The first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of hypnosis is usually a magician convincing a person to act like a chicken. Hypnosis, however, is a real approach that doctors can use to treat pain, depression, anxiety, phobias, and more. Hypnosis is a state in which a person appears to be under a trance and is extremely concentrated (Brandt, 2012). It is not a new concept. In fact, hypnosis was used by the ancient Egyptians over 2,000 years ago (healing power, 2006). In the 1770s, an Austrian physician named Franz Anton Mesmer began to study hypnosis scientifically. More recently, it was used during World War I and World War II to treat soldiers who experienced post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental disorders after the wars (World
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The first is that the hypnotized lose their free will. The hypnotized are capable of refusing suggestions, choosing between right and wrong, and controlling themselves. Psychologists often compare it to getting lost in a book, movie, or a drive home (healing power, 2006). Another misconception is that hypnosis is dangerous. This can be true if it is abused by someone without proper training, but if it is performed by a professional, it can be used to positively affect patients psychologically, socially, and physically (World Book, 2014). In children, however, hypnosis should only be used to treat major physical pain or serious emotional trauma (Abraham, …show more content…
Hospitals benefit financially and patients benefit physically. During a 2007 study, researchers hypnotized breast cancer patients before a surgery. The group that was hypnotized had a shorter surgery time, saving the hospital $772 per patient (Wolchover, 2011). The study also reported that breast cancer patients who had a hypnosis session before a surgery reported less pain, nausea, fatigue, and discomfort after the surgery than the patients who simply had a listening session (Wolchover, 2011). Dr. David Spiegel himself also had a shoulder surgery in 1972 and did not use pain medicine during recovery. Instead, he hypnotized himself (Oaklander, 2016). Hypnosis for chronic pain can be prescribed, but it must be repeated as the decrease in pain is temporary (Wolchover, 2011). Spiegel believes that hypnotism can and should be used in place of painkillers in many cases. His research has shown that when those afflicted with pain know how to hypnotize themselves, they use half the pain medication and experience half the pain than those who take opioids, decreasing their chances of addiction (Oaklander, 2016). Spiegel believes that hypnotism would be the best alternative treatment because both opioids and hypnotism affect similar regions of the brain (Oaklander, 2016). The use of hypnosis instead of opioids would benefit hospitals financially as hypnosis is free. Hypnosis would benefit patients as well as it would not cause them to be
The first is that the hypnotized lose their free will. The hypnotized are capable of refusing suggestions, choosing between right and wrong, and controlling themselves. Psychologists often compare it to getting lost in a book, movie, or a drive home (healing power, 2006). Another misconception is that hypnosis is dangerous. This can be true if it is abused by someone without proper training, but if it is performed by a professional, it can be used to positively affect patients psychologically, socially, and physically (World Book, 2014). In children, however, hypnosis should only be used to treat major physical pain or serious emotional trauma (Abraham, …show more content…
Hospitals benefit financially and patients benefit physically. During a 2007 study, researchers hypnotized breast cancer patients before a surgery. The group that was hypnotized had a shorter surgery time, saving the hospital $772 per patient (Wolchover, 2011). The study also reported that breast cancer patients who had a hypnosis session before a surgery reported less pain, nausea, fatigue, and discomfort after the surgery than the patients who simply had a listening session (Wolchover, 2011). Dr. David Spiegel himself also had a shoulder surgery in 1972 and did not use pain medicine during recovery. Instead, he hypnotized himself (Oaklander, 2016). Hypnosis for chronic pain can be prescribed, but it must be repeated as the decrease in pain is temporary (Wolchover, 2011). Spiegel believes that hypnotism can and should be used in place of painkillers in many cases. His research has shown that when those afflicted with pain know how to hypnotize themselves, they use half the pain medication and experience half the pain than those who take opioids, decreasing their chances of addiction (Oaklander, 2016). Spiegel believes that hypnotism would be the best alternative treatment because both opioids and hypnotism affect similar regions of the brain (Oaklander, 2016). The use of hypnosis instead of opioids would benefit hospitals financially as hypnosis is free. Hypnosis would benefit patients as well as it would not cause them to be