About Hypnosis
Hypnosis is a gentle and safe psychological technique that’s been used by clinicians for centuries. It’s natural and normal – we dip into a light state of hypnosis when engrossed in a book or totally absorbed in an activity. It’s a state of mind that we can use to our benefit once we know how.
“The best thing about it was the way that I felt awful before the session and then so calm, confident and happy after it”
RG
How can hypnosis help my IBS?
The idea that thoughts in your head are connected to a physical problem like IBS might sound strange, but thoughts alone are constantly causing physical changes in the body. A happy thought might make you smile, or if you think of something scary your heart speeds up, your muscles tense and your skin goes clammy. Thoughts provide a tool for changing how you physically feel and this can be used to reduce your IBS. Hypnosis is a technique that effectively facilitates this process.
What is hypnosis like?
When you go into a hypnotic trance you slip into a relaxed, peaceful state of mind. Your attention is directed inwards and you become much less aware of what’s happening around you. Worries and fears are subdued, freeing you up to think more freely and creatively. Most people describe it as a relaxing and liberating experience.
Will I lose control?
Hypnosis is often misunderstood. Thanks to flamboyant stage shows people may have the misconception that a hypnotist can control you, but what happens on stage is more like a magic trick. If mind control was really possible then we’d all be James Bond and work for MI6. The hypnotic state is a relaxed state in which you remain in control of your actions and can’t be made to do anything against your will.
Is hypnosis a magic bullet?
The mere experience of being hypnotised does not guarantee success. A clinical hypnotherapist is a facilitator. They can guide you into a state of mind in which you are better able to make changes and then it’s you who decides what to do.
Can anyone be hypnotised?
It’s true that some people fall into a trance more readily than others, but with a bit of practice most people are able to get better at it.
The idea that the brain can change itself, can change its structure and function through thought and activity is the most important alteration in our view of the brain.”
Dr Norman Doidge, psychiatrist and psychoanalyst
Hypnosis for IBS – How can it help?
In Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy you learn how to control your particular IBS symptoms and retrain your gut to function better.
It typically takes around six sessions to sideline your symptoms, to the point where you can start to enjoy a more normal life.