Chris M. Lyon, BCH, CC.

Hypnosis is not:

• Loss of consciousness
• Weakening of Will or Control
• A process requiring a weak mind
• A giving away of secrets
• A permanent state
• A magic wand or potion that can cause you to change a behavior against your will.

Hypnosis is a naturally-occurring process or state of mind that most of us experience hundreds if not thousands times during our lives. This natural phenomenon of the mind usually contains all or some of the following characteristics:

• Focused concentration
• Increased physical and mental relaxation
• Heightened physiological and emotional suggestibility
• Heightened sensory awareness

These characteristics have enabled hypnosis to be used for a wide variety of conditions, disorders, and problems. One area of emerging importance is the use of hypnosis for pain management. In fact, hypnosis was recognized recently by the National Institutes of Health as the preferred complementary approach for treatment of pain associated with cancer. Research has also shown the benefits of hypnosis in conjunction with natural childbirth. These are just a few of the many areas in which hypnosis is successfully put to use as an adjunct to traditional medicine.

1. What is hypnosis? Hypnosis is a natural process during which the subconscious mind can be engaged to do powerful work towards a desired goal.
2. How intelligent must I be in order to be hypnotized? Generally, anyone with any range of normal intelligence has the understanding and comprehension required to experience hypnosis.
3. How much do I have to concentrate? Perhaps you have had the experience of watching a television program so intently or being so immersed in a book that you were unaware that someone spoke to you. You have probably also at some time discovered a bruise or cut on your body, but were unaware of how you received it. These things happen because your concentration was focused elsewhere at the time of the injury or interruption. Anyone having these types of experiences has the capacity of concentration necessary for hypnosis or relaxation.
4. Will I be unconscious during the experience? No. Even though you will feel profoundly relaxed, you will actually be more acutely aware of everything that is happening. You will notice things that you may not have noticed before. Since many people expect that hypnosis causes unconsciousness, they are often confused about this.
5. What does hypnosis feel like? Hypnosis feels a lot like daydreaming. You are pleasantly relaxed, drowsy, and comfortable. In fact, it feels so good that most are eager to experience it again.
6. Is there any possibility of not being able to come out of hypnosis? None whatsoever.
7. Will I remember what happened during my experience? Yes. Your subconscious mind stores all the experiences you have and can recall them. In the majority of cases, the conscious mind will also remember. The therapeutic value of hypnosis depends entirely on subconscious retention, and will be unaffected by whether your conscious mind remembers the experience.
8. Will hypnosis weaken my willpower? No. In fact, quite the opposite occurs. Willpower is actually strengthened through the realization of the capacity of the subconscious mind to make up for the reduction in willpower caused by stress, anxiety, and tension in our everyday lives. With hypnosis, you can put this capacity to use to affect your desired change, whether that is to quit smoking, learn to relax, improve self-confidence, lose weight, or many other beneficial goals.
9. Is hypnosis effective in eliminating undesirable habits? Yes. It is a very effective means provided the person has a real, heart-felt desire to achieve permanent relief. Examples of successfully-treated habits: Overeating, smoking, nail biting, alcoholism, worry, fears and phobias, digestive disturbances, and burn out.
10. Do medical associations approve of the use of hypnosis? Yes. The American Medical Association approved hypnosis in 1958. In 1995, the National Institutes of Health recommended that hypnosis be incorporated to a greater degree in the delivery of health care.
11. For what medical conditions has hypnosis proven effective? Hypnosis has proven effective in the relief of: Cancer pain, insomnia, tension headaches, chronic pain, certain dermatological conditions, allergies, TMJS, myofascitis, and pain associated with childbirth.

Here are some ways the American Psychological Association’s Society of Psychological Hypnosis describes Hypnosis:

“Hypnosis is a procedure during which a health professional or researcher suggests that a client, patient, or subject experience changes in sensations, perceptions, thoughts, or behavior. The hypnotic context is generally established by an induction procedure. Although there are many different hypnotic inductions, most include suggestions for relaxation, calmness, and well-being. Instructions to imagine or think about pleasant experiences are also commonly included in hypnotic inductions. People respond to hypnosis in different ways. Some describe hypnosis as a normal state of focused attention, in which they feel very calm and relaxed. Regardless of how and to what degree they respond, most people describe the experience as very pleasant. Some people are very responsive to hypnotic suggestions and others are less responsive. A person’s ability to experience hypnotic suggestions can be inhibited by fears and concerns arising from some common misconceptions. Contrary to some depictions of hypnosis in books, movies or television, people who have been hypnotized do not lose control over their behavior. They typically remain aware of who they are and where they are, and unless amnesia has been specifically suggested, they usually remember what transpired during hypnosis. Hypnosis makes it easier for people to experience suggestions, but it does not force them to have these experiences. Hypnosis has been used in the treatment of pain, depression, anxiety, stress, habit disorders, and many other psychological and medical problems. However, it may not be useful for all psychological problems or for all patients or clients. Again, it is the opinion of the authors of this statement that the decision to use hypnosis as an adjunct to treatment can only be made in consultation with a qualified health care provider who has been trained in the use and limitations of clinical hypnosis. In addition to its use in clinical settings, hypnosis is used in research, with the goal of learning more about the nature of hypnosis itself, as well as its impact on sensation, perception, learning, memory, and physiology. Researchers also study the value of hypnosis in the treatment of physical and psychological problems.