Hypnosis—or hypnotherapy—is a type of unorthodox or “complementary and alternative” treatment that uses intense concentration, focused attention, and guided relaxation to achieve a heightened sense of awareness that is also referred to as a trance.

In a state of hypnosis, the person’s attention is so focused that they become temporarily oblivious to what’s going around them. A trained hypnotist then guides their thoughts towards specific thoughts or tasks.

How Does Hypnosis Work?

Rather than being used as a standalone treatment, hypnosis is generally used to complement certain forms of psychotherapy. It can sometimes aid psychotherapy because in a hypnotic state, people can explore painful memories, feelings and thoughts that have been locked away in their subconscious mind. Furthermore, through hypnosis, a person can be conditioned to perceive things differently, like blocking awareness of pain.

Hypnosis can be used in two ways:

• Suggestion Therapy: When a person is hypnotized, they’re naturally more responsive to suggestions. Therefore, hypnotherapy can be used to plant positive thoughts in a person’s mind and help them change negative thought patterns and certain behaviors such as compulsive eating and smoking. It can also help people change sensations and perceptions and is especially effective in treating certain types of pain.

• Patient Psychoanalysis: This approach utilizes the hypnotized state to identify possible subconscious factors that may be associated to a psychological conflict, such as a traumatic memory or event that a person has hidden in their subconscious memory. Once the trauma is discovered, psychotherapy can be used to address it.

The Efficacy of Hypnotherapy as a Treatment for Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety disorders are, by far, the most prevalent mental illness in the United States, affecting approximately 40 million American adults. While there are medications designed to reign in the symptoms of anxiety disorders, many of them have adverse side effects. Therefore, many people are switching over to alternative natural treatments, with hypnotherapy emerging as an effective option.

As we’ve discussed above, a person is more open to suggestions while in a state of hypnosis. It can be used to improve the symptoms of numerous anxiety-related disorders, including:

• Phobias
• Anxiety-induced sleep disorders
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Stress
• Depression
• Irritable bowel syndrome

It can also be used to overcome harmful habits such as smoking, and to help with pain control.

Our hypnotist Rekha might be someone you could connect with. She works effectively with anxiety, depression, rage and even helps clients with smoking cessation and weight loss through hypnosis. Book a free consultation at our office in Rochester, NY. Rekha also offers Skype sessions for clients not residing in Rochester, NY.

Not ready to book an appointment? Learn how self-hypnosis can help you recover from PTSD and depression.