Hypnosis for PTSD How It Works,

Hypnosis for PTSD can help individuals with PTSD cope with past traumas affecting their ability to function and maintain healthy lives. Hypnotherapy and aversion therapy may allow those with PTSD to identify triggers that cause or exacerbate symptoms, permitting them to address these underlying traumas.

How Does Hypnosis Work?

Hypnotherapy relies heavily on a model of the mind that includes conscious and subconscious aspects.1 These two parts of the mind have different functions and work together to help people navigate day-to-day life. The subconscious mind contains our memories, beliefs, habitual patterns, and past learnings (i.e., how to tie your shoes, ride a bicycle, or speak a foreign language). In the case of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the memory of a traumatic event can get “stuck” in the subconscious, resulting in adverse reactions whenever an external stimulus reminds the person of the original trauma.

How Does Hypnosis for PTSD Work?

Because PTSD is deeply connected with subconscious phenomena, hypnotherapy can be an effective solution for people suffering from the effects of past trauma.2 PTSD symptoms range from mild to severe and can persist for months or even years after the traumatic experience. PTSD can result in a severely reduced quality of life and contribute to higher rates of addiction and suicide in some cases.3

In hypnosis, when the subconscious mind is more active and accessible, the hypnotherapist can help the person resolve the traumatic memories and experiences that have become problematic. Adverse reactions and behaviors can be reprogrammed through relaxation, guided imagery, positive hypnotic suggestions, and other methods.

Again, because PTSD can be a complicated condition, various health professionals should be consulted when deciding on the best course of treatment. Different therapies, including EMDR and CBT, can be used alongside hypnotherapy when treating this condition.4

With PTSD, however, a person has not addressed the traumatic event, disrupting the brain’s natural process. When situations arise in the future that reminds a person of the original trauma, the “fight, flight, freeze” response can be triggered unnecessarily. With its emphasis on physical and mental relaxation, hypnotherapy can be a highly effective intervention for PTSD.

Many hypnotherapists will suggest various self-management tools to deal with PTSD symptoms as they come up in the future. These can include instructions for self-hypnosis, deep breathing exercises, and self-guided relaxation meditations.

Hypnotherapeutic techniques for PTSD include:

• Relaxation: The therapist will guide the person through progressive attention to each body part to achieve sufficient peace and relaxation. Mental and physical relaxation can be a natural antidote to many PTSD symptoms. When the intensity of symptoms is reduced, it is easier to begin meaningful therapeutic work.
• Identifying triggers: Symptoms of PTSD can be triggered by non-threatening stimuli. For example, many combat veterans experience severe reactions to the sound of fireworks or backfiring motor vehicles. While in the relaxed state of hypnosis, it is often easier to identify common triggers that may have previously gone unnoticed.
• Aversion therapy: In the trance state, a person can vividly imagine experiencing triggering stimuli and safely practice more appropriate reactions. With repeated attempts, the severity of the adverse reactions decreases until triggers are no longer perceived as threats.

Example of Hypnosis for PTSD

Memory Regression

One of the most common tools available in hypnotherapy is memory regression*. While under hypnosis, memories can be recalled in various degrees of intensity and detail. In a full memory regression, a person may re-experience the original event as if it were actually occurring.

This experience can include intense recollections of the event and the person’s emotional state. The therapist will create the conditions for “dual awareness” by reminding the client that although the memory seems quite real, they are in the present moment and free from danger. This allows the person to work with the memory therapeutically without repressing or dissociating from it.

Reframing/Restructuring Memories

Fear responses can be modified once a traumatic memory is accessed in regression, possibly by reframing and restructuring the traumatic memory by allowing the person to bring new resources to the original event.

For example, while experiencing a memory, the therapist can instruct the person to remind themselves that their original response was appropriate at the time but is no longer necessary. The therapist may remind clients they survived the traumatic event and are no longer in danger.

Through guided imagery, it is also possible to have the person reenact the experience with resources and abilities they may not have had at the time of the trauma. For example, a client who experienced abuse as a child can imagine being there as an adult to offer themselves protection and support. The original trauma responses can be neutralized when the client experiences the memory in a new, empowered way.

Anchoring Resource States

Once some progress has been made toward reframing the old emotional/behavioral responses to traumatic triggers, new triggers (also known as “anchors”) can be installed to help the person deal with PTSD symptoms in the future.

First, the person will be asked to generate an empowered resource state, such as feeling safe or competent, while under hypnosis. This state should be experienced with as much detail as possible. Once a sufficient feeling is built up, the person is instructed to create an anchor for these feelings, like touching the forefinger and thumb together. This effectively connects the feeling state with a physical stimulus. In the future, it is then possible for a person to re-experience the resource state by employing the anchor.

Pros & Cons of Hypnotherapy for PTSD

As with any therapy, there are pros and cons to treating PTSD with hypnosis. Some pros include a lack of side effects, the immediacy of relief, and the ability to resolve underlying issues. Cons include varying results, lack of national standards, and the likelihood of paying out of pocket.

At-Home Hypnosis for PTSD

Many techniques and principles of hypnosis can be applied at home, including practicing mindfulness and relaxation meditations. It may also be helpful to try self-hypnosis or join a support group. As with any serious mental health condition, be sure to seek the advice of a professional mental health provider before trying these yourself.

Mindfulness

One of the requirements for hypnosis is cultivating a state of focused awareness. This mindfulness technique can be practiced at home to develop a more fine-tuned body awareness. Over time, this can result in a heightened ability to recognize PTSD symptoms and triggers. It then becomes possible to manage the symptoms before they intensify.

Relaxation Meditation

This mindfulness technique is easy to learn and use at home. Find a quiet space, close your eyes, and bring your attention to each body part from the top of the head down to the feet. Spend time noticing where there is tension or stress, and do your best to let go and relax.

Self-Hypnosis

The mechanics of a self-hypnosis session are not that difficult to learn. Books and other resources have scripts for self-hypnosis routines that can be memorized or recorded. Once one understands how to elicit a trance state, one can employ various techniques to address PTSD symptoms, including creating and anchoring resource states and repeating positive suggestions.

Support Groups

PTSD can be a challenging condition to live with alone. Fortunately, many in-person and online support groups can help you find relief. Ask your hypnotist or therapist to help you find a local support group.

Final Thoughts

Hypnosis for PTSD can be an effective treatment for managing symptoms of PTSD. Many individuals may benefit from hypnotherapy for trauma and experience relief from troubling events. If you are ready to start your healing journey, consider please contact me for this journey.