Self-Hypnosis as a Stress-Management Technique - Admission/Application Essay Example

Self-Hypnosis as a Stress-Management Technique by Stress is a natural of the body which I most cases has defensive function. However, when poorly managed stress can become a serious threat to homeostasis. There are situations in life when a person cannot get rid of stressful thoughts which cause permanent anxiety and tension. This can lead to health problems and depressions and violate normal social life of a person. Self-hypnosis proves to be an effective stress management technique since it influences subconscious level and helps either change perception or eradicate stressful thoughts. Self-hypnosis is relatively easy and accessible method which can be used in crucial and emotional situations. There are only few people who cannot be influenced by hypnosis. Self-hypnosis is a great means of relaxation as the brain-wave patterns are similar to natural relaxing situations. Suggestions, positive phrases, can help overcome basic personal and social phobias as they reach subconscious level. This paper concentrates on the mechanism of self-hypnosis and explains the reasons of its effectiveness. Stress is common to everyone; daily problems usually breed negative thoughts that become repetitive. Sometimes there are difficult periods of life which make the whole life stressful. Stress means tension, alarm-state, and irritability. In most cases stress is regarded as disruption to homeostasis but stress is not always negative. In many threating situations stress helps reacting fast and launces defensive mechanisms. Stress is responsible for a fight-or-fly mechanisms which save people`s live at crucial situations (Leeher, Voolfolk et al., 2007). There are numerous reasons which can evoke stress: troubles at work, difficult relationships, problems with children, diseases, homes change, financial problems and so on. The thoughts about these problems result in muscle tension, which further leads to more anxiety. According to Fisher, anxiety is a natural mechanism at stressful situation though many people try to avoid it at any price. Anxiety is caused by special hormones and is aimed to help us to cope with difficult tasks. If a person views anxiety or fear as weakness, he may stuck in the cycle of self-accusation and continue being stressed (2002). Getting out of stress is a complicated task once the person is overwhelmed with stressful thoughts and emotions. Most of the thoughts that irritate and cause stress are those that were repeated in our mind during long period of time or were repressed as unpleasant into subconscious. People who try to cope with stress with the help of alcohol,drugs, excessive communication, and travelling aim to reduce anxiety first of all. However, if the main stressful problem is not solved and stressful thoughts are only repressed to subconscious for a certain period of time, stress will reappear (Leher et al., 2007). So dealing with stress it is reasonable to draw attention to subconscious level in order to eradicate the problem and not to get rid of it on superficial level. In this case hypnosis can become really helpful. Hypnosis is the special state of mind when the brain activity is slowed down to a frequency called alpha. Everyone experiences this state before sleep or not long after sleep. The state is similar to meditative and happens quite often: during long driving or in the process of interestig film watching (Hunter, 1998). In our conscious state we have beta-waves activity which allows us making decisions , interpreting, and processing information. Subconscious remains silent during this beta activity. Hypnosis is often used in combination with yoga, breathing exercises, or mediation but it is proved that hypnosis has quicker effect. That is one of the main advantages of this technique. Having elaborated precise and effective mechanism of going into a hypnotic state of mind a person receives a power to protect himself from excessive emotions in crucial situations and to release one`s pain and tension. Self-hypnosis gives a person opportunity to relax almost at any moment of the day and reduce tension and anxiety (Hunter, 1998). Hypnosis is considered an effective tool of stress management since it allows narrowing one`s consciousness without losing touch with reality. This procedure first of all proves to be very relaxing; it resembles deep sleep with possibility to awaken at any moment (Self-hypnosis). Imagination is a key element in self-hypnosis since the person visualizes positive images, places, and situations. It is proved that brain-wave patterns during hypnotic state resemble the brain-wave patterns that appear during actual situations which are visualized (Self-hypnosis). This happens because subconscious does not differentiate between reality and fantasy and the body responds to subconscious images if it receives signals. Thus believing that you are on a beach actually makes you bode less tense and your mind less anxious (Hunter, 1998). According to Hunter, the power of hypnosis lies in the ability to get in touch with unconscious mind and control it further. Autosuggestion is the opposite positive thoughts that influence self-perception and subjective experience (Self-hypnosis). Thus, autosuggestion influences subconscious level which is more adequate and reasonable than dealing with stress on conscious level. Under the hypnosis subconscious is more open and is able to believe in new information. Suggestions are the phrases that can influence self-perception, improve self-esteem, help you to quit harmful habits. Suggestions must be positive, direct, and permissive and directed to near future. Moreover, they must be supported with visual images and have emotional response. The problems that cause stress in most cases are quite common. Elaborating them with the help of suggestions can make the person see the world from different perspective. Common psychological problems and phobias which can be solved with the help of self-hypnosis: Fear of darkness; Fatigue; Suicidal thoughts or fear of death; Negative and depressing feelings; Inadequate self-esteem, fear of failure; Motivation absence Moreover, according to research of Ohio University, students who used self-hypnosis could even improve their immune system. Repeated self-hypnosis thus can positively influence health o the physical level, and it is extremely important as stress usually reduces natural powers of organism (Holland, 2011). Therefore, self-hypnosis with its ability to influence subconscious level directly can improve person`s psychological state and help to cope with stressful situations. References Fisher, S. The Power of Self-Hypnosis. New York: New Market Press Holland, E. (2001). Hypnosis may prevent weakened immune status, improve health. Ohio State University. Retrieved from: http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/hypnosis.htm Hunter, R. (1998). Master the Power of Self-Hypnosis. New York: Sterling Publishing Company Leher, P., Woolfolk, R., Sime, W. (2007) Principles and Practices of Stress Management. New York: The Guilfold Press Read More