History of Hypnosis
by Confidence
on August 6, 2014

The History of Hypnosis

The history of hypnotism is one filled with unique characters establishing a name for themselves. Modern hypnosis can be traced back to and was claimed to be first established by Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815) who influenced the image of a hypnotist. An Austrian living in the 18th century, Mesmer was a physicist who developed his own style of healing methods. This healing was by “mesmerism” or “animal magnetism” The word to be mesmerised or “mesmerism” takes it’s origin from Mesmer.

History of Hypnosis

The Origins of hypnosis are quite mysterious in it’s own right.

Mesmer applied magnets to his patient’s body as a basis for his healing method. His idea was that magnetism was assisting in the healing process and claimed to be able to heal many kinds of illness. The concept was rathe basic, with the magnets stored in baths of iron filings later to be transferred by mesmeric passes” via rods to his patients.

Later it was believed that Mesmer was under the impression that it was not physical forces at play rather it was himself that was generating the cures. The Charismatic showman with a great act, it was the stage that attracted Mesmer to his theatrical passions, the now famous modern day stage hypnosis.

It was later in 1843 when James Braid the Manchester eye doctor and physician who renamed mesmerism and magnetism to the now Hypnosis. The word hypnosis has origins from the Greek word Hypnos, the god of sleep.

Hypnosis history was by chance that James Braid encountered hypnosis when one day a patient who was staring at the light in the waiting room of his doctors clinic. Whilst in a state of transfixing, the patient was asked to close his eyes and sleep. The male patient obeyed and it was this that lead to a series of investigations. Like many scientist before him, Braid realised that certain phenomena that is psychological in nature can be influenced by hypnosis.

From the early first encounter Braid went on to study further the concept of hypnosis and he believed that the nervous system was linked to cures of suggestion. By suggesting a certain principle or statement to his patients he could influence the nervous syste,. He later went on to dismiss this theory concentrating on the mind and mental factors as the basis for true hypnosis.

The evolution and transformation of hypnosis took on further developments with Emile Coué (1857-1926) the Frenchman who took on hypnosis as a further study to his area of interest. Coué established and understood that hypnosis requires the “subject’s” participation to work most effectively. It is not the hypnotist rather the act of self hypnosis that allows for the underlying results. The famous phrase ‘Day by day in every way I am getting better and better.’ was established by Coué
The acceptance of hypnotism and hypnotherapy is relatively modern in context.
The acceptance as medical in nature began with avid studies and work by Clark Hull and his student Milton H. Erickson.
It was in the 1920’s and 1930’s where the two established a medical study on the subject of hypnosis. Erickson later went on to the the leading authority on clinical hypnosis.
It was his desire and work to master what is now known as indirect hypnosis, where he established the ability to put someone in a trance like state.The approach that Erickson took and the later derivatives are now widely accepted as the most effective techniques of hypnosis. it was in 1980 when Milton Erickson died, with many followers of his work and guiding principles of modern day hypnotherapy.
Today we use hypnosis as a mechanism to safely and effectively reprogram our mind with specific tools to alter the way we think to allow for a new approach to psychological issues. the fast and effective results to bad habits, fears, and negative actions can be transformed by a simple download of a professionally recorded hypnosis session.Simply siting back relaxing and entering a level of trance like day dream allows our minds to be programed to improve our development for what ever area of interest we desire.Find dedicated hypnosis in many areas and you shall be amazed at your potential.
So in a brief summary the history of hypnosis has brought together some great developments.

 

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Hypnosis