Can hypnosis help me overcome Posttraumatic Stress Disorder?

Is hypnosis effective for the symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder [PTSD] and the way they interfere with daily living, relationships, and work?

I also wonder about sleep issues. I can fall asleep but my sleep cycles are in a constant state of disruption despite medication. I have been helped immensely by your downloads and consider them an important adjunct to my medical and therapeutic care.

I am very grateful!

This question was submitted by 'Sheila'

Mark says...

Hello Sheila and thank you for your question.

Used in the right way, hypnosis is an excellent way to lift trauma. But it needs to be done right. Although this blog post on trauma therapy was written for a practitioner reader, I think you’ll find it interesting and useful.

Hypnosis is so effective at quickly lifting trauma because Posttraumatic Stress Disorder [PTSD] is, in a way, a 'hypnotic condition'. It's been found that the same people who are most likely to experience persistent PTSD symptoms such as flashbacks and nightmares are the very same people who are the best at going into hypnosis.

A trauma is, of course, very focussing (like any 'hypnotic induction'), so during the moments or even seconds of a trauma, the mind becomes very suggestible. Later, when there is a certain trigger from the environment that seems to (even very slightly) resemble some aspect of the original traumatic event, there is a kind of post-hypnotic suggestion effect and the person can go straight back into feeling just as they did during the original trauma. This is just how hypnosis works. So it makes sense to cure a 'hypnotic condition' with a hypnotic procedure.

The Rewind Technique is fast becoming a favoured approach because it is non-voyeuristic (the therapist doesn't need particular details as to what happened in order to be able to help you), comfortable, and quick. If you contact us and let us know where you are located, we will be able to let you know whether there is someone skilled in this approach near where you live.

All best wishes,

Mark