Is hypnosis safe and effective?
Hypnosis is a state of consciousness involving focused attention and reduced peripheral awareness, which can make people more open to suggestions for behavior changes or coping with stress, pain, anxiety and other conditions1. Hypnosis is usually done by a trained health care provider using verbal repetition and mental images2.
Hypnosis is generally considered a safe and effective therapy, as long as it is done by a certified professional and the person undergoing hypnosis is willing and motivated12. However, hypnosis may not be suitable for some people with severe mental illness or those who are easily influenced by others2. Some possible side effects of hypnosis are dizziness, headache, nausea, drowsiness, anxiety, sleep problems and emotional distress2.
The efficacy of hypnosis depends on various factors, such as the type and severity of the condition, the skill of the hypnotherapist, the rapport between the client and the therapist, and the expectations and beliefs of the client1. There is evidence that hypnosis can help with many issues, such as chronic pain, hot flashes, irritable bowel syndrome, smoking cessation, weight loss and more which we will go into detail in a moment.12345.
