22/11/2025

A Journey Into the Mind: Surgery by Hypnosis How Israeli doctors used hypnosis instead of anesthesia—and what it teaches us about everyday healing

It began not in an operating theatre filled with the hum of machines, but on a quiet beach in Thailand. At least, that’s where the patient believed he was. Waves lapped gently at the shore, the sun warmed his skin, and the world felt calm.

In reality, he was lying on a surgical bed at Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya, Israel. Surgeons were drilling into his skull, preparing to implant electrodes deep into his brain to ease the tremors of Parkinson’s disease. Yet he felt no pain, no fear—only peace.

This wasn’t science fiction. It was hypnosis. Guided by psychologist Dr. Udi Bonshtein, the patient entered a trance so profound that the five-hour procedure unfolded without anesthesia. His mind was anchored to the rhythm of Bonshtein’s voice, not the clatter of surgical instruments.

The patient later described the experience as “actually good.” Imagine that: brain surgery remembered not as trauma, but as a strangely pleasant journey.

🌱 Reflections from The Millpond Mind

Stories like this inspire me deeply. At The Millpond Mind, my group hypnotherapy sessions aren’t about surgery, but they share the same principle: guiding people into a state where imagination becomes stronger than fear, and calmness replaces stress.

Whether it’s easing anxiety, breaking habits, or simply finding a moment of stillness, hypnosis reminds us that healing isn’t always about external interventions—it’s about unlocking the resources we already carry within.

This medical breakthrough is proof that hypnosis isn’t “alternative.” It’s a powerful tool for transformation, whether in the operating theater or in everyday life.

If you’re curious about how hypnosis can help you find calm, focus, or resilience, join me for upcoming Zoom-based group hypnotherapy sessions. Together, we’ll explore the same mind-body connection that made surgery possible without anesthesia—applied to everyday challenges and personal growth.

👉 Stay tuned for session dates and sign-up details via The Millpond Mind channels.