Hypnosis isn’t just something used by entertainers to make you laugh; clinical specialists and others have used it to help teen girls with a variety of issues, including weight loss and depression. Hypnosis for adolescents has some very real risks that you should consider before attempting it.
What Is Hypnosis?
Essentially, hypnosis is a state of physical relaxation during which the mind is open to receiving instructions or playing an imaginary role. When someone is hypnotized, they may feel as though they are in a trance or an altered state of consciousness, like when they are daydreaming.
The eyes may be open or closed when a person is hypnotized, and there is heightened concentration and focus when they are hypnotized. Interestingly, the best age to respond to hypnotism is between 14 and mid-adulthood. In addition to being practiced at home, it can also be done in a clinical setting.
Applications of Hypnosis for Teen Girls
Girls can benefit from hypnosis in a wide range of ways. Adolescent girls can benefit from it not only for improving focus, concentration, motivation, pain, and self-confidence, but also for helping with habitual behaviors, mental health problems, sleep problems, and chronic diseases when used by a medical professional.
Habitual Problems
In deep relaxation, teen girls can be open to suggestions that can help them overcome habits like hair pulling, teeth grinding, or nail-biting. They can stop the behavior by listening to suggestions within their subconscious. For teens who are prone to pulling their hair out when stress triggers come up, this can be really helpful.
Mental Health Issues
Hypnosis is sometimes used for therapy purposes and might include hypnotizing teenage girls to end certain behaviors or improve medical conditions. However, keep in mind that hypnosis is not a cure-all and should not be used instead of medical attention. The following are some of the diseases and problems hypnotherapists work with:
- Having anxiety
- The depression
- Disorder of obsessive-compulsive behavior
- The disorder of attention deficit hyperactivity
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Anxiety
- Anxiety about social situations
- Issues related to body image
- An eating disorder
Sleep Disorders
Teenage girls who suffer from insomnia or parasomnias can improve their sleep with hypnotherapy. In addition to improving their focus and attention at school, this can also help them at home.
Chronic Disorders
The use of hypnosis can also help girls deal with chronic issues. An 18-year-old with chronic headaches might benefit from hypnosis if medication doesn’t work. Chemotherapy patients aged 13 and older may find that hypnotherapy relieves nausea. The following are other ways hypnosis might be used:
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- The Tourette’s Syndrome
- Having nightmares
- Feelings of grief
- Losing weight
Benefits of Hypnotherapy for Female Teens
Based on a national survey conducted in 2012, female teens are 4 percent more likely than male teens to use mind-body therapies like hypnosis. In comparison with other forms of treatment, hypnosis and other mind-body therapies have several perceived benefits.
Safe and Effective Means of Treatment
Hypnotherapy is a safe, non-invasive treatment that does not alter body chemistry. Teenagers can benefit from these therapies without the use of other methods like medications. A single application may also be enough to improve the condition of some patients.
Can Be Taught
It is possible to teach teens hypnosis techniques and have them self-regulate at home. Therefore, they will not need to go to a clinic or center for additional treatments that might be difficult to fit into their busy schedules.
Minimal Side Effects
Teenagers have minimal to no side effects from hypnosis. Rarely, dizziness or headache may occur, but they are very rare occurrences.
Treatment Can Be Tailored
In teen hypnosis, girls can be hypnotized to resolve the issue that they are experiencing. In the case of test anxiety, for example, treatment will focus on resolving the underlying issues causing the anxiety along with the anxiety itself.
Recognized Treatment
A number of disorders can be treated with hypnotherapy, according to the American Medical Association. Having certification signifies that it is a proven treatment that can be trusted by patients.
Risks and Controversy of Hypnosis
Teenagers can reap some major benefits from hypnosis, but there are also some downsides. Seeing the whole picture of hypnosis for teenage girls requires examining the risks and controversy.
Hypnosis Can Be Abused
One of the major controversies surrounding hypnosis is that it can be abused. When hypnosis is not used correctly, it can cause more harm than good to some teenagers, according to some researchers. Girls may experience false memories or hallucinations while under hypnosis, which can be harmful to their mental health.
A principal who practiced hypnosis on students was sued after three students died, two of whom committed suicide.
Not Everyone Can Be Hypnotized
It has been proven that hypnosis doesn’t work for everyone. There are people with specific brain types that can’t find the deep level of focus and concentration needed for hypnosis to work. Therefore, this isn’t a viable treatment for all teenagers.
Hypnosis Can Get Expensive
While insurance companies might cover hypnosis, sometimes this isn’t the case or they might only cover partial costs. This can mean that hypnosis can cost parents from $50-250 a visit for their teens. When 3-6 sessions are typically needed, this can be a deal breaker for some parents.
It’s Not All Clinical
It is not uncommon for hypnosis to be used on a stage for entertainment or comedy purposes. Hypnotists bring groups of people up on a stage, hypnotize them, and then entertain them with humorous suggestions. These shows are likely to appeal to teenage girls, who will be fascinated by the power of the mind.
The hypnotist usually asks for volunteers and lets the audience watch as the participants use their imagination as they are convinced of many amusing things by the hypnotist. Teenagers can see hypnosis in action on this outing.
Teen Girls and Hypnosis
There are some people who are not suitable for hypnosis. However, teens who have used hypnosis have experienced improvement with very few side effects. Moreover, this multifaceted treatment can be used to treat a variety of disorders and can be adapted to the problem at hand.
However, hypnosis can be dangerous if it is not performed correctly or abused. If you are a parent or a teen girl, weigh the benefits against the risks to make sure this is the right treatment for you.