How
Does Hypnosis Work?
Bryan defines hypnosis as a normal
physiological, altered state of consciousness, similar to, but not the same as
being awake; similar to but not the same as being asleep, and is produced by
the presence of two conditions:
1. A central focus of attention, and
2. Surrounding areas of inhibition.
The state of hypnosis thus produces three
responses:
-
An increased
concentration of the mind: Usually in the wakeful state, our 'units
of mind power' are scattered throughout the brain (SJ Van Pelt). Any
extraneous suggestions during this stage will go scattered throughout and will
be captured only by a few mind power units. In the hypnotic trance, these
units of mind power are concentrated to a point that the suggestions get
absorbed and retained easier.
-
Increased relaxation of
the body: Popular hypnotic induction involves the progressive
muscular relaxation techniques, whereby muscle groups are tensed and relaxed
gradually to achieve a fully relaxed body and mind.
-
Increased
susceptibility to suggestion: This is the outcome of the preceding
2 responses, the concentration of mind and the relaxed body. The mind, which
is in a twilight zone between the wakefulness and sleep, is highly receptive
to suggestions during the hypnotic state.
To further understand how hypnosis works
requires knowledge about the various physiological levels of our mind: the
conscious, the subconscious and the unconscious.
In simple terms, these levels represent the
state of wakefulness and can be re-classified thus:
-
Alert:
Normal state where your mind and body are fully awake and functioning. E.g.
you are on the dance floor with your lover.
-
Daydreaming:
Light trance state. Eyes open or closed consciously. Body relaxed a bit.
Breathing is relaxed and slowed, heart beat regular. A soothing feeling in
mind. Withdraws into self with mild awareness of surroundings. The direction
of attention is towards an imagines activity. E.g. you are idly thinking
about dancing with your lover.
-
Moderate Trance:
Eyes closed, decreasing awareness of surroundings, increased awareness of
heart beat and breathing, increased suggestibility and imagery. E.g. you
imagine yourself on the dance floor with your lover.
-
Deep Trance:
Limbs limp. Body fully relaxed. Attention narrowed. High suggestibility.
Sensory illusions possible. Auditory receptiveness and environmental awareness
minimum. Creative function heightened. E.g. you physically feel yourself
gyrating around with your lover!
-
Normal Sleep:
Voluntary activities suspended, reduced/absent consciousness. E.g. You
dream about dancing with your lover, who may have the face of Angelina Jolly
or Aishwarya Rai :-)
The levels 2-4 are the stages of hypnotic
trance, where your mind gradually shifts gear from the conscious through
subconscious to unconscious level sleep. It is during these stages that one is
highly susceptible to suggestions. The suggestibility varies from individual
to individual. One person may be highly receptive in light trance whereas
another may have to go into deep trance before achieving such a state of
suggestibility.
The suggestions given during hypnotic trance are
generally positive, with directions that the subject will continue to
experience, say, more relaxation and increased self esteem, even after he
comes out of the hypnosis. This is called posthypnotic suggestion. The post
hypnotic suggestions are implanted in the subconscious and with repeated
sessions, are bolstered enough to be accepted by the conscious.
Thus hypnosis and hypnotherapy is useful in
behavioral modifications to get rid of undesirable character traits. During
the hypnotic trance, it is even possible to induce deeper bodily responses
like complete numbness of a body part or healing responses in psychosomatic
diseases.
