Hypnotherapy this is a great read and should help was developed over a century ago as a way to treat many mental health conditions and disorders including depression, stress, fear, phobias, addictions, anxieties and insomnia. It remains a popular and effective form of treatment today. Hypnotherapy can be delivered via CD, DVD or by telephone and is an inexpensive, non-invasive and self-help method of self-improvement. However, before you embark on this journey, it is important to understand the dangers of hypnotherapy.
Hypnotherapy and psychotherapy differ primarily in terms of their focus and purpose. Hypnotherapy aims to induce a relaxed state of concentration and heightened suggestibility through self-hypnosis. It is commonly used for treating anxiety and other disorders. The term “hypnotism” refers to the process of hypnotizing a patient by inducing a subconscious state of relaxation. Hypnotherapy and psychotherapy share some of the same symptoms but are not necessarily the same thing.
In a traditional hypnotherapy session, the hypnotherapist will use various techniques such as breathing techniques, vocal encouragement and physical relaxation to induce a relaxed state and facilitate a therapeutic encounter. These techniques are designed to alleviate fears and to empower the client with new knowledge and increased understanding of their problem. During a traditional hypnotherapy session, the client is under the control of the hypnotherapist and will remain open to suggestion. While some symptoms of anxiety or other disorders may be ameliorated, hypnotherapy does not cure these problems and cannot be used as a replacement for medication.
With the use of hypnotherapy, the issue of anxiety or other psychological problem can be addressed and relieved by the psychological or medical practitioner without the need to progress to medications or procedures such as injections. The process is usually conducted by a licensed hypnotherapist who has been trained in the various techniques that enable the client to remain open to suggestion. Although the use of hypnotherapy can be beneficial to those with chronic pain, it should be used as a last resort as the results can be less than satisfying for some people. For example, the use of hypnotherapy to treat the common problem of chronic pain caused by fibromyalgia (myasthenia gravis) resulted in lower levels of pain reduction for the participants than the use of injected hydrocortisone.
The benefits of hypnotherapy include improvements in sleep patterns (decreased sleep quality), reduced stress levels, better mood and anxiety levels, and the avoidance of substance abuse. A more immediate improvement seen in clients participating in a hypnotherapy session is the reduction of persistent thoughts or fears (which are common in patients who suffer from a large amount of stress) as reported by participants. The therapist also provides the necessary suggestions that help the individual achieve a trance-like state during which they can access the power of positive mental images.
During a hypnotherapy session, a hypnotherapist will suggest or allow a client to visualize specific memories or images that serve as triggers to past traumatic events and/or feelings. This may involve imagery from home or elsewhere, but should be done in a safe manner. It is very important that the imagery and suggestions are positive and create no negative feelings or emotions. Some hypnotherapists encourage their clients to bring a “book” with them that contains their “triggers” so they can be in contact with these memories during the session. If you choose to do this, please ensure that you are able to locate these books or trigger memories while in a safe environment. Hypnotherapy can also help a person to confront their anxiety and to eliminate their symptoms.