Skip to content
Call Us Today! 212-533-4646 | MON-FRI 12PM - 4PM (EST)
DONATE
SUBSCRIBE
Search for:
About Us
UNWLA 100
Publications
FAQ
Annual Report 2023
Annual Report 2022
Annual Report 2021
Initiatives
Advocate
Educate
Cultivate
Care
News
Newsletters
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Join UNWLA
Become a Member
Volunteer With Us
Donate to UNWLA
Members Portal
Calendar
Shop to Support Ukraine
Search for:
Print
Print Page
Download
Download Page
Download Right Page
Open
1
2-3
4-5
6-7
8-9
10-11
12-13
14-15
16-17
18-19
20-21
22-23
24-25
26-27
28-29
30-31
32-33
34-35
36-37
38-39
40
“НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, ВЕРЕСЕНЬ 2016 WWW.UNWLA.ORG 33 HYPNOSIS by Ihor Magun, M.D., F.A.C.P. "You are getting sleepy" is a phrase that conjures up a vision of a mysterious hypnotist waving a pocket watch back and forth. The person sub- jected to this goes into a semi-sleep state and be- comes a slave under the hypnotist’s command. This is a scenario one can easily recall from spooky Hollywood movies. It is not, however, a true and accurate portrayal of what hypnotism is and how it works. The term hypnotism comes from the Greek work hypnos , which means "to sleep." This defini- tion may be a little confusing because what occurs under hypnotism is not a sleep-induced trance; instead, it is a psychologically mediated response to suggestions. The exact science is still a mystery, but hypnotism is being utilized as an alternative medical approach to treat some medical condi- tions. It all begins with understanding and accept- ing a relatively simple fact: The body and mind are intertwined and each one has the power to influ- ence the other. Which of them exerts the stronger influence is the key to the puzzle. Although a definitive explanation of hyp- nosis is yet to be formalized, the theory is that a willing individual goes into what can be called a trance (not a sleepy state). The general confusion about hypnosis begins with not fully understand- ing the distinction between trance and sleep. When most of us think of sleep, we think of dreaming, which includes going into a mental thinking state of imagination—it is like losing yourself in a book or movie. You have no control over what you are dreaming about. Hypnosis is different because it requires control; in fact, it is you who actively turn off ex- ternal stimuli and permit your mind to imagine doing something. You remain awake and can in- fluence your thoughts. The process, in fact, re- quires you to focus on the issues or concerns you wish to address, and it is this targeted approach that helps with whatever issue you may wish to overcome. While under hypnosis, you tap into the subconscious mind, and you can concentrate on a specific thought or a specific memory. Understanding the difference between sleep and a hypnotic trance begins with some un- derstanding of two aspects of the human mind and how they work. The conscious mind guides our normal thought process. The subconscious mind is involved in actions that we do auto- matically and takes a backseat during the hours we are awake. When we sleep, the subconscious mind takes over and the conscious mind takes a backseat. Hypnotism subdues the conscious mind and taps into the subconscious. The subconscious mind can trigger feelings and body sensations and is able to access events in the past that are not accessible to the conscious mind. Hypnosis is most commonly used for be- havior modification. One example of this is smok- ing cessation. This type of behavior modification prompts the patient to focus on a particular habit embedded in the subconscious (in this case smok- ing) and to use the subconscious to override the desire to smoke. Several patients in my practice have found this method successful. Hypnosis has also been used successfully to diminish pain and discomfort associated with cancer, irritable bowel issues, fibromyalgia, and headaches. It has also proved effective in promoting weight loss, reliev- ing stress and anxiety, and controlling hot flashes. Interestingly, hypnosis does not work on everyone; some individuals are simply less sus- ceptible and do not respond. On the other hand, some individuals may not even need an actual hypnotist. Everyone can enter into a hypnotic state without the help of an intermediary and make suggestions to the unconscious mind. Hyp- notists are primarily guides who may facilitate the process. Whether the trance is self-induced or hypnotist-induced, the process can take a few minutes but may take longer based on individual mental receptiveness and suggestibility. Numer- ous books on the subject are available; infor- mation on the web can also provide information on induction techniques. As always, however, make certain that you are getting this information from a reliable source. In this age of breakthrough medical ach- ievements, there are times when traditional ap- proaches become less effective and fall short due to side effects as well as other issues. Alternative approaches, like hypnosis, address many of these issues; in the case of hypnosis, even some insur- ance companies have accepted this premise and have been reimbursing practitioners for this treatment method. Although many people consid- er hypnosis to be controversial, others swear by it. I hope this brief description may be helpful for you or someone you know, a doorway to what may indeed be a new and welcome approach to good health.
Page load link
Go to Top
1 
2-3 
4-5 
6-7 
8-9 
10-11 
12-13 
14-15 
16-17 
18-19 
20-21 
22-23 
24-25 
26-27 
28-29 
30-31 
32-33 
34-35 
36-37 
38-39 
40 
