What our clients say
FAQ About Hypnosis
1What is Hypnosis?
Since the 1700's, when hypnosis was first discovered, there have been dozens of attempts to describe hypnosis. The most recent scientific evidence, however, comes from Stanford University School of Medicine, where they discovered 3 things happening in the brain under hypnosis:
- The brain becomes focused on a single idea. Some have called this "mono-ideaism". Everything else in the environment is tuned out. (Decrease in activity in the dorsal anterior cingulate)
- The brain-body connection becomes activated, allowing the brain to have control over the body. We utilize this to relieve pain. (Increase in connections between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the insula)
- There is a disconnect between your actions and your awareness of your actions. (Reduced connections between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the default mode network)
2Is it possible that I cannot be hypnotized?
According to some researchers, about 10% of the population cannot be hypnotized. However, the very nature of scientific research requires all hypnotic inductions used in the experiments be performed identically. And that fails to account for the fact that we are all "wired" differently. Your Pain Escape Hypnotist can adjust the hypnosis session to accomodate almost anyone's requirements for obtaining the desired hypnotic state. It is very rare for a Pain Escape Hypnotist to be unable to achieve the desired state.
3What is it like to be in a hypnotic trance?
The closest thing to being in a hypnotic trance is probably watching a movie in the theater. You are relaxed and become absorbed in the film and tune out everything around you, in order to "experience" the movie fully. You are not asleep or unconscious!
4How does hypnosis relieve pain?
For some, pain relief comes as a form of numbness in which you have no sensation of pain at all. For others, hypnosis simply allows the mind to no longer care about the sensations coming from the source of pain. Either way, hypnotherapy can relieve your suffering.
5Can you guarantee success in pain relief?
Just as your physician or dentist cannot guarantee outcomes, neither can we. Every person is wired differently. We will publish percentages of success on our web site, but let's say we have an 80% success rate with some particular procedure. Do you know if you are in that 80% group or not? Your Pain Escape Hypnotist is trained in a wide variety of different protocols for obtaining relief from suffering, and we will zero in on those that offer you the best results!
6How many sessions will it take?
It may sound like a copout to say it all depends on how your mind works with your body. But everyone benefits from the very first session, and we will publish the average number of sessions across the Pain Escape Network. Some are able to re-wire their brain in a few sessions. Some take a few months. We urge you not to think of hypnotism as a magical way to switch pain off in a single session. But everyone realizes a benefit, and you will learn in our sessions how to give yourself more and more relief over time.
7What if I want help with smoking, anxiety, weight loss, etc?
Pain Escape® offices are focused on chronic pain and the alleviation of anxiety some may have before a surgical or dental procedure. However, some of our Pain Escape Hypnotists also have additional training and Advanced Certifications to provide general hypnosis services of all kinds. Check the Office Locator to see if your preferred office has Advanced Certifications.
Myths about Hypnosis
1Is Hypnosis the same as Mind Control?
Not if it implies that the hypnotist controls your mind. You control your own mind. The hypnotist will lead you in a process that gives you more control over your own mind, to help change the way your mind processes pain, anxiety, and other conditions you want to treat.
2Will I divulge all my secrets?
No. Your Pain Escape Hypnotist is only interested in the things in your mind that improve your health, reduce anxiety, and relieve your pain. If there are things in your past that might be causing your problems, talk to your hypnotist about them, and discuss whether it might be useful to explore those memories.
3Is it possible to get stuck in a trance?
No. The hypnotic state is similar to daydreaming or "zoning out". You've probably done that a thousand times, right? And you never got "stuck".
4Can a hypnotist make me do something I don't want to do?
No. In hypnosis, you won't do anything you do not want to do. You would open your eyes and look at the hypnotist and object to anything that violates your conscience.
5Are there any negative side-effects?
No. Experts all agree that hypnotism is one of the safest methods of treatment, with no after-effects except maybe a profound sense of relaxation and peace of mind.
6Are you going to make me bark like a dog or cluck like a chicken?
No. That's what you see in stage hypnotism shows. We have no use for dogs barking or chickens clucking in our office. But the same mental dynamics that allow someone on stage to not be aware they are barking or clucking is also effective in helping you not be aware you have pain!
7Will I remember what happened while I was in trance?
Yes. The hypnotic state is akin to daydreaming. You are not asleep. You won't have amnesia. You will hear everything said, and you can choose to remember everything you want to remember.
| All Pain Escape Offices | |
|---|---|
| Referral Requirement | |
| Headache | (Referral desired if possible)1 |
| Neck Pain | Must be referred by Physician |
| Shoulder Pain | Must be referred by Physician |
| Back Pain | Must be referred by Physician |
| Hip Pain | Must be referred by Physician |
| Sciatica | Must be referred by Physician |
| Leg or Knee Pain | Must be referred by Physician |
| Foot Pain | Must be referred by Physician |
| IBS | (Referral desired if possible)1 |
| Internal Chronic Pain | Must be referred by Physician |
| Fibromyalgia | Must be referred by Physician |
| Other Chronic Pain | Must be referred by Physician |
| 1 If you are experiencing a new pain, you should always see a doctor, chiropractor, or dentist, and get a referral before seeing us, because this is a cry for help from the painful part of your body. However, if your doctor has already done as much as s/he can and you are still in pain months later (i.e. chronic), medical research shows hypnosis can help reduce your suffering. If you are not currently being treated by a healthcare provider for the condition, we will decide during your initial visit whether we can proceed without a referral. | |
| All Pain Escape Offices | |
|---|---|
| Referral Requirement | |
| Bruxism | (Referral desired if possible) |
| Jaw Pain | Must be referred by Dentist |
| Other Mouth Pain | (Referral desired if possible) |
| Tooth Pain | Must be referred by Dentist |
| Post-op Recovery | None required |
| Pre-op Anxiety | None required |
| Stress | None required |
| Some Pain Escape Offices2 | |
|---|---|
| Referral Requirement | |
| Anger Problems | None required |
| Anxiety | None required |
| Confidence Problems | None required |
| Depression | None required |
| Eating Problems | None required |
| Fear or Phobia | None required |
| Hair Pulling | None required |
| Nail-biting | None required |
| Procrastination | None required |
| Sexual Issue | None required |
| Skin Picking | None required |
| Sleep Problems | None required |
| Smoking | None required |
| Social Anxiety | None required |
| Sports Performance | None required |
| Subconscious Block | None required |
| Test Anxiety | None required |
| Weight | None required |
| Bad Habit | None required |
| 2 Requires Advanced Certification. Offices staffed by hypnotists with Advanced Certifications are shown in the Office Locator table and are identified at the top of the Local Office's information page. | |