Self-hypnosis: How can you help yourself?

Since the dawn of time, hypnosis been an empirical method adopted by the ancient societies to enter a therapeutic trance. Having been theorized and framed, it then became a method of healthcare particularly popular in Anglo-Saxon countries. Once condemned by the Academy of Medicine, it was brought back to its position after the Second World War.  Hypnosis was then used to treat post- traumatic states before it entered the operating room. Anaesthetists offered patients the assistance of hypnosis during surgery.

Its advantages are numerous: it can distract the patient from pain and thus reduce the use of anaesthetics, opt for a local response rather than general anaesthesia, and also facilitate recovery as it limits the quantity and duration of bleeding.

Many benefits have been observed daily by the medical profession. Nevertheless, hypnosis continues to be viewed with an air of suspicion, seen as a practice halfway between witchcraft and charlatanism. Francine-Hélène Samak is a psychologist and hypnosis practitioner for 25 years. The author of “Self-hypnosis, the art of beneficial influence” (éd. Bussière) helps us to clearly see the practice that can help to alleviate our physical and mental ailments effectively, without side effects and even… at home.

What is hypnosis?

Francine-Hélène Samak: Hypnosis, far from being a magical state, is basically a natural state. When we are absorbed in our thoughts and the world around us seems far away, we are in a state of hypnosis. Several times a day, we enter this altered state of consciousness, as when we look at a landscape without really seeing, for example. It is this state that hypnotherapists seek to replicate to treat pain, phobias, psychosomatic disorders, addictions or stress.

Why does this state allow us access to a better existence?

Francine-Hélène Samak: Because hypnosis puts us into a different state of consciousness. A state where the unconscious part of the mind can also be accessed. Things we cannot foresee in the conscious state are reorganized in our minds through this door. The images that come to us allow us to reorganize our beliefs and way of thinking. Much of what we learn, acquire and forget during our existence resurfaces. Hypnosis offers us the possibility to access this with great simplicity and efficiency, that does not exist in other brief therapies.

Why are we so suspicious of this practice?

Francine-Hélène Samak: Many misconceptions exist. First, about the state we enter seeming to be one of a deep sleep. It is in fact nothing of that sort. It is more like the in-between of going to sleep or waking up. Second, it is claimed that once hypnotized, we would be capable of anything at all. However, all it takes is a word from the hypnotherapist that does not suit us for us to immediately leave the state in which we were immersed and return to that of wakefulness.

Continue reading our report on hypnosis:

– Is self-hypnosis suitable for you?

– How do we perform self-hypnosis?

– Self-hypnosis: Can we do without a hypnotherapist?

Fanny Dalbera