Hypnosis and the Body-Mind Connection

Hypnosis and the Mind-Body Connection: Nine Ways They Work

By Michael Glowacki

Ancient medical traditions have supposed that the mind and the body are all one system rather than the division of the human being into parts. More recently Western medicine has rediscovered this concept and started exploring the hows and whys of the mind-body connection. Some complementary modalities from Eastern and Western cultures are now widely used in the United States. The NIH sponsors research into hypnosis, acupuncture and reiki, to name a few.

All the ways your mind and body work together fill several books. Here I'll describe only nine of the ways the mind-body connection works to affect your well being. Some of these ways may help you understand the mind-body connection better, while some ways can help you in your everyday life.

Memories and Emotions

Every event that we have ever experienced produces some kind of a memory in our mind. We either remember these events with a meaning or belief about what happened attached to them, or dimly relive an experience trying to get it right. These beliefs produce emotions and then behavior and actions, resulting in habitual behavior. This is the most obvious way the mind affects the body. Positive beliefs result in positive actions and results. The opposite occurs too often.

Language

How we talk (both verbally and nonverbally) to ourselves and others has a strong impact on our thoughts, behavior and health. Using "organ language" carelessly makes our thoughts go in that direction, and we get more of what we focus on. Phrases like "pain in the neck" or "he makes me sick" become more true the more someone repeats them. Change the way you talk and notice how you feel different.

External and Internal Imagery

"Everything is programming," Tim Simmerman teaches. That means whatever you see, hear or say impacts your mind. Think about what you fill your day with, what you listen to and what you watch. Does it inspire you or depress you? One of the healthiest, simplest things you can do for yourself is to go on a "information diet" for three or more days, skipping the multimedia sources that bring you bad news. Test it once or twice and see how you feel.

Habits of Thought

The "programming" we experience results in habits of thought. Because we get more of what we focus on or think about, habits of angry, sad or fearful thoughts eventually result in disease, even if we deny or fail to notice them. Have you ever walked toward a goal and noticed when you looked to the side you veered in that direction? Our thought work the same way.

Emotions of Survival

The emotions of survival cause our body to have the "fight or flight" response and release stress hormones. Physicians well know the serious consequences of experiencing too much adrenaline and cortisol on a chronic basis. Among the dire consequences of too much of these hormones or for too long are depression, obesity and brain atrophy.

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

The ANS is the part of our nervous system you probably never think about, going from the brain to the body via nerves not involved in conscious movement. Your ANS is responsible for keeping your organs working without having to think about them. For that reason people don't think they have full control over those organs. For example, when we try to hold our breath for a long time our bodies force us to start breathing again. The ANS has two branches: the sympathetic and parasympathetic.

Sympathetic Branch

The sympathetic nervous system handles the "fight or flight" response. It decreases the activity of the immune, reproductive and digestive systems to have resources available for fighting or fleeing. It is engaged when we experience the emotions of survival, even for the briefest moment.

Parasympathetic Branch

The parasympathetic nervous system handles the relaxation response and increases the activity of the immune, reproductive and digestive systems among others. This branch of the ANS is involved in the health-promoting effects of many complementary medicine and wellness methods.

Your Mind

Meditation, guided imagery, hypnosis...whatever name you call it, all hypnosis is really self-hypnosis. Hypnosis is a natural state of mind, with focused attention, profound relaxation and increased responsiveness. By experiencing, learning and using self-hypnosis effectively, you spend more time engaging the parasympathetic branch of the ANS.

When you experience the various wellness modalities available in the community (such as massage therapy, acupuncture, yoga, hypnosis and others) you are harnessing the benefits of the mind-body connection. This leads to better health, wellness, comfort and even happiness.

Michael Glowacki of Capital Hypnosis is a Professional Hypnotist with in-depth experience in hypnosis and is certified by the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners. You can learn more by visiting Capital Hypnosis in Madison, Wisconsin. He provides custom programs with individualized sessions. He specializes in helping people with weight problems, smoking cessation and various health conditions. To reach Mr. Glowacki call his office at (608)288-7865.

(c) 2006 Michael J. Glowacki