A Brief History of Hypnosis

Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy explained by Hypnotherapist Alan Gilchrist.

"You are feeling very sleepy" is the catch-line that many people associate with the stage hypnotist. The watch swinging showman with hypnotic eyes that could pierce a stone.

The above statement is the most common perception that people have about hypnosis/hypnotherapy.

It is a mythical one, and I have spent a lot of time over the last 35 years trying to dispel this myth.

Hypnosis has been associated with stage shows and the mysterious. As a result, it is for this reason this website is designed to set the record straight.

People assume they are made to do something against their will while under Hypnosis.

You would find me, not in my office, but down at the bank manager. I would be swinging a watch at him, plus telling him to forget about my overdraft. Furthermore, we would all be hypnotists doing precisely the same!"

Stage Hypnosis - The Myths.

Stage Hypnotists give the impression of controlling a person's mind. However, no one can be hypnotised against their will, or forced to do something objectionable.

Hypnosis, when used in therapy, helps to give people more control over their lives - not less!

Another myth is a person might be unable to ever come out of Hypnosis. 

There would be millions of bodies lying in a trance all over the world, and we would all read about it!

Fast Track Hypnosis/Hypnotherapy can be used to improve a person's general functioning - mentally and physically.

It is used with significant effect to help correct a wide range of problems (See Problems web page).

Hypnosis itself is ONLY a state of relaxation with an altered state of awareness.

People are not treated with hypnosis - but are treated IN Hypnosis.

As a result, the subconscious mind accepts positive suggestions, helping to alter past behavioural problems These include phobias, stress, confidence, etc., as well as simple ones, stop smoking, weight control, etc.

The Origin of Hypnosis / Hypnotherapy

Franz Anton Mesmer (1734 – 1815)

Franz Anton Mesmer was a German doctor with interest in astronomy.

He believed in the existence of natural energy occurring between animated and inanimate objects. He called this process "animal magnetism" later referred to as mesmerism.

This attracted a wide following and continued to have some influence until the end of the 19th century.

Then, in 1843 a Scottish doctor, James Braid proposed the term "hypnosis" for a technique derived from animal magnetism.

James Braid (1795-1860)

In the 18th century James Braid a Scottish surgeon, sometimes called the "Father of Hypnosis" coined the word HYPNOSIS after the Greek god HYPNOS, meaning sleep.

Having investigated "mesmerism", and subsequently tried to expose it as fake. However, he soon discovered that Hypnosis was NOT a state of sleep.

He realised that it was a state of focusing and heightened awareness. The then tried (unsuccessfully) to change the word from Hypnosis to Monoideism, but the word Hypnosis had already caught on.

Throughout his career, he continued to use Hypnosis for pain relief during surgery and also self-hypnosis to ease his arthritic pain.

As Hypnosis began to receive severe recognition and could be explained more logically, it began to gain acceptance and not looked upon as being bizarre.

However, people still find the word 'trance' scary, and consider only weak-willed people can 'go under or be put out'.

There are many misconceptions and sensational stories about Hypnosis.

The more intelligent and creative a person is, the easier it is for them to enter Hypnosis.
It is common for people who go into Hypnosis to argue that they haven't been hypnotised at all, as they put it "I didn't go out".

A person entering the state of Hypnosis feels total relaxation. Upon leaving this natural state, they feel wonderfully calm, extremely relaxed. They are never sceptical or nervous of Hypnosis again.