{"id":5339,"date":"2014-06-01T13:32:43","date_gmt":"2014-06-01T19:32:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.unk.com\/blog\/?p=5339"},"modified":"2024-08-16T02:46:01","modified_gmt":"2024-08-16T08:46:01","slug":"hypnosis-works-free-ebook","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unk.com\/blog\/hypnosis-works-free-ebook\/","title":{"rendered":"Free Hypnosis Research eBook"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"How<\/a><\/div>\n

Click here to download this article as an eBook for future reference<\/a><\/p>\n

The word ‘hypnosis’ has always had a bit of mystique about it. Swinging watches, loss of control, catalepsy, hallucinations – all that kind of thing.<\/p>\n

It’s a shame that hypnosis has become more widely understood as ‘entertainment’ than as the powerful tool it is to change mood, overcome psychological problems and ease – and sometimes even cure – many physical problems. Hypnosis is also a wonderful way to maximize performance in any field.<\/p>\n

There’s more to it than hypnosis<\/h3>\n

Having said that, no hypnosis session – whether live or via download – is just about the hypnosis.<\/p>\n

Improving human performance or addressing emotional and psychological difficulties always involves taking account of other psychological factors, such as how thoughts are framed and the habits people already have.<\/p>\n

At the hypnotherapy site<\/a> I co-founded, our downloads always include important non-hypnotic elements that, combined with the hypnosis, make the overall effect more powerful. Anyone who uses hypnosis to help people needs to keep up to date in all areas of psychology.<\/p>\n

Hypnosis has been used as a tool for positive change and healing for thousands of years1<\/sup>. In modern times, the use of hypnosis as a therapeutic tool has become widespread and has also been subjected to intense scientific research. Hundreds of studies show just how powerful hypnosis can be. This short eBook will highlight some of the research into the power of hypnosis, to reveal the science and research supporting this little-understood therapeutic tool.<\/p>\n

Scientific recognition of hypnosis<\/h3>\n

Clinical hypnosis has a good scientific pedigree and is an essential tool in helping overcome all kinds of emotional difficulties2<\/sup>. It has proved difficult to define ‘hypnosis’ precisely, so much so that some have asserted that it is nothing more than ‘role playing’. However, PET scans of hypnotized subjects have shown clearly observable changes in brain functions3<\/sup>. In this eBook I want to draw attention to some of the research findings that support why hypnosis is such a valuable tool.<\/p>\n

Hypnosis for healing, pain control and immune response<\/h3>\n

People often talk about the ‘mind-body connection’, knowing the mind can soothe the body (and trouble it too!). There is scientific evidence that backs this belief up, showing that hypnosis can powerfully use the mind to influence the body.<\/p>\n

For example, a 2007 study found that women who were hypnotized before undergoing a breast biopsy or lumpectomy required less sedation during the procedure, and experienced less pain, nausea, and emotional distress afterward4<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Hypnosis has been found to be effective when treating acute pain after accidents5<\/sup> and for chronic long term pain or disease,6 7<\/sup> as well as for skin conditions8<\/sup>. There is also evidence that hypnotic imagery can enhance the workings of your immune system.<\/p>\n

In a study at Washington State University, a group of volunteers were given hypnotic suggestions specifically to boost their immune systems. Another group received only relaxing suggestions, or no suggestions. Their levels of T- and B-cells (special defense cells) were measured. Those who had received hypnotic suggestions showed significant increases in their levels of protective cells9<\/sup>. This shows that hypnosis can have a profound beneficial effect on the workings of your body.<\/p>\n

Hypnosis for anxiety, fears and phobias<\/h3>\n

Hypnosis has long been used to overcome fear and anxiety10<\/sup> and also to quickly and comfortably cure phobias. Many hypnotherapists use disassociation, a powerful hypnotic technique, which has been shown to reduce fear by making troubling memories feel comfortable and much ‘safer’. A good hypnotherapist can make overcoming fears and anxiety an entirely comfortable process.<\/p>\n

Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine carried out a study on children who were (not surprisingly) anxious about painful medical examinations. Forty-four children participated. All had been through at least one distressing examination in which a catheter was inserted into the bladder.<\/p>\n

Chemical anesthesia isn’t used with this procedure and children report great fear when they have to undergo it.<\/p>\n

About half the children received self-hypnosis training while the other half received routine care, which included a preparation session with a recreational therapist who taught some breathing techniques. The group who were taught self-hypnosis reported much less anxiety and the examinations in their group even took less time11<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

This research shows how stress can be greatly diminished using hypnosis.<\/p>\n

Hypnosis for motivation<\/h3>\n

Procrastination, fear of success and even plain laziness or lack of motivation for whatever reason, can all be helped immensely by hypnosis when it is used well. One highly successful technique is the principle of third person motivational visualization. Research has shown that people are more likely to actually do something they’ve hypnotically rehearsed12<\/sup>. It is important that they don’t just imagine doing it, but actually ‘observe’ themselves ‘from the outside’ performing the activity while under hypnosis.<\/p>\n

Hypnosis can be used for all kinds of motivational issues, ranging from getting out of bed, starting a business, practicing a musical instrument and getting slimmer and fitter, all the way to feeling motivated to learn and change.<\/p>\n

Hypnosis for sexual performance<\/h3>\n

Hypnosis can be used to improve an already good sex life into a great one or to overcome many of the common sexual problems such as impotence, lack of libido (in both men and women), premature ejaculation and sexual inhibition. Of course, there can be many influences for these problems, but at the heart of many sexual problems is anxiety, and, as we know, hypnosis is an excellent way to diminish stress and fear.<\/p>\n

But it’s also been found that hypnosis can help increase enjoyment13<\/sup> and enable people to gain control of their bodies14<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Hypnosis for sporting performance<\/h3>\n

While most research into hypnosis focuses on hypnotherapy, there’s also proof that hypnosis can help you master or perfect a skill, giving you an extra edge.<\/p>\n

Hypnosis has long been used to improve focus, reaction time, sporting confidence and even physical strength. Hypnotic practice of new skills can also increase skill as much, if not more, than actual practice. You’ve probably heard about the famous basketball study in which players taught to visualize a free throw radically improved their skills without physically touching a basketball15<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

A study published in 2007 found that hypnotic visualization can increase muscle strength almost as much as actual exercise. Thirty male athletes, from different sports, were randomly assigned to perform mental training of their hip flexor muscles, to use weight machines to physically exercise their hip flexors, or to form a control group which did neither. The hip strength of each group was measured before and after training. Mental practice improved strength by 24%, as compared with 28% for physical practice16<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Of course, hypnotic sporting rehearsal should not replace actual practice, but as an added training tool it can massively improve your game or workout.<\/p>\n

Hypnosis for self esteem and self confidence<\/h3>\n

Emotional problems stem not just from what people think but from how they use – or, more accurately, misuse – their imagination. People imagine all kinds of damaging things about themselves. Therapeutic hypnosis uses the imagination constructively to embed self confidence and encourage a healthy sense of who you are and what you can be. Research shows that socially anxious people, for example, focus less on other people and more on their own feelings17<\/sup>. So one of the approaches we use in our social confidence related sessions is to encourage outward focus during social situations. This increases confidence as a byproduct of focusing in the same way that naturally self confident people do.<\/p>\n

Hypnosis for addictions and bad habits<\/h3>\n

The National Council for Hypnotherapy recently circulated information about research into the effectiveness of hypnotherapy as a way of stopping smoking.<\/p>\n

To investigate the most effective method of stopping smoking, a meta-analysis at the University of Iowa looked at more than 600 studies, covering a total of nearly 72,000 people. The results included 48 studies of hypnosis covering 6000 smokers. They clearly showed that hypnosis was three times more effective than nicotine replacement therapy18<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Overcoming addictions involves hope and optimism (moving beyond the old ‘disease model’) of addiction. A good hypnotherapist can successfully treat all sorts of addictions – not just smoking, but drink and drugs addictions, and more modern problems such as addiction to shopping and addiction to exercise.<\/p>\n

Hypnosis for instilling new healthier habits<\/h3>\n

Bad habits can be replaced with good habits. For example, the bad habit of sitting down in front of the TV eating and boozing can be replaced with the good habit of eating well, doing more exercise and limiting alcohol.<\/p>\n

Of course, some new habits (such as eating slightly more fruit every day) will be easier to instill than others (such as doing a daily three mile run). It’s been said that it takes 21 days to instill a new habit. We know something is a ‘habit’ when we no longer have to really think much about it. It’s now become automatic to practice your instrument or work those muscles19<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Hypnosis can amplify motivation and, in our experience, greatly speed up the adoption of a new healthy habit.<\/p>\n

Hypnosis for childbirth<\/h3>\n

Hypnosis has long been used to ease anxiety and pain in labor and childbirth. Recent research showed that women who had used hypnosis for childbirth even seemed to have healthier babies20<\/sup>!<\/p>\n

The findings of a systematic review and a randomized controlled trial demonstrated significantly improved outcomes among women who used hypnosis for childbirth21<\/sup>. These include enhanced pain relief, diminished need for labor interventions, and improved newborn outcomes. A meta-analysis carried out in 2004 found that significantly less pain medication was needed by women who used hypnosis. In other studies the hypnosis prepared group had significantly lower use of any analgesia or epidural anesthesia22<\/sup>. The researchers concluded that “outcomes are consistently in favor of hypnosis”. They suggested hypnosis could be considered an effective alternative to epidural anesthesia because it is less invasive, not associated with serious complications, and many women seem to find it a more satisfying way of giving birth, handing control back to the mother.<\/p>\n

Hypnosis for fertility<\/h3>\n

Hypnosis can be used to encourage conception and increase fertility (in men and women). People who find that it is sometimes not as easy to conceive as they had expected experience a range of difficult feelings and high levels of stress. Such feelings further militate against conception. Hypnosis can help both partners to relax and thus enhance the body’s own ability to give conception the best possible chance. In 2004 an Israeli study involving 185 women showed that the success rate of IVF treatments doubled in a test group (from 14% to 28%) when the subjects underwent hypnosis during implantation23<\/sup>.<\/p>\n

Hypnosis for insomnia and sleep disorders<\/h3>\n

Insomnia and other sleep disorders can be caused and, in turn, worsened, by anxiety and stress. So a vicious cycle of stress, exhaustion and insomnia can build up, with one feeding off the other. People turn to hypnosis because it offers a natural approach to calmness and rest, without the side effects some pharmaceutical drugs have. As far back as August 1973, 37 college students with insomnia were assigned one of three treatments for a study:<\/p>\n