Peak Performance Corporate Coach

What the Heck is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is an odd word – it came into existence as a shortening
of James Braid’s 19th Century term “neuro-hypnotism.” The root
of the word is from the Greek “hypnos,” meaning “sleep,” but has
little to do with the state we know as sleep. Hypnosis is in fact a
deep state of relaxation, during which the subject has released
tensions and worries of everyday life, and can focus their will and
concentration in a way that is usually impossible.

As far back as ancient Egypt, people have been using hypnosis
for healing. In Egypt, India, and Greece, there were places known
as “sleep temples,” where those suffering from physical and
psychological ailments could go to experience ritual healing.
Usually, they would gather in a large chamber, and sacred
chanting and dance were used to induce a hypnotic state, during
which the sufferers were more open to the suggestions of their
physicians.

In the modern world, it is easy to dismiss hypnosis, as most of us
are familiar with it only in the context of the entertaining stage
shows. However, hypnosis can be very useful in treating a variety
of ailments, from anxiety to compulsive behaviors to the treatment
of chronic pain. The British Medical Association and the American
Medical Association have both endorsed hypnosis as an effective
treatment as anesthetic and for psycho-somatic disorders and
neuroses, in 1955 and 1958 respectively.

We’ve come a long way since sleep temples – hypnosis is now
used as a remedy for a variety of problems, from smoking
cessation to dealing with asthma and irritable bowel syndrome.
Even Sigmund Freud was an enthusiastic supporter of hypnosis
as a tool to assist his patients with analysis – however, because of
the rather small number of hypnosis practitioners at the time, he
abandoned his work with the technique. In 1919, he wrote “It is
very probable, too, that the application of our therapy to numbers
will compel us to alloy the pure gold of analysis plentifully with the
copper of direct suggestion [hypnosis].”

A 2003 study completed in Germany gives us even more reason
to believe in the efficacy of hypnosis in treating health issues. It
showed that in a meta-analysis of a group of 57 studies
completed on the usefulness of hypnosis, at least 64% of those
treated achieved success towards their goal as compared to 37%
of those who tried to do it without hypnosis. Even more
surprising, when an additional 76 studies on hypnosis were
included, it was found that an astonishing 74% of those treated
were successful, while only 27% of those who were untreated
achieved success.

Hypnosis is a powerful and effective tool in dealing with a wide
variety of ailments, neuroses, and conditions. The research backs
up these claims. Looking at all the evidence, it seems that it
would be wise for the modern world to reevaluate our views on
hypnosis and start using it to better our lives.

Until then…Peak into Your Future,
Coach Jim Guerci