What is hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a combination of relaxation, suggestion, and focused attention. A trance-like state where the conscious mind quiets and the unconscious mind opens, hypnosis involves intense concentration on a specific thought, memory, feeling, or sensation while blocking out distraction to gain more control over behavior, emotions, and/or physical well-being.
How does hypnosis work?
Hypnosis often involves a hypnotherapist communicating in a gentle, soothing tone describing images. The specific images are chosen to support a sense of relaxation, safety, and well being. The conscious creation of vivid, meaningful pictures through the mind is mental imagery. The imagery may focus on suggesting ways to achieve specific goals. The imagination is stimulated through suggesting specific mental images for visualization. Self-hypnosis can also be taught to induce a state of hypnosis.
What are the potential benefits of hypnosis?
- Creates deep relaxation that can help restore homeostasis
- Enhances immune function
- Enhances quality of life
- Decreases pain
- Decreases nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing chemotherapy
- Decreases or reduce anxiety, fears, stress
- Decreases blood pressure and heart rate
- Relaxes and alters brain wave activity
- Changes negative behaviors
For More Information
- Comprehensive Cancer Care: Integrating Alternative, Complementary, and Conventional Therapies by James S. Gordon, MD
- Getting Well Again by O. Carl Simonton, MD
Our most popular resources for mind and cancer
 Calming All of You
There is calm in chaos. Learn about supportive perspectives and strategies to help you reduce stress, relax, and create a healing environment inside of yourself.
 Feelings, Thoughts, and Beliefs
The stuff of what you feel, think, and believe impacts your health. Our empowering information helps create better emotional and mental vitality. Explore core strategies to mind-body healing.
 Healing Environment
What qualities create an ideal environment for healing internally and externally to support your optimal health and healing? Explore how to create a vital healing environment.
 Movement
Movement helps create physical health in the body and whole person transformation. Learn about movement practices that support body, mind, and spirit integration.
|