Most people’s only experience with hypnosis has been by watching a stage show. When a person inevitably hears about how effective hypnosis is for clinical applications, many people ask, “Does hypnosis work?”
A short answer would be YES without question. Nobody knows exactly how hypnosis works. Studies have been done both on the effects of hypnosis and the mechanics of hypnosis. Recently functional magnetic resonance imaging or fMRI has been used to show that particular parts of the brain are activated in hypnosis, which has a real effect on the body. In fact, study after study shows that the mind truly does control every aspect of the body.
Hypnosis is successfully used for weight loss, smoking, anxiety, stress relief, and pain management, to name just a few.
In 1958 the American Medical Association officially recognized hypnotherapy as a viable treatment option for specific ailments. Also, the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association have approved of hypnosis for the treatment of a wide variety of mental illnesses.
I believe the most powerful aspect of hypnosis is programming your mind for success. Recent movies like the Secret have made people aware of how important changing your thinking can be.
Just imagine the power and confidence you could have when you can take control of your life and start living the way you want. Hypnosis can give such great results because it changes the way you think at the subconscious level.
The subconscious mind runs the body’s systems. Breathing, beating your heart, digesting your food, all of the activities you don’t think about are being run by your subconscious mind.
Also, the subconscious mind is the root of habits. Hypnosis works by changing underlying negative habits to more positive habits. If you have a habit of overspending, it is hard to get rich. If you have a habit of being shy, it is hard to be confident.
Hypnosis works on the part of your mind that controls all of your beliefs about yourself.