Can you seek help from within to get rid of your bad habits, inner conflicts, alleviate stress levels and health issues? As strange as it may seem, hypnotherapy may be the answer to your questions.

Hypnotherapy is a branch of alternate medicine, psychotherapy or guided hypnosis which makes use of heightened consciousness and attention levels to reach a state of mindfulness. The person in a hypnotherapy session gets shifted to a state of trance, or an altered state of awareness.

Actress turned holistic wellness guru, Pooja Bedi also spoke of the many benefits of hypnotherapy in a live Instagram session with ETimes Lifestyle recently, calling it an 'amazing way' to deprogram and get rid of negative patterns and conflicts.

A lot many Hollywood celebrities too, have made use of hypnotherapy to overcome their problems. Many experts even term it the next biggest wellness trend. But, what makes it so special? We explain some of the health benefits of the same.

How does hypnotherapy help you?

Before contemplating if hypnotherapy is the answer to your problems, it's important to know how it works.

Hypnotherapy is often considered to be an alternative remedy which works to utilize ones own mental power and innate state of consciousness to reduce, or target an issue which might be affecting an individual- it could be something psychological distress, phobias, unhealthy addictions (smoking, drinking) or other destructive, self-harming habits even. There have been many studies which back the psychological and positive benefits of hypnotherapy.

The ultimate aim of a hypnotherapy session is to bring a person in sync with their inner thoughts and channelise positive energy when he or she is unconscious.

In fact, hypnosis induces a heightened state of learning, when the brain is active and alert, patients can still hear and decipher what is being said to them.

How does it work? What can you expect in a session?

During a hypnotherapy session, people go through a process that induces a trance-like state that helps them focus their minds, respond more readily to suggestions, and become deeply relaxed. Hypnotherapy utilizes the heightened awareness of the hypnotic state to help you focus on a problem more deeply.

A hypnotherapy session works by taking a person through a trance-like state which helps them focus their thoughts and attention, be more relaxed and respond in a beneficial way.

When a hypnotherapist puts a person under the state of hypnosis, a person is more alert and likely to agree to suggestions and guidance, therefore, bringing in positive changes, or alleviate bad feelings or stressors.

A classic hypnotherapy session involves a person sitting on a chair or a sofa, in a relaxed state which feels meditative. Hypnosis or induction to the same is usually created through guided meditation, bringing focus and relaxation. This is done with the help of a host of mental images, verbal imagery which targets a person's subconscious. When a person is in the receptive state, suggestions are brought in by the therapist, who then help them make the change- for example, mindful thoughts and tips to reduce cravings, drive attention, cognitive changes, quit smoking.

Can anybody perform hypnotherapy?

No, not just anyone can 'hypnotize' you. There are trained professionals, therapists and psychologists who can perform the therapy on a patient and guide them from point A to point B.

Who can benefit from hypnotherapy?

While anybody can benefit from hypnotherapy, it has been found to be immensely helpful for people suffering from addictions, and other wide range of issues, including:

-Phobias

-Addiction

-Weight Loss

When to know if hypnotherapy can benefit you?

A hypnotherapy session isnt harmless for anyone to try. However, knowing what you want to achieve from a session or the inner demons you may want to clear out will help you make the most out of your session.

Many people use, and continue to tout the benefits of hypnotherapy for helping them break their bad habits, seek an answer to conflicts and traumas, ease pain, chronic suffering and stress etc.

While many researchers also suggest that an alternative treatment plan like hypnotherapy may help people lose a few kilos, attend to chronic health problems, there isnt much scientific backing to support the claim yet. How well a hypnotherapy session works for you, all depends on individual concern- the number of sessions you take, your thoughts and purposes and issues you may be looking to address.

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Can hypnotherapy root away your ailments? - Times of India