Hypnosis isn’t just for entertainment anymore… hypnosis has become part of the treatment options at some of the nation’s top research hospitals! Doctors have started to turn to hypnosis to help patients through childbirth, chemotherapy, and even certain surgeries.
Let’s get one misconception out of the way: hypnotism isn’t sleeping. You are awake and aware throughout the whole thing. And one more misconception: you can’t be compelled to do things you don’t want to do. Nobody is going to make you cluck like a chicken or bark like a dog.
Psychologists describe hypnosis as an altered mental state. Most people (up to 90% of the population) can enter into this altered mental state where they can suspend their skepticism, focus on a single image or goal, and take suggestions from a trained guide. Think of it as daydreaming with a purpose — under hypnosis, the brain enters a state of absorption or focus like the feeling of getting lost in a good book.
The University of Iowa studied scans of brains under hypnosis and found that the altered mental state of hypnosis can help your brain block pain signals from reaching conscious perception. In other words, hypnosis can help you not feel pain. While hypnotized, your brain processes suggested sounds and images as real sounds and images, in a way your brain does not do with normal daydreaming.
A 2003 study found that including hypnosis in post-surgical care can help patients heal faster. And not only can you heal faster, you can do it with less pain and discomfort. Hypnosis has been used in the post-surgical care for breast surgery, fractures, and even severe burns.
Hypnosis is probably most popularly used to help people quit smoking and lose weight. However, hypnosis works best in both situations when used with other therapies. You may be better off looking at other methods for weight loss and smoking cessation… but don’t rule out hypnosis for pain management and post surgical care.