Hypnotherapy is a trancelike state of restful alertness accompanied by an extreme openness and receptivity to suggestion and has shown amazing results for chronic and post trauma self-improvement and/or healing. Hypnotherapists help subjects to reach their subconscious mind by entering into a relaxed, focused, trancelike state of concentration and the benefits for relieving psychological disturbances and alleviating post trauma pain are seen both in clinical settings and in daily life after therapy.
Hypnotic techniques induce states of selective attentional focusing combined with enhanced imagery, which proves invaluable when remembering painful events in post trauma therapy sessions. They are often used to induce relaxation and the techniques have pre- and post-suggestion components. The pre-suggestion component involves attentional focusing through the use of imagery, distraction, or relaxation, and has features that are similar to other relaxation techniques. Subjects focus on relaxation and passively disregard intrusive thoughts and the suggestion phase is characterized by introduction of specific goals. The post-suggestion component involves continued use of the new behavior following termination of hypnotherapy, which solidifies emotional growth as a post-trauma victim re-enters day-to-day living.
One major benefit for hypnotherapy subjects – both long-term ones and acute post trauma patients – is the ability to relax. There is a change in the brain wave activity, similar to that time just before sleep when the alpha state is entered - a very dreamy, pleasant state. During this time the mind is very open to suggestions, visualizations and creating a rich sensory experience. These suggestions have profound implications for alleviating anxiety that becomes chronic during the post trauma phase of a crisis. Hypnotherapy allows you to contact the subconscious mind directly where we are able to make changes much more readily and accept positive suggestions.
The subconscious mind is the control center for autonomic bodily functions, behaviors and emotions as well as the location where we store all of our past experiences and traumas. The subconscious mind is also suspected by some to be the key to healing for compulsive behavior and post trauma victims which could explain the effectiveness of hypnotherapy for pain, addictions, phobias, stress-related illness, and a number of other health related problems. According to Australian researchers, hypnotherapy (along with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) used to treat eating disorders may achieve quicker results than traditional therapies alone.
