What is Hypnosis?

What is Hypnosis?

Long perceived as the wizardry of magicians and Svengalis hypnosis is now being rethought as reported in the magazines Newsweek, “O” Oprah, ePregnancy, and the Jane Pauley and Date Line TV shows which are explaining why health care is Rethinking Hypnosis. Hypnosis can be defined as an altered state of consciousness, awareness, or perception. Hypnosis is a highly relaxed state in which a person’s conscious and subconscious mind is focused and receptive to positive suggestion and imagery. Almost everyone has experienced an altered state at some time in his or her life. Think of those times when you were driving to work and you get there not remembering passing streets or buildings totally unaware of what you were doing until you pulled into the parking lot What about when you or your children were so engrossed in a TV program that you were unaware that someone else had entered the room. These are the simplest explanations of what hypnosis is. NO mind control, no giving away of secrets, not sleep just a safe and relaxed experience that is pleasant, refreshing and beneficial.

A brief history of hypnosis.

Hypnosis under various names has been used for as long as records have been kept. Mesmerism is what we hear it referred as most often. Modern hypnosis is usually dated from about 1773. James Braid, M.D., coined the term hypnosis in approximately 1841. However even before this James Easdale, M.D. had documented over 3,000 surgical operations using Mesmerism in India. The American Medical Association approved the use of hypnosis as an appropriate technique for dealing with many medical problems in 1958.

What Training is Required?

In most states any one can practice hypnosis. The stage hypnotist is an example. The major professional hypnosis organizations (licensed health professionals) require 60 clock hours of training. Para-professional organizations (non-licensed) offer 100 clock hours of training to become a certified hypnotist and require annual continuing education for recertification. Para-professionals are limited in their practice to using hypnosis for behavior modification such as smoking cessation, weight loss, and stress management. If the hypnotist is not a licensed health care provider he or she can only work with medical issues through referrals from a licensed health care provider.

Hypnotists advocate patient’s rights and a strict code of ethics.

How is hypnosis typically used to treat physical or emotional problems?

Some examples of the utilization of hypnosis, by discipline, are:

• Health Prevention – Habit control such as smoking, hair pulling and weight control, phobias, depression, anxiety, sexual problems, alcoholism, speech problems, chronic pain, self-esteem/ego strengthening, and memory/concentration improvement.
• Medicine – Chronic pain, cancer pain, anesthesia and surgery, childbirth, psychosomatic disease, gynecology, control of bleeding, burn therapy, dermatology, pain control, irritable bowel, preparing for surgery, high blood pressure, diabetic treatment compliance, stress management, and much more.
• Dentistry – Fear of dentistry, dental surgery, bruxism, control of bleeding, tongue biting, saliva control, orthodontia, gagging, ease of dentures, and general oral hygiene.
• Other Uses– Sports enhancement, improve study habits, meditation, test anxiety, relaxation, enhance the immune system, sleep better, road rage, and healing from within.

 

Are there physical or emotional conditions, which do not lend themselves to hypnotic treatment?

The hypnotist involved should make the decision whether or not hypnotic treatment is appropriate. He or she will take the individual’s complete history in order to determine if there are physical or emotional conditions that would indicate if hypnosis would be inappropriate. The hypnotist will probably not utilize hypnosis with individuals who display such physical problems as severe heart disease, or other major physical conditions where there might be a danger of masking an illness. Persons with significant emotional problems, such as borderline psychosis, may not be appropriate patients for hypnotherapeutic treatment unless their illness is controlled with mediation.

How long does hypnotic treatment take?

Length of hypnotic treatment is like most other treatment procedures. It will vary depending on the nature and severity of the problem. Treatment may be as short as one session for such things as smoking, to several sessions for other problems. Hypnosis is frequently used in conjunction with other forms of medical treatment. Hypnotic treatment is only one tool, and when used by itself the treatment is usually short term.

Will my health insurance cover the cost?

Most insurance companies do not cover hypnosis.

Misconceptions About Hypnosis…

Loss of consciousness. One of the major myths about hypnosis is that you will lose consciousness. Hypnosis is altered level of consciousness, but you are not rendered unconscious. You will be aware of everything in the environment and hear everything that the hypnotist is saying.

Weakening your will. Your will is not weakened or changed in anyway. You are in control and, if you wish for any reason to terminate the hypnotic state, you may do so simply by opening your eyes. You cannot be made to do anything against your will.
Spontaneous talking. Patients do not spontaneously begin talking or revealing information they wish to keep secret. You can talk while under hypnosis and you and your hypnotherapist may wish to use some talking procedure in order to assist you with your problem.
Sleep. Hypnosis is not sleep; you will not fall asleep. The hypnotic EEG pattern is entirely different from the sleep EEG pattern.

What if I can’t come out of hypnosis?
In the hands of a trained professional there is no danger in the use of hypnosis. Since the client/patient holds the control, there is no difficulty in terminating the hypnotic state. The professional will take your complete history before using hypnosis, and if there are any contraindications to the use of hypnosis, another form of therapy will be recommended.

To encourage and promote excellence in the use of hypnosis and other complementary medicine by qualified individuals; to advance scientific research, education and standards of practice in hypnosis, and to advise others about the value, application and ethical use of complementary medicine.

HYPNOSIS IS USED FOR…

Pain Management Hypnosis & self-hypnosis are endorsed by the National Institutes of Health and the Joint Commission Association for Health Care Organizations (JCAHO) as an adjunctive coping skill in the treatment of chronic and cancer pain.

Stress Management On an average workday, an estimated one million workers do not make it to work due to stress. Hypnosis and self-hypnosis are the best avenue for dealing with stress. Endorsed by the National Institutes of Health.

Weight Management Hypnosis Works! “Dateline” in November 2003, hypnosis is the easiest and most successful means for relaxing away those excess pounds.

Smoking Cessation As seen on Dateline – a great tool. “I was smoking 5 packs of Camels a day – I have not had a cigarette in 3 years thanks to Ron’s Smoking Cessation Program.” Navy LT, Newport, RI.

Childbirth Pain Free Child Birth as seen on Dateline. Studies show a decrease in hospitalization for Pregnancy Induced Hypertension by 50%. Labor shortened by 2-4 hours. Decreases c-sections from 30% (national average) to less than 5%.

Fears Multiple studies have shown the efficacy of hypnosis in overcoming multiple fears. Included are: Fear of flying, spiders, snakes and public speaking.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome Hypnosis is proven to be 85% effective in the treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

Surgery Preparation Blue Shield of California did studies showing quicker recovery, less nausea and vomiting, and less pain when using hypnotic techniques 2-3 weeks prior to surgery.

Children Success with bed wetting, nail biting, sports and study habits

Cancer Research has shown that hypnosis help manage cancer pain and is effective in increasing the immune system while decreasing the uncomfortable side effects of radiation and chemotherapy.

 

About Hypnosis 

Pain Management: Healthy Visions Hypnosis has had great success in treating all kinds of pain using hypnosis. Chronic, Cancer, Phantom Limb Pain, Birthing Pain, hypnosis can be effective for treating or helping almost any pain or discomfort. Many people do not know that Hypnosis & self-hypnosis are endorsed by the National Institutes of Health and the Joint Commission Association for Health Care Organizations (JCAHO) as an adjunctive coping skill in the treatment of chronic and cancer pain.

Stress Management: On an average workday, an estimated one million workers do not make it to work due to stress. Hypnosis and self-hypnosis are the best avenue for dealing with stress. Read more about hypnosis relieving stress “click here”. 

Weight Management: Hypnosis Works! When your willpower isn’t strong enough to break a bad habit, this effective technique is the answer. As seen on “Dateline NBC” and nationally distributed news articles and magazines, hypnosis is the easiest and most successful means for taking away those excess pounds. If weightloss is your goal, hypnosis can certainly help!

For some of Ron Eslinger’s great products on weightloss using hypnosis “click here”

Anger Management: Healthy Visions offers a wonderful program for those having issues with controling thier anger. If you are looking for a court mandated anger management program Healthy Visions can help.

Smoking Cessation: As seen on Dateline NBC a great tool for those who have tried other methods of quitting without success. “I was smoking 5 packs of Camels a day – I have not had a cigarette in 3 years thanks to Ron Eslinger’s Smoking Cessation Program.” Navy LT, Newport, RI.

For some of Ron Esligner’s great products on quitting smoking “click here”

Childbirth: Hypnosis can aid greatly in the delivery room. In conjuction with the new mothers doctor perscribed medications, or as an adjunct to a drug free child birth. Hypnosis  decreases hospitalization for Pregnancy Induced Hypertension by 50% and Shortens labor by 2-4 hours. Decreases c-sections from 30% (national average) to less than 5%.

Soothing music and subliminal messages can even help the expectant mother relax and actually bond with the baby even before birth.  Relieving the stress of pregnacy through self-hypnosis the expectant mother relaxes and the unborn child responds inkind creating a unique bonding experience for the mother and child.

Bonding with Baby

One of Ron Eslinger’s most popular CD’s is “Bonding with Baby”.  If you know an expectant mother “Bonding with Baby” makes a great gift.

Working with Children: Hypnosis can be great for kids. If children are under the age of eleven they are actually in hypnosis or another term would be the alpha/theta brain wave state. So anything we do such as playing make-believe for them is in actuality reality. That is why when children are absorbed in, music, books, television and day-dreaming they are responding with focused attention, imagery, and concentration which results in an emotional and physiological response.

Hypnosis can be used with children for a number of conditions such as:

• Enuresis (bed wetting)
• Insomnia
• Migraine Headaches
• Nail Biting
• Tics
• Warts
• Fears
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Surgery Preparation and Cancer.

For hypnotists and other professionals interested in working with children using hypnosis Ron Eslinger has produced a great DVD called “Working with Children using Hypnosis”