Why use hypnotherapy

Hypnosis may also be able to help if you struggle with a phobia — a type of anxiety disorder where you are intensely fearful of something that does not pose a significant threat. How it works: Hypnosis works to help anxiety by encouraging your body to activate its natural relaxation response through the use of a phrase or nonverbal cue, slowing breathing, lowering blood pressure, and instilling an overall sense of well-being. The effectiveness of hypnosis on IBS has been consistently supported by clinical studies.

IBS is abdominal pain created by your bowels, and hypnosis can help improve symptoms such as constipation , diarrhea , and bloating. Hypnosis has shown to be able to help with these, too. How it works: Hypnosis leads you through progressive relaxation, providing soothing imagery and sensations to combat your symptoms.

And it can help with chronic pain, too. People with pain related to conditions like arthritis , cancer, sickle cell disease , and fibromyalgia , — as well as people who have lower-back pain — may experience relief from hypnosis. How it works: Hypnosis can help you cope with pain and gain more self-control over your pain. Additionally, studies indicate that hypnosis can do this effectively for long periods of time. There are many methods to help you quit, such as nicotine patches or prescription medications.

Hypnosis for smoking cessation works best if you work one-on-one with a hypnotherapist who can customize the hypnosis sessions to match your lifestyle. How it works: In order for hypnosis to work for smoking cessation, you need to truly want to quit smoking. Hypnosis can work in two ways. Hypnotherapy utilizes the heightened awareness of the hypnotic state to help you focus on a problem more deeply.

Hypnotherapy utilizes techniques including:. There are many different reasons why a person might want to try hypnotherapy. Research suggests that some possible applications include:. Hypnotherapy may also be used by licensed physicians and psychologists in the treatment of conditions like anxiety disorders, depression , eating disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD.

Hypnotherapy may also be helpful for changing or reducing problematic behaviors. Because of this, it is sometimes used to help people quit smoking , lose weight, and sleep better. Some people may experience dramatic results with hypnotherapy. In other cases, people may simply feel very relaxed. Some of the benefits of hypnotherapy may include:. Most hypnotherapists utilize a series of calming messages, such as "you are safe" and "no one can harm you" to reassure their clients that during hypnosis they can objectively face their problems without having a panicked reaction.

The effectiveness and impact of hypnotherapy can vary based on the individual and how the treatment is used. Hypnotherapy has been shown to have some degree of efficacy for certain applications, particularly:. While it may help people cope with problems related to stress and anxiety, it may be best applied when used in conjunction with first-line treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy CBT and medications.

The results of a study published in the May issue of the Journal of Affective Disorders found that hypnotherapy was not less effective than CBT for treating mild to moderate depression.

The results indicated that where CBT led to a As researchers continue to explore the potential uses for hypnotherapy, this technique may gain greater acceptance in the treatment of various conditions. While hypnotherapy is generally safe and well-tolerated, that does not mean that it doesn't pose some potential risks, such as:. For these reasons, it is important to always first consult your doctor before you decide to try hypnotherapy.

Also, be sure to only try hypnotherapy under the supervision and guidance of a qualified professional. Hypnotherapy is still considered controversial, as many mental health professionals dispute its effectiveness.

There are a number of myths and misconceptions about hypnotherapy that can affect how people view this therapeutic tool. There are several ways to find a reputable hypnotherapist.

Word of mouth is always a great way to find any practitioner. Your mental health practitioner may be licensed to perform hypnotherapy or they may know someone who is. If you know someone who has undergone this type of therapy, ask about their experiences.

Although the practice continues to be controversial in some circles, many experts believe that hypnotherapy can work. Discuss this treatment option with your healthcare provider. Also be sure to check with your insurance company before proceeding, as not all insurers cover it.

This organization is responsible for the certification of hypnotherapists and is careful to keep the database up to date. Ever wonder what your personality type means? This is a guided process with verbal cues and repetition. When the session is complete, your therapist will wake you from the trance-like state, or you will exit it on your own. Researchers at Harvard studied the brains of 57 people during guided hypnosis. They found that:. Distinct sections of the brain are visibly altered during hypnosis.

The areas that are most affected are those that play a role in action control and awareness. Like hypnosis, the placebo effect is driven by suggestion. Guided conversations or behavioral therapy of any type can have a powerful impact on behavior and feelings.

Hypnosis is just one of those therapy tools. Hypnosis rarely causes any side effects or has risks. As long as the therapy is conducted by a trained hypnotist or hypnotherapist, it can be a safe alternative therapy option.

However, hypnosis used for memory retrieval is a controversial practice. People who use hypnosis in this way are more likely to experience anxiety, distress, and other side effects. You may also be more likely to create false memories. Research to support the use of hypnosis is getting stronger, but not all doctors embrace it.

That leaves a great deal of misunderstanding about this possible therapy among healthcare professionals. Hypnosis is promoted as a treatment for many conditions or issues. Research shows strong evidence for the use of hypnosis to treat:. Limited evidence suggests hypnosis may be used to treat :. More research is needed to verify the impact of hypnosis on the treatment of these and other conditions.

You may not undergo hypnosis during your first visit with a hypnotist or hypnotherapist. Instead, the two of you may talk about the goals you have and the process they can use to help you.

In a hypnosis session, your therapist will help you relax in a comfortable setting. Afterward, your therapist will end your trance-like state by bringing you back to full consciousness. Although one session can be helpful for some people, most therapists will tell you to begin hypnosis therapy with four to five sessions.

After that phase, you can discuss how many more sessions are needed. You can also talk about whether any maintenance sessions are needed as well. Although hypnosis is slowly becoming more accepted in traditional medical practices, many myths about hypnosis persist. Here, we separate reality from falsehoods.

Not everyone can be hypnotized.