PHENOMENA OF HYPNOSIS
The power of suggestion. Whilst in the hypnotic state, the person’s awareness is narrowed but is heightened and sharpened. So the suggestions of the hypnotist are totally received with minimal rejection. There are some very good hypnotic subjects who can go into a very deep hypnotic state. They can see imagined objects suggested to them or they can abolish the perception of pain if the appropriate suggestion is given. Hence hypnosis has been used in the management of chronic pain. The suggestion can also be made to change certain behaviours, and this has been used successfully to treat people who wish to give up smoking. The suggestion that the person can relax easily at night re-establishes confidence in sleeping and is very useful in some cases of insomnia.
Memory and age regression. Another most interesting feature of hypnosis is its influence on memory. People under hypnosis can remember things that they cannot remember whilst in the fully awake state. They can be taken back in time, to relive a period when they were much younger, this is called age regression.
Post-hypnotic suggestion. This is another unique phenomenon in hypnosis. Whilst under hypnosis, it is possible to suggest to the person that after he wakes up from the present trance he will perform a task such as blowing his nose when the hypnotist gives a pre-arranged signal. The person is then awakened from hypnosis, and may have apparently forgotten what went on whilst under hypnosis. After a while, conversations unrelated to hypnosis take place; then the hypnotist, without warning, claps his hands, which is the pre-arranged signal in this case. The person, seeing the signal, starts to have an irresistable urge to blow his nose. He may make some excuse that his nose is itchy and then blow his nose. Most people feel uncomfortable until the posthypnotic suggestion is carried out.
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