Does Hypnosis Work?
Does Hypnosis Work?
There are many myths and misunderstandings about hypnosis, none of which are real or factual. Myths and misunderstandings propagate similar to the child’s game of whispering a sentence and passing it on—several passes creates a different sentence. You can believe the following facts—they are a part of history of facilitator induced trance state.
Hypnotherapy is Scientifically and Medically Proven
Hypnotherapy is approved by International Medial and Dental Hypnotherapy Association, Journal of the American Medical Association and American Psychological Association. It is being used by the police departments, FBI and the US NAVY.
The History of Hypnosis
A trance state is a natural state of the conscious, unconscious and subconscious mind. Hypnosis is the term coined to identify a deeper ‘trance state.’
Although, an induced trance state (hypnosis) has been used thousands of years, the term “Hypnotism” was adopted by a Scottish physician and surgeon, James Braid in 1841. Before Braid coined the term ‘Hypnotism,’ a trance state was called “Mesmerism.” It comes from the last name of Franz Anton Mesmer, who was the first to practice what is now called hypnosis. Mesmer thought that it was some kind of animal magnetism that he possessed that enabled him to cure some people of their sufferings.
Dr. James Esdaile, who lived between 1805 and 1859 reported 345 major operations performed using mesmeric sleep, (trance state,) as the sole anesthetic in British India, before chemical anesthetics were invented.
Dr. John Elliotson, an English surgeon reported numerous painless surgical operations that had been performed using a trance state in 1834.
Beginning in 1850, a magnetizer Du Potet induced trance with an early hypnotic technique and some subjects seem to have described past lives.
Hypnosis was also used by field doctors in the American Civil war.
The use of hypnosis in the treatment of neuroses flourished in World War I, World War II and the Korean War. Trance state (hypnosis) techniques were merged with psychiatry as a modality in the treatment of what is known today as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
The modern study of hypnotism began in the 1920’s with Psychologist, Clark Leonard Hull at Yale University.
In 1945 Milton Erickson, MD began to incorporate facilitated trance state (hypnosis) into his Psychiatric practice and hypnotherapy began to gain a reputation as a viable treatment modality. Erickson later incorporated Neo-linguistic Programming techniques with hypnosis. Today Erickson’s teachings are referred to as NLP and Ericksonian hypnosis.
The British Medical Association approved the use of facilitated trance state (hypnosis) in 1955.
The Roman Catholic Church banned facilitated trance state until the mid-20th century when, in 1956, Pope Pius XII gave his approval of hypnosis. He stated that the use of hypnosis by health care professionals for diagnosis and treatment is permitted.
In 1958, the American Medical Association approved hypnosis for medical use. Two years after American Medical Association’s approval, the American Psychological Association endorsed hypnosis as a formal modality in the field of psychology.
In 1967, Harry Arons, a self-taught professional hypnotist, wrote a textbook, called “Hypnosis in Criminal Investigation.” Chapters include applications such as memory, age regression, and induction techniques. Arons also traveled the country training law enforcement agencies.
Dave Elman (1900-1967) promoted the medical use of hypnosis in the 1960s. Although Elman had no medical training, he is known for having trained the most physicians and psychotherapists inAmerica, in the use of a facilitated trance state. He is also known for introducing rapid inductions to the field of hypnosis. An induction method he introduced over fifty years ago is still one of the favored inductions used by many practitioners.
Comparison Study
American Health Magazine (1969) reported the following findings from a study by Alfred A. Barrios, PhD. An updated study “Hypnotherapy: A Reappraisal” by Alfred A. Barrios, Ph.D. published in Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice (Spring, 1970) clearly points out – Hypnosis is more effective and works more quickly than traditional talk-therapy or psychoanalysis. http://www.stresscards.com/esspsychotherapy.htm http://bit.ly/gc4hcr
Hypnosis Comparison Study:
Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice (Spring, 1970), Alfred A. Barrios, Ph.D
Hypnotherapy: – 93% recovery after 6 sessions
Behavior Therapy: -72% recovery after 22 sessions
Psychoanalysis: -38% recovery after 600 sessions
As a practitioner of the process coined hypnosis the practitioner is assisting the person to use the natural ability of their mind. The practitioner is simply assisting the person to reach a deeper state of the natural trance state, and asking the appropriate questions to assist the person to process the issues that have created the thoughts, beliefs, feelings and actions, which manifest in dysfunctions and symptoms. The key to effective processing the issues is asking effective questions – discover the indoctrinations, conditioning, injunctions and habits. These constructs can be transformed, reframed and new precepts, beliefs and feelings can be integrated and assimilated to create a renewed and effective mind-set with clarity. ###
Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD is an internationally recognized expert on bridging Science, Spirit and Human Potential with over 30+ years experience as a transformation facilitator, speaker, and educator in natural health and wellness; personal/professional development. She holds a PhD in Metaphysics. She is Founder/CEO of Genesis Consultants, Inc. Past President, International Association for Regression Research and Therapies, she serves on the board for Arizona Holistic Chamber of Commerce; Faculty Member for the World Regression Congress – Netherlands, India, Brazil, Turkey and Portugal 2014.