Hypnosis is subject to intrigue and animated parlour discussion as most people do not understand how something that is a source of entertainment can be taken so seriously by the medical and healthcare fraternity.

Recorded history is full of stories of rituals and practices that seem like hypnosis. From the ‘healing passes’ of the Hindu Vedas to magical texts of ancient Egypt, these practices were largely used to communicate with the divine or spirits. What we today call occult practices was in ancient times used for healing.

 

The scientific history began in the latter part of the 18th century with Franz Mesmer, a German physician who used hypnosis for treatment. Though this was discredited as he believed it was a force that flowed from hypnotist to the subject (animal-magnetism). He had developed a method which was passed to his followers. This method named, ‘mesmerism’ after him, continued to interest others. It wasn’t until the mid-19th century, when English physician James Braid studied the phenomenon and coined the terms ‘hypnotism’ and ‘hypnosis’, after the Greek god of sleep, Hypnos. His efforts gave validity to hypnosis as a clinical technique.

 

 There was great interest in the 1880’s. Ambroise-Auguste Liebeault, a French country physician using mesmeric techniques attracted the support of Hippolyte Bernheim, a professor of medicine at Strasbourg. They had written that hypnosis involved no physical force or physiological processes but was a combination of psychologically initiated responses to suggestions. Austrian physician, Sigmund Freud on his visit to France was impressed by the therapeutic potential of hypnosis for neurotic disorders. Upon his return, he used it to help neurotics recall events they had apparently forgotten. As he began to develop his system of psychoanalysis, he encountered problems hypnotizing some patients and discarded it in favour of the free association. Despite Freud’s influential adoption and then rejection of hypnosis, some use was made of the technique in the treatment of combat neuroses of soldiers who had fought the world wars.

 

Though hypnosis continued to be in midst of an endless academic debate, an important shift was happening globally, and the centre of hypnotic gravity shifted from Europe to America, where significant breakthroughs happened in the 20th century. As its popularity increased, it moved out of labs and clinics to the realm of the layman. The style changed from direct instruction by an authoritative figure (legacy of a mesmerist) to a more indirect and permissive type of trance induction based on subtly persuasive language patterns. This was largely due to the work of Milton.H.Erickson.

 

Hypnosis today is a practical and useful tool for psychotherapy. Advances in neurological science and brain imaging along with the work of British psychologists Joe Griffin and Ivan Tyrell who linked hypnosis to REM have brought hypnosis and hypnotic trance firmly into the realm of everyday experience. Today, the nature of ordinary consciousness is better understood as a series of trance states we experience in our day to day lives.

 

What is hypnosis? American Psychological Association describes hypnosis as a cooperative interaction in which participant responds to the suggestions of the hypnotist.

It is an altered trance-like state, usually characterized by deep relaxation with increased inward focus and concentration, reduced peripheral awareness and high suggestibility. This state is experienced by us often as we go through our day like when meditating, driving, walking, etc. We move in and out of trance many times during the day.

 

 Most people know hypnosis as used by entertainers, but it’s quite different from clinical hypnosis.

 The main difference is in the outcome. Stage hypnosis is done only for audience entertainment. Suggestions are temporary, last for the duration of the show and are removed after the volunteers are ‘awakened ’at the end of the act. Usage of hypnotizability testing is done in order to choose volunteers who are most receptive.

 

In clinical hypnosis, the aim is to help clients reach a personal goal by resolving any issue they may want to work on.  Suggestions are embedded for the client to experience long-term personal change and development. Though some tests may be used as ‘warm-up’ for the client, or to understand which suggestions to use or avoid during the therapy session for a better outcome.

 

What is hypnotizability you may wonder? Well, it is the ability to enter into a hypnotic state. A study done by Stanford university school of medicine published in October 2012 issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, found that those who are highly hypnotizable have better coordination between brain areas that integrate ‘attention, emotion, action and intention’. There is a spectrum of responsiveness, low to very high.

The result of this study gives greater credence to offering treatment to those who are likely to benefit from hypnotic interventions. It also dispels the myth that hypnosis involves mind control by another, instead suggests it involves enhanced control over one’s focus and attention.

 

So, to answer a common question, ‘can I be hypnotized’? Milton H Erickson says that most people can be hypnotized if the clinician is skilful. The argument here is that since we move in and out of trance or altered state many times during the day, we can, therefore, get into that state if we choose to.  It’s only our fears and biases which hinder the process.  So, the most important criteria here is ‘willingness’. If you want to participate in the process you will and if you don’t want to, you will resist it.  For therapy to be effective, you don’t need to be in a deep trance.

 

Another common query in people’s minds is related to the difference between hypnosis and hypnotherapy. While hypnosis is the inward-focused trance-like state which may or may not be used for therapy, hypnotherapy is the therapeutic use of the hypnotic state to bring about changes you desire in the long term as the subconscious mind is where lasting change happens. Hypnosis is thus a great vehicle used to deliver therapy.

 

Hypnosis has always been mired by many misconceptions and myths. Let’s address some of them here. A common one is that you can be hypnotized against your will. People have a great fear of losing control when hypnotized. Most draw this conclusion based on stage shows or movies. However, the truth is that the stage hypnotist selects his participants carefully based on their responsiveness. You are always in control and can resist or come out of a trance anytime you choose to do so. A hypnotherapist is only a facilitator and the process can work only if you are a willing participant.

 

Another myth is that we can recall all memory of an event correctly. This is incorrect. While memory can be enhanced, research has found that often memory can get corrupted or false memory implanted due to suggestions while being guided to dig for forgotten memories.

 

A person under hypnosis is asleep. While you may feel deeply relaxed and may have your eyes closed with a dreamy feeling, you are not asleep. Most people report a heightened sense of awareness. You will be able to hear all sounds and respond to commands. In most cases, people come out feeling relaxed and refreshed just like after a nap.

 

Let us look at the two main models of hypnosis.

Traditional script-based hypnosis tends to be very directive. The hypnotist may use commands like, “now your eyes are getting heavy” or “you are going deeper and deeper into relaxation”. The client is told authoritatively what to do with the therapist reading out a script for a certain issue. This works well on clients who are willing to follow orders. In some cases, it works because the client thinks it will.

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This form of hypnosis has been referred to as a “nondeceptive placebo” because the client feels better about the situation without any new skills or significant or lasting intervention taking place. Hypnosis tapes and scripts available on the web also mostly follow the pattern of traditional hypnosis. Scripts are standardized because it’s not concerned with customizing to the individual needs of the client, but rather, a generalized symptom removal. Some studies claim that this form of hypnosis rarely achieves more than a 30% success rate and has a higher relapse rate because although the client may feel better, they may not always do better the next time something similar happens. Traditional hypnosis was a product of a social environment that accepted authority easily. Those days are gone. Even though a client is told what the right thing for them is to do, direct instruction tends to create resistance that gets in the way of client outcomes. It’s a hypnotist centred approach and focused on the problem rather than the client.

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Modern or Ericksonian Hypnosis is a completely different approach. It is non-directive. Where traditional hypnosis tells clients what to do, modern hypnosis offers possibilities for the client to consider. The client feels they have options and are not being commanded to do things. It’s a subtle, respectful and personalized method involving tools like body language, stories, metaphors and other techniques tailored towards the client’s unique needs and situations. This approach thus sees a much higher success rate.

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Even in the absence of deep trance, the method works on the receptive state of mind by making indirect suggestions which lead to a therapeutic change in the patient. The clients are assisted to change the way they perceive a situation and trained to build better cognitive skills around challenging circumstances. It is more client-centred and is a solution-oriented therapy geared towards long term effects.

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Uses of Hypnosis

Hypnosis has been effectively applied in the treatment of a vast number of disorders and conditions to mention them all here. In the dental field, hypnosis has been found to be extremely effective in pain management. Hypnosis as a means of effectively communicating, calming and enhancing treatments in dental patients is well documented. It’s also effective in reducing blood flow to area under treatment and enhance healing. It helps patients with the issue of ‘teeth grinding’ to develop better awareness and control over the muscles in their jaws and is also used to encourage better dental practices.

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In the medical field, it has been seen to be especially effective in acute and chronic pain management. It has been used in the treatment of depression, stress, anxiety, phobias, gastrointestinal problems, skin issues, sleep disorders, anaesthetic in surgeries, post-surgical recoveries, hypnobirthing, addictions and many more as it amplifies the mind-body relationship, encouraging greater healing, increased control over physical processes like immune functions and circulation.

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Hypnosis as a tool has been effective to help athletes with physical control and mental concentration by narrowing one’s focus on the task at hand. It also helps with stress management and positive self-image.

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Hypnosis also helps in delivering effective psychotherapy for behavioural and emotional issues. The person seeking help has quite likely tried to consciously change but failed to do so. Hypnosis helps them to dissociate from their usual experience and helps new associations to be formed in their inner lives (cognitive, emotional, behavioural and/or physical levels). It’s used to provide symptom relief and teach specific skills (cognitive, behavioural, relational) that can help someone cope better with and resolve ongoing underlying issues as well as deal with presenting problems.

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Hypnosis as a tool has been used successfully in teaching to enhance concentration, reduce anxiety, increase creativity, increase recall and enhance student performance.

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As we rush through life and our span of attention decreases, it is becoming obvious to researchers and clinicians that the biggest problem today, is our disconnect from ourselves. It’s important to take a breath and discover the richness of our inner world and connect to the positive and helpful abilities within us. Hypnosis assists us to go within and focus on what’s ‘right’, enhance it and use it to make a more fulfilling, drug-free life for ourselves.

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