There are several alternative therapies for improving diverse health conditions. Whether you’re suffering from mental or physical health conditions, these complementary therapies have their own methods of treatment to give the desired results. It’s interesting to note the different types of relaxation-based therapies that are promoting psychological changes through breathing exercises, stretches, and movements. These methods work on the fundamentals of stress management and relaxation to fall in line with the procedures followed by standard medical practices.
Even though these alternate therapies overlap the basics of regular medicine and treatment, they are less popular. This is because these therapies are not included in the regular curriculum of medicinal sciences and have to be learned and practiced independently. Nevertheless, the results delivered have to experienced to be believed. Many patients have recovered from their ailments and lifestyle disorders by following the techniques suggested by the followers of these methods of treatment.
Hypnotherapy is one such complementary mode of treatment that uses different relaxation techniques to improve upon the patient’s health. Here, we will help you understand the common terms used in hypnosis, the technique and benefits of hypnotherapy, and how to go about the process to treat yourself well. Mion Hypnose Zürich is your final destination for hypnotherapy services. Read on for more on hypnotherapy.
Definitions: Terms associated with Hypnosis
Hypnotic trance – It refers to a focused and deeply relaxed state of the mind for suspending critical faculties and bringing increased suggestibility.
Direct hypnotic suggestions – These suggestions are made directly to the patient when he or she in the state of a hypnotic trance. In this condition, the suggestions are made to alter the behavior or perception of a person while he or she is in a trance. For instance, a suggestion stating that labor pain is bearable and not a problem for an expecting woman.
Post-hypnotic suggestions – These suggestions are made to patients once he or she is back to normalcy to alter any perception or behavior. For instance, a suggestion stating that it will now be possible for a patient to feel more relaxed and the panic attacks will subside.
Hypnotherapy – Popular and Result-oriented Techniques
Hypnotherapy has many benefits to boast of. It’s common to find hypnotherapists taking care of their patients through innovative means that were unheard of so far. Julian Cannon from Quantum Hypnotherapy says that hypnotherapy allows people to discover their subconscious self and learn more about why they are the way they are. Hypnosis is among the most popular therapies in this category of treatment.
Hypnosis
Hypnosis induces a state of deep relaxation in the person undergoing the therapy. This state of relaxation is attained through the suspension of various critical faculties and increased inputs and suggestibility. Once the state of trance is reached (referred to as hypnotic trance), therapeutic suggestions are imparted to bring about changes in the behavior of the patient or to provide relief for the symptoms. For example, if the patient is keen to quit smoking them the practitioner may provide suggestions that the fumes and taste of smoke are no longer pleasurable for him. In case hypnosis is being provided to an arthritis patient then the suggestions can take the form that the pain is bearable and can be reduced just as one would decrease the volume of a radio, by turning it down.
It is also common to find certain practitioners using hypnosis to support psychotherapy. The idea behind this type of treatment is while a patient is in the hypnotized state, his or her conscious mind is more open to the influences and suggestions of psychotherapeutic exploration. This, in turn, paves the ground for more effective psychological insights.
Meditation & Relaxation Techniques
Good examples of relaxation-based therapy are progressive muscle relaxation, Jacobson relaxation, and systematic muscle relaxation. In this type of therapy, the patient is made to sit in a silent room comfortably. He or she is advised to focus on a group of muscles (for instance, the muscles present in the right arm), hold the concentration as recommended, and then release the muscles while exhaling. After a short period of rest, the same exercise is repeated with another set of muscles. In this way, the major groups of muscles are made to contract and relax. The process continues in a systematic fashion wherein different muscles are combined and made to go through the process. During the relaxation session, patients are advised to feel and notice the differences occurring between relaxation and tension.
The Mitchell Method
This hypnotherapy method incorporates the adoption of various body positions that are absolutely different from the gestures linked with anxiety; for example, keeping fingers spread out rather than close-fisted or clenched. In case of autogenic training, the practitioner concentrates on giving physical sensations to the sensation. These sensations may be in the form of heaviness or warmth given to different body parts in a sequential format. If you delve deep into this method of providing therapy, you’ll find the use of diaphragmatic breathing. This type of breathing comprises of slow and deep abdominal breathing that’s mixed with conscious attempts for letting go of any tensing moments during the process of exhalation.
Imagery & Visualization Techniques
The use of imagery and visualization induces a state of relaxation wherein visual images are used for enhancing the results provided by the therapy. For example, pleasant sceneries may be used for enhancing the feelings of relaxation. The imagery may either be created by the patient or in the form of suggestions provided by the practitioner. While going through the images in a relaxed setting, it becomes easy for the patient to imagine that the current health situations and stressors have become more bearable. Over time, it becomes easy for the patient to deal with such stressors and feel better – both mentally and physically.
Meditation and its Focus
The practice of meditation and its various techniques lays focus on the emptying of one’s mind or bringing it to a still condition. In general, those performing meditation keep chanting and repeating a specific mantra or sound suggested by the practitioner. Slowly and steadily, they move towards a phase of “detached observation,” wherein they still have an awareness of whatever is happening in their environment, without getting involved in it. The body is best kept in an upright and alert position when meditation is being performed. Mindfulness meditation is different from the process of relaxation performed in the sitting and formal position. The mind is guided to a stage of relaxation where it gains a sense of focus in terms of how to get involved in environmental activities.
Yoga and Breathing Techniques
Your physical and mental functions can undergo a sea change for the better through the performance of yoga. In general, yoga practitioners provide solutions for good health through breathing exercises, postures, and meditation. Some yogic practitioners understand and propagate yoga as Indian medicine belonging to ancient times. Their postures are specifically designed to bring improvements to the energy flowing through and around the body of the patient. There are some yoga gurus who incorporate the age-old means of mental relaxation and muscle stretching to give relief to their patients.
What Takes Place During Hypnosis?
In hypnosis, some general practitioners/ specialists utilize hypnosis as an integral part of their regular consultation and clinical work. Along with the suggestions provided in the course of the hypnotherapy session, practitioners also offer post-hypnotic suggestions to their patients. These suggestions help them go into a state of trance even after the clinical treatment is successfully completed. Then, there are certain practitioners who are involved in group hypnosis, where ten plus participants are taught self-hypnosis. For example, hypnosis sessions with prenatal groups preparing themselves for labor.
Effectiveness of Relaxation Techniques
Most relaxation techniques would need daily practice for providing effective results. You may want to speak to the hypnotherapist of your choice to understand the various formats of meditation and relaxation in existence. The processes involved with progressive muscle relaxation are quite easy to implement after learning the steps through guided sessions. Methods like tai chi, meditation, and yoga may take longer to learn completely. Most relaxation techniques are enjoyable and can also be performed by people having no major health issues. While some complementary therapies require diagnosis, there’s no need for the same in case of relaxation techniques. However, conventional methods of diagnoses may be used for tailoring prescribed programs in more appropriate ways.
Hypnotherapy – The Way Forward
In order to gain optimal benefits from hypnotherapy sessions, you may want to get in touch with an experienced practitioner. Look forward to getting help with regards to your mental and physical health conditions after consulting the practitioner of your choice. Go through all the suggested techniques and methods as recommended to leverage their many benefits. Very soon, you’ll find yourself feeling stronger and in better condition to take care of your health through self-care means. Get in touch with an experienced hypnotherapist and explain your concerns fully to gain the best results. Hypnotherapy and other complementary treatment modes can reset your health issues in the shortest possible time, just go for them!
