Way back in the 1700s, German doctor Franz Mesmer was accused of being a trickster and a charlatan for putting his patients in a relaxed, trance-like state. He was actually run out of town for his techniques, yet today we see that he was one of the earliest pioneers of hypnosis. The psychological community now has a deep respect and understanding of hypnosis, as it has been used for decades in the treatment of a wide range of health and wellness concerns. From helping patients quit smoking to speeding up the healing process after a major surgery, the best hypnosis courses work quite effectively in about 95% of individuals.
How does Hypnosis work?
Believe it or not, scientists don’t fully understand how hypnosis works – but the medical community is getting closer to the answer each year through the use of sophisticated test protocols and monitoring equipment used during hypnosis sessions. According to psychologist Mark Jensen (University of Washington School of Medicine), similar neurophysiological activities are observed during both periods of meditation and hypnosis.
Hypnosis effectively decreases the brain’s fast-wave activities and increases the brain’s slow-wave impulses – thereby relaxing the mind and sharpening focus, while keeping distracting thoughts on the back burner. Pain management is one area that is often helped via hypnosis, as pain is processed in the prefrontal cortex region of the brain – an area that can be treated via hypnosis. By regulating the way the brain processes information, students of the practice can change the way they react to stress, pain, anxiety and other maladies.
What are the benefits of hypnosis?
According to several leading medical publications, hypnosis can provide a wide range of tangible benefits, including treatment for:
* PTSD
* Depression
* Loss or grief
* Anxiety, phobias and fears
* Sleep disorders
* Stress
* Substance abuse
How can you start the process of using hypnosis to improve your life?
Discounting “stage show” hypnosis tricks, hypnosis should be performed by a licensed mental health professional with experience in the field. You can access quality hypnotists either in-person or online, but first ensure that they maintain the credentials necessary to work in the field.
It is important to know exactly what will happen during the hypnosis session, too. Follow along and let your mind relax. Listen to the instructions of your hypnotist, and don’t try to force your body into “feeling” anything or “becoming” hypnotized – it will happen in time and the depth of the hypnosis can and will vary among individuals. Once the session is over, you’ll likely feel motivated to accomplish whatever you set out to tackle with a newfound vigor and focus.
Are online or in-person courses better?
There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach to hypnosis, but many students feel that the online approach is beneficial for a variety of reasons, including:
* No time wasted traveling to and from a doctor’s office
* Minimal paperwork or insurance hassles
* No doctor’s bills to pay (though you’ll have to pay something for the courses)
* Choose to complete sessions on your time from the comfort of your home
Of course, if you prefer sitting face-to-face in the same room as your hypnotist, an in-person approach might be right for you. It might make sense to start off with the online course and then transition to an in-person option if you feel the virtual course isn’t helping. Most patients find that the online option is not only effective, but also incredibly convenient.
What type of results can you expect from a highly-rated hypnosis course?
Working through a quality hypnosis course should help you conquer whatever you’ve set out to address. Though about 5% of the population is resistant or minimally helped by hypnosis, most people find that hypnosis offers real benefits. The Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale can be administered to assess whether or not a potential hypnosis patient can be helped by the treatment, and upon doing so, will uncover an approximate level of susceptibility to the powers of hypnosis.
Upon working through the hypnosis course, you’ll find it easier to manage depression, quit smoking, lose weight, or gain self-esteem. Or, if you’re looking to more effectively manage pain, hypnosis can help with that, too. Getting better sleep and minimizing stress are two other key areas that can be addressed via hypnosis. Simply select the hypnosis therapy you desire and get started. You’ll find that the real-world health and wellness benefits of hypnosis can help you tackle life’s problems as effectively as possible.
