Healing Through Hypnosis
March 2, 2008-Times of India

Sheena (name changed) suffered from a host of personal and professional problems and was desperate for a solution. "I had relationship issues and irritable spells," she says. In the course of her search, she tried hypnotherapy. After a few sessions, Sheena says she felt she had a better handle on her situation. Life seemed a bigger, broader picture.

The relationship bothering her was no more, her health improved and she found she could cope better with situations. "I think it made me look at life more positively," she says.

Sheena, like others, is one of many turning to hypnotherapy as an alternative therapy. "Hypnotherapy is trying to activate your subconscious mind by switching your conscious mind off," says Bina Bakshi, a hypnotherapist.

"Normally, the conscious mind makes decisions and resists ideas. The first thing you need to know is that hypnosis is a very natural state. People go into hypnosis regularly without even realising it. If you were to listen to positive suggestions while in these naturally occurring trance states they would have an effect on you."

Clinical psychologist Shrimant Patil explains that psychologists use hypnosis to establish rapport with their patients and evolve a line of treatment. Says Dhansingh Chowdhury, a practising hypnotherapist, "If there is a problem, one should have sessions for the subconscious as the personality is locked in it. You have to put to sleep the conscious to reach the subconscious."

Almost 80% of problems in life are related to psychological problmes, says Patil. Techniques involve making the person comfortable, slowing down their breathing, making them stare at a spot and concentrate on feeling relaxed.

For Neha, hypnotherapy helped her deal with claustrophobia. "I had been through a number of surgeries and had become claustrophobic. After treatment, there has been a marked improvement, though I am not completely cured."

There’s a growing curiosity about this form of therapy. "Almost 60 per cent of my patients come from outside Pune," says Bakshi. Hypnotherapy has proven effective in dealing with issues like adjustment problems, divorce, financial worries and obsessive compulsive disorders, she says.

There have always been misconceptions about hypnotherapy, however. Says Bakshi, "Hypnosis is often misunderstood. Many people believe it can force you to act and react in whatever way the hypnotherapist instructs. Hypnosis cannot make a person into someone different and cannot control a person's mind. It can only act upon what is within the person."

Sheena herself was hesitant about starting hypnotherapy. "Initially, I had fears. In reality, though, you are not unconscious, this is a common misconception. I never had much trouble with it. But it’s still not an ‘acceptable’ thing to do. My family does not know about it."

Jim's commentary: it is interesting how public awareness of the benefits of hypnosis is increasing around the globe and hopefully will continue to grow.