Hypnotherapy reduces anxiety, helps smokers quit, & treats inflammatory bowel syndrome. Here's how hypnotherapy works, & the difference between hypnotherapy & hypnosis.

Hypnosis is a relaxed state of mind in which the subconscious communicates with the conscious. Self-hypnosis occurs when you enter this relaxed state of mind yourself, without the help of a hypnotist. Audio hypnosis tapes or DVDs can help with self-hypnosis.

Hypnotherapy occurs when a trained therapist induces a relaxed state of mind to treat addictions, reduce anxiety, or treat chronic diseases. For instance, hypnotherapy has been found to effectively treat irritable bowel syndrome.

How Hypnotherapy Works

The hypnotherapist helps the client enter a physically, emotionally, and mentally relaxed state with soft music, slow counting, or dim lighting (hypnotherapists use different methods to induce hypnosis). The client uses his imagination while the hypnotherapist helps him tap into his subconscious mind. Hypnosis reduces anxiety by its very calming, soothing nature. Hypnotherapy is similar to how guided imagery works.

To treat addictions, reduce anxiety, or treat diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, the hypnotist makes direct suggestions about the beneficial changes. The hypnotherapist and client work together to focus on behavior or symptoms that need to be changed.

Hypnotherapy and Irritable Bowel Syndrome

"Physical symptoms include altered bowel habits, abdominal pain and bloating, together with other non-intestinal problems such as lethargy, problems sleeping and indigestion,” says Dr Graeme Smith from the University of Edinburgh. “Anxiety and psychosocial problems are also common and these can have a detrimental impact on quality of life."

"IBS is ideal for treatment with hypnosis, as there is no structural damage to the body," says Professor Whorwell of the University of Manchester. "During the hypnotherapy, sufferers learn how to influence and gain control of their gut function, and then seem to be able to change the way the brain modulates their gut activity."

In Dr Whorwell’s study, patients were told how their bowels work and what causes symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease. They were given 12 one-hour sessions of hypnotherapy; 70% of patients successfully overcame their symptoms. Hypnotherapy is much easier on the body than medication or surgery.

Hypnotherapy and Quitting Smoking

Smokers who participated in hypnotherapy sessions were more likely to quit smoking than those who weren’t hypnotized. Doctors at the North Shore Medical Center in Massachusetts concluded that a “multimodality approach to smoking cessation” works the best – which means that trying a combination of things helps smokers quit.

Research has shown that hypnotherapy works to improve quality of life by reducing anxiety, decreasing symptoms of illness, and helping with insomnia.

If you found How Hypnotherapy Works helpful, try:

• How Guided Imagery Works
• Overcoming Addictions & Quitting Smoking
• How Personality Affects Health
• Psychological Ways to Lose Weight

Sources:

University of Manchester (2005, September 28). Hypnotherapy An Effective Treatment For Irritable Bowel Syndrome. ScienceDaily.

Blackwell Publishing Ltd. (2006, May 30). Hypnotherapy Improves Quality Of Life For People With Irritable Bowel Syndrome. ScienceDaily.