Hypnotherapy Treatment for Anxiety

Hypnotherapy is a component in talk therapy that can be very effective in treating anxiety disorders.

The term ‘hypnotherapy’ is derived from the Greek word Hypnos, which means “To sleep.”

Since a person is put into a state of deep relaxation during hypnotherapy, the name makes sense. But the brain is anything but sleeping during this process.

In fact, hypnotherapy allows a patient’s mind to enter an extremely focused altered state of consciousness.

While in this altered state or “trance”, a person will be highly responsive to suggestion. Despite funny media portrayals, this does not mean a hypnotist can control a person’s free will or thoughts. Rather, the trance allows the hypnotherapist to make proposals that may help end or alter certain behaviours in the hypnotised patient.

For example, a person with phobias may benefit from the suggestion that his irrational fear is really no big deal. Or a person with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder may find that a hypnotherapist’s proposals, make this disorder’s all consuming rituals less necessary.

Suggestion Therapy – Anxiety Hypnosis Treatment

This type of hypnosis, is also known as Suggestion Therapy. And it’s one of the two ways that hypnotherapy can be used to treat anxiety disorders.

The other method is called analysis, and it uses the hypnotic state to find the root of the anxiety disorder. The idea behind analysis is that a person may have hidden, traumatic events in parts of his or her memory. Which are more likely to surface in a trance. Once these memories are brought to light, a therapist can then address and treat them during psychotherapy.

Analysis, while often very helpful, can pose a risk of creating false memories called confabulations. These confabulations are usually the result of unintended suggestions, made by the hypnotherapist. Careful care is taken by reputable psychotherapists when utilising hypnosis to help ensure that this will not happen.

Hypnotherapy is considered a valid treatment for anxiety disorders by both worldwide Medical Associations and Psychological Associations.

Still, hypnotherapy should always be performed by a licensed mental health professional, trained in the technique.