Hypnosis and Meditation – Altered States of Consciousness
Our mind is a powerful tool. It allows us to perform tasks, solve problems, and think. However, many health experts believe that we have not yet fully understood how our mind works, specifically how our mental state influences our daily lives.
Altered State Consciousness Defined
Whenever we enter deep sleep, we experience the dream stage of our sleep cycle. Our dreams may have different thoughts and images that we may not be fully aware of when we are awake, called an altered state of consciousness or ASC. However, ASC does not only happen when we are asleep. Being in an altered state of consciousness can also happen when we are awake.
Humans typically have two mental states – conscious and unconscious. Consciousness is characterized by being in a state of mental alertness and awareness. When we are conscious, there is a deliberate sense of focusing our attention on a subject and awareness that we are able to respond to the demands of our surroundings.
Meanwhile, a person in an altered state of consciousness has limited or distorted control of their environment. Whenever we are in an ASC state, our minds can be aware of our immediate surroundings, but it is not their usual conscious, wakeful condition.
Types of Altered Consciousness
There are four mental states that constitute ASC – hallucination, trance states, hypnotic states, and meditation.
Hallucinations and Trance States
Hallucinations are sensory experiences that a person believes to be true but, in reality, are only created by the mind. On the other hand, trance states are characterized by being in between sleeping and waking, wherein the person is unresponsive to external stimuli and is not self-aware.
Hallucination and trance states can be achieved through the specific application of a process, such as mind-altering drugs and mediums in a séance.
Hypnosis and Meditation
A person can also experience ASC through hypnosis and meditation. Hypnosis is defined as a state of having extreme focus and attention to specific external stimuli. It is commonly used in therapeutic settings, where being in a hypnotic state can help draw out repressed memories or information that has long been forgotten.
While popular media has portrayed hypnosis as a form of entertainment, hypnosis can be effective when used for an empirical-based therapeutic purpose. A hypnotic state can be achieved through a guided focus on a specific object, like the ticking of a watch. A trained hypnotist leads a session during which the participant is encouraged to relax and be open to the process of hypnosis.
Being in a state of hypnosis increases a person’s openness and suggestibility, allowing the mind to trust the words of the hypnotist. Hypnosis has been shown to be a moderately effective treatment for anxiety and depression. It can also help in getting rid of undesired behaviors, such as smoking and overeating.
Meditation is another way to achieve ASC. Reaching the wakeful state of ASC through meditation is possible through focusing on a single object or idea, such as breathing, a sound, or a mantra. In meditation, we are able to increase our awareness of the moment – the now – as we are in an altered state of consciousness. Meditation is used as a way to alleviate stress and improve mood and achieve inner peace.
Application
While hypnosis is usually achieved through the help of a hypnotist, we can more easily practice meditation on our own. However, in order for our practice to be truly effective, we need training or support from meditation guides or instructors. Meditation sessions can vary from as little as five minutes up to several hours a day.
There are several types of meditation practices, and all can help achieve an altered state of consciousness if performed properly. Since meditation is a proven technique for stress relief, several of its health benefits are linked to lowered levels of stress, such as improved sleep, lower risk of heart attack and stroke, and better ability to deal with symptoms of anxiety and depression.
While many are still skeptical about the health benefits of hypnosis, meditation, and ASC in general, science and the field of psychology believe in their potential to help people suffering from different illnesses. The body of research on ASC continues to grow, as do the number of people who are willing to try out these alternative methods to achieve overall wellness and health.