There are many aspects to Hypnosis/Hypnotherapy, which has been enhanced by Psychology and Neuro Linguistic Programming techniques. It can be as easy or complicated as you wish to utilize hypnosis. In essence, hypnosis is the internal focused attention of an individual, on a suggestion or theme, which deepens their experience into the natural state of trance.
Hypnosis is naturally occurring stare of mind, which we go in and out of ever day many times, approximately every 90 -120minutes know as Ultradian Rhythms. Examples being: when you drive a car and seem to drive on autopilot. When you get absorbed in a good book or film. The state between waking and sleep. When we daydream to name a few.
Hypnosis has been termed as the bypass of the critical factor of the conscious mind and the establishment of selected thinking. In essence this means the shifting of our conscious awareness, into the subconscious and the acceptance of a suggestion, resulting in the desired change. It is a natural state where the mind is more receptive to suggestion.
We have a conscious mind or analytical mind, which gets to focus on external matters, while the subconscious mind or our internal state of awareness, becomes our means of entering trance and to accessing our true potential. To put it another way, In trance our minds focus inward and the external experiences around us become less important. For some it is hard to believe that hypnosis is actually a heightened state of awareness.
The subconscious on the other hand is the ultimate control room of our perception of reality. It is creative/ imaginative in nature, habitual and all knowing. A record of our life’s experiences, habits and beliefs. The subconscious keeps us alive by regulating our automatic unconscious processes, such as heartbeat/ breathing etc automatically all below conscious awareness.
Hypnosis is now widely recognized for its use in therapy and stage hypnosis. It is now extensively used to treat phobias, to heal emotional scars and enhance sport performance., for pain control, stress reduction and so on.
With the introduction of NLP the Hypnotherapist has a greater tool box of techniques and is able to gain greater rapport with a client, as the techniques complement each other so well. Add to this EFT and the therapist versed in all three of these methods alone, has a formidable toolbox for healing.
The Hypnotist has no secret power over anyone. Hypnosis is primarily a consensual state, for which you are guided into the trance state. You cannot get a person to do something in hypnosis that they didn’t want to do. You will not tell your deepest darkest secrets. You cannot be trapped in hypnosis. If the hypnotherapist died, you would just open your eyes and think I’ve just saved some money. You are aware of everything that is happening around you and what is being said.
In hypnosis, on the majority of occasions you tend to have your eyes closed and have the appearance of being asleep. The reality is, that you will just be very relaxed and your subconscious mind open to bring about acceptable positive changes that you want. Depending on the issues and the individual, the hypnotherapist will use different therapeutic techniques to bring about change.
With regard to stage hypnosis, the subject accepts suggestions withing an entertaining stage context. The subjects tend to be extroverts and are happy to comply by accepting entertaining suggestions in hypnosis. There is no complex therapeutic element, as in hypnotherapy.
I personally do not like the fact that the stage hypnotist does not have the time to evaluate the mental state of the volunteers and therefore the possibility of an abreaction to the hypnotic/suggestion process. A Stage Hypnotist would in most situations would simply reply, that there is no evidence to support anyone being harmed in hypnosis, especially by a trained professional hypnotists in a controlled environment.
Common sense dictates, that without establishing a persons psychological history, you are leaving yourself wide open to potential problems, that you best be able to deal with. Statistically it’s going to happen sometime when you least expect it. Having said that, hypnotherapy still remains one of the safest forms of treatment. Far safer than taking a prescription pill from your doctor.
Remember the hypnotist has NO omniscient power. He is your guide to a consensual state of trance. Having said that there are Ericksonian hypnotic techniques, whose clever syntax, (covert language patterns) suggestions and metaphor, fly under the radar of the conscious mind. Despite this you still have to want to remain in hypnosis and accept the suggestions. However language patterns designed for the subject to forget about the preceding suggestion among others exist. Despite this, the protective part of our mind under normal circumstances, is ever present.
We hold the key to benefiting from our trance experiences, however induced. We are natural trance machines if you like and all receptive to persuasive techniques of varying kinds, some more than others. You do not need hypnosis be influenced. It’s part of life. Politicians/sales people/media etc covertly and overtly lead you to their outcome every day. Even you use the methods that you have at your disposal to get your point across or to get what you want.
At the end of the day a hypnotist has an element of control, as they are leading you, or pacing your experience, using carefully crafted patterns. Directing you to do or experience specific actions. IE. I don’t want you to go into hypnosis just yet (presupposing that you will). With every gentle breath you can allow yourself to be twice as relaxed ( tying one experience to a desired outcome), for example.
It’s all clever linguistics, however ultimately YOU are in still in control. You remain the captain of your ship under normal circumstances, for want of a better analogy. The suggestions/techniques/hypnotist/environment etc have to be acceptable to you, for you to allow yourself to really enjoy this wonderful safe state of peace and tranquility.
The sad part, If you think about it is. That most people are sheep and blindly follow everyone else, without ever actually knowing what they want or how to get there. They accept their lot in life and dream of what could be. They don’t consider stepping out of their comfort zones, by taking and active step towards what they really want, so it remains but a dream.
These people, have ACCEPTED the suggestion to conform to what they have been conditioned to do all their life. To repeat the same unconscious patterns over and over again, every single day. They stay on the INSIDE and dream ( subconscious mind) about external experiences. They are ALREADY in a TRANCE and HYPNOTIZED and don’t know it.
Just remember hypnosis is a natural phenomena and that most things in life are enhanced by it. So learn hypnosis and start reprogramming your mind to the life that you want. Then take action and actively seek it.
