Hypnosis Explained

Social Stigma

Anytime the word hypnosis is brought up the first thing people think is, people quacking like ducks and doing weird things out of their control. There are other misconceptions that when under hypnosis the subject is not aware of their surroundings, they are deaf or like a robot. Something along the lines of the Twilight Zone comes to mind for most of the population.

Some Therapeutic Benefits of Hypnosis

• Anxiety relief
• Relief of insecurity
• Relief of stage fright
• Re-story-ing a life experience or limiting belief
• Restoring self worth
• Building drive

Hypnosis is simply directed, enhanced focus for the purpose of giving suggestions to a subject for their benefit.

Imagine a lens focused on one area. Everything is crystal clear within that lens’ area but fuzzy outside of that area. Therefore, hypnosis is not sleep because during sleep dreams are fuzzy verses focused. You are not sleeping, not in a coma, you can hear everything around you. You are more focused than you’ve ever been.

You are in control. A hypnosis trance does not happen if you are not willing and open to it.

In hypnosis, the part of your brain that looks around for threats is very quieted. You become focused and suggestable. If there is a lot of anxiety about hypnosis or a deep unwillingness it will be more difficult to capture focus and go into a trance. Suggestibility and the ability to go in a trance is a fluid thing that is dependent on a variety of variables (blood glucose levels, mood, what happened yesterday).

The first time I was introduced to hypnosis it felt like a bunch of malarkey, until I looked in to the brain science backing it up. Actually, most brain based therapies seems like a bunch of bologna because we have been spoiled as a society to think that we are broken and only a pill will get us that quick fix.

Actually, brain based therapies like, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), ART (Accelerated Resolution Therapy), Brain Spotting, Somatic Experiencing, meditation, TRE (Trauma Release Exercise), Reiki and Hypnosis are among the top therapies that will ‘move’ what your looking to change most efficiently.

WHY do brain based approaches to change work?

The reason is because everything: memories, feelings, learned experiences are stored in the nervous system and talking can only get you so far into your nervous system in order to resolve your issues.

If you would like to learn more about therapy and therapists near you, please call our office!

You can take a look at Greenway Therapy therapists on Our Clinicians page.