Hypnosis

Is hypnosis neurological?

We deliberately write it differently here than neurology because this is translated as the medical specialism that deals with “disorders” in the nervous system and the brain. What we mean here is the logic in the nervous system, because external signals are translated into behaviour that is sometimes logical (but often illogical) to us. Human neurology is the most complex of all animal species. Our nervous system is the basis for this. It is a network consisting of our brain, the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system.

The nervous system contains cells (neurons) that can receive, process and transmit information. Ultimately, our nervous system connects all parts of our body. Information is sent from the brain to other parts of the body and vice versa. All in all, the nervous system is an enormous biological computer, consisting of a network of areas that together enable us to respond to the outside world and feel what the body feels and needs.

Our nervous system (biological computer) contains programmes. These form the basis of our thoughts, feelings and behaviour. These programmes are stored on our hard drive. They usually run in the background (unconsciously). And as long as they are in line with our conscious desires, we experience no problems.

Sometimes programmes don't work as well or no longer fit into our lives. They work against us. Then it's time to update or remove a programme. Hypnosis is a means to this end. It is a state in which we can update very quickly and deeply. Neurologically speaking, hypnosis is nothing more than a certain brain frequency. You can compare it to the placebo effect: test subjects are given a sugar pill and told that it works. Their bodies and minds then respond to this. Symptoms disappear, illnesses are cured. The bizarre thing about this is that the effect is even noticeable when the test subjects know that it is a sugar pill. This shows that ‘mind over matter’ is not a philosophy but reality.

Updating or removing a programme can change the way you think, feel and act. Whether it concerns an addiction, unresolved trauma or psychosomatic complaints.

So how does hypnosis work?

Concentrating on reading a book, forgetting the world around you, is already hypnosis. You may sometimes drive home on autopilot and, once home, not remember much about the journey itself. That too is a form of hypnosis. Hypnosis has different degrees: from a light trance (reading a book) to complete anaesthesia (numbness). Changes can already be brought about in light hypnosis, but medium to deep hypnosis is most effective. Hypnosis is not sleep; you are simply conscious and can hear everything. In show forms of hypnosis, it is possible to make people (temporarily) deaf, but we do not use those techniques. For us, hypnosis is a therapeutic tool.

It has been proven that the causes of some complaints and problems cannot be found in the conscious mind but in the subconscious. If you are afraid of spiders, you have probably once linked a negative emotion (emotions are stored in the subconscious) to an experience with spiders. Everyone can tell you that spiders are not scary or dangerous, but your subconscious has anchored this unpleasant experience and you respond to it with fear. With guidance and your willingness to undergo hypnosis, a state of trance can be achieved in which changes can be made in the subconscious.