12 Facts About Hypnosis

Hypnosis is a human condition involving focused attention, reduced peripheral awareness, and an enhanced capacity to respond to suggestion.

Hypnosis usually begins with a hypnotic induction involving a series of preliminary instructions and suggestions.

Hypnosis-based therapies for the management of irritable bowel syndrome and menopause are supported by evidence.

Hypnosis typically involves an introduction to the procedure during which the subject is told that suggestions for imaginative experiences will be presented.

Hypnosis has been used as a supplemental approach to cognitive behavioral therapy since as early as 1949.

Hypnosis was defined in relation to classical conditioning; where the words of the therapist were the stimuli and the hypnosis would be the conditioned response.

Hypnosis is effective in decreasing the fear of cancer treatment reducing pain from and coping with cancer and other chronic conditions.

Hypnosis has been used as a pain relieving technique during dental surgery, and related pain management regimens as well.

Books by stage hypnotists sometimes explicitly describe the use of deception in their acts; for example, Ormond McGill's New Encyclopedia of Stage Hypnosis describes an entire "fake hypnosis" act that depends upon the use of private whispers throughout.

Hypnosis is not a unitary state and therefore should show different patterns of EEG activity depending upon the task being experienced.

Hypnosis would remove some control from the conscious mind, and the individual would respond with autonomic, reflexive behaviour.

American Society of Clinical Hypnosis is unique among organisations for professionals using hypnosis because members must be licensed healthcare workers with graduate degrees.