Hypnosis: mechanisms, applications, and therapeutic uses

Hypnosis

It is unknown as to the exact origins of hypnosis but it is commonly believed that a form of it was used by the Egyptian in their dream temples. "Some ancient Egyptian paintings depict an apparently sleeping person with others who seem to be making hypnotic passes over them" (History of Hypnosis). However in the modern times it is generally accepted that Dr. Franz Anton Mesmer, an Austrian, started using hypnosis in the late 18th century. He received great success in this field and the process of hypnosis which he used was then called "mesmerism." At that time Mesmer's techniques cured any disorder like convulsions etc. prevalent in the late 18th century. He is also known to have cured the eyesight of a woman who then refused to leave Mesmer and thus began a scandal. Unfortunately the French government carried out an intense investigation under the leadership of Ben Franklin. Ben Franklin along with other scientists studied Mesmer's techniques and finally declared this process to be false and a fraud and gave the credit of the curing abilities to imagination (G.M. Johnson). Later on the techniques of hypnosis was used by a well-known figure in history, Sigmund Freud. In the 19th century, Freud practiced hypnotism to learn about the conflicts within a patient that were hidden and old memories of psychic trauma. Realizing the power of hypnotism, Freud announced that hypnotism was a very powerful tool and that the control is more in the hands of the patient rather the hypnotist. Dr. Milton Erickson is given credit to for researching and developing the modern methods of hypnosis. He introduced these globally and it received great popularity by the 20th century. He brought awareness in others regarding the use of two methods in hypnosis known as "indirectly" and "permissively" accessing the subconscious of the patient to cure him. Indirectly was when the doctor or the hypnotist did not make any direct suggestions and permissively was where suggestions were made permissively. "The best publicized use of hypnosis to this end was the recent work of some hypnotherapists who were instrumental in 'uncovering' hitherto 'inaccessible' memories of childhood abuse in subjects" (John Sderlund).

METHODS AND TRAINING

For any hypnotist to begin his treatment, the patient's consent is very necessary. If the patient does not want to get hypnotized then the process will not work. Hence the willingness should be there for the effectiveness to be there (Methods of Hypnosis). If the patient believes that he cannot be hypnotized then it is not possible for the method of hypnosis to be effective and it is also important for the patient to be relaxed. These factors should be present before a hypnotist can actually begin the cure using the powerful tool of hypnosis. Once the patient is prepared, hypnosis is induced by six most widely used methods which include "eye fixation or fixed-gaze induction," "rapid," "progressive relaxation and imagery," "loss of balance," "Mental confusion methods" and "Mental misdirection methods."

Eye fixation is a method most commonly seen being practiced in movies where the hypnotist takes out a pocket-watch and swings it like a pendulum in front of the patient. This method is not very effective and a large number of people or patients do not get hypnotized using this method. However the concept is to get the patient to focus on the moving object with such a concentration that they disregard any other external stimuli. While the patient focuses on the object, the doctor, using a low soft tone talks to the patient. This puts the patient in a relaxed state. Used in the early days, this method is now becoming obsolete (Tom Harris).

The Rapid or Shock to Nervous System method is most popular among the stage hypnotists. In a surprising manner, sudden forceful and firm commands are given to overload the mind. The patient would either fight the trance or he will give in and fall into a hypnotic trance (Roy Hunter). For this the hypnotist has to be highly convincingly and forceful when he gives the command.

Progressive Relaxation and Imagery is used by the self hypnosis tapes one often finds available for purchase in stores. This method is also used by psychiatrists where the patient is spoken to in a soft voice bringing him finally into a trance of complete relaxation and the patient falls into hypnosis. "Mental imagery is used (with caution) to gain insight and new awareness" (Anonymous). Loss of balance is a method that is often seen practiced by mothers when they rock their babies to sleep. With the slow rhythmic rocking, a loss of equilibrium is created and the subjects fall into hypnosis. "This makes use of gentle rocking to get the subject into a trance" (Arvind Mathur). Mental confusion methods are formulated to cause confusion to the conscious mind which confuse the conscious mind "to the point where it just lets go and becomes relaxed" (Anonymous) thus making it easier for the subject to relax and go into a hypnotic trance while mental misdirection methods use imagination and response in order to lead a person in a certain direction (Anonymous).

Professional training is required to be able to hypnotize and anyone who has not had this professional training cannot use hypnosis as a means to cure a person. "Clinical hypnosis is a powerful technique which requires specialized training, such as that offered by professional societies and teaching hospitals" (Reid J. Kelly et al., p.8). In self hypnosis, the patient is put under a training program where he is taught self hypnosis. However before the training begins, an evaluation and diagnosis is carried out.

BENEFITS OF HYPNOSIS

Hypnosis is a state which is similar to sleep but is induced by suggestions. People who advocate for the benefits of hypnosis list a long list of things that hypnosis has helped in and the people that have been cured. The first thing that comes to anyone's mind is that hypnosis is an excellent tool to acquire relaxation. Today people use this tool to help them quit smoking and hypnosis is regarded as the most effective way to leave smoking (T. Darlene Cheek). Further the proponents talk about hypnosis gaining wide popularity amongst those who seek to lose weight. They say that hypnosis has helped them and people they know in weight loss more efficiently than any other weight loss programs. In hospitals hypnosis is also used successfully by nurses to relax and keep calm the patients who experience claustrophobia during magnetic resonance imaging, exams etc. (Bo Emerson). Another benefit of hypnosis is that it is used in the treatment of chronic pain. It is also being used in women to give birth without certain medications. Some talk about its possible effectiveness in treating asthma, warts, dermatitis, post-traumatic stress disorders, hives, phobias, hemophilia and anxiety (Kate Murphy). Anxiety is helped using hypnosis in two ways. It can either directly decrease it by putting the person in a state of relaxation or the hypnotist can make the patient focus on the root cause of the prevailing condition.

Although the judicial system does not accept the testimony of a person in a hypnotic trance, people feel and voice their opinion that under a hypnotic trance the man speaks what is true. However that is not always the case. Even those that have not undergone hypnosis and are neither a hypnotist, advocate for hypnosis because either they have heard about its effectiveness or they have a loved one who was cured by it. There are many more things that hypnosis is said to have a cure for and some of them further include sleep therapy. Hypnosis is also advocate for heightening the levels of self-confidence in a person. Many have said that hypnosis increased the confidence level in them and now they are a completely different person. This in turn has also helped many in their performance in the field of sports and those that had a problem with speaking in public. Concentration spans have been improved by the use of hypnosis and students have experienced better study or learning abilities. "Hypnosis can also help change your subconscious programming, putting the power of your mind towards improving your life" (Anonymous). The condition of nausea during pregnancy and chemotherapy in patients with cancer is also helped by using hypnosis. Pregnant women desire the intake of minimal medicines and with hypnosis curing the morning sickness they no longer need to take any medications for it. This method of therapy is also used in "surgery where anesthesia cannot be used effectively" (Olafur S. Palsson). Hypnosis is also considered to be helpful with cancer patients. A hypnotherapist noted that the use of hypnosis in a cancer patient cause less fluid drainage. She stated that less anesthetic was used as the patient was already in a relaxed state both physically and mentally. Moreover her testimony included that "hunger and thirst quickly followed surgery to keep the body functions (bladder and bowel) naturally and easily (Victoria).

CONTRAINDICATIONS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA

Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder that responds best to anti-psychotic medications coupled with social rehabilitation. It is caused be the chemical imbalances in the brain and for such illnesses conventional medicines should only be used rather than Hypnosis. The symptoms for schizophrenia include delusions, hallucinations, disorganized behavior and speech (Jeff Gazley). Hypnosis with people diagnosed with schizophrenia can cause severe disruptions and would do more harm than any good.

THE RESEARCH

The effectiveness of Hypnosis was explored in the case of the reduction of pain in osteoarthritis. Patients were involved who were experiencing this pain in either the knee of the hip area. The patients were divided into three groups and each group underwent three options. The first group was put through eight standardized sessions of hypnosis whereas the second group was given the same number of sessions of Jacobson relaxation. The third group served to be a control. After the completion of the sessions, it was observed that the group of patients, who had undergone hypnosis and relaxation sessions, experienced a much lower level of pain as compared to the control group. Comparing the two groups who received hypnosis and relaxation sessions, it was observed that the beneficial effects of the treatment kicked in earlier in the group of patients that underwent hypnosis. Moreover it was also observed that the first two groups, due to reduced pain could now decrease the dosage of the painkiller medications. Hence it was seen that the use of hypnosis in reducing the pain experienced in osteoarthritis was very effective. Such researches on hypnosis had led to an established conclusion that this alternate medicine is remarkably effective to treat many conditions and symptoms.