What Is Hypnosis - Describe the Psychological and Physical Aspects of Hypnosis and Discuss the Role of Relaxation in Hypnotherapy

"WHAT IS HYPNOSIS?" DESCRIBE THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF HYPNOSIS AND DISCUSS THE ROLE OF RELAXATION IN HYPNOTHERAPY

WORD COUNT: 1974

People's perceptions of hypnosis will differ greatly; many will view it as a strange phenomenon and one associated with stage shows where a mysterious hypnotist figure uses members of the audience, puts them into a trance-like state and asks them to obey their every command. However this popular belief actually has very little resemblance to hypnotism. In this essay I am going to talk about what hypnosis is by describing the psychological and physical aspects of hypnosis and discussing the role of relaxation in hypnotherapy.

It is not fully understood how hypnosis occurs and why a person responds in the way they do when in a hypnotic state of mind. The understanding of hypnosis by psychiatrists is that it is a trance-like state of mind which is brought about using a set of techniques in order for the client to reach an altered state of consciousness, allowing communication with the subconscious mind; the part of the mind that directs the way we feel, think and behave. In truth, everybody experiences a hypnotic state at several points throughout the day; they just do not realise it. It is often compared to daydreaming or 'losing yourself' while reading a book or watching a film.

Our conscious mind is used for storing day to day actions, such as getting out of bed, eating breakfast and getting dressed. Every piece of information we learn is stored in our subconscious mind, for example, driving. The skills used while learning to drive are all stored here. At one time or another, everyone undertaking a driving experience will enter 'auto-pilot'. This is because their conscious mind will drift off, allowing their subconscious mind to become active. It is only when they have become so deep in their thoughts and they realise they have missed their turning for example, that their conscious mind kicks back in, alerting them to the fact that they are in the wrong place. Similarly, when reading a book, we may find our mind drifts off and forgets what we have just read, requiring us to go back to the last point at which our conscious mind was active.

Previous studies in which researchers compared the physical signs of hypnotised and un-hypnotised people found no considerable physical changes between the two. The small differences that occurred, such as heart rate and respiration, slowed down in a hypnotised person but this is believed to be due to the relaxation involved in the process, rather than the hypnotic state itself. This said, research over the last twenty years or so has found that one significant physical change is the brain activity. Using electroencephalographs (EEG's) which measure the electrical activity of the brain has shown that different brain waves are produced depending on the mental state of the client. EEG's used from subjects under hypnosis showed an increase in the lower frequency waves and a decrease in the higher frequency waves. This is supportive of the theory that during hypnosis, the subconscious mind takes over.

To support the above, there are four main types of brain wave which vary in frequency:-

Beta Waves (15 to 40 cycles per second)

People experiencing an engaged and focussed mind.

Alpha Waves (9 to 14 cycles per second)

Slower than beta and evident in a less aroused state, for example when sitting down to rest after finishing a job.

Theta Waves (4 to 8 cycles per second)

Present during dreaming and some meditative states; connected with peacefulness, medium to deep hypnosis and emotional surges. Connected to the subconscious mind which is where our past experiences are held.

Delta Waves (1 to 4 cycles per second)

Produced in the subconscious mind in a state of deep rest where no other waves are active. For example, sleep or very deep hypnosis.

These frequencies dip and rise, slow and speed up in an ordered method, for example going to sleep will follow the pattern of the above starting with Beta Waves and will reverse from Delta to Beta upon waking.

Researchers who have studied the patterns in the brain's cerebral cortex during hypnosis found that there was reduced activity in the left hemisphere. They believe that this side of the brain is the logical control centre. The right side is said to control imagination and creativity and showed an increase in activity during hypnosis. This is not concrete evidence, but goes some way in supporting the idea that during hypnosis, the conscious mind is subdued (the left side) and the right side, the subconscious mind, takes charge.

Below is an example of how the hypnotic process fits with the above research and what psychological and physical aspects will be experienced during this process.

During the hypnotic process, differing levels of psychological and physical aspects will be experienced. These levels will blend in with each other and will begin with a level of alertness where normal brain functioning is being experienced, along with normal reflexive and motor response; for example, you are riding your horse. The next level experienced will be a state of daydreaming where the body is relaxed, breathing and pulse is slowed down and the mind is directed to an imagined activity or event; you are thinking about riding your horse. A loss of awareness of surroundings will be indicative of a moderate trance in which the eyes will be closed and an increased awareness of breathing and heartbeat may be felt; you are imagining yourself riding your horse. When in a deep trance which is the next level, there may be a reduction of activity and energy production as the limbs may become stiff or limp. There may be a further loss of sound and decrease in awareness of surroundings; you physically feel yourself riding your horse. In the final