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Dating back from 2600 BC to the present, different methods of hypnosis have been used. The oldest written record of cures by hypnosis was obtained from the Ebers Papyrus which gives us an idea about some of the theory and practice of Egyptian medicine before 1552 BC. The Egyptians are thought to have originated the “Sleep Temples” in which the priests gave some treatments to their patients through the use of suggestion. These Temples became very popular in Egypt and spread throughout Greece and Asia Minor. It is a known fact that Hippocrates, the Greek physician, has discussed the phenomenon saying, “The affliction suffered by the body, the soul sees quite well with the eyes shut.” It can also be proved that almost every ancient civilization has been familiar with hypnosis is one form or another.
Unfortunately, with the advent of Christianity, things were not seen in a positive way and it wasn’t until the modern times that hypnosis got its credentials back… slowly and painfully! Ironically, the modern history of hypnosis didn’t start with a physician but with a catholic priest, Father Gassner, who lived at Klosters (early 1770’s). I don’t intend to write here about the history of hypnosis: you will find lots of info on the Internet as well as several good books. However, here are some names of importance for our modern times and you will recognize some of them: Franz Anton Mesmer, James Braid, John Elliotson, James Esdalie, Dr. Ambroise-Auguste Liebeault, Jean Martin Charcot, Sigmund Freud, Milne Bramwell and others. If you wish to know more about these people the internet search tool Google with help you. Now I’d like to briefly explore with you what hypnosis is all about and what it can do for you.
The capacity to enter into hypnosis is as natural a phenomenon as sleep, but it is distinctly different from sleep. It is a process which produces relaxation, distraction of the conscious mind, heightened suggestibility and increase awareness, allowing access to the unconscious mind through the imagination. It also produces the ability to experience thoughts and images as real.
People go in an out of hypnotic trance on a regular basis: one popular trance is called “highway hypnosis.” One becomes unconscious of the fact that he is driving. As he comes out of the trance, he suddenly realizes that he doesn’t remember what has happened for the past several minutes. It is as though an unconscious part of the mind was able to drive the car, avoid danger, speed up and slow down as necessary. Day-dreaming and reverie also produce a trance state: you can see, hear, smell and even taste what comes to your mind. A trance may be experienced in the movies or while watching TV when people become so involved that they actually cry about a picture being projected onto a screen. At one level of their minds they know the picture is fiction. On another level, their minds move voluntarily into a trance in which there is a suspension of reality testing and an acceptance of what is happening on the screen as real.
When people experience hypnosis or hypnotic trance, they simply allow their bodies to relax and their minds to focus attention on the words they hear, and the various images they may represent in their minds. It is a very natural process that allows the client to more easily reach goals or objectives he has chosen for himself. There is greater receptivity of sensory inputs with a minimal degree of interference. This enhances the mental process so that, with proper motivation, the client moves naturally and easily into a comfortable hypnotic trance state. One’s mind is permitting profitable and productive suggestions to be accepted, being fully aware of what’s going on around you, and you respond only to suggestions that are right and benefit your beliefs and values.
Relaxation is the first and most important step of hypnosis. Your eyes are closed and you breathe deeply. When you are relaxed, tension is released and it reduces the blood circulation allowing your body to enjoy a state of tranquility while your mind focuses on other things, an issue from the inside.
With suggestion, a new kind of reality is created. It puts a positive image in your head to replace any bad thoughts. Any suggestion given to you, while in the hypnotic state, will have an effect on you because it is impossible to separate the body from the mind. We can freely implant whatever ideas we desire in the unconscious: suggestion being the keystone to hypnosis.
Before you can concentrate on goals and enrichment, you must clear the mind’s passageways. When relaxed, suspend all conscious thinking, postpone decisions and judgments, make no demands of your mind, but concentrate on peace of mind. If a negative thought enters your mind, just let it go. Stay at the state of tranquility your body desires, then you can concentrate on other things.
The mind and the body interact with each other, and our emotions affect our biology. The nervous system, the endocrine system, and the immune system are all related to each other. Our health and emotions are closely related. Through the process of hypnosis, the mind focuses positively on issues, mental or physical, and eliminates them. Have you ever noticed that when a person is under stress, they seem to be in a bad mood? The negative feeling seems to spread to those around that person feeling stressed. If a person is in a depressed, stressed, or panicked mood, the brain sends a negative message to the immune system which affects the organs throughout the body in a negative fashion. On the other hand, if a person is in a humorous or optimistic mood, this stimulates the immune system increasing its ability to fight cancer cells, infectious diseases, allergies, etc.
I realize that I haven’t yet mentioned that all hypnosis is self-hypnosis! The counsellor is only a tool to help you get into a peaceful trance state so you can work on your issues. It is important that you learn to achieve self-hypnosis keeping in mind the three main components: relaxation, concentration and auto-suggestion.
I have created this site in order to reach out to anyone wanting to overcome any problem, and/or desiring to improve an area of your life that you wish to eliminate or change. Hopefully, only a few sessions will be necessary in the shortest time frame. Then the client takes over making significant changes in his life with the help of self-hypnosis.
You will find on other pages, specific areas where hypnosis can be helpful. If I find that your issue is not in my field of expertise, I will most certainly refer you to another hypnotherapist. My concern is the wellbeing and wholeness of my client: body, mind and spirit.
by Nicolas G. Giroux, B.Th., CH.
Resources:
 National Guild of Hypnotists, Merrimack, New Hampshire
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