What Is Hypnosis?

What is hypnosis?

Hypnosis can be different things to different people; some have strong beliefs in its existence and subsequent benefits and others not so. Some believe that hypnosis is simply a result of conformity, as defined by Solomon Asch in his 1951 experiments. Asch's experiment illustrates how people could be seen to 'conform' to the therapy being provided (see Appendix 1). Certainly in history too Hypnosis has had its pioneers and critics, to quote Parisian Neurologist professor Jean Marie Charcot (1882)

''Hypnosis is no more than a manifestation of hysteria''

Many definitions of Hypnosis exist and naturally are influenced by the author or practitioner's viewpoint and personal experience with hypnosis. In Michael Heap & Windy Dryden's 'Hypnotherapy a Handbook (1991)' they states that:

''Hypnosis is a psycholigal phenomenon, but about which there is much misunderstanding and disagreement.''

Within science there is no debate as to whether hypnosis exists or works, simply that it is difficult to agree on just what it is and how it works. Having experienced Hypnosis myself, I can identify with Ursula James definition of Hypnotherapy in 'Amazing You, Transform your life with Hypnosis (2007)':

''Hypnosis is the induction of a trance like condition, but when in it, the patient is actually in an enhanced state of awareness, concentrating entirely on the hypnotists voice. In this completely relaxed state, the conscious mind is supressed and the subconscious mind is revealed.''

Once in a state of total deep relaxation, this process of Hypnosis then enables you to listen to the therapist, who is then able to suggest ideas, concepts and lifestyle adaptions, the seeds of which become firmly planted. This practice of promoting healing or positive development is defined as hypnotherapy. This is confirmed by the The British Society of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis which states:

''Hypnosis usually involves the person experiencing a sense of deep relaxation with their attention narrowed down and focused on appropriate suggestions made by the therapist''

Hypnosis is a tool for change and can be used for the treatment and relief of a wide range of psychological, physical and behavioural issues. It can treat and relieve a range of conditions and symptoms, alter unwanted behaviour patterns and create new ones, as well as being used creatively to enhance sporting, academic and other types of personal performance.

The level of hypnosis that is needed can alter from person to person. Some people may only need a light level of hypnosis, some a moderate level, while another may require a fairly deep level of hypnosis to bring on effective and helpful changes. Being in a hypnotic state or trance is something most people have more than likely already experienced many times in their life, although they may not have been previously aware of it.

For example, on a regular basis we experience a light to moderate level of hypnosis: when we are driving, or when we daydream and forget about what is going on around us and our awareness becomes more internally focused. Another example is when we are in a trance like state before we go to sleep each night and before we awake in the morning.

Moderate to deeper levels of hypnosis can happen, and are best compared to when we have feelings of being slightly removed from what is going on, e.g. observing yourself rather than 'being' part of what is happening.

Hypnosis is not sleep. Even when the phrase 'sleep' is used to induce a hypnotic trance, a patient is still passively involved in the process on all levels and is able to accept or refuse suggestions and any messages. As I have personally experienced from Hypnosis, it is also common during the first stages of hypnosis, for a patient's 'internal critic' (or conscious mind) to want to hinder the process of alteration. Ideas such as: "Will this actually work?", "How can I trust the hypnotist?", "Do I genuinely want the change?", "I don't want to look ridiculous!", "Am I actually hypnotized now?" and numerous other messages can frequently come into a patients psyche.

It is difficult to say how long humans have been using hypnosis, but in his book 'Hidden Depths, The Story of Hypnosis (2002)', Robin Waterfield suggests that:

''Hypnosis was known in the Medieval world, but evidence is scarse and hard to access. The prehistory of hypnotism in the West in the centuries preceding Franz Anton Mesmer is poorly documented.''

It is evident through examining different cultures that hypnosis has been used and handed down through generations. The Australian aborigines still use hypnotic trance and there are references to trance like states in the history of Ancient Greece and in North American Indian, Egyptian and Hindu cultures. When it comes to 1734 when Mesmer was born, the keeping of records and written fact was more commonplace. Hence we know of Mesmer's first experiments and beliefs. Mesmer applied magnets to his patient's bodies claiming that the fluid in the body could be controlled and unblocked by the magnetic pull. This was proved false by a study commissioned by King Louis XVI, and Mesmer was discredited. This is despite successfully using what we know now to be hypnosis to cure and help people. A documented example is a case of Mesmer restoring sight to a female musician blind since birth.

Hypnosis develops further with the Marquis de Puysegur who did not believe in Mesmer's concept of magnetic fluid, but in a psychological force. It was in 1840 that English doctor James Braid used the term 'hypnosis' for the first time, the term evolved from the Greek God of sleep, Hypnos, to describe Braids eye fixation and trance like state.

In India, Dr James Esdaile was by now using hypnosis to successfully perform about 400 operations, whilst in England Dr John Elliotson was demonstrating the power of Hypnosis, curing an epileptic before an audience. The next advances to what people now knew as hypnosis came from French doctor, Dr Liebeault. He began providing treatment for the poor and curing physical ailments such as sciatica. He was joined in his experiments and practices by Dr Bernhiem, and after initially disbelieving Liebeaults work, embraced his work and is responsible for tones of voice and imagery still used in hypnosis today.

Neurology professor Jean Martin Charcot opposed Liebeult's and Bernhiems thinking. He believed that a hypnotised state was very similar to a bout of Hysteria, and