Hypnotherapy - Science or Woo Woo?

(Image credit Emmanuel Lefont BBC)

The roots of Hypnotherapy can be found as far back as 3000 BC when, in ancient Egypt people’s dreams were interpreted. Practice has existed in many global cultures from the shamanism of Korea, Japan and Siberia, Native North American medicine to traditional south African healing where practices use the ability of the body to adopt a hypnosis-like state.

Today it is recognised as an authentic alternative therapy that can assist when other practices fail and is being used in treatment for anxiety, PTSD and pain management.

However, Hypnosis can be perceived as clinically suspect predominantly based on the stage hypnotists who can make members of their audience pretend to be animals, much to the amusement and entertainment of others!

(Image credit Emmanuel Lefont BBC))

The American Psychological Association defines hypnosis as a “state of consciousness involving focused attention and reduced peripheral awareness characterised by an enhanced capacity for response to suggestion"

In reality, you probably unknowingly experience hypnosis regularly. If you have ever got 'lost' in a good book, or

become so absorbed in a film it can become overwhelming - that sensation is similar to hypnosis.

Only around 10-15% of the population are classed as "highly hypnotisable", meaning they respond to the majority of suggestions. These "highs", can have strong, sometimes profound experiences during hypnosis. However, the majority of the population, have a less extreme reaction and may respond to a few hypnotic suggestions but not more challenging tests. The remaining 10-15% are known as "lows" and may only respond to a couple of easy suggestions, or may not respond at all.

Why this is has led to a new area of research. It has been proposed that hypnotisability is linked to levels of dopamine a neurotransmitter (chemical messenger) in the brain. Initial studies have pointed to a gene called COMT as well as high levels of the neurotransmitter GABA but a clear genetic picture has yet to emerge. Hypnotherapy derives from a range of psychologies including analytical, behavioural and cognitive while focusing on neuroplasticity where we have learnt about the ability of the brain to form new neural connections throughout our lives. Our conscious mind makes up 5% of our mind processing and our subconscious 95%.

Hypnotherapy works using the power of suggestion, with the use of hypnosis to access the subconscious mind to encourage positive change. By using relaxation techniques, the conscious part of the mind relaxes into a hypnotic state allowing the subconscious to be more open to suggestion. It depends on each individual what outcome is sought, and this will be agreed at the initial consultation.

(image credited to Emmanuel Lefont BBC)

The hypnotised brain

The famous Stroop test can help to demonstrate how this works. The Stroop effect is a psychological phenomenon demonstrating interference in reaction time of a task. The test measures how difficult people find it to identify the colour a word is written in when that word is the name of another colour. For example, picture the word "red" written in blue ink. It takes people longer to say that the ink is blue than when the ink is the corresponding red colour (take the test here!)

When told they were no longer able to read, the hypnotised participants found the letters became meaningless shapes – and became quicker at identifying the colour of the mismatched words because they were no longer distracted by the words on the page.

In 1970 a young medical student David Siegel hypnotised his first patient. As part of his training he was taking a class in clinical hypnosis while working on a paediatric rotation in Boston. His patient was a sixteen year old girl having an extreme asthma attack. This was the girl's third hospitalisation in as many months. Common practice of dilating her airways with adrenaline was not working so Spiegel asked her permission to try a breathing exercise. Spiegel placed the girl into the trance-like state characteristic of hypnosis and used the statement suggesting that each breath she took would be a little deeper and a little easier.

Within five minutes the girl's wheezing had stopped and she was lying back in her bed, breathing comfortably. It was a formative encounter for doctor and patient as The girl grew up to become a respiratory therapist and Spiegel dedicated his career to clinical hypnosis. Over the next 50 years, he set up the Centre for Integrative Medicine at Stanford University and calculates he has hypnotised more than 7,000 patients.

Hypnotherapy can be used for a broad range of issues. These include stress, anxiety, phobias, sleep hygiene, self-belief, esteem, and confidence issues as well as weight management and stopping smoking – the list is endless!

Stress and health have a causal relationship contributing to one of the biggest public health challenges today. High stress levels cause worse mental and physical health and people with high mental and physical health issues can experience more acute stress. Anxiety and depression can both be a symptom and a cause of stress.

Hypnotherapy can be used to identify stress triggers and support development of bespoke interventions for relaxation, resilience and emotional well-being. Using imagery and positive affirmations negative thought patterns can be reframed into positive ones and develop an inner sense of calm.

If you are: -

· Struggling to cope with work pressures and/or day to day life

· Unable to concentrate

· Feeling overwhelmed

· Overthink everything and worry excessively

· Unable to sleep

· Loss of appetite/ overeating

· Irritable, angry -lost your sense of humour

You could be suffering from stress and anxiety

If you are: -

· Feeling inadequate and low self-worth

· Suffering from Imposter syndrome

· Constantly doubt yourself and your capabilities

· Regularly putting yourself down

· Sensitive to criticism

· Feeling self-conscious

You could be suffering from low self-esteem and self-confidence

Do you have a fear of:

· Flying

· Heights

· Spiders

· Social phobias

· Panic attacks

You could be suffering from a phobia.

Hypnosis allows you to communicate with your subconscious mind and relearn behaviour and reframe thoughts and images. Hypnotherapy is a natural and healthy way do relieve barriers preventing you from leading the live you want to live.

As a Master Clinical Hypnotherapist, I can incorporate hypnotherapy with other wellbeing techniques (i.e. ACT, NLP) - or use in isolation – depending on individual needs. I can use hypnotherapy effectively online through Zoom or face to face, depending on your preference and your location.

Contact me for your free no obligation initial consultation - it could change your life.