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What
is hypnosis, how does it work and have I experienced it?
The hypnotic trance is a naturally occurring state of mind
(consciousness) that we all slip into and out of all the
time. In hypnosis (trance) we narrow our field of
attention so that everything outside of that focus becomes
unimportant. Typically when beginning an hypnosis session
the first thing we (as the hypnotherapist) would get you
to focus on is relaxation.
An
example from your own life – Watching a movie
When you are totally immersed in the film, you become
unconcerned that you are sharing a darkened room (cinema)
with 200 complete strangers. You are aware that they are
there but you pay them no attention. Similarly problems
you may have had earlier in the day and the things that
you have to do tonight and tomorrow are also given no
attention. You are totally in the moment, experiencing the
film and everything beyond that is of no relevance to you
in this experience.
This basically is the state we know as an
hypnotic or trance state. An important feature of the
state is that your conscious, analytical, critical mind is
quietened therefore you become suggestible (open to new
ideas).
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In this altered state
communication to your subconscious mind is opened up
and you are more willing and able to accept
suggestions. |
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This leads us to defining hypnosis. There are many different
definitions most of them perfectly valid however my favourite
is:
"Hypnosis
is communicating more effectively with your subconscious mind to
enable you to achieve your outcomes."
All the main self help
personal development technologies out there whether it is neuro
linguistic programming (NLP), psycho cybernetics, directed
meditation etc need to get through to the subconscious mind to
make any behavioural change or improvement effective.
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What
is hypnotherapy?
Hypnotherapy is a branch of complementary medicine that uses
the application of hypnotic techniques to bring about beneficial
changes for the client.
There are 2 important points to make here:
- All
hypnosis is really self hypnosis. The hypnotherapist is merely
your guide. It is the client who allows themselves to
experience the state and open their mind up to enable change
to take place. In hypnosis the client will be able to explore
their mind, gain insights into their problems and then be able
to release any blocks that they have been imposing on
themselves (even ones which perhaps they weren’t aware off
in their normal waking state).
- It
is not that you are given any new abilities from the outside
by the hypnotherapist. Rather you start to allow your own
natural abilities and potential to emerge without your
conscious mind analysing, judging or interfering e.g. judgmental,
critical statements of the conscious mind like “I’ll never
be able to do that! ” or “I’m not good enough!” are
bypassed in hypnosis.
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Explain
the amazing things I’ve seen people do in stage hypnosis?
Stage hypnosis is where hypnosis is being used for fun and
entertainment. Although some of the stunts that you may see being
performed can be quite embarrassing and irrelevant, when done
properly, stage hypnosis can be not only entertaining for the
audience but also a most invigorating and creative experience for
the volunteer.
An open and willing volunteer who accepts the
suggestions being given to him by the hypnotist (providing he
doesn’t consider them harmful to himself in any way) can
demonstrate apparently surprising abilities e.g. to act, sing,
dance etc. Often abilities he didn’t even realise he had or that
he doesn't display in his
normal waking state.
To understand how this works – read again the last sentence
of FAQ 2. Yes - you may
never have done (for example) any ballet dancing in your life so
how can you when hypnotised dance ballet ?
The answer is that your subconscious knows how to do it
because it contains a memory of everything you’ve seen and done
in your life. You most likely will have watched ballet on
television or even seen a live performance. Thus in hypnosis since
the subconscious also controls your physical movements it can
re-enact the ability from memory (providing that you give yourself
the permission to do so) – and surprisingly you may find yourself
performing ballet pretty well !
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