Descriptions of the hypnotic process going back 6000 years. During the past 200 years, hypnosis became more formalized but had to battle for mainstream acceptance against organized religion and medical science.
Here is a time line listing of some of the most significant leader in the field involved in the advancement of hypnosis as a legitimate adjunct modality:
Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815) The Austrian physician is commonly referred to as the father of Hypnosis. His technique at the time was called animal magnetism which he claimed involved the individual’s psychic and electromagnetic energies.
Even though his work was shunned by the medical community at the time, it was Mesmer who was responsible for spreading the word of the soon to be called hypnosis to the newly settled United States. Now you know where the term ‘to become mesmerized’ originated.
In 1784 the French Academy of Sciences led by Benjamin Franklin were commissioned to evaluate Mesmer. They concluded that he was not the one doing the healing but that his patients were self-healing. They said that the patient’s imagination was enhanced with Mesmer’s technique empowering them to become completely self-healed.
On the surface it seemed that Mesmer was labeled a failure. Actually, the commission proved what we have all come to learn about the true nature of hypnosis; all hypnosis is self-hypnosis. As a hypnotist, I not only teach individuals to independently descend to a powerful level of thought but I also supply them with positive words, images and metaphors.
The result is new patterns, values and beliefs supporting the client’s goals. True power always resides within the client; the hypnotist is merely the facilitator.
James Braid (1795-1860) was an English physician who coined the name ‘hypnosis’ which is a Greek derivative for sleep. Braid soon realized that hypnosis was not sleep at all and unsuccessfully tried to change the name to ‘monoeidism’.
James EsDaile (1805-1859) was the surgeon who successfully performed 345 major operations using only hypnosis as the anesthetic. Soon after his dramatic research was published ether was discovered replacing the need for hypno-anesthesia.
Jean Martin Charcot (1825 –1893) was a French neurologist who labeled the three stages of hypnosis as lethargy, catalepsy and somnambulism.
Pierre Janet (1845-1947) was a French neurologist who advanced the use of hypnosis for the therapeutic value of relaxation and healing. He was in the minority of those who used hypnosis during the growing popularity of psychoanalytic therapy.
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) claimed to not prefer hypnosis because he thought he couldn’t hypnotize patients deep enough but it was also commonly known that he was just not that good at it. Freud’s shunning of hypnosis slowed its acceptance by the medical community.
Milton Erickson (1932-1974) was an Arizona psychiatrist who is commonly referred to as the father of modern hypnosis. He was the master of indirect hypnotic suggestion. He played a significant role in the 1958 acceptance of hypnosis by the American Medical Association.
By: Paul Gustafson RN CH
In one study an average savings of $1,200 per patient resulted from this simple 5-minute intervention of hypnosis before surgery. (Western Journal of Medicine. 1993) Those who are mentally prepared for surgery consistently have fewer complications, require fewer medications, and heal more quickly.
The reason pre-surgical hypnosis is so effective is because it offers direct access to our most powerful level of thought, the subconscious mind. This enables individuals to powerfully fine tune and prepare body and mind for surgery.
Paul Gustafson, R.N., C.H. is an ‘A List’ provider on Angie’s List. Check out his Gastric Band weight loss program. Also available as cd or download. Contact info: 888-290-3972 or info@burlingtonhypnosis.com.
Another competitive advantage of hypnosis is that the imagination resides in the subconscious mind. This offers the unique opportunity to begin seeing and feeling the positive change you desire. With hypnosis one can engage in the ongoing process of self-design which gives the subconscious the necessary information to begin creating patterns supporting what you most frequently consider.
We all follow the path of our most dominant thoughts; we are what we think we are. If unhealthy patterns have been repeated for decades then who we are is deeply rooted in the subconscious. All diets fail because they are just temporary conscious level attempts to alter subconscious level patterns. Hypnosis is the only point-of-cause modality that treats the real problem which is not the weight but rather the thoughts that led to the weight.
By: Paul Gustafson RN CH
This was forwarded to me today, I hope you like it.:
“I was talking to my neighbor in the driveway the other day and he mentioned something in conversation that caught my attention. He said that he thinks strangers have started smiling at him more often than they used to. He said people rarely made eye contact with him and didn’t seem very friendly… until recently. He said he couldn’t believe how a simple smile from a stranger could warm his heart, and wondered if the world had become a kinder place. Then he caught his reflection in the car mirror and nodded with satisfaction, almost as if he had solved an intricate puzzle. He had been smiling during our entire conversation without even knowing it. ”
“Here’s the way I see it: People are like mirrors. We reflect each others attitudes, love, and passion for life. Just remember, if your business needs help reflecting its personality with promotional materials that shine, we’re just a phone call away!”
Learn how to set your weight loss and fitness goals. If you’re trying to lose weight, get healthy, build muscle or excel at a sport, you’ll need specific goals. When you don’t have a specific goal, it’s difficult to keep exercising and to track your progress to see how far you’ve come. Before you get busy, take a moment and ask yourself these questions:
- What do I want to accomplish with this exercise program?
- Is my goal realistic and attainable?
- Do I know how to reach my goal?
- When do I want to reach my goal?
- How will I reward myself when I reach my goal?
For example, is it reasonable to want to lose 50 pounds in 6 months? It’s possible, but may not be reasonable unless you eat well and exercise every single day for the next 6 months. Experts recommend that you lose no more than 1-2 pounds per week, but it isn’t likely that you’ll lose 2 pounds every single week and many people find they actually lose about .5 to 1 pound on a good week. For more, check out How to Set Weight Loss Goals.
Keep in mind that:
- The more weight you lose, the harder it will be to lose weight because the less weight your body has to move around, the less calories it will burn doing so.
- The closer you get to your goal, the harder it will be to reach it–in fact, you may NEVER reach it (ever talk to someone who’s still trying to lose that last 5 pounds?).
- The weight you can maintain may not be the weight you want to be.
- Scale weight isn’t always the best way to track progress. The scale won’t tell you what you’ve lost and/or gained. Be sure to use other tools to track your progress.
- Weight loss isn’t the only goal you can have and may not even be the most motivating. Giving up the Weight Loss Obsession may be your first step to success.
After you set your goal, find out how to reach it. If you want to lose weight or become better at a sport, you need to do some research to figure out where to start. Browse through these different goals to find out more about getting started:
- Setting Realistic Fitness Goals
- How to Lose Fat
- How to Gain Muscle
- Training for Sports
- Getting Healthy
It’s helpful to know what you have to do before you get started. Many people are surprised at the daily effort it takes to reach their goals.
Once you know what you’re doing and how you’re doing it, you’ll need some strategies for sticking with it:
- Schedule your workouts
- Set weekly goals and reward yourself each time you succeed
- Work out with friends or family for added motivation
- Recommit to your goals every day
- Be prepared by always having your workout bag with you, bringing your lunch to work, etc.
- Keep a food and workout journal to stay on track and measure your progress
- Take your measurements regularly
(Caloriecount.com)
