You have the power to become what you want to be--to end your bad habits, or to improve your health. How can you harness this power? Every day, you wake with thoughts of what you are going to do, where you are going -- these thoughts often drive your day. Such mental rehearsal is nothing more than the use of imagination and memory recall.

You can harness your imagination, make the changes you want, and live a more productive and healthful life. Did you know that you enhance the healing process with guided imagery? If you expect a negative outcome connected to your health, you can actually get worse or even create an illness. But altering your thoughts can decrease stress and bring about changes in your body. The mind/body connection can even create an internal natural “pharmacy” of hormones and endorphins to decrease pain and boost your immune system, or send an internal army to fight a disease.

Hypnosis leads to an increased focus and concentration where susceptibility is enhanced, and to a degree where change is realized. For example, you may stop smoking, quit chewing your nails, or get over a paralyzing fear.

The hypnotic state is a natural process. It’s like driving when you suddenly realize that you have gone from point “A” to point “B” but don’t remember the trip (also known as “Highway Hypnosis”). Your inner mind got you from place to place, safe and sound, because you have already taught it where to go. This is an example of a positive “default” use of the hypnotic state.

However, we often create our own reality, and sometimes it is not as positive as we might like. Negative thoughts and perceptions can be locked in at the subconscious level. A hypnotherapist can help you visualize changes in these unwanted thoughts and behaviors. Through mental rehearsal, you can also learn how to do self-hypnosis to have some control of your mind/body.

Here is a startling reality: Every thought you have has a physical reaction. Because of this response, hypnosis can increase your serotonin levels (a calming hormone) decrease cortisol (the stress hormone), increase your immune system, your energy, lower your blood pressure, induce sleep, etc. These are just a few examples of the physical changes that thoughts can induce, not to mention the positive changes you can achieve in mood, motivation, confidence, and in enhanced concentration/focus/memory. When you feel empowered and confident, your health automatically improves with a better immune system, more energy, better sleep, etc.

We think of hypnosis as a modern invention, but in fact, it has been used for thousands of years to quiet pain and for other purposes. In ancient Egyptian sleep temples, people with illnesses would lie down while a therapist talked to them, resulting in what seemed like miraculous healings. Much later, and in Europe in 1770, Dr. Franz Mesmer used the term mesmerism, a word used to describe being mesmerized, or being intrigued or captivated by something.

In 1821, hypnosis was first used for anesthesia during medical procedures. By 1958, the American Medical Association approved hypnosis for medical uses, including pain management. Hypnosis has been used to quiet pain by doctors, dentists, and in hypnobirthing. Current research shows that patients using hypnosis before surgeries heal quicker with less swelling, infection, less use of pain medications, and nausea. Broken bones heal up to two weeks faster using hypnosis. Guided imagery can also speed the recovery of illnesses.

Central Arkansas has many trained hypnotists that can help people make the mind/body connection. There is a growing group of nurses that are working with hypnosis as a complementary therapy, medical hypnosis and pain management.

We have only touched the surface of what our minds can do for us. Hypnosis, prayer, meditation, & self-hypnosis are all ways to help you focus inward. Find a guide to help you learn and access your powerful inner mind! That person will work with your mind/body/spirit, and respect all three.

If you have any questions or would like a free consultation, please feel free to call (501) 416-0066.