How Does Hypnosis Work?

During a hypnotherapy session, the hypnotherapist will guide the client into a relaxed state. This state allows the person to be open to suggestions because the brain’s critical filtering mechanism is temporarily bypassed. In a normal fully awake state, people are not as open to intentional shifts and suggestions, remaining more tied to their old thought patterns, behaviors and habits. In hypnosis, the client’s focus will narrow to just a few things at once, including the therapist’s voice during the session. In addition to physical relaxation, the client’s brain waves will be slowing down considerably similar to meditation which promotes an improved sense of wellbeing.

Hypnosis is a natural state of mind, a focused state of concentration during which your mind is calm and very alert and your body completely relaxed. During hypnosis you are not asleep but rather in a deeply relaxed state of consciousness where the hypnotherapist can better connect to your subconscious mind. 

You might be surprised to find that hypnosis is actually an ancient tool that continues to gain interest, popularity and credibility! Hypnotherapy has been approved by the AMA (American Medical Association) since 1958 and has often been used in conjunction with western medicine and psychology.

So, what is actually happening in the brain when someone is hypnotized? Here’s are some findings from a study conducted by Stanford:

“Scientists scanned the brains of 57 people during guided hypnosis sessions similar to those that might be used clinically to treat anxiety, pain or trauma. Three distinct sections of the brain were shown to have altered activity and connectivity under hypnosis.

Now that we know which brain regions are involved, we may be able to use this knowledge to alter someone’s capacity to be hypnotized or the effectiveness of hypnosis for problems like pain control,” said the study’s senior author, David Spiegel, MD, professor and associate chair of psychiatry and behavioral sciences.”

Credit: By Sarah C.P. Williams for Stanford Education Online

Hypnosis brings us beyond the conscious mind and into the subconscious realms. The desire to ask questions, actively observe our surroundings, and generally analyze is bypassed. The brain goes into a state of hyper-awareness instead of general distraction. Contrary to some false beliefs, when we undergo hypnosis, we still remain in complete control. It is a waking state and it’s impossible to get ‘stuck’ in hypnosis. Free will and control is still totally present - it’s a safe and quite relaxing process! 

Another Harvard study concluded that, “The two areas of the brain that are responsible for processing and controlling what's going on in your body show greater activity during hypnosis. Likewise, the area of your brain that's responsible for your actions and the area that is aware of those actions appear to be disconnected during hypnosis.”

Hypnotherapy can help with building self-esteem, smoking cessation, processing grief and loss, improving sports performance reducing IBS symptoms and much more. Curious about trying it? Email Andrea at info@hypnotherapyandwellness.com!