Dr LeCrone
03-24-2006, 03:08 PM
Last week we talked about some of the misconceptions about hypnosis. This very useful technique can assist the professional trained in its use to help patients in many ways.
Many of us witness the effects of hypnosis on a daily basis without even knowing it. For example, I have always been impressed with the effect of a television cartoon on the concentration of my children. I have one son who I believe is so intensely involved in certain forms of entertainment that the house could burn down before he realized it was happening. It becomes necessary to almost shake him when he is studying for an exam or listening to some new form of instruction.
Many of us have experienced a phenomenon known as “road hypnosis.” The individual experiencing this finds himself beyond his destination, blocks past the grocery store or exit to his home. Engrossed in deep thought about something, he was still able to perform the necessary tasks to drive the car quite adequately.
An effective salesman utilizes many of these techniques of hypnosis in persuasive presentation. Through the use of certain vocal techniques and expressions of body language, the salesman increases the likelihood that the customer will do as he desires; namely, to buy his product.
Used in a clinical sense, hypnosis can be helpful in several areas.
• To change undesirable habits and behaviors such as overeating, smoking or other forms of undesirable behavior that persist because of compulsive tendencies.
• To manage chronic pain. People who have found this technique successful state that they are able to shift their focus of attention to other things.
• To manage stress. Many of the components of stress involve chronic tension. Hypnosis enables the individual using it to combat many of the ravages of tension and anxiety associated with stress.
An individual who becomes proficient in self-hypnosis generally reports an increase in self-confidence, self-awareness and personal effectiveness. It is not necessary to assign mystical qualities to this phenomenon, but instead view it as increasing the individual’s potential to use his own natural positive attributes.
• To take the patient back to memories of earlier periods of life, or age regression. Hypnosis is useful in certain psychotherapeutic problems and should be utilized by someone trained both in hypnosis and psychotherapy. Some individuals have repressed certain thoughts and painful memories. Hypnotherapy may help explore these sensitive areas and work through these early traumas.
• To improve athletic performance in specific areas. Basketball players have improved their percentage of baskets at the free throw line. Golfers have improved their scores. Athletes have increased concentration, decreased anxiety and increased self-confidence. All of this works together and with the belief that these things work, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Although the human mind is still poorly understood as far as how a phenomenon such as hypnosis affects us, there is no doubt that this technique can help in everyday living.
Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 1985
Many of us witness the effects of hypnosis on a daily basis without even knowing it. For example, I have always been impressed with the effect of a television cartoon on the concentration of my children. I have one son who I believe is so intensely involved in certain forms of entertainment that the house could burn down before he realized it was happening. It becomes necessary to almost shake him when he is studying for an exam or listening to some new form of instruction.
Many of us have experienced a phenomenon known as “road hypnosis.” The individual experiencing this finds himself beyond his destination, blocks past the grocery store or exit to his home. Engrossed in deep thought about something, he was still able to perform the necessary tasks to drive the car quite adequately.
An effective salesman utilizes many of these techniques of hypnosis in persuasive presentation. Through the use of certain vocal techniques and expressions of body language, the salesman increases the likelihood that the customer will do as he desires; namely, to buy his product.
Used in a clinical sense, hypnosis can be helpful in several areas.
• To change undesirable habits and behaviors such as overeating, smoking or other forms of undesirable behavior that persist because of compulsive tendencies.
• To manage chronic pain. People who have found this technique successful state that they are able to shift their focus of attention to other things.
• To manage stress. Many of the components of stress involve chronic tension. Hypnosis enables the individual using it to combat many of the ravages of tension and anxiety associated with stress.
An individual who becomes proficient in self-hypnosis generally reports an increase in self-confidence, self-awareness and personal effectiveness. It is not necessary to assign mystical qualities to this phenomenon, but instead view it as increasing the individual’s potential to use his own natural positive attributes.
• To take the patient back to memories of earlier periods of life, or age regression. Hypnosis is useful in certain psychotherapeutic problems and should be utilized by someone trained both in hypnosis and psychotherapy. Some individuals have repressed certain thoughts and painful memories. Hypnotherapy may help explore these sensitive areas and work through these early traumas.
• To improve athletic performance in specific areas. Basketball players have improved their percentage of baskets at the free throw line. Golfers have improved their scores. Athletes have increased concentration, decreased anxiety and increased self-confidence. All of this works together and with the belief that these things work, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Although the human mind is still poorly understood as far as how a phenomenon such as hypnosis affects us, there is no doubt that this technique can help in everyday living.
Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 1985