Why Hypnosis Works

With the amount of information available today, inability to take positive actions is rarely a result of not knowing what to do.  In fact, when it comes to losing weight or quitting smoking most people know exactly what to do. The problem is doing it consistently. Some pills and drugs provide temporary relief, but the effects only last as long as the drug itself, and in many cases the side effects are far-reaching and unknown. Anyone can bend their will for a short period of time if it’s important enough but even then it’s often uncomfortable, even painful, and very difficult to maintain – especially if something doesn’t change at a deeper level of the mind. Reading a book about a new diet or an article on the negative effects of tobacco will never provide a lasting change unless the material actually causes you to shift your beliefs and attitudes about the behavior permanently. These attempts only work on the level of the conscious mind, what we are aware of, and it requires constant attention.  Any change on this level won’t feel natural and is likely to be forgotten soon after something else grabs your attention. Hypnosis goes right to the heart of the matter.  It deals directly with habits and the underlying beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors behind them.

Taught at Major Universities

For most people, when they think of Hypnosis, they only know what they see in movies or stage show comedy acts.  Yet, we all know that movies and entertainment sensationalize almost everything. In reality, Hypnosis has been taught at major Universities such as Harvard Medical School and Yale.  The U.S. Military, professional athletes including the U.S. Olympic Team, performers and executives also use hypnosis, regularly for performance enhancement, focus, relaxation, concentration, and self improvement. Hypnosis has also been recognized by the British Medical Association (BMA)

Scientific Research About Hypnosis

In the field of Neuroscience, they are now using technology such as the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan which can actually record an image of the brain during different thought processes. They discovered that Hypnosis produces a very specific pattern of brain activity (increase in blood flow in the right anterior cingulated cortex) that suggests an ‘internal focus’.  This unique state of ‘internal focus’ is not found in normal waking states.  This ‘internal focus’ can be measured as the ‘Theta Wave Level’ of the brain. In fact, there are four types of brain wave states (Beta, Alpha, Theta and Delta): BETA Alertness Concentration Cognition You are wide-awake, alert. Your mind is sharp, focused. It makes connections quickly, easily and you’re primed to do work that requires your full attention. In the Beta state, neurons fire abundantly, in rapid succession, helping you achieve peak performance. New ideas and solutions to problems flash like lightning into your mind. Beta waves range between 13-40 HZ. The Beta state is associated with peak concentration, heightened alertness, hand eye coordination and visual acuity. Nobel Prize Winner Sir Francis Crick and other scientists believe that the 40HZ beta frequency may be key to the act of cognition. ALPHA (beginning of light-trance state) Relaxation Visualization Creativity When you are truly relaxed, your brain activity slows from the rapid patterns of Beta into the more gentle waves of Alpha. Your awareness expands. Fresh creative energy begins to flow. Fears vanish. You experience a liberating sense of peace and well-being. In biofeedback, Alpha training is most commonly recommended for the treatment of stress. Alpha waves range between 7-12 HZ. This is a place of deep relaxation, but not quite meditation. In Alpha, we begin to access the wealth of creativity that lies just below our conscious awareness – it is the gateway, the entry point that leads into deeper states of consciousness. Alpha is also the home of the window frequency known as the Schuman Resonance – the resonant frequency of the earth’s electromagnetic field. THETA (deep hypnotized trance state) Meditation Intuition Memory Going deeper into relaxation, you enter the elusive and mysterious Theta state where brain activity slows almost to the point of sleep, but not quite. Theta is the brain state where magic happens in the crucible of your own neurological activity. Theta brings forward heightened receptivity, flashes of dreamlike imagery, inspiration, and your long-forgotten memories. Theta can bring you deep states of meditation. A sensation of “floating.” And, because it is an expansive state, in Theta, you may feel your mind expand beyond the boundaries of your body. Theta rests directly on the threshold of your subconscious. In biofeedback, it is most commonly associated with the deepest levels of meditation. Theta also plays an important part in behavior modification programs and has been used in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. Finally, Theta is an ideal state for super-learning, re-programming your mind, dream recall, and hypnosis. Theta waves range between 4-7 HZ. Theta is one of the more elusive and extraordinary realms we can explore. It is also known as the twilight state which we normally only experience fleetingly as we rise up out of the depths of delta upon waking, or drifting off to sleep. In Theta, we are in a waking dream, vivid imagery flashes before the mind’s eye and we are receptive to information beyond our normal conscious awareness. Theta has also been identified as the gateway to learning and memory. Theta meditation increases creativity, enhances learning, reduces stress and awakens intuition and other extrasensory perception skills. DELTA (deep sleep state for rejuvenation) Detached Awareness Healing Sleep Long, slow, undulating. Delta is the slowest of all four brain wave frequencies. Most commonly associated with deep sleep, certain frequencies in the Delta range also trigger the release of Human Growth Hormone so beneficial for healing and regeneration. This is why sleep – deep restorative sleep – the kind that Delta frequencies help induce is so essential to the healing process. Delta is the brain wave signal of the subconscious, the seat from which intuition arises. That means Delta-based programs are not only an ideal choice for their sleep and deep regeneration potential, but also when you want to access your unconscious activity and help that wellspring of information flow to your conscious mind for clearing and for empowerment. Delta waves range between 0-4 HZ.