following an extensive review of the existing literature on hypnotherapy, the British Medical Association concluded that hypnotherapy was not only effective but may be ‘the treatment of choice’ in dealing with anxiety (‘psychoneurosis’) and stress-related (‘psycho-somatic’) disorders: ‘The Subcommittee is satisfied after consideration of the available evidence that hypnotism is of value and may be the treatment of choice in some cases of so-called psycho-somatic disorder and psychoneurosis. It may also be of value for revealing unrecognised motives and conflicts in such conditions. As a treatment, in the opinion of the Subcommittee, it has proved its ability to remove symptoms and to alter morbid habits of thought and behaviour. […]’ (BMA, ‘Medical use of hypnotism’, BMJ, 1955, vol. I, 190-193)
During hypnosis, the person is in the state of mental relaxation where the conscious mind takes a backseat to the subconscious mind allowing the subconscious to be more open to suggestion. In this state, can be rationalized.
In the recent years, hypnosis has increasingly become the subject of serious scientific inquiry. Consequently, there is ever-increasing evidence of the effectiveness of hypnosis in catalyzing positive outcomes, resulting in rapid growth in acceptability and applicability of hypnotic processes.
So, is hypnosis real? The answer is obviously and undeniably “Yes”.
Furthermore, it has proven to be an effective tool for psychological intervention.
So, when you want to make a positive change in your life, you need to take steps to resolve issues that are holding you back. You don’t have to be stuck where you are when you can move forward in your life by making the right choices that can improve you as a person. If you want to take that step, choose to book a session with Johnny today and improve your life.
We are offering a special complimentary “Break Free Session” where we will work together with you to…
- Create a crystal-clear vision for the kind of future you would like to have
- Uncover hidden challenges that may be sabotaging your success
- Identify the easiest way to take back control of your life
When you are ready to take advantage of one of those sessions with us,
Call / SMS / WhatsApp +65 9785 6255.
Or email [email protected].
Mindlife Hypnotherapy Singapore offers the following excellent services:
- Life Coaching
- National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH) Hypnotists Certification Course
- 7th Path Self-Hypnosis Course
Visit http://www.mindlifehypnotherapy.com for details and do like and follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MindLifeHypnotherapy for updates.
Sources:
