Many of you may know that ever since I was a medical intern more than 30 years ago, I have been successfully using hypnosis to help patients overcome phobias, quit smoking, improve sleep, lose weight, and more.
A new study reveals evidence that hypnosis really does cause changes in the brain. Researchers in Switzerland used brain scans to show what happened in the brain when twelve participants tried to move their hand after being hypnotized and told that their hand was paralyzed.
The brain scans showed that the right motor cortex began its normal process to signal the left hand to move. What happened next, though, was surprising. It didn’t communicate that signal to the parts of the brain involved in motor control. Instead it appeared to communicate with another area of the brain involved in memory and mental imagery.
The concept that hypnosis causes real changes in the brain doesn’t come as a surprise to me. I have seen its powerful effect many, many times. Self-hypnosis can be just as powerful. You can use it to relax and calm stress or to help you sleep better.
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I am having difficulty controling my blood pressure. I am under a drs. care but they can’t seem to get it to a place where it should be, namely 120/70 or below. Can you suggest anything I should be doing.
If hypnosis causes changes in the brain, whats causing epilepsy in a 77 year old and memory loss. Told by neurologist would never suffer from dementia or Alzheimers.
Really healthy though.
Hi,
I had a bout with anxiety and panic attacks 8 years ago. since then I have been on paxil cr. My psychiatrist says that it’s safe and when it’s time to come off of it I will be ok as long as it’s done slowly.
My question is Is it safe to be on this medication so long?
My son has been diagnosed with Schizophrenia. Do you treat Schizophrenia?
A relative had hypnosis in regard to smoking.
She came from the session and smoked no more.
I tried to get my spouse but he was hestitant
to try hypnosis.
I been taking Lexapro for about 5 years now. Last year I tried gradually to stop but had maajor withdraws. My current doctor just seem to want to try others. I’m curious if hypnosis can eliminate withdraws?
Please read about schizophrenia in Orthomolecular Psychiatry.
Dear Dr. Amen
Thanks for your attention
I am Mehran Ahmadlou a M.S. student of biomedical engineering from the excellent center of biomedical engineering in Iran . Professor Hojjat Adeli from the Ohio State University is my adviser. we are studying on EEG-based diagnosis of brain disorders such ADHD, Autism and Alzheimer. We study through analyzing EEG and MEG. Our new mathematical methods and analysis is useful for finding global structure of the brain. I know you have worked on SPECT and you have good results through that. Dear Dr. Amen, Do you have EEG data?
It gives us much pleasure if you assist us in this way.
Do you have any EEG data of the ADHD subtypes, AD (Alzheimer’s Disease) and …?
Thanks in advance
Mehran Ahmadlou
M.Sc. of Biomedical Engineering
The youngest author of Mathematical Olympiad Books in Iran
Amirkabir University of Technology
Dear Mehra, Please google Dr. Margaret Ayers. she is the inventor of real time neurofeedback equipment, which measures brain waves at a 1/1000 of a second. Spect scans are just one way to assess what is really going on in the brain. Other great information comes from Michael Persinger of Canada.
Dr. Amen
I have neuralgia and I take Tegretol to keep from severe attacks. Can you recommend another method of controlling or eliminating these attacks. Tegretol sometimes upsets my stomach.
Schizophrenia is treatable with short term positive results.
I am told that during sleep I have many jerky movement as my legs jumps my hand move fast, my arms left up or shakes as little kids when scared, without making any noise. I do not feel or remember at all after i wake up, unless beginning sleep when not fully sleep an dreaming as if I fall etc. I have sound and fully restful sleeps. Is this something I need to be concern about and have diagnosed? please advise. Thank you
I am interested in getting hypnotized to stop some addictions, cigarettes and a particer man. Would you please recommend a trustworthy hypnotist for me? I need contact info. Thanks
Dr. Amen,
Would you pls recommend an Hypnotist for me? Thank you,
Leena
Dear Dr. Amen:
I am ADD,diabetic and have anxiety. I am on Lexapro, Metformin, and Methylphenidate. I desperately need to lose weight to be able to decrease my sugar levels. Is there a reputable hypnotheraputic program in the Omaha NE area that has tapes on increasing energy and desire to exercise? Do you have such a tape available? I would be grateful for any advice you can give me.
Tricia
Hi Dr Amen,
Based on this Swiss study, do you think neuroplasticity would be aided by hypnosis in the recovery and rehab of stroke patients?
I encountered serious brain fatigue after a very stressful period at work, with a one year old child who woke up multiple times a night, and with untreated sleep apnea.
You got the picture!
I am feeling better after therapy, treatment for apnea, and Ativan. When I go off of the Ativan, I feel the brain fatigue coming back.
Do you think hypnotherapy can help wean me off of Ativan?
My child was exhibiting symptoms of schizophrenia. A few months of a gluten-free diet eliminated all these symptoms as well as any depressive symptoms. After years of gluten-free, symptoms have never returned.
How can I find Self-hypnosis materials (CDs, books, and websites)?
How can a person tell if they are succussfully hypnotized? Are they still conscience and aware of their surroundings? What is actually going on in the brain?
Thank you.
My son is addicted to oxycodone. He has at various times been diagnosed with anxiety and depression and is currently taking 450mg of effexor daily. His bloodpressure is dangerously high. Is the effexor aggravating this problem?
He is resistant to 12 step programs. Is there any hope?
I’m having a bout with depression.
For a year, I was on cymbalta and ativan.
My Dr. recently put me on wellbutrin because of the energy aspect (which has helped me).
The ativan no longer works.
Is is possible to take cymbalta for anxiety and wellbutrin depression? A Dr. told me this; however has found no research on it.
Dr. Amen, I was a patient at the Amen Clinic in Reston, VA Approx two years ago with mixed results. I have still not stopped smoking.I tried Chantix but makes me have depression and suidical thoughts. I am interested in hypothesis. Can you or someone from your office recommond someone in the Phila, PA area?
Can you recommond a weight loss hypnosis person in 1. Indianapolis, Indiana and 2. Bradenton, FL.?
Thanks
Hello, I’ve been diagnosed with depression and ptsd due to me being a combat veteran, so far I’ve been doing just ok, I’m on Wellbutrin and counseling which helps a bit however I am interested in a more holistic approach to my brain health. Any recommendations for the Chicago land area? Lastly, I tried to use your services and inquired into them however due to my limited budget I cant afford to take advantage of your services. I am sure that your medical services would help thousands of veterans seeking help, which most vets are not well of financially. Do you offer any help or reduce fee for our service members that served this Country proudly?
Thank you
SGT. Alamo, US Army Psyops
Obviously one of the first steps that you will need to take is to remove all possibilities of having access to cigarettes from the day you start your program. You need to get rid of all the cigarettes you have in your possession. Many people like to retain one pack of cigarettes as something to fall back on ‘just in case they need one’ but this is setting yourself up for failure before you start
For RJ Acupuncture has been shown to be able to control BP for up to 6 months at a time without any medicine. Study was done at Mass General Hospital in Boston (the great white Mecca) and published I believe in the New England Journal of Medicine. So find a reputable accupunturist and give it a try. Best if they work in conjunction with your allopathic docs ( blood pressure docs). Do NOT just stop your medicine this has to be a joint project. Good luck.
Chantix along with a low dose antidepressant medication, I used Prozac, helped with the depression, sleep disturbance. Also working with your doctor on possibly lowering the dose.
Many problems can be lessoned through the use of EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) and the work of Gary Craig. (Emofree.com) there are practicianers around the world and also a free downloadable manual for do-it-yourselfers. They also have classes and demonstration CD’s. One is not hypnotises, but fully conscious, yet brain scans have shown changes in the brain. Results can be seen in many cases within a few minutes and they last. Especially effective for PTSD, phobias, and adictions.
I am having trouble sleeping. I went to a hynotherapist to help me how to do self-hynosis, but it not working very well. Do you know a reliable hynotist in the Palo Alto, CA area? Much appreciated.
I would like to teach myself hypnotherapy, are there any books on this or can you recomend someone on my area to do it for me.
thank you,
Hello-My daughter and I are type two diabetics and really need to lose weight. Does hypnosis work for weight loss-eg my daughter hates the tase of celery-maybe she could be hypnotized into thinking sweet things taste like celery? Let me know who you would recommend. Thanking you in advance. Sue
CAN HYPNOSIS HELP OVERCOME “FREEZING UP” AND GETTING OVERLY ANXIOUS WHEN PLAYING COMPETITVE SPORTS? IT’S LIKE I DON’T TRUST MY PROVEN ABILITY. I BECOME PARALYZED. PLEASE, CAN YOU HELP?
Great informative article, I live in Chicago any good recommendation for a hypnotherapist in the Chicago area?
Thanks, Robert
Does anyone out there suffer from cluster headaches, and if so, have you found anything to relieve them besides oxygen, and imitrex?
Thanks,
Sue
My son has sensory intergration,visual processind delay. I have tried everything under the sun. have him on l- theanine and have tired native remides and adhd medication. what else can I do. His attention is so bad. but when I had him on adhd medication he was zomibe and you can tell he was on somthing. he also has fine motor delay medciation made it worst. can you help?
They have proven that next to hypnosis, EFT, Emotional Freedom Techniques, also literally changes the brain (waves). It makes sense, because if we alter the energy meridian system the brain will automatically show the new balance.
I am not surprised hypnosis actually reveals a change in the brain; when in the alpha, delta, or theta state, the frequency of your brainwaves actually changes. What would interest me is knowing if detectable permanent changes in the brain occur based on post-hypnotic suggestions.