FitSugar

Hypnosis Proving to Offer Health Benefits, Studies Say

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 12:48:50 PDT

When I hear the word hypnosis, a man swinging a pendulum in front of a person squawking like a chicken is what comes to mind. Stage hypnosis, performed by entertainers, is vastly different than therapeutic hypnosis, which is used to improve a person's well-being. Over the last 10 years hypnosis has gained more recognition because more and more research shows hypnotherapy can effectively treat medical conditions. A number of studies have discovered that this type of treatment can help alleviate chronic pain, reduce stress and anxiety before surgery, and also lower health care costs since patients using hypnosis have shorter hospital stays.

The hypnotic state has been likened to meditation or daydreaming; when hypnotized, one has a heightened sense of inner focus and concentration. When under hypnosis, people tend to feel calm and relaxed and be capable of paying attention to one specific thought, memory, emotion, or sensation while blocking out any other distractions, making them extremely open to the power of suggestion, although they remain completely aware and in control of their actions. This is why hypnosis is used for weight loss, smoking cessation, pain control, childbirth, dental procedures, anxiety, and gastrointestinal problems such as IBS. It should be noted that one session won't instantly "cure" your ails, so don't expect to instantly despise cigarettes after your first appointment.

Hypnotherapy For Tummy Troubles

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:00:24 PDT

Hypnotherapy has been used to help folks quit smoking and lose weight, and now the alternative therapy is gaining ground as a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which causes abdominal pain, bloating, and sometimes diarrhea or constipation.

A prominent British gastroenterologist has found hynotherapy improved symptoms in nine out of 10 patients. After auditing the first 100 of his IBS patients that used hypnotherapy, the doctor found that in four in 10 cases, the symptoms disappeared entirely. This alternative treatment worked most successfully on young women with typical symptoms who had only been dealing with IBS for a short time. It is believed that hypnotherapy eases symptoms by relaxing the patients, which makes sense since stress is a contributing factor.

Say What? Hypnotherapist: Quitting Smoking Like Breaking Up

TresSugar — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:00:00 PDT

Look, we had some great times together and a lot of fun, but now I feel we are moving in different directions and I need to end this relationship.

- Natasha Bishop to her cigarette habit of 10 years. She took the advice of a hypnotherapist who says that one way to quit smoking is to have a breakup conversation with your cigarettes. "Until you actually have that conversation," she says, "there's always that little part of you that thinks, maybe we'll get back together. Let's face it. Getting back together with an ex is like throwing milk in the garbage and three days later thinking . . . maybe it'll be better this time around." Have you ever had to quit smoking? Would you consider alternative therapies if cold turkey, the patch, or nicotine gum didn't work?

What's the Deal With Hypnotherapy?

FitSugar — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:30:00 PDT

Let's face it: It's not easy to lose weight, or quit smoking, or get your stress under control. But if you've ever struggled with any of these health concerns, you know that the best solution is simply the one that works for you! So, why not give hypnotherapy a try?

We've heard that Lily Allen used it for weight loss, and I know several other people who have lost weight through hypnosis. Though it may sound a little new age-y, the method really makes a lot of sense, since it gets to the root of your self-control.

When used for health-related matters like dieting and smoking cessation, hypnosis is usually referred to as suggestion therapy. The therapist uses guided relaxation to put the subject into a sort of trance wherein she is susceptible to suggestion. Far from mind control, the trancelike state simply makes you more responsive to ideas - like the fact that you can live without cigarettes or a second piece of pie- that you might normally reject. To hear more about it,

read more. When you are in a hypnotized state, you will likely feel comfortable and relaxed but not really awake, almost as if you are dreaming. The hypnotherapist then makes suggestions in line with your treatment. If you are trying to lose weight, she might tell you that you should always stop eating when you are full. If you are trying to kick the smoking habit, the therapist could suggest that you think cigarettes taste yucky. Hypnotherapy can be used to treat addiction, as well as anxiety, phobias, insomnia, and depression. The technique is often used in tandem with standard psychotherapy or, in the case of smoking, along with other cessation programs. Regardless of whether you're using it to lose weight or tackle another problem, make sure you're working with a licensed professional. Have you tried hypnotherapy, or do you know anyone who has? If so, tell me about it below. Source

Hypnotherapy to Quit Smoking

FitSugar — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 10:15:00 PDT

You might have heard that Lily Allen lost weight using hypnotherapy but have you heard the same technique works for giving up smokes too?

A recent study found that to quit smoking and stay smoke free, hypnotherapy is more effective than going cold turkey or just using the nicotine patches or nicotine gum. Free hypnotherapy was offered to both heart and lung patients after hospitalization, and 50% of the patients using hypnotherapy alone, or with nicotine replacement therapies, stayed smoke free. An interesting aside: a considerably higher percentage of heart patients stayed smoke free compared to lung patients.

If you have had trouble quitting smoking in the past, getting hypnotized could be the answer. If you do smoke, quitting is one of the best things you can do for your health.

I am curious if any of you have tried hypnotherapy for smoking, or dieting? Let me know in the comments section below.

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What Do You Think About Hypnotherapy?

DearSugar — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 11:00:00 PDT

Hypnosis claims to help people quit smoking, stop snoring, overcome fears, and lose weight, but how does it work?

I did a little research and found out that the brain operates in 4 different states: Full Conscious Awareness, the Hypnotic State, the Dream State, and the Sleep State. We spend most of our waking hours in the Full Conscious Awareness state, and as we drift into sleep, we pass through the 3 other states. The Hypnotic State is a place where you are not really thinking, you are just experiencing.

When you are hypnotized, the therapist can then make suggestions to your subconscious mind without your conscious mind getting in the way so you can overcome whatever fears or habits you want to get rid of.

When you are hypnotized, you're in an enhanced state of awareness so if you're contemplating going under, don't worry about doing things you aren't comfortable with -- you are actually fully aware of what's going on.

While it did help my friend quit smoking for a short period of time, I'm still a bit skeptical. Have any of you experienced hypnotherapy? Has it worked for you or do you think it's just a big scam?

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