"I was hoping you could answer a few of my questions regarding hypnosis."

I received an email from an eighth grader from Albany, CA who would like some answers to his questions. He writes:

I am beginning a two month research project on a topic of my choice. I chose hypnosis as my topic because I want to learn a lot more about hypnosis and its background. I have seen many people get hypnotized in movies, but that does not hold a lot of information or the background to hypnosis. What I am really interested in is what happens to the brain’s activity during and after hypnosis.

1.      How does the brain react to hypnosis?

2.      How does hypnosis change your desires or addictions for drugs?

3.       Does hypnosis solve the problems for disorders and other incurable diseases?

4.      In what conditions does hypnosis help?

5.      What happens to the patient when he or she is stressed out while under hypnosis?

I want to thank you in advance for your assistance. If you know of anyone else who might be of assistance in helping me with my search in this area, I would appreciate it.

Thank you for reading my letter and for any information you can send me.

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Permalink Reply by Barry Neale on February 5, 2012 at 12:53am

Well the eighth grader did ask the question:

How does the brain react to hypnosis?

You answered the question, how does the MIND react to hypnosis.

So I am with Michael on this and his answer.

Barry

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Permalink Reply by docregal.com on February 5, 2012 at 3:20pm

The mind is the element, Barry, that conceptualizes. The brain is an organ that processes the awareness. What is so challenging about understanding that?

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Permalink Reply by Barry Neale on February 6, 2012 at 12:05am

Nothing AJ, but thats not the answer that you gave the 8th grader.

You said:

The brain shifts between conscious, semi-conscious, subconscious, unconscious and superconscious states of awareness. The bookends would be preconsciousness and post-consciousness

My point is you are not answering the question that was asked

The brain and the mind are not the same. The top neuro scientists in the world have no idea where the mind is and have gone on record saying so, so if you know better perhaps you ought to let them know.

Barry

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Permalink Reply by docregal.com on February 6, 2012 at 5:23am

Actually, Barry, this entire thread is the answer. And most certainly, I am answering the question from my perspective.

When I responded to the student's inquiry: How does the <physical> brain react to hypnosis? I did not talk about a non-physical entity called the mind. I discussed brain states.

Of course there are many ways to answer a question, as others have demonstrated and presented here. Yet, from my responses it can be rightfully inferred that I do not agree with all of what is said by them. Ask a hundred hypnotists to define the word hypnosis and we will continually get an amazing plethora of differing responses that cover a wide gamut. That is the nature of opinions versus facts. Until we are able to establish a consensus here, we will have disagreements. Harmony is the result of agreed upon terms.

In addition, I'd also say that using the word "Mind" is as general as words like "God" or "Love" or "Peace". They describe ideas that are nonspecific and opinion based, i.e. subjective in nature.

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Permalink Reply by Barry Neale on February 6, 2012 at 5:44am

AJ I have no doubt you are answering the question from your perspective in the same way i am commenting from mine.

And from my perspective (and it appears Michael's) you did answer about a non physical entity called the mind.

"conscious, semi-conscious, subconscious, unconscious and superconscious states of awareness. The bookends would be preconsciousness and post-consciousness"

All these terms are terms related to the mind not the brain. Despite what some people say there is no relationship between these states and brainwave activity.

Conscious/unconscious functioning is happening ALL the time.

A person in hypnosis can be standing on stage thinking he is Elvis and his brainwave activity is through the roof. The client who has be regressed back to the time of a trauma who is screaming and shouting is in hypnosis but their brain wave activity is off the scale.

If brainwave activity had any relationship to hypnosis then we would have given up doing inductions and we would all be using light and sound machines and getting spectacular results. This is not the case. Just ask some of the clients of Positive Changes Hypnosis.

Your last sentence

In addition, I'd also say that using the word "Mind" is as general as words like "God" or "Love" or "Peace". They describe ideas that are nonspecific and opinion based, i.e. subjective in nature

Is kind of funny as you described the brain having conscious, semi-conscious, subconscious, unconscious and superconscious states of awareness. If those terms aren't non specific and opinion based then I don't know what is

I can see we are not going to agree on this issue so I am going to leave it at that.

best wishes

barry

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Permalink Reply by docregal.com on February 6, 2012 at 6:07am

Your reasoning is not in alignment with mine. The mind is operative 24/7. As long as you are breathing it is on. The brain sleeps. That is called delta state, which is also known as unconsciousness. If you cannot grasp what I am communicating by now, then you probably will not. Before posting again, I suggest rereading all of my responses. If you still are not able to see my point of view then ask questions about it. Thank you.

Barry Neale said:

AJ I have no doubt you are answering the question from your perspective in the same way i am commenting from mine.

And from my perspective (and it appears Michael's) you did answer about a non physical entity called the mind.

"conscious, semi-conscious, subconscious, unconscious and superconscious states of awareness. The bookends would be preconsciousness and post-consciousness"

All these terms are terms related to the mind not the brain. Despite what some people say there is no relationship between these states and brainwave activity.

Conscious/unconscious functioning is happening ALL the time.

A person in hypnosis can be standing on stage thinking he is Elvis and his brainwave activity is through the roof. The client who has be regressed back to the time of a trauma who is screaming and shouting is in hypnosis but their brain wave activity is off the scale.

If brainwave activity had any relationship to hypnosis then we would have given up doing inductions and we would all be using light and sound machines and getting spectacular results. This is not the case. Just ask some of the clients of Positive Changes Hypnosis.

Your last sentence

In addition, I'd also say that using the word "Mind" is as general as words like "God" or "Love" or "Peace". They describe ideas that are nonspecific and opinion based, i.e. subjective in nature

Is kind of funny as you described the brain having conscious, semi-conscious, subconscious, unconscious and superconscious states of awareness. If those terms aren't non specific and opinion based then I don't know what is

I can see we are not going to agree on this issue so I am going to leave it at that.

best wishes

barry

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Permalink Reply by Donna Carter on February 6, 2012 at 8:29am

AJ,

... and your answers...are what inspired so much more thought!! Nothing wrong with that.

Just as my answer...inspired you to give a (not asked for) drawn out explanation (as if I needed the definitions? ~rolling eyes~ really? You are a HOOT! ~...or something like that..).

but hey.... what are friends for? No worries...I completely glossed over your sarcasm as non-important.

I see you completely glossed over the point of my post...but someday, because of our chance meeting here on hypnothoughts, you might again be in a situation where you don't want to talk down to someone and this information (about meeting a child at his level) will come flooding back to you! I'm sure of it! I mean... the more you ..try..to forget....the more you will recall this learning opportunity. ~grin. So...go ahead and try...

as for you not planning...

That's the thing about not planning. Personally... I'm a no plan, planner, so I'm good with it. However...those who like to plan and then don't - get what they get, and then get grouchy about it.

It behooves these sort of people, who do not plan or forget to plan or ...didn't realize they needed to plan (and this eventually happens to nearly everyone at some point in their life), to... really learn how to appreciate random occurances. Besides...there are some awesome posts here on HT and many are the ones that meandered into the NOT planned area.

so you ask..."who is helping whom?"

hahaha.ahh...weeeeellllll....you. don't. have. to thank me...

You are welcome.

AJ said:

Actually, I just posted the questions that I was asked in an attempt to inspire others here on Hypnothoughts to offer additional answers to them. I did not necessarily care to debate over my responses. In addition, I did not plan on going into any drawn out explanations either. Yet, that is what ended up happening. So who is helping whom?

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Permalink Reply by docregal.com on February 6, 2012 at 12:37pm

I never knew that we had so many comedians acting as hypnotists here. But I'd like to thank all who participated and responded to my request. Hats off to Michael and a nod to John.

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Permalink Reply by Allan Nelson on February 6, 2012 at 5:43pm

After reading all the posts: I wholly agree with everyone on their preferred approaches to the use of hypnosis, provided it works towards resolving client issues.

As in any soft science like psychology there are many perspectives and of course disagreements.

AJ, are you going to pass on all the opinions expressed here to the eighth grader from Albany? "individual arguments against each other omitted of course"

Allan