Relaxing Techniques- 7 Reasons Why You Should Try Self-Hypnosis
You may think of hypnosis as a therapy technique only performed by professionals. Or, you might assume that hypnosis is just a trick performed by an entertainer or stage “hypnotist.” However, hypnosis is a real therapeutic tool that you too can use in your own home, among other relaxing techniques.
Self-Hypnosis Reason #1: You Can Practice at Any Time
One of the advantages of self-hypnosis is that the technique is useful any time. For instance, if you struggle often with anxiety, you can use self-hypnosis to stay relaxed. With self-hypnosis, you do not go into a trance or become brainwashed. Rather, you become more open to suggestions and feel more relaxed. Thus, you can use self-hypnosis at any time.
Self-Hypnosis Reason #2: Self-Hypnosis is Easy to Practice
You don’t need any equipment or tools to practice self-hypnosis. It can be as simple as relaxing, counting backward from 10, and saying a reassuring statement or phrase to yourself. This can might be a simple, easy-to-repeat phrase, such as “I’ve got this.”
Self-Hypnosis Reason #3: Self-Hypnosis is Useful for Many Problems
Self-hypnosis can be used to address several mental-health problems. These include:
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Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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Phobias
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Other stress-related conditions.
These mental conditions come with constantly feeling stressed, often because you believe that you are constantly at risk or in danger. For instance, a common phobia is the fear of germs. People may wash their hands a lot or fear touching certain objects. This results from a fear of getting sick. Relaxing techniques can help these people to calm down under stress. The ability to calm down can be empowering for those who face these issues every day. However, the usefulness of relaxing techniques is not only limited to mental health concerns.
Self-Hypnosis Reason #4: Self-Hypnosis and PTSD
Among the issues mentioned above, there is interesting research into treating veterans with PTSD. One study found that veterans who were taught relaxing techniques like self-hypnosis were better able to handle traumatic memories that occurred during their everyday lives. Traumatized people, such as domestic violence victims, may also find the technique helpful.
Self-Hypnosis Reason #5: Self-Hypnosis and Other Medical Problems
Relaxing techniques are also helpful for treating serious medical issues. Self-hypnosis has been studied for:
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Treating pain for women during childbirth.
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Addressing chronic pain for those suffering from HIV infection.
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Helping those who have been diagnosed with ALS.
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Aiding people with sickle-cell disease.
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Helping people lose weight.
Having a serious medical condition or giving birth can be very stressful. Thus, knowing relaxing techniques can make the experience more bearable.
Self-Hypnosis Reason #6: Self-Hypnosis is Free!
You don’t have to pay extra money to learn relaxing techniques like self-hypnosis. A simple web search will bring up pages that provide advice on how to use it. These are techniques that you can print out and practice on your own. Make sure, though, that you talk about self-hypnosis with your mental-health professional.
Self-Hypnosis Reason #7: Self-Hypnosis can be Used with Other Therapies
Since self-hypnosis is useful in the moment to relax and stay calm when stressed, it can be integrated as part of an overall therapeutic treatment. When you see a therapist you can discuss with them using cognitive behavioral therapy what happened when you experienced anxiety or stress and what you did to relax. In turn, your therapist can suggest other techniques or advise you on how to resolve your issues.
Self-hypnosis is not some kind of fringe therapy. It is an important therapeutic tool. Use it alongside other treatments to address serious issues. By using self-hypnosis relaxing techniques, you can exercise more control when experiencing stress, anxiety, or other problems that you face in your life.