what principle does hypnosis work?

Hypnosis, also referred to as the hypnotic state, is described as a special psychological state characterized by an altered state of consciousness that is very different from that of the normal waking state. The attention of the hypnotized person is captured by the hypnotist’s suggestions, which allow the client to experience changes in perception, thinking, emotions and behavior as if they were really happening.

The ancient Egyptians already used hypnosis for healing. They induced it by holding a shiny metal disc in front of the patient’s eyes (known today as the fixation technique). Furthermore, the ancient Greeks also used hypnosis to heal the patient’s mind and to contact the gods. The term hypnosis was introduced in 1843 by the English magician J. Braid after the Greek god of sleep Hypno. The last significant wave of interest in the therapeutic use of hypnosis appeared after the world wars, when hypnotic methods were proven especially in the treatment of post-traumatic stress. In 1955, hypnotherapy was recognized as a legitimate medical method by the British Medical Association.

On what principle does hypnosis work?

1. Suggestion

Suggestions can be understood as “wooing” some content in such a way that the client in question sincerely believes them and then behaves according to them – a certain action is required from him without any rational reasoning. Suggestions must be given by the hypnotist in a clear, distinct and positive manner. They can be formulated directly or symbolically (through fantasy).

Their goal most often becomes: relaxing the person in question, inducing a feeling of peace and security, creating a perspective and gaining distance from problems, removing negative thoughts and undesirable qualities and strengthening desired qualities. The creation of suggestions is based on initial information about the patient. The hypnotherapist first makes clear what is going to happen, then points out that it is starting to happen and finally that it is already happening. The therapist keeps repeating, varying, developing and finally returning to the basic suggestion.

2. Hypnability

Hypnability is, simply put, the ability to immerse yourself in hypnosis. It is a property that can be measured and ascertained by certain scales. The depth of hypnosis that an individual can reach is referred to as “basic hypnotability” and is a natural characteristic of humans. It is a very stable and independent feature of the adult personality, which is significantly related to suggestibility (susceptibility to suggestions). The induced depth of hypnosis is assessed by the extent of the suggestions made and the degree of change in the subjective state. There is a three-level scale according to which we divide hypnosis into:

• light: there is a typical closing of the eyelids followed by a state of relaxation and sleepiness. Furthermore, mental processes slow down and the individual’s voluntary actions decrease. In light hypnosis, the client is absorbed in himself, but despite this he is still able to be aware of his surroundings.
• medium: at this level the client can no longer resist motor suggestions. Sensory suggestions become automatic and realistic, and it is possible to induce feelings of heat and cold. Furthermore, the patient may experience hallucinations and, in some cases, insensitivity to lighter painful stimuli.
• deep: the ideal state for inducing most hypnotic phenomena. These are the influence of motor skills, the impossibility of resisting suggestions, anesthesia or analgesia, age regression and vivid hallucinations. Suggestions are perceived by the client as real and result in a change in perception, emotions and thinking. It is also possible to influence vegetative reactions here.

How to imagine hypnotherapy? 

Hypnotherapy consists in the fact that, through the induction of hypnosis and its associated effects, the symptoms of various manifestations of the disease are removed and attenuated, and the individual’s state of health is subsequently improved. However, it is important to add here that this method alone is not and will never be a panacea, and therefore it is always advisable to combine it with therapy depending on the specific case!

Hypnotization, which is the essence of hypnotherapy, is a specific “hypnotic” process that is controlled by a hypnotist whose instructions are actively received by the client. The hypnotist puts the individual into a so-called hypnotic state. Some hypnotists induce this state, for example, by suggesting to the hypnotized body relaxation with the help of a fixation point, but at the same time giving him suggestions of immense activity and mental alertness. Other hypnotists, on the other hand, portray suggestions in the form of fantasy experiences (for example, suggesting a boat trip on the sea with a description of various colorful and vivid details).

If the hypnotist finds that the hypnotized does not respond to some repeated suggestions, he simply changes them – replaces them with others that have the same goal. A reliable signal of the successful induction of a hypnotic state can be the closing of the eyelids (although this is not a condition) with a feeling of fatigue, lethargy and weakness of the client, exactly in accordance with the wording of the suggestions. Everything that the hypnotist suggested to the individual is then reflected in his assessment of reality and he is thus in an altered state of consciousness = hypnotic state. The perception of the hypnotized person is limited here, but still remains in close contact with the hypnotist. He hears him, can talk to him, answer his questions, follow his suggestions, but he does not lose complete control over himself, as it might seem at first glance. After a successful execution, the hypnotist returns the client to an awake state with possible partial or complete amnesia.

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And how to use it yourself in everyday life?

Hypnosis can also be performed without the presence of a qualified hypnotist. Some of its principles can be transferred into everyday practice , which means that its full potential can be used to improve the quality of mental or physical health. These are the following 2 possible techniques :

• Autohypnosis: this is a technique in which the patient can input therapeutic suggestions and restore their effectiveness by himself. He directs his ideas in a specific direction based on his personal preferences. To give an example, a person who feels tense can be helped by the trained formula “I feel relaxed” – after modeling it, relief should follow.
• Self-stimulation maneuver: this technique cannot be performed without a prior visit to a qualified hypnotist. The therapist induces the client into a state of hypnosis and subsequently suggests an autostimulation maneuver – whenever the individual needs it, he can use this maneuver himself to induce the desired effect. A self-stimulating maneuver can take the form of physical action or imagination. By physical action we mean, for example, making a fist or bending a toe in a shoe. On the contrary, the principle of imagination works in such a way that the individual chooses a “talisman” that represents the mentioned suggestion, especially its effect, and therefore it is enough to touch that specific object and the reaction will be triggered somehow “automatically” thanks to the re-ignition of previously connected neural networks .

Hypnosis and its effect on mental health

At the moment, we perceive mental health as a state of existence that includes biological, psychological and social factors, and above all the subjective “feeling of health”. These factors undeniably contribute to an individual’s mental state and ability to function in harmony with the environment. The World Health Organization describes 3 main components of mental health, which are:

• emotional: it is an interest in life and satisfaction in it. The essential attribute here is luck.
• psychological well-being: we are talking about accepting one’s own person and at the same time managing the responsibilities of everyday life, satisfaction with one’s life and good relationships with others.
• social well-being: we mean a person’s positive functioning. An individual contributes to society in a certain way and feels part of it.

Currently, hypnosis is widely used in the treatment of depressive symptoms, anxiety, skin diseases and trauma. In these cases, beneficial effects have been demonstrated, as a result of which it is considered an effective non-pharmacological treatment alternative. When performed correctly, this technique does not bring with it any negative side effects, unlike pharmacologists, which can be limiting, for example, in tolerability.

What to take from it? 

Hypnosis, or the hypnotic state, is a psychological state in which an individual experiences a change in consciousness. His attention is focused on the hypnotist’s suggestions, which allow the client to experience differences in perception, thinking and emotions compared to the waking state.

This non-pharmacological method is nowadays often used in the treatment of depression, anxiety, trauma and skin diseases due to its positive effects. It is important not to see it as an all-powerful treatment method, but as a complementary technique in eliminating personal problems.