Hypnosis and Meditation

Hypnosis and Meditation - Answers

The answers are in BOLD below.

NOTE: The transcript from the video is listed below the quiz for your reference.

1. Hypnotherapy can be used as an anesthetic because it can

convince the patient he or she doesn't feel pain
distract the patient from the pain
eliminate the feeling of pain
raise the body's pain threshold
redirect the pain to another part of the body

2. Meditation has been shown to

maintain healthy alpha and theta brainwaves
increase theta brainwaves and decrease alpha brainwaves
increase alpha brainwaves and decrease theta brainwaves
increase alpha and theta brainwaves
decrease alpha and theta brainwaves

3. Milton Erickson believed that hypnotism works by

communicating with the unconscious mind
communicating with the conscious mind
burying unconscious desires
bringing unconscious desires to the surface
communicating with both the conscious and unconscious mind

4. Hypnosis is most effective with those who are

strong-willed
openly nonconformist
willing to be disobedient
open to suggestion
less susceptible to conformity

How can you reach an altered state of consciousness without drugs? Meditation and hypnosis are two techniques that can promote a relaxed state of mind. Watch this video to learn the difference between the two and their possible effects.

Meditation

Sit in a comfortable position. Close your eyes. Breathe in. Breathe out. Soften your jaw. Relax your shoulders. Let all your tension and worries wash away.

Guided meditation is one way that you can learn to focus your attention. Another way that you can tune out the noise and concentrate your thoughts is by repeating a mantra or phrase. You can reach an altered state of consciousness through meditation and relaxation techniques.

When you focus your attention and increase awareness of your own physical and mental processes, it's possible to ignore the distractions of the outside world. Meditation has been shown to have positive effects on its practitioners, including reduced stress levels and improved physical and mental health. Meditation leads to increased alpha and theta brainwaves, which are linked to relaxed states of mind.

Hypnosis

Close your eyes. Slowly open them. Close your eyes again. Notice how good it feels to rest. Slowly open them. Close them again. Your eyelids feel heavy. Slowly open them. Close them again. Each time you open them, your eyelids feel heavier and heavier. You're getting very sleepy.

If you're open to the power of suggestion, you may be more easily put in an altered state through hypnosis than someone who's less susceptible to conformity, obedience and suggestion. Under hypnosis, your perception and actions are influenced by the hypnotist's suggestions.

Freud hypnotized his patients in an attempt to bring their unconscious desires to the surface. Hypnotherapy is sometimes used to treat phobias, drug addiction and overeating. It can even be used as an anesthetic if a hypnotist convinces the patient that they don't feel pain.

Suggestion is the key concept for hypnosis. But hypnotists differ in how they believe the suggestions are processed. American psychiatrist Milton Erickson believed that hypnotists communicate with the unconscious mind, so he made suggestions that were indirect or metaphoric. Instead of commanding patients to stop smoking, Erickson would invite them to change by encouraging them that they could become non-smokers. Psychologists Theodore Barber and Nicholas Spanos promoted more direct suggestions because they believed they were communicating with the conscious mind and that someone who was hypnotized was following suggestions because they were expected to.

Summary

Both meditation and hypnosis can lead to an altered state of consciousness. A relaxed and focused state can be achieved without drugs through guidance or suggestion. Hypnosis is often used to stop unhealthy behaviors, and meditation is used to increase awareness by focusing attention.