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  • Essay / General Applications of Hypnosis - 801

    Few topics in psychology appeal to people as much as hypnosis. The reasons for this interest are multiple. Hypnosis fascinates with its unusual side and we don't know if what attracts us is the interest in deciphering the mystery. (D. David after Gheorghidiu, 2000) Anton Mesmer was the first to induce the state of hypnosis. It used a magnet that moved along the patient's body to improve blood circulation. Forgetting his magnet and once returning home, Anton Mesmer was forced to resort to another object, a piece of wood, and found that the patients responded well. But Mesmer did not realize at the time that the object used was important, but rather suggestions that induced the patient. (Ovidiu Lungu, 2004)Mielu Zlate (2007) considered hypnosis as an “altered state of consciousness located between wakefulness and sleep, but closer to wakefulness than sleep”. The subject maintains contact with the environment during the hypnotic trance aided by the hypnotist, and cognitive changes occur in perception, memory, thoughts, feelings, imagination, etc. This highlights the increased activism of the brain. According to the American Psychological Association, Hypnosis is a procedure by which the subject is suggested imaginative experiences to change his subjective experience, to change his perceptions, sensations, thoughts or behavior (Peter J. Hawkins based on APA, 2009). The main characteristics of hypnotic trance are the reduction of the planning function. (the hypnotized subject loses initiative and will expect the hypnotist to suggest what to do), attention becomes more selective than usual, the subject being told to obey only the voice of the hypnotist the hypnotist will ignore any other voices in the room) imaginative output is easily evoked (the subject may find that life distances experiences in time and space), control and increased tolerance towards low distortion of reality (the subject can unconditionally accept hallucinatory experiences), increased suggestibility (the subject must accept suggestions), post-hypnotic amnesia (if the subject is given instructions to do this, the deeply impressed subject will forget all or almost all) (Rita L. Atkinson, 2002) The applications of hypnotherapy are endless, from surgical anesthesia that can be used in painless birth, to treating specific issues such as anxiety. , phobias (elevator, dentist), smoking cessation, sexual dysfunction. However, failures may arise from the subject's attitude towards hypnotherapy and hypnosis. A negative attitude can hinder treatment. Subjects cannot be controlled involuntarily while in a trance. (I. Holdevici, 1991) Hypnotherapy for depressed people contains a model proposed by Yapko in