HYPNOSIS? Ever tried it? What did you think?

Question

Has anyone ever tried hypnosis? Is is scary? Should I be worried? I have had a horrible case of chronic hives (and have tried everything) for three years and I'm going to try hypnosis. Just wanted to see what others think......thanks so much everyone!

Answer 1

Hypnosis is understood to be a psychological condition in which an individual may be induced to show apparent differences in behavior and thinking. Although some individuals experience an increase in suggestibility and subjective feelings of an 'altered state of consciousness', this is not true for everyone. In fact, some supposed hypnotic indicators and subjective changes can be achieved without relaxation or a lengthy induction, a fact which increases the controversy around hypnosis.

Intense debate surrounds the topic of hypnosis. Some scientists have disputed its very existence, while many therapists insist upon its value. One potential source of controversy is the wide variety of theories of hypnosis which have traditionally been split into 'state' and 'non-state' camps. This controversy may be decreasing as modern brain-imaging techniques offer hope for an increased understanding of the nature of hypnosis and the value of both perspectives is increasingly recognized.

The applications of hypnosis vary widely. Currently, two distinct applications of hypnosis include its use in entertainment and health applications. The popular perception of the hypnotic experience is that of the entertainment version. The stage hypnotist uses a variety of methods to relax and focus the subjects eventually making it appear to the audience that the subject is asleep or, popularly termed, in trance. During the performance, the subjects seem to obey the commands of the hypnotist to engage in behaviors they might not normally choose to perform.

On the other hand, hypnosis applications in the medical and health-related fields are often experienced very differently. Evidence supports the clinical use of hypnosis for pain control, for weight control, in the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome, and as an adjunct to cognitive behavioral and other therapies. Hypnosis is not a therapy in-and-of-itself but is effectively used as an adjunct to other therapies; hence "hypnotherapy" is less preferable than the use of hypnosis-related techniques as part of an integrated psychological package.

Michael Yapko
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Michael Yapko defines hypnosis: "...hypnosis is a process of influential communication in which the clinician elicits and guides the inner associations of the client in order to establish or strengthen therapeutic associations in the context of a collaborative and mutually responsive goal-oriented relationship. (Yapko, M.. Hypnosis and the Treatment of Depressions. Brunner/Mazel Inc., New York, New York, ISBN 0-87630-682-2, p. 37)

Dave Elman
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Dave Elman defines hypnosis as "a state of mind in which the critical faculty of the human mind is bypassed, and selective thinking established." The critical faculty of your mind is that part which passes judgment. It distinguishes between concepts of hot and cold, sweet and sour, large and small, dark and light. If we can bypass this critical faculty in such a way that you no longer distinguish between hot and cold, sweet and sour, we can substitute selective thinking for conventional judgment making. [1]

Theories
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A scientific theory attempts to describe and explain the behaviour of a natural or social phenomenon, following the principles of the scientific method. Good theories produce testable hypotheses which can be supported or refuted by experimental data. There are unfortunately many vague and untestable theories of hypnosis which continue to circulate, but high quality research is still published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Some theories of hypnosis attempt to describe hypnotic phenomenon in terms of brain activity while others concentrate more on the phenomenological experience. In either case, a fundamental distinction is between 'state' and 'non-state' theories of hypnosis. State theorists believe that an altered state of consciousness is a core part of hypnosis, whereas non-state theoriests believe that more mundane psychological processess such as focussed attention and expectation are sufficient to explain hypnotic phenomena. The precise definition of what constitutes an altered state of consciousness is a matter of some debate. Although many people who are hypnotised describe their experience as 'altered' it is difficult to use these terms in the absence of a prior definition.

Hypnosis Methodologies and Effects
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General methods
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The act of inducing a hypnotic state is referred to as an induction procedure. There is no current consensus on what the requirements are for an induction procedure to be effective; while some practitioners use simple calming verbal techniques, others use complex triggers, including mechanical devices (see Michael Robinson's Self-Hypnosis Learning or Licensed Online Counseling, page 45).

Many experienced hypnotists claim that they can hypnotize almost anyone. They also claim it is a myth that people with strong will power cannot be hypnotized, as they claim these generally make the best participants. This is based on the idea that those who are most intelligent are also the most creative and as such they will make strong associations with the structure of language used by the hypnotist and by the visual or auditory representations inside of their mind. On the other hand, there is a common claim that no one can really be hypnotized against his or her will (Liébault, Le sommeil provoqué (Paris, 1889)). The counter-claim given by many hypnotists is that while you cannot make someone do anything against their will, you can change what it is that they wish to do.

Many religious and cultural rituals contain many similarities with techniques used for hypnotic induction and induce similar states in their participants. [citation needed]

General effects
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Focused attention
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This school of thought holds that hypnosis as a state is very similar to other states of extreme concentration, where a person becomes oblivious to his or her surroundings while lost in thought. Often suggested as an example is when a driver suddenly finds himself much further down the road without any memory of driving the intervening distance (highway hypnosis), or when a person is watching television and focuses so intently on the program that he or she ceases to be aware of the sides of the screen.

The act of hypnotizing, is, in effect, the act of manually inducing a similar state (See, for example, general information on the ASCH website).

Suggestibility
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Main article: Suggestibility
Psychologists have produced controversial studies that seem to show a strong correlation between the ease of putting someone in a state of hypnosis and their level of suggestibility. Some of these studies have produced the Harvard scale, Stanford scale, and eye-roll test; all of which are supposed to predict how easily a person can be put in a hypnotized state.

Hypnosis has further been described as "The suspension of the critical factor" which expands on the idea of "increased suggestibility". A person who claims to be hypnotized may accept statements as true that he or she would normally reject.

For example, when told "you have forgotten your name," the subject in a normal state would react with disbelief, but under hypnosis people have claimed that they have, indeed, forgotten their own names.

It often appears as if the hypnotized participant accepts the authority of the hypnotist over his or her own experience. When asked after the conclusion of such a session, some participants appear to be genuinely unable to recall the incident, while others say that they had known the hypnotist was wrong but at the time it had seemed easier just to go along with his instructions. (Richard Feynman describes this in his memoir Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman! as his own experience under hypnosis.) The mechanism of this effect is however disputed: Some hypnotists would claim that this showed the difference between a deep and a shallow hypnotic trance, while skeptics would question the validity of this conclusion, citing that such effects can be duplicated in other circumstances where an agent holds authority, such as the Milgram experiment, and suggest that unreliability in results discredits a scientific theory of hypnosis.

Judgment
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Some believe that hypnosis can affect the subject's judgment and therefore could potentially cause them harm. In the hand of a "professional" seeking to promote the subject's welfare, those of this opinion believe, hypnosis can produce profound effects and be a complement to treatment. Some of those who believe in hypnosis believe that in most cases one can resist hypnosis if one is aware of it. However, some of those who hold this belief also believe in brainwashing and/or mind control and believe that when hypnotism takes place in the context of these, resisting hypnosis is far more difficult. These beliefs are not generally based on scientific evidence, as there is no scientific consensus on whether mind control even exists, let alone whether it is more difficult to resist hypnotism in the context of this unverified theoretical construct.

Abreaction
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Some psychologists and other mental health professionals are concerned that practitioners of hypnosis might evoke intense emotions in their clients that they are untrained to handle. These abreactions might occur when spontaneously or purposefully recalling traumatic events or, some believe, spontaneous mental breakdowns.

Answer 2

I liked Hypwoman's answer the best - but I'm not the judge.
Some people like the idea of being led by another person into
hypnosis - but you can induce yourself. If I understand correctly, hypnosis works because it puts your conscious mind at rest so
you can access the storehouse of info in your sub-conscious.
It's the underground supercomputer in your brain that knows
what causing underlying problems with health, emotions, ect.

The sub-conscious also takes incoming information that makes
it past the conscious mind as fact. (enter the hypnotherapist with
'suggestions' for it to follow.) So if the suggestion to your
subconscious is say...you have healthy glowing blemish-free
skin; then your hives should clear up after that. But there may
me a reason you're unaware of that is causing the rash, so
a hypnotic state would be a good time to ask what that cause
is - if you don't want the condition to return again.

It should never be scary at all. When you're in auto-pilot driving
home from work and don't remember that much for the last 2
highway exits; your conscious is simply resting awhile. But if your favorite song came on the radio or your cell phone rang -
you would have no problem snapping out if it and becoming
fully alert again.

Same with hypnosis. You're always aware, but only as aware
as you need to be. No fear of being controlled by a hypnotist
because should he/she slip a suggestion in that you don't agree
with or want - you'll be alert in a snap to say "hey-wait a minute -
I didn't come in here to learn to stick pins in my arm...I want my
rash cleared up! You'll be hearing from my attourney, ect."

On a side note, have you tried cell salts for your hives?
The cell salts that relate to hives are: Ferr Phos, Kali Sulph,
Nat Mur, and Nat Sulph. Cell Salt Remedies are only $8 a bottle
of 500 tabs. So all four remedies should cover all your bases
for $32 - may be cheaper than a hypnosis session, and may
cure you right up. Contact 1-800-HOMEOPATHY and tell
them what's going on - they can give you more info on dosing.
Hope this helps and I havn't put you to sleep. :)

Answer 3

I am a Certified Master Hypnotherapist. I have read through the answers to this question, and as usual there are still a lot of misconceptions about what hypnosis actually is and what happens during a session.

People go in and out of hypnosis naturally by themselves all the time. We can do this ourselves. It's called auto-hypnosis or self-hypnosis. You do not need a hypnotist in order to hypnotize you, however if you want someone to guide you, to help you to articulate the proper words to speak to your subconscious mind, then it is highly recommended to go through a few sessions with a professional. Also, there are lots of Commerical Hypnosis CDs available on the market that can be very useful as well.

To address the statement about why hypnosis may not last forever ... Your unconscious mind is constantly being fed suggestions, whether you are aware of it or not. Yes, the suggestions can die off, if the old suggestions are allowed to take over. The easiest way to explain this is: We have an obesity problem in our society. Commercials you see on tv are suggestions to go out and get fast food. You get suggestions to eat bad stuff all the time. Food is celebratory. It's entertainment. I could go on and on about how many times a day your mind is exposed to a suggestion to eat the bad food. Let's say you want to stop eating bad food, so you go and get hypnotized to eat the right food. It works for awhile. You even listen to your hypnosis tapes to reinforce the good behavior for awhile. But, then you get out of the habit of feeding your mind the good thoughts. However, the bad suggestions are still everywhere you go ... eventually, you will go back to your bad habit because there really just aren't enough good suggestions on tv creating a desire within you to eat an apple a day. So, you do have to keep reinforcing the positive because the negative is always there. It's unfortunate but that is just the way it is...

Your hives, I will almost guarantee you is an anxiety disorder. Your brain learned to have a bad reaction to "A", whenever you face "A" it creates these symptoms, Hives. It is more than likely pyschological and it can be corrected. You just have to reteach your brain how to respond to "A"

In Hypnosis you can imagine yourself responding to "A" by feeling calm and relaxed. Or by taking a deep breath and saying I am calm and confident ... learning how to conquer anxiety and stress is one of the best gifts you can ever give yourself and it can be done. Hypnosis, meditation, visualization ... to me, as a hypnotherapist, these are all synonomous with each other. It is truly amazing what one can create if you focus your mind in the path you want it to go.

Some people have an easier time going into hypnosis than others, just as some people have an easier time relaxing, or going to sleep. It's about how well you let go and how well you can get in touch with your imagination.

The resources to learn about hypnosis are readily available all over the place.

I have a website that is a great learning tool: http://www.hyptalk.com

So, to answer your question, yes, I think you would get value from trying hypnosis. In and of itself, it's not scary at all. It can be one of the most relaxing enjoyable experiences of your life. Only your own mind can create whatever experience you will have. If you worry about the experience being scary, you can make it scary too .. .but, a well-trained hypnotist will know how to help you to feel relaxed and safe before you get into it.

I hope this is helpful.

Victoria

Answer 4

I have not tried it, and i'll tell you why i never will...

I believe that we are capable of doing amazing stuff... such as healing and recovering, but when another person is involved in the process a question come up... is that person emotionally stable to guide me through a hypnosis?, does that person know what to do, if for some reason i don't come back the same or better?

let me just explain my view on this questions... i personally believe in reencarnation... but i truly believe that it does not affect this answer...

ok, consider how some children block painful moments of their past... think ETHICS... now, how would you chose what is best for them... i think phsicologist are of great help, and the best way to help... but HYPNOSIS, that is invasive... what that child wont remember, is very likely somthing frightning/ painful... when you make them remember how are you going to make shure it will stay there and not hunt in the present...

there are some people called mediums, i think we can all be mediums, since we all have pretty much the same... a body, a mind, soul... but in what we differ is in preparation... i think the divine being God will let you go through your past without help of another being when YOU are prepared...

and last... ufff... i am so against it because a doctor came to my country from USA, (he was great news, i dont remember his name) and a friend told me (good source she knows family members) that one woman that attended the mass hypnosis, came back as a 8 year old girl phsicologically, and that woman is married, now that is scary... the doctor is long gone, and she remains a little child.... is it worth the price of curiosity? i think not...

there is a reason for everything, and my advice to you would be to seek for other type of help.
good luck.

Answer 5

I've never personally gone through hypnosis, but I know several people who have. And for every single one of them, it worked well for about 6 months, and then they relapsed into whatever condition they were trying to change. I think part of the reason that hypnosis works so well in the beginning is because you WANT it to. But after that initial excitement of doing something good for yourself fades away, relapse is almost inevitable. If you think your hives are caused by a psychological condition (anxiety, etc), I would recommend visiting a professional therapist, rather than something like this with no real evidence to back its claims.

Answer 6

Try the antidote to hypnosis at link below.

Hives is an emotional/phisio/logical reaction. Learn how to not react.

Answer 7

1

Answer 8

I tried it but never worked-- I could never actually be hypnotised despite my interest in doing so. Maybe I am just a bad patient? good luck.