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History of Hypnotherapy

Hypnosis and the studies of hypnotherapy began in the 1700’s by an Australian doctor called Franz Anton Mesmer. The word mesmerize was created from his surname as he believed that people could be put into trance states i.e. mesmerized in a similar fashion that shamans and other ancient people would regularly do in rituals. The hypnotherapy itself became popular in the 1900 s and was finally recognized as a real medical procedure in 1958. So, what exactly is hypnotherapy? It is a form of highly induced relaxation where the subconscious mind is activated and the conscious mind is temporarily put to rest. The mind and body become completely relaxed which allows the hypnotist to guide the person s memory to places where they could not consciously recall. Your body is completely relaxed but your mind is fully conscious which means that you become open to hypnotic suggestion which can drastically affect your conscious behavior.

Three types of hypnotherapy are: traditional hypnotherapy, Ericksonian hypnotherapy and cognitive/behavioral hypnotherapy. These can all be used for treating a variety of medical problems such as alcohol and drug abuse, traumatic experiences, anxiety management, PTSD, recalling lost memories and even to alter undesirable behavior and create better behaviors and attitudes.

 How Does Hypnotherapy Work?

According to studies of hypnotherapy, there are different stages in hypnosis. The first being re-framing the problem that the patient is having, allowing the patient to become completely relaxed and engaged in what the hypnotist is saying, making the person dissociate from their thoughts and then allowing the patient to respond by complying with the hypnotherapist’s suggestions. Once these steps have been completed, the hypnotist then allows the patient to become consciously aware again and they then reflect on the experience.

There are many benefits of hypnosis and numerous problems it can address. Some of these include depression, mental and emotional issues, sleep disorders, smoking cessation, grief, and loss, eating disorders, weight loss, addictions, phobias, irritable bowel syndrome, skin issues, cancer pain and so much more. The potential illnesses that hypnotherapy can relieve are almost limitless.

Unfortunately, there are also a few drawbacks of hypnotherapy which means that not everyone is suitable for this type of medical treatment. People who suffer from mental disorders that include delusions, hallucinations and other psychotic symptoms should not use hypnosis as it can worsen their condition. The use of hypnosis with patients with these mental issues may cause false memories to be mistakenly implanted which can exacerbate their condition. In this case, the use of hypnotherapy to uncover mental issues is extremely controversial at this time.

Studies of hypnotherapy are always ongoing and with time, there will be even more amazing discoveries and breakthroughs in this field. Many people mistakenly think that hypnotherapy is a form of brainwashing or mind control, but this is simply not the case! Hypnotherapy is a completely safe therapy that can help you gain more control over your life. When looking for a hypnotherapist, always be sure to choose one that is a certified medical health professional that is well trained in hypnosis to ensure you have the best results.