2021

6 Ways Hypnosis Can Benefit Your Well-Being

In pop culture, hypnosis is often portrayed as a way to alter perception or control minds, for villains to do evil schemes or steal the girl. It’s even a popular gimmick in magic shows, where audience members are asked to stare into a watch or hypnotic pendulum. But contrary to what the media portrays it to be, hypnosis may actually offer several health and behavioral benefits for your well-being.

According to the American Psychological Association, hypnosis may be used as a therapeutic technique to help treat different mood disorders and improve bad habits. Despite the controversy surrounding hypnosis, some clinicians suggest that it may also help in managing recurring pain from arthritis and cancer. On this basis, psychologists developed therapeutic methods to address different physical and mental challenges through the use of hypnosis.

Different Techniques

Patients respond to hypnotherapy in different ways, so it’s best to know your options first before you give it a try. Hypnosis is practiced in different methods such as direct suggestion, regression, and quantum healing. Each technique has a different approach and process, often depending on the patient’s condition and response. 

For example, during direct suggestion, a therapist may instill healthy habits, such as eating less or sleeping earlier, into the patient’s subconscious mind through a hypnotic process. On the other hand, regression uses past experiences to uncover the root causes of negative habits, which may help in handling depression and phobias. 

If you’re looking at trying hypnosis for your well-being, it’s best to choose a technique that doesn’t just suit your health concerns, but one that you’re also comfortable with since hypnotherapy involves being very personal. Additionally, remember that several sessions are often recommended to achieve the desired results. 

To help you learn more about your options, here are six ways hypnosis can benefit your well-being:

Physical Well-Being

  1. By Relieving Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is believed to be one of the main reasons patients seek medical attention. There are different pain treatments available such as over-the-counter drugs or even injectables. But if you feel you’ve already tried everything and nothing worked, you might want to try hypnosis. 

According to an article that reviewed multiple studies of hypnotherapy for pain, getting hypnotic treatment may relieve recurring pain caused by arthritis or migraines. It may also help manage pain from recent surgeries or cancer treatments. While under hypnosis, psychologists may help manage pain relief by suggesting that you ‘let go of your pain,’ thereby getting rid of the idea of pain and taking control of what you want to feel.

  1. By Helping To Improve Your Sleep

Anyone may be affected by sleep disorders, regardless of age and gender. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one out of three American adults and 72.7% of high school students from grades nine to 12 don’t get enough sleep. Sleep disorders, such as insomnia, narcolepsy, and sleepwalking, are usually caused by too much stress or an underlying health problem.

Hypnosis may help in addressing insomnia by changing negative habits and thoughts that lead to poor sleeping patterns. There are also self-hypnosis techniques available that you can practice at home, which may improve your sleep quality. For sleepwalkers, therapists may train you to wake up every time you feel like you’re about to get out of bed while asleep. 

  1. By Making It Easier To Quit Smoking 

According to CDC, smoking is the leading cause of preventable death, which accounts for more than 7 million deaths per year globally. Smokers are also at risk of developing cancer and lung diseases. Aside from rehabilitation, hypnotherapy sessions may be an effective alternative method to help smokers quit their nicotine addiction.

Through hypnosis, patients may overcome their smoking addiction by associating a foul odor or bitter taste with the smell of smoke. Therapists may also guide smokers into subconsciously finding better alternatives to replace smoking, like eating candy or drinking cold water.                      

Mental Well-Being

  1. By Helping To Ease Trauma

A person suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which is caused by traumatic events such as sexual abuse or a car accident, experiences triggers and flashbacks that may create feelings of helplessness and anxiety. One way to help manage PTSD is through clinical hypnosis. 

Since it’s believed that trauma is embedded subconsciously, hypnosis may help in altering these thoughts and promote healthier coping mechanisms and help patients manage their emotions better. Verbal cues and breathing exercises may also be done during the session to promote a positive disposition.

  1. By Giving You Strength To Face Fears

Phobias are irrational fears of a certain person, object, or place that poses no threat. While having phobias may not impact most people significantly, some are more deeply affected to the point that it hinders their personal and social lives. 

As an option, patients experiencing severe phobias may try hypnosis. Hypnotherapists usually evaluate the gravity of the phobia first before going into a session. During hypnotherapy, patients will be confronted with their fears in a controlled manner to gradually improve their ability to stay calm by helping them manage their responses. 

  1. By Helping To Overcome Anxiety

You may benefit from hypnotherapy if you’ve been diagnosed with anxiety, which is characterized by constantly having trouble concentrating, increased heart rate, and rapid breathing. Although the symptoms may vary, anxiety disorders are believed to be affecting more individuals each year. People with anxiety symptoms are recommended to seek medical and psychotherapy treatments, as well as to make lifestyle changes, to improve their condition.

Individuals suffering from anxiety may benefit from hypnotherapy, since it may help in relaxation and staying calm. During a session, when the patient is in a receptive state, psychologists use non-verbal cues to instill positive responses and help ease anxiety. 

The Bottom Line 

Hypnotherapy, through hypnosis, is an alternative treatment option that may help alleviate various physical and mental conditions. It may help address physical conditions such as chronic pain, nicotine addiction, and sleep disorders. Similarly, it may also be effective in relieving mental conditions such as anxiety, trauma, and different phobias. Psychologists may also use different methods such as parts therapy, regression, and direct suggestion. 

However, before getting any treatment, it’s best to have yourself diagnosed first to identify which areas you need help with and which technique will work best for you. Depending on your condition, it’s also recommended to go on several hypnotherapy sessions to get the best results and improve your well-being. 

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