1. Hypnosis, Biofeedback & Meditation Chapter 7-2

2. From “The Healing Power of Hypnosis” by Jean Callahan, 1997 Victor Rausch entered a hypnotic trance by focusing on Chopin’s Lush Nocturne in E-flat, as it was played in the movie The Eddy Duchin Story. Rausch visualized scenes from the movie and wrapped his mind in appealing thoughts. Rausch’s blood pressure and pulse rate remained steady for 75 minutes. During this 75 minutes Rausch was undergoing a gallbladder operation! He had refused the anesthetic, and during the surgery, he swears he felt no pain – just a little tugging. He even talked and joked with the surgical team during the procedure. After the surgery, he stood up and walked down the hall, riding the elevator to his hospital room.

3. hypnosis A state of consciousness resulting from a narrowed focus of attention and characterized by heightened suggestibility Altered consciousness, people become very suggestible to changes in behavior and thought

4. History of Hypnosis Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815) – First person to practice hypnosis – Pg 192

5. hypnosis People are not “put to sleep” Trance where people highly receptive and responsive to certain internal and external stimuli Able to focus attention on one tiny aspect of reality and ignore all other inputs Get into a trance by persuading a participant to relax and lose interest in external distractions

6. hypnosis Cooperation Participant is not under the hypnotist’s power Participant cannot be forced to do things against his or her will Anyone can resist hypnosis

7. Theories of Hypnosis Theodore Barber (1965) – hypnosis is the result of suggestibility; non-hypnotized people can do anything too

8. Theories of Hypnosis Ernest Hilgard (1986) – something special about hypnotized state; consciousness includes many different aspects that may become separated/dissociated during hypnosis (neodissociation theory), “hidden observer” part of the personality that watches and reports what happens to the hypnotized person

9. Theories of Hypnosis Hypnotized people behave as they do because they have accepted the role of a hypnotized subject

10. Uses of Hypnosis Posthypnotic suggestion – suggesting that a person forgets something once they awaken – Used to change behavior Hypnotic analgesia – reduce anxiety, encourage relaxation – Used to reduce pain Help to reveal problems, gain insight

11. Biofeedback The process of learning to control bodily states with the help of specialized machines Feedback makes learning possible Machines provide feedback on what the body is doing

12. Uses of Biofeedback Teach people to control physiological responses – Brain waves – Heart rate – Blood pressure – Skin temperature – Sweat-gland activity

13. Meditation The focusing of attention to clear one’s mind and produce relaxation Focusing attention on an image or thought with the goal of clearing the mind and producing relaxation “inner peace” Practiced all over the world for thousands of years

14. Approaches to Meditation Transcendental meditation – mental repetition, 15-20 minutes daily Mindfulness meditation – Buddhist tradition; focuses on the present moment Breath meditation – concentration on breathing

15. Uses of Meditation Lower blood pressure Lower heart rates Lower respiration rates