Hypnotherapy is a form of therapy performed while the subject is in a state of hypnosis. In the state of hypnosis, a hypnotist is able to use the power of suggestion to help a subject in a number of areas such as overcoming a phobia, or to build the subject's confidence.
History
The earliest evidence of hypnotherapy is in ancient India, where people would take their sick to sleep temples to be cured through the power of hypnotic suggestion. In 1027, the Persian psychologist Avicenna talked about hypnosis in his book, "The Book of Healing." He refers to creating the type of conditions in a person where they accept what he referred to as "the reality of the hypnosis." Other practitioners of hypnosis include the Scottish physician James Braid, who is notable for shaping the concept of hypnotism as a form of psychological treatment.
Types
There are several different types of hypnosis. Self-hypnosis is the act of inducing oneself into a state of hypnosis. Having one person induce another person into a state of hypnosis is known as hetero-hypnosis. Hetero-hypnosis is generally the type of hypnosis used in hypnotherapy. Other types of hypnosis are stage hypnosis, forensic hypnosis and learning improvement hypnosis, which do not all under the realm of hypnotherapy.
Misconceptions
There are many misconceptions surrounding hypnotherapy. Some people believe that hypnosis will lead to a loss of will power, meaning that the subject can be made to say and do things that they normally wouldn't do. However, even under hypnosis it is impossible for a subject to act in a way that the mind is unwilling to accept. Some people are confused about the difference between hypnosis and sleep. A subject can fall asleep under hypnosis; however, if they are not asleep, they will still be aware of everything that is going on around them, even when in a deep state of hypnosis.
Benefits
Hypnotherapy can result in many different kinds of benefits. It can help a subject quit smoking, reduce stress or cure insomnia. Hypnotherapy can even be used to stop a person from biting her nails. Hypnotherapy has been used to help build confidence and self esteem and cure phobias. Some practitioners have even used hypnotherapy to reduce the amount of pain that a subject feels, for instance, during child birth.
Features
Typically when a subject is being induced into a hypnotic state, he will go through several stages. The hypnotist will talk in a calm voice, telling the subject to slowly relax each part of her body in succession. He will make soothing suggestions, making the subject feel very lethargic. He usually will count backwards, explaining that when he reaches "one" the subject will be in a deep state of hypnosis. When the subject is in that state of hypnosis, the hypnotist will give suggestions based on what the subject is hoping to achieve in the session. If the subject hopes to stop insomnia, the tell the subject that when she lays down tonight she will fall into a deep and restful sleep. To bring the subject out of hypnosis, the hypnotist may count backwards to one stating that when the subject awakens, she will feel refreshed and alert.
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