It is related to voodoo rituals but has nothing "demonic" about it. It seems halfway between magic and science, but it is a much less mysterious phenomenon than we think.Because is an alteration of consciousness that happens to us every day when we are absorbed.

A maneuver carried out with mysterious artifices to manipulate the will of others ...A method to investigate a person's unconscious and understand its secrets ... A technique capable of miraculously curing all sorts of diseases ...

In one way or another, there is widespread belief that hypnosis is a kind of magic.Applied to the phenomena of possession, to the voodoo and shamanic rituals (with which it is actually related), hypnosis is often relegated, with diffidence, among the "pseudosciences".

. Yet this practice has nothing strange or disturbing. In reality it is a normal experience that we face every day. For example, when we watch a movie or read an exciting novel, when we listen to a conference that involves us or a music that fascinates us, or when we dream with our eyes open. Whenever we are focused, absorbed,enraptured, enchanted by something that catalyzes our attention to the point where they ignore what happens to us around and to lose the sense of time, we are, in fact,"hypnotized".

That is to say that we are in a state of alteration of perceptions and consciousness. A condition that has its own utility: it allows us to mobilize and make usable resources that would otherwise be inaccessible, with the result - for example - of improving a performance or facilitating the restoration of balance and well-being.

Some concrete examples: there are artists who enter this state to produce their works, and actors (especially if they practice the famous "Stanislavskij method") who use it to identify themselves with a character or to involve spectators more. So, what does hypnosis have to do with magic?

A hypnosis gives an aura of mystery was, already from the start, what is considered his "discoverer": Franz Anton Mesmer, a controversial figure who lived between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Influenced by the discoveries of his time (in particular electricity and magnetism, that is, invisible forces acting on bodies),Mesmer theorized the presence of a vital fluid in all living beings, baptizing it "animal magnetism" in analogy with the invisible force that attracts two magnetized objects.

During his experiments, Mesmer resorted to complicated rituals (from the application of magnets on the various parts of the body to the laying on of hands to radiate beneficial energy), managing to provoke states of "artificial sleepwalking" as well as convulsions in some people, temporary fainting and paralysis. At other times the"mesmerized" spoke and answered his questions, only to completely forget what had happened.

In short, these were often spectacular effects, which earned him a certain fame in the noble and upper-bourgeois circles of the late eighteenth century. Hypnosis of the early years was therefore very different from the "modern": direct, authoritarian and facing suggestible people (who came for the more used to "doing the show").

PRETEND, OTHERWISE RUINS ALL! It is from this kind of experience that the so called "stage hypnosis" originated, a form of entertainment that has enjoyed moderate success.

Usually it happens like this: the hypnotist invites a volunteer into the audience,looks him straight in the eye, speaking in a monotonous and repetitive way, until the unfortunate person lowers his eyelids and falls into a trance. At that point, the subject seems to be at the mercy of the hypnotist's commands (often absurd or embarrassing). In reality, the people involved in these performances are accomplices of the hypnotist or spectators who are playing. In fact, by choosing at random from the public, the hypnotist would run the risk of failing, because very suggestible people are rare.

"When I say I ..." Giucas Casella during a performance. The so-called "stage hypnosis" almost always makes use of accomplices or complacent conductors. |

It could also be denounced for abusive exercise of the medical profession: in Italy hypnosis is allowed only to doctors and psychologists, because if practiced outside a controlled context on certain subjects (precisely the most suggestible!). It can have psychopathological consequences.

Another myth to dispel is "robbery hypnosis". According to experts, those episodes that periodically occupy the newspapers and in which ambiguous characters (usually Indian or Arab) hypnotize people to rob them are nothing more than urban legends. It is not possible, in fact, to send a person into a trance without his consent. In cases of this type,more than hypnosis one should speak of a skillful manipulation, for example through the"confusion technique" (see box in the previous pages).

The victims often do not understand that they have been deceived, so they prefer (unconsciously or not) to believe that they have been hypnotized. Equally impossible are crimes committed under the influence of hypnotic commands, as sometimes seen in the cinema. In fact, a person cannot be forced to behave contrary to his moral principles, let alone commit crimes.

The pendulum is one of the tools used for hypnotic induction: by directing attention to an annoying task for the eyes, the resistance to abandoning oneself is eased.

Remaining in the legal sphere, it is also to dispel the belief that hypnosis can allow to recall forgotten events ... useful events, for example, to reconstruct the scenario of a crime or to formulate accusations against someone. The phenomenon of "hypermnesia", the strengthening of memories (even this much exploited in the cinema), is actually controversial.

An association, the False Memory Syndrome Foundation, has even sprung up in the US to defend the victims of false memories (usually alleged rapists). It is not said, in fact,that what is recalled under hypnosis corresponds to real events, because memories are always spoiled by the imagination.

An individual, without being aware of it, can insert only imagined scenes, and be convinced of having really lived them. This also explains the "past life regressions"obtained under hypnosis: they would be nothing more than immersions in suggestive fantasies.

Cleared the field of myths, legends and improper uses, what remains?

It remains a less theatrical and more respectful instrument of the individual: the so called "new hypnosis", introduced in the last century by the Californian psychiatrist MiltonErickson, which gave rise to the most accredited guidelines of psychotherapy existing today.

The goal of hypnosis is to access the individual unconscious, to "place" in which collects the experiences and information obtained in the course of life (of which we often have no awareness). The unconscious is conventionally located by scholars in the right hemisphere of the brain. It is believed, in fact, that the left hemisphere is the seat of the analytical, logical and rational abilities, those which are dominant in waking conditions.The right hemisphere, active especially during sleep, is instead the seat of creativity,imagination and intuition, and gives an overview.

During hypnosis, the therapist speaks to this right side, which is presumed to be directly connected to the limbic-hypothalamic system, the bridge of communication between the mind and the body: the hypothalamus is in fact connected to the pituitary,which can convert nerve impulses in hormonal messages. Therefore, hypnosis can"encourage" the self-healing mechanisms that each of us has, and also give access to resources that we are not aware of. "It is very important," said Erickson, "that people know that their unconscious is much more intelligent than they are."

Hypnosis is not a difficult operation if the subject collaborates. The first step is to encourage a detachment from reality.

The hypnotist, with a monotonous voice and repeating words and concepts several times, invites the person to relax and focus attention on an object (once it could have been the pendulum, today it is often a part of the body: "Your arm becomes more and more heavier 'or' more and more hot").

This measure helps the person to isolate himself from the external reality and to turn his attention inwards until he experiences a sense of detachment from the body and a deep impression of peace (one feels "lulled into emptiness").

At this point the hypnotized potentially becomes anything. The concept of time vanishes and the hypnotist himself loses his identity, becoming only a voice (Erickson'sfamous phrase: "My voice will accompany you ...").

Through hypnosis the "trance" is induced, a particular condition between sleep and wakefulness recognizable by some signals. The person is usually motionless, sitting or lying down. Breathing is loose, as is heart rate. The eyes are closed or narrowed; if they are open,they are almost free of blinking (e.g. of the eyelid closing reflex).

The voice has a different tone, the speech is slowed down. Swallowing is rare. The response to external (even painful) stimuli is reduced. The search for trance is typical of many cultures: some come to us with the repetition of a few words (the Tibetan monks),others with monotonous and regular rhythms (African tribal dances but also western discos).

Once induced trance, the hypnotist has before him a person no longer imprisoned in rigid patterns of reality and accepts therefore outside messages without the usual process of analysis and criticism. In this phase the hypnotist can offer the patient useful suggestions(for example "on an airplane you will be relaxed," or "cigarettes will from now on have a bad taste").

There are no standard techniques or scripts to act: Erickson himself invited his students to give vent to their imagination, being inspired by the subject. Can everyone be hypnotized? In theory, yes, but some people are known to be particularly refractory: in general, those who exercise continuous control over themselves (in other words, those who struggle to "let go"), those who voluntarily oppose or those who pose unconsciously of the "resistances".

To get around "rational" resistances, trance is not strictly necessary. Hypnosis without trance is a persuasive language that goes beyond logical-critical abilities.

This communication mode is also called "right hemisphere language" and makes extensive use of images, metaphors, aphorisms, word games, ironic lines and positive linguistic forms (for the right hemisphere there is no negation: the message "not being afraid" has the opposite effect; much better "you can have courage"). These same communication strategies are also used by good speakers and skilled salespeople.

Hypnosis: It is a procedure in which the patient experiences changes in sensations,perceptions, thoughts and behavior. Everything begins with an induction procedure among the many available. This initial phase includes suggestions for relaxation, well-being and calm.

Hypnosis is a psychological phenomenon whose history goes back to that of the human species. Primitive men already used it in the practice of religious and medical rites to increase faith in mysticism and magic. The peculiar characteristics of this psychological manifestation have surrounded it with an aura of supernaturality and unreality.

Hypnotic psychotherapy, however, is not only a mere administration of suggestions,but a real re-education of the patient's adaptation to life and to the integration of his personality in it.

Regressive hypnosis is an experimental technique that allows you to research the causes of current conflicts in the remote world of dreams and trance. In regressive hypnosis, the patient is given the opportunity to go back in time by recovering contents similar to previous existences, in which he can search for the symbolic roots of his current conflicts. Not all people can take advantage of regressive hypnosis, as about 20% of patients are not suitable.

The goal of regressive hypnosis is to resolve conflicts and discomforts and recover biological and spiritual resources that allow the subject to evolve. Using this technique within a psychotherapeutic path it is possible to treat anxiety, panic, depression, eating disorders and obsessions.

However, patients suffering from an acute major depression, psychoses, minors,pregnant women and those who use anticonvulsant drugs cannot be treated.

Psychotherapy with the help of regressive hypnosis involves a profound psychological and spiritual commitment for the patient and for the therapist, in fact the meetings tend to be fortnightly. As far as duration is concerned, psychotherapy with regressive hypnosis lasts for about ten meetings.

According to Milton Hyland Erickson, the famous psychiatrist founder of modern or Ericksonian hypnosis, hypnosis is a natural condition that occurs spontaneously in the different moments of everyday life. By being interested in naturalistic methods Erickson came to use hypnosis in a creative way, that is, no longer through standard rituals, but through a particular communicative style associated with a "relational communicative situation".

The hypnotic process of Ericksonian hypnosis has been schematized by the author himself in three phases:

1. The preparation.

Knowledge phase between the patient and the therapist. The main objective is the formation of a solid relationship between the two, which is based on trust, mutual respect and understanding. In this first phase the therapist collects information related to the patient's experiences and knowledge, the mental structures of reference and the belief systems are investigated. The expectation that the patient has regarding the resolution of the problem is fundamental, in fact positive expectations lead to an easier suspension and modification of the reference structures that force him to a self-limiting situation.

2. The therapeutic trance.

Period in which the patient's patterns are temporarily altered with the aim of increasing his receptivity to other models of mental functioning that contribute to there solution of problems. The main physiological indicators that signal the state of trance are catalepsy, body immobility, changed voice quality, closing of the eyes, relaxed facial features, lack or delay of reflexes, slowed respiratory and heart rate and others. In this regard, Erickson identifies a trance induction paradigm consisting of five stages:

➢ Attention fixation.

➢ Depotentiation of the usual reference schemes and beliefs.

➢ Unconscious search.

➢ Unconscious process.

➢ Hypnotic response.

3. Evaluation and ratification of the therapeutic change obtained.

It is the moment when the therapist communicates to the patient what are the alterations of the sensory and perceptual functioning. The patient becomes so aware of the changes that hypnosis has reported in relation to his person.

Recognizing the value of hypnosis is necessary to prevent old behaviors or thought patterns from invalidating the progress made.

To induce hypnosis, it is necessary that the psychotherapist know and be able to choose among the various techniques the one most suited to the needs of his patient. Each person has his own mental functioning, so the specialist, aware and endowed with his own knowledge, will look for the best and personalized way to induce the hypnotic state to the person in front of him.

To induce a hypnotic state, it is necessary first to explain to the patient what awaits him, dispelling any prejudices or fears. In this way the patient will be able to approach this psychotherapeutic technique with greater freedom of thought and trust towards the therapist. He will feel at ease and whoever hypnotizes him will know how to transmit great confidence in his ability to enter a trance. It will be necessary to maintain the state of trance until the work is finished.

The different hypnosis techniques available to therapists are chosen according to the nature of the problem and the hypnotic capacity of the subject. A good hypnotist stands out because he is able to exploit the characteristics of the person in front of him, which is why it is very important to know a large number of hypnosis techniques. The main techniques of hypnosis are:

➢ Metaphorical hypnosis.

➢ Fast Phobias Technique.

➢ Suggestions.

➢ Visualization.

➢ Regression.

➢ Progression.

➢ Affect bridge.

➢ Restructuring.

➢ Anchoring.

Self-hypnosis is nothing more than a form of self-induced hypnosis. Self-hypnosis techniques are all based on a single concept, that is, concentration on a single idea, word or image.

In fact, Dr. Herbert Benson, in his book "Relaxation Response", underlines how the state of relaxation based on concentration on a single idea induces very easily to a self induced state of trance. Also, for self-hypnosis there are different induction techniques,among these the simplest and at the same time used is precisely that of Benson.

This method involves 7 steps:

➢ Choose the object of concentration;

➢ Sitting with your eyes closed in a quiet place;

➢ Relax the muscles and focus on the breath;

➢ Think silently about the initially chosen object;

➢ Continue like this for 10/20 minutes;

➢ If the meditation object is lost, return the thought to it;

➢ Once the set time has elapsed, open your eyes again.

As previously stated, hypnotic psychotherapy is not a mere administration of suggestions, but a real re-education of the patient's adaptation to life and the integration of his personality in it. For a long time and still today there are many prejudices related to hypnosis and the psychotherapy that uses it, but fortunately scientific research is shedding light on the qualities of this technique and is documenting its scientific results. Attention, to have therefore a positive vision it must be clear that hypnotic psychotherapy is not a mere administration of suggestions, but a real re-education of the patient's adaptation to life and the integration of his personality in it.

The areas of application of hypnotic psychotherapy are numerous, among which the main ones are:

➢ The psychological area: anxiety, mood and depression disorders,eating disorders, sexual disorders, tics, stuttering, chronic pain, addictions (play,smoking, alcohol, etc.).

➢ The medical field: cardiovascular, dermatology, asthma, disorders of the urogenital system and digestive tract, palliative care and pain therapy.