Hypnotherapy has been used for thousands of years. Early civilizations in Egypt, Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome recognized the power of hypnosis and used it to aid healing and wellness. Hypnosis or hypnotherapy is still widely used today, although in much smaller doses than they were during the early days.
What Is Hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is a form of alternative medicine that employs the use of hypnotism in a therapeutic process. It’s used in psychotherapy sessions to create a hypnotic state of increased suggestibility and focus where positive suggestions are made to assist people with psychological or mental issues.
It’s been previously discovered that different physical and mental health conditions may be improved with the help of hypnotherapy. Many patients have also reported that through hypnotherapy, they’re able to increase their levels of confidence.
Who Performs Hypnotherapy?
Ideally, hypnotherapy is performed by a trained and licensed hypnotherapist, which shouldn’t be confused with a hypnotist, as although they’re similar in terms of practice, there are states that require practitioners to undergo training and be licensed before they can become a hypnotherapist.
Hypnotherapists use carefully selected words, gestures, and body language to communicate with the patient. The purpose of hypnotherapy is to introduce suggestions into the subconscious mind of the patient while they’re in a relaxed and comfortable state.
The Advantages Of Hypnotherapy As A Medical Treatment Option
Many ailments are initially treated with pharmaceutical drugs, and most people tend to rely on them as they’re more accessible and often cheaper. But we shouldn’t forget about alternative treatment options that may even be more beneficial. One of the greatest advantages of hypnotherapy as a medical treatment option is that it can be used to treat many different conditions at once. This is why it’s often used as an alternative to or in conjunction with traditional medicine.
1. Hypnotherapy Has No Side Effects
Because there’s no need to take medicines or undergo invasive procedures, there are no side effects or after-effects when you do hypnotherapy. You won’t be needing a recovery period either. If you’re looking to manage pain but don’t want the long-term side effects of pain medication, you may benefit from using hypnotherapy.
2. Hypnotherapy Puts You In Control
Hypnotherapy programs use brainpower to help manage or alleviate health conditions. It helps you regain control of your body by using the power of the subconscious, which one shouldn’t underestimate.
3. Hypnotherapy Is Good For Your Mental Health
Stress is a major trigger for debilitating illnesses since it can exacerbate minor health conditions. With hypnotherapy, you can improve your overall physical wellness by changing the way you react to stressors and the way you handle life’s challenges
What Medical Conditions Can Hypnotherapy Help With?
Hypnotherapy is more useful when combined with psychotherapy, and is particularly beneficial for patients with:
- Moderate to severe pain secondary to surgical procedures, invasive treatments, and chronic diseases.
- Bad habits such as smoking, overeating, nail-biting, and bed-wetting.
- Psychological and mental health issues like anxiety, OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), phobia, post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD), and depression.
- Other issues like sleep disorders, stress, grief, and poor self-image or low self-esteem.
Is Hypnotherapy For Everyone?
The main thing to keep in mind when considering hypnotherapy as a medical treatment option is that it’s not suitable for all cases. Although it’s regarded as a natural wellness solution, hypnotherapy should not be used on people with serious psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
Hypnotherapy is not regarded as mainstream or standard medical treatment so there are some cautionary tips to follow before deciding if hypnotherapy is appropriate for you:
- If you’ve been diagnosed with a serious mental illness and have psychotic symptoms, or if you’re under the influence of medications or alcohol, hypnosis may not be appropriate.
- If you’re pregnant, nursing, or going through menopause, you should speak to your doctor or a hypnotherapist before beginning a treatment or any cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) program.
- It should never be used as a replacement for other forms of therapy such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety medication. Also, it’s important to ensure that you’re with a professionally-trained hypnotherapy practitioner before starting any treatment.
Takeaway
Keep in mind that the effectiveness of hypnotherapy will vary from person to person. With that being said, hypnosis is a reliable treatment option when used in conjunction with traditional medical approaches to illness and wellness. The hypnotherapist will work closely with you to identify both your strengths and weaknesses and then find ways to strengthen your suggestibility and level of relaxation. When working with a hypnotherapist, make sure you feel comfortable communicating openly and comfortably about sensitive issues so you can get the most out of each session.
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