Hypnosis Therapy Helps Quash Anxiety

Fans of Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie will be interested to know she uses hypnotherapy to cope with stress and anxiety associated with media attention and fame. Fergie says she has used therapeutic hypnosis for a long time. The star says this alternative medicine modality is the only way she can truly relax.

According to sources, there are two types of anxiety: situational and existential.

Situational anxiety includes common fears about test-taking or entering a hospital for an operation.

During hypnotherapy, a deep state of relaxation is achieved through highly-focused attention. While in this altered state of consciousness, the unconscious mind is highly receptive to new perspectives and ideas. Hypnotherapists use vivid imagery and positive suggestions (previously agreed upon by him and his patient) to get the patient to experience themselves in the future, with some desired change. This helps the patient achieve those changes faster in his waking life.

Currently there is a large body of work documenting changes in the brain that occur when someone is in a hypnotic state, supporting this ancient practice.

A University of Florida study on hypnosis therapy found that learning hypnotherapy actually gave patients greater control over anxiety and stress. A study directed by UF counseling psychologist Paul Schauble found that women who learn hypnosis before delivering babies suffer fewer complications, need less medication and are more likely to have healthier babies than are women without hypnosis.

As for Fergie, she denies any quackery associated with clinical hypnotherapy, which is often used in conjunction with meditation and yoga.

She compares it to an hour's worth of counseling, with the last 10 minutes devoted to focused attention.