What is Hypnosis / Hypnotism?
Over the decades since first recognised by Mesmer, and
later understood more clearly by Baird, hypnosis has undergone many changes
in definition and understanding. After nearly 40 years of research and
practice, this writer offers the following explanation of hypnosis.
Your personal mind has two major identifiable components,
- the conscious mind that gives you awareness of your
surroundings and feelings at this moment in time and
- your unconscious mind that is the recording system of
memories, knowledge, protective mechanisms and all the emotions that
have been connected to those memories and learnings.
Millions of times per day, your environment, via your
conscious awareness, accesses the unconscious memory to find out what it
knows from past experience about the information coming in from the senses
of sight, sound, taste, touch and smell. The unconscious mind feeds back
information, feelings and emotions connected to that past experience so the
mind and body can react appropriately.
Most of us are never aware of the unconscious feedback as
such, but we are aware of the emotions and feelings that present to us.
Conflicts in memory cause anxiety. Good memories make us to feel "warm and
fuzzy".
Hypnosis is simply a way that a person trained in the
science and art of hypnosis can access the unconscious memory directly,
bypassing the conscious critical awareness. Most usually this is done
through a relaxing process where the conscious mind has reduced awareness
and the unconscious mind is allowed to express itself directly.
In light hypnosis the subject is still aware of his/her
surroundings. In deep hypnosis the subject is in a sleeplike state, unaware
of surroundings while the hypnotist talks directly to your unconscious mind.
There is no real mystery in hypnosis. It is a powerful way to help your mind
integrate what it knows with what is best for you. It helps reduce internal
conflicts, lets you achieve differently and can help you enjoy life in many
different ways.
There are many different hypnotic methods. Some use
specific relaxing words that create a formal trance like state. Some use
conversational techniques. Others use spirals and crystals. All techniques
are designed to focus the mind on a specific state.
Is hypnosis dangerous?
No. You should make sure your therapist / hypnotism has
been properly trained and is preferably a member of a recognised accredited
association. They should have specific understanding of the issue you
present them with, so make sure you ask that question up front. The
wonderful thing about hypnosis is that if your unconscious mind does not
trust the hypnotist, it won't allow you to be hypnotised.
There are over 11350 scientific articles published on the
varying aspects of hypnosis and its use. Many of these can be accessed via
the National Institutes of Health Pubmed website at
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=pubmed&cmd=search&term=Hypnosis
Over 2765 of these articles are available for free
download if you are interested.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=pmc&cmd=search&term=Hypnosis
Does it always work?
Not always. The mind is a complex thing. Even different
hypnotists have a different level of success with the same person. Sometimes
a person will achieve deep hypnosis on one day, but only achieve light
hypnosis the next. But generally speaking the more relaxed you are and the
more you get to know and trust your therapist, the deeper the hypnotic level
you will achieve. In some cases a post- hypnotic suggestion that you will
enter a deep trance the next time by just hearing a certain work or by
seeing an object will allow you to enter a trance immediately. Ask your
therapist about this.
Will I always be cured?
Hypnosis can not always fix the problem. But if the
problem is originally caused by the unconscious mind, and the therapist has
good rapport with the part of the mind creating the problem, your mind may
stop the behaviour that created the problem. Sometimes this can happen
immediately. Sometimes it will take a few sessions to "do a deal" with your
unconscious mind.
Can I be forced to do something I don't want to?
No. Your mind will only do what it believes is
appropriate. It cannot be forced to do something against its wishes. I often
get asked if it is possible to seduce someone against their wishes. The
answer is no. Of course if the mind WANTS to be seduced then an unscrupulous
person might take advantage of that. Make sure you go to a hypnotist who is
a member of an accredited association. They are required to conform to the
highest ethical standards.
What do you think about stage hypnosis?
Not much. But the people who take part must want to do it
or the trance state would never be achieved. Unfortunately that is the only
exposure to hypnosis many people see and it makes it hard for professional
clinicians to be taken seriously sometimes. Clinical hypnosis is a serious
therapeutic science based on proven client empowering techniques.
Feel free to contact us for a confidential discussion
about hypnosis and its benefits.
