What is a Trance?

Trance is a very natural, everyday experience for all of us. You, the reader, have been in and out of a trance a number of times since you woke up this morning. For example, when you stare off into space and you daydream or fantasize, that's a trance. When you have been riding down the highway and are lost in your own thoughts or entranced in a conversation with a passenger and are surprised that you have forgotten part of the ride or that you traveled so far, that's a trance. A person can be entranced reading a good book, entranced listening to music or watching a TV show. Trance is a conscious experience but an altered or alternate state of consciousness.

How does Hypnosis work?

All hypnosis involves a focus of consciousness on something (e.g., the hypnotist's voice, staring at a spot on the wall or imagining something in one's mind like consecutive numbers). Since the person's conscious attention is concentrated or focused, the person "lets go" of control of the unconscious mind. The "unconscious" includes our automatic, unconscious behaviors and experiences, and the functioning of the involuntary nervous system. The unconscious usually is quite significant in terms of our emotional experience. Many emotional problems are significantly influenced by unconscious processes.

What is Self-Hypnosis?

Self-hypnosis means going into a trance for yourself. Usually a person will use a structured procedure or "induction" which involves a focus of consciousness. After practicing self-hypnosis, many people can just "let go" and go into a trance without needing the induction procedure. Most people find self-hypnosis more effective after first being hypnotized by someone else.

What is Clinical Hypnosis Helpful or Useful For?

Hypnosis is not a cure-all, however, sometimes the results of hypnosis can be very dramatic and effective. The usefulness or limitations or hypnosis are not yet fully established. Hypnosis is a tool to be used by a professional within that person's profession and training. For example, a dentist might use hypnosis to help a patient with pain but he or she should not treat phobias. More and more physicians are using hypnosis for stress management.

Hypnosis can be very effective in the treatment of a wide variety of emotional disorders, such as phobias and other anxiety conditions, many sexual problems, and unhealthy habits or compulsions. Of course, more complex conditions, such as psychotic disorders or serious depressions, would usually require medication and psychotherapy, but hypnosis might also be helpful as a part of the treatment plan. Hypnosis can also be helpful in treating acute or chronic pain.

Can anyone be Hypnotized?

Anyone can be hypnotized. Besides the skill of the hypnotist, the two variables that are most important for being hypnotized are: (1) the person's motivation and (2) the person feeling at least some safety or comfort within the hypnotist setting. Some people may have a more difficult time "letting go" into trance than others and it may take longer for these persons to learn to experience trance.

What about the level or depth of trance?

Different experiences can be associated with various levels of trance. However, there is little relationship between the depth of trance and treatment effectiveness. For example, just as many persons with whom I have used hypnosis for cigarette smoking cessation were successful who experienced lighter states of trance as those who experienced a deep trance.

Would someone say or do something against their will because of hypnosis?
(In other words, will I cluck like a chicken?)

This is a myth. No one would ever say or do something against their morals or values because they are hypnotized. Such misconceptions stem from portrayals of hypnosis in the mass media and by stage hypnosis.

Is hypnosis like being asleep?

Not really. Sleep, like coma, is unconscious experiencing. However, with trance the person is quite conscious but conscious processes might be slowed down or suspended to some extent. The hypnotized person is aware of the hypnotist's voice and of other things taking place in the environment, sometimes even more aware than she/he would be normally.

Is hypnosis like transcendental meditation?

Transcendental meditation (TM) is a trance-like experience and can be considered a form of hypnosis. When the practitioner of TM is alone and meditating, it is therefore like a form of self-hypnosis. However, the objectives of practicing TM may be different. In TM, the objective is to clear the mind; with clinical hypnosis there could be many different clinical objectives. For more information on TM, do a search on the web at Google or try the Transcendental Meditation Portal.

Is trance and relaxation the same thing?

No. In most clinical applications of hypnosis, there will be at least some relaxation or a slowing down of bodily processes. However, a person can be in trance even when the body is not relaxed. For example, most long distance or marathon runners will go into trance after running a number of miles. They might imagine being somewhere else and this will help them to "leave their body in some way" (in a manner of speaking) and not experience as much muscle pain or discomfort. In other words, whether they know it or not, they are doing self-hypnosis for pain control and to increase stamina.

Can someone not wake up from hypnosis or trance?

First of all, when you're hypnotized or in a trance, you are not asleep. Sometimes a hypnotized person who is coming out of a trance may feel a little groggy for a few moments and may continue to feel calm or "slowed down" but the hypnotized person can choose to become alert or come out of trance whenever desired.

Are hypnosis and biofeedback the same?

No. Hypnosis as described above is somewhat different from biofeedback. Biofeedback usually involves providing electronic feedback to an individual with the aim of gaining increased control over one or more bodily functions. For example, providing visual readout of fingertip temperature might eventually allow a person to learn how to increase that temperature by conscious decision, etc. For more information about biofeedback, search at Google or try the Association for Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback.

What about all these hypnosis clinics?

Most involve group hypnosis. These clinics are less costly but also likely to be less effective than hypnotic treatment done on an individual basis by a qualified mental health or medical professional. Group hypnosis sessions, are often run by persons who not trained in either mental health or medicine, and having these qualifications can be very important for success.

Hypnosis for Cigarette Smoking Cessation and Diet Control

I am the senior author of the book, Modern Clinical Hypnosis for Habit Control (find it at amazon.com). For over 500 people that I have treated, hypnosis was very successful in helping them to stop smoking. About 10% of these patients had a mild "slip" or relapse after 9 to 12 months, but most were then able to stop smoking after a brief intervention (sometimes over the telephone). Treatment for smoking cessation for most people is 3 to 4 one hour sessions, or 2 longer two hour
sessions. In all cases, patients are screened ahead of time. Important screening variables are motivation, current stress in the person's life, and the extent of alcohol use.

Hypnotic treatment for diet control involves 3 to 6 or more hourly sessions. Treatment is weekly at first and then tapers. Hypnosis for weight loss has also been quite successful. However, it is often necessary to address a number of emotional and systemic issues or patient sensitivities that are associated with overeating or being overweight. An important strategy in the treatment of unhealthy habitual patterns is having patients regularly practice self-hypnosis.

Dr. Citrenbaum has agreed to permit NBCCHers to copy any part or all of the above article to produce a brochure or handout for new clients. Please attribute any printed brochures, etc. to him.

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