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The Myths about Hypnosis
What is hypnosis? Hypnosis is a powerful therapeutic tool for accessing the subconscious mind and achieving personal goals or affecting desired changes. It may be used alone or in conjunction with other therapeutic techniques.
Despite its awesome power, there are few procedures less understood, or more plagued by misconceptions. Hypnosis has existed since prehistoric times, and western medicine has been trying to understand it since the 1700’s. But it has only been within the last two decades that we have truly begun to understand what hypnosis is, and what it can do for us.
Unfortunately, many of the misconceptions that have developed over the centuries still exist in people’s minds. If you ask the average person on the street what he or she thinks hypnosis is, they may respond with any number of answers, including: sleep, unfortunately continue to persist, perpetuated by novels and films. (Many vampire & spy movies, for instance, portray hypnosis as a way for the villain to gain control over his victims.) These misconceptions prevent many people, who could benefit from hypnotherapy, from ever trying it. Those who do try hypnotherapy often spend their first session unlearning their misconceptions.
Hypnosis is not sleep, unconsciousness, or even magic. In fact it is a heightened state of awareness. In most cases the subject is fully aware and able to respond to requests, either verbally or by a signal. Ask a hypnotized person to make a specific, “reasonable” movement, they will comply.
There is no surrender of control, no magic. No one can be hypnotized against their will; and no hypnotized person can be forced to do anything against their will.
Hypnosis is now considered to be “a state of selective thinking”, where the subject (who is in control) chooses to experience only what is relevant to the task at hand, blocking out everything else. It may also be described as guided concentration. The guidance may be provided by a qualified hypnotherapist, or in the case of self-hypnosis, by the individual.
However you think of it, hypnosis is a method for communicating directly with the conscious mind. Few people realize the awesome power their subconscious mind has over their lives. The causes for many “bad habits” are rooted in memories or perceptions that may be forgotten by the conscious mind but retained in the subconscious. Hypnosis helps to access the subconscious and change those habits more quickly and easily.
Although hypnosis is not a panacea, there are many areas where it has proven to be tremendously helpful including memory enhancement, improving concentration, relieving insomnia, overcoming phobias (fears), eliminating bad habits ( such as smoking and nail biting), pain control and managing stress.
Hypnosis is a tool anyone can use and everyone should understand.
Achieve Your Goals Quickly Through Hypnosis
Whatever your goals are, hypnosis can help you achieve them more easily and more quickly. Many people don’t realize the awesome power that their subconscious mind has over their lives. The causes of so many “bad habits” are rooted in memories or perceptions that may be forgotten by the conscious mind and affect the desired changes more easily and quickly.
Unfortunately, many people refuse to consider hypnotherapy because of their fears and misconceptions. They may believe the hypnotherapist will control them, they will tell their hidden secrets, or be made to do ridiculous things. These misconceptions might be the result of watching old vampire movies or cartoons on TV. These fears and misconceptions are completely unfounded. The individual is always in control, and in fact, is more aware of what is happening while in the hypnotic state.
Although hypnosis is not a panacea, there are many areas where it has proven to be tremendously helpful; these include memory enhancement, improving concentration, relieving insomnia, eliminating nail biting, reducing stuttering, sales and sports achievement. However the most common reasons for visiting a hypnotist are loosing weight, quitting smoking, and managing stress.
Many overweight people who fail with diet programs turn to hypnosis as a safe and reliable alternative. For them, dieting never eliminated the subconscious need for excess food. It is just a form of torture they went through, until they eventually give into their subconscious desires. So they continuously went up and down the scale, never letting go of the desire for excess food.
The reasons for their desire were anchored in a memory of some pas emotional even that caused them to overeat for security, self preservation or protection. The memory of the ever remained sealed in the subconscious, even if it was consciously forgotten.
Hypnotism located the even which triggered this behavior, and changed the individual’s perception of that event; thus eliminating it as a problem source. Once this is accomplished, the individual can eliminate the desire for excess food and the weight comes off easily, and stays off.
This same technique is effective for quitting smoking. When an individual relives the horrible experience of taking that first puff, and remembers the events that caused them to continue smoking, the habit is easily eliminated.
Phobias such as the fears of water, flying, driving and claustrophobia are easily treated with the same technique, and can frequently be overcome in just two or three sessions.
“What the mind causes, the mind can cure. Wellness begins in the mind!” Every problem has a cause, and when you eliminate the cause from the computer we call the subconscious mind, the problem disappears.
Are You Stressed Out? Relax…With Hypnosis
John used to down two scotch and waters before dinner every night just to relax enough to make the transition from work to home life. But after dinner he would be so relaxed he’d nod off while reading the paper and find himself unable to go to sleep upon retiring. He desperately needed to unwind after a stressful workday as a management executive and was looking for an alternative to “social drinking” when he stumbled upon hypnosis.
Now after work John takes a fifteen minutes “transition break” by closing himself off in his bedroom, turning off the lights and the phone and putting on some soft music. He slips into comfortable clothes and stretches out on his bed or recliner. As the music begins to soothe his nerves his thoughts turn to his “safe place”, a mental haven where he has gone many times to escape from the stresses of the outer world. Here in his own imagination John is in complete control. He can visit his favorite location – a stretch of deserted beach – or another safe place in a cool pine forest where he listens to the tinkling of a nearby waterfall. Wherever he is, John knows he is safe, comfortable, and in complete control, with no one asking anything of him or wanting anything from him. Here he can – and does – imagine himself as he desires to be – healthy, happy, relaxed and at peace with himself and everyone around him. If he experienced any difficulties at work, he puts these problems into the basket of a hot air balloon and watches them gently blow away, knowing that they will be taken care of in the best possible way. John may take a dip in the ocean or playfully dance under a gentle waterfall, cleansing both his mind and his body of all stress, all tension, all negative emotions, and feeling a restorative healing energy take their place as he continues to enjoy this peaceful, relaxing state.
After about fifteen minutes, John instinctively ends his imaginative journey and slowly returns his thoughts to the present, reminding himself that he is back in his room felling refreshed and revitalized, yet completely and fully relaxed and ready to enjoy his evening with the family.
The relaxed, good-natured John who emerges from the bedroom is a completely different person from the harried, stressed and sometimes short-tempered man who went in. John’s family members, as well as John, are grateful that he has discovered hypnosis.
John is just one of a growing number of people who find that hypnosis works for them as an effective, non-drug alternative for stress reduction. With stress an ever-present part of the 90’s lifestyle and the growing evidence for the link between stress and illness – including such condition as hypertension, heart disease, ulcers, immune deficiency diseases and even cancer – hypnosis provides welcome relief with no side effects.
Hypnosis, simply put, is a relaxed state of mind. Most people can be trained to enter this state of deep relaxation and purposefully narrowed attention easily and safely in just a few sessions with the help of a trained hypnotherapist. Once the training has taken place, most clients can induce a self-hypnotic state, following the instructions of the hypnotherapist. Unlike alcohol or drugs, hypnosis can be used anytime, anywhere. All that it requires is an opportunity to relax for a few minutes. One can practice hypnosis while gazing out an office window or sitting in a quiet corner of the office break room.
By quieting down the body and the mind hypnosis sets into motion a chain reaction of physiological responses, such as hormonal changes and changes in immune system function. Hypnosis reduces the effects of stress on the body by thwarting the “flight or fight” response, lowering heart rate and blood pressure and relaxing muscle tension. These changes, in turn, stimulate other positive changes such as lowered production of stress hormones and increase of protective T-cell production by the immune system.
Since the 1970’s a growing number of scientific studies indicate that hypnosis, among other “mind/body” therapies such as biofeedback and meditation are effective options in treatment of illness where stress is a major factor. While not meant to take the place of traditional medical care, hypnosis can act as a useful adjunct therapy – one that is not only effective but enjoyable as well. One such major study at Duke University showed that practicing relaxation resulted in reduced hypertension and reduced blood sugar levels in test patients. Another study indicated that the practice of hypnosis could increase the change that in-vitro fertilization would be successful for patients.
With more studies every day illustrating the effectiveness of hypnosis for stress reduction and its accompanying health benefits, shouldn’t you try hypnosis? It’s simple, easy and pleasant. Contrary to popular myth, a hypnotherapist does not “take over” your mind and influence your thoughts – except at your request. You are aware at all times of the suggestions that the hypnotherapist offers and your mind will automatically reject any suggestions that conflict with your values or beliefs. On the other hand, when the hypnotherapist’s suggestions lead you to more relaxation, a healthier and more balanced life, why not accept them with an open mind? Working with your hypnotherapist, you can tailor suggestions and imageries to your specific needs and desires.
Quitting Smoking
Hypnosis Works and Lasts
The dangers of smoking have been studied and analyzed for years. The detrimental effect of smoking on people’s health and their activities is now public knowledge, and many people who have become addicted to smoking are now looking for ways to quit.
Most stop-smoking programs work at increasing the individual’s strength to resist the desire to smoke. They rely on willpower, and for most people that is the word method for quitting smoking. Willpower fluctuates like moods and emotions. One day it may be strong, the next day it may be weak.
Hypnosis works at eliminating the desire to smoke, whether it be from identification or replacement, the two principle reasons for smoking.
Identification is when the smoker indulges in the habit because the admires (or associates) with others who smoke, i.e. parents, peers, or celebrities. Identification smoking is the most common and the easiest to eliminate.
Replacement is when smoking takes the place of a previous habit (such as overeating), is used to replace something that is missing, (such as companionship, love, acceptance, self-esteem, security, or independence), or when it fills a void created by anxiety or boredom. Replacement smokers often receive sensual gratification from smoking. They enjoy the feeling of the cigarette in their mouth or the taste of the tobacco. For cigar and pipe smokers, the act of lighting often becomes ritual.
For both types of smokers, smoking is both a physical and mental process. So to be effective, the stop-smoking program must address both aspects.
To address the psychological aspects of smoking, the hypnotherapist may include an evaluation of why the person started smoking. “What purpose does it serve in their life?” For the Identification Smoker, suggestions can be given to help strengthen a person’s perception of the individuality, i.e., not needing to smoke to be accepted. For the Replacement Smoker, a more detailed analysis of their motivation is required.
To address the physical aspects of smoking, the hypnotherapist may include suggestions that change the perception of the taste from pleasant to unpleasant. The individual can imagine cigarettes as unappealing, bad tasting, foul smelling and revolting in every sense of the word. This makes quitting easier.
Hypnosis takes advantage of the mind’s natural ability to imagine and visualize. The client pictures themselves free from the habit, filled with new health, energy and vitality. They can see themselves as looking healthier, more attractive, and being more active.
Once a smoker has achieved success in a stop-smoking program it is necessary to reinforce the programming that led to quitting. Smoking is a habit that is acquitted and built over time. It can rarely be completely eliminated in an instant. Even though they may have stopped smoking, the behavior pattern still remains. Fortunately, it fades with disuse. Hypnotic conditioning with cassette tapes can be used to reinforce the changes until they become permanent.
Regression Therapy: How Does it Work?
Age Regression is one of the most powerful tools available to the hypnotherapist. But lately is has come under fire for creating false memories. The truth of the matter is that is does work, but the hypnotherapist must be very careful when directing the regression.
Many therapies involving hypnosis take advantage of the mind’s ability to visualize. And this ability can be very useful when treating someone or overeating, or helping them achieve athletic and career goals. But combing age regression and visualization must be done very carefully.
The subconscious mind retains every bit of information that it receives. If someone is having trouble retrieving a memory, the hypnotherapist may suggest that hey visualize something that will help them retrieve it. If the suggestion is not carefully worded the mind may confuse the image with the memory. For this reason it is very important to use Non-Directive Hypnotherapy.
A good example is the case of “Cathy”. She recently came to a colleague to discuss a personal development which she did not understand. As far back as she could remember, she had always felt a certain sadness when visitors left her home; but the situation was becoming increasingly troublesome. The emotional upsets were not longer limited to loved ones, but happened whenever anyone went out the door. The feelings were growing stronger, and now also resulted in tears and severe crying spells bordering on hysteria. The situation seemed to be out of control and she felt it demanded attention. A friend suggested hypnosis.
After interviewing her, and testing her for suggestibility, the hypnotherapist decided that some event in her childhood had resulted in a psychological imprint which had either been forgotten, or had not been consciously recognized as the cause.
The hypnotherapist instructed her to go back to the time and place where she first remembered the problem happening. He suggested that she view the event as if it were a television show and to describe what she saw.
“Cathy” explained that she was three years old, sitting on the stairs in her home, looking down into the living room. Her father had just died and was lying in the living room. She was called down and instructed to kiss her father good-bye, which she did.
The well-meaning family wanted to avoid a situation where a child, not understanding what death was, would not constantly be expecting her father to return. They explained that when her father would be taken out through “the door”, he would be gone forever and would never return.
Without realizing what they had done, they had created an association between death and doors that remained locked in her subconscious. To her three year old mind, there was no understanding, only an authoritative statement that going out the door would lead to something terrible.
As with most cases of this sort, understanding the cause was enough to solve the problem. While traditional psychoanalysis might have required years to discover the cause of the problem, a hypnotherapist employing Non-Directive Hypnotherapy solved in it just two sessions.
Hypnosis Can Set You Free of Fears and Phobias
One of the most common reasons people visit a hypnotist is to overcome fears or phobias.
Fears are a natural part of life. Everyone fears something such as being robbed, or being hurt in an accident. This type of fear is not necessarily bad; as it may prompt someone to take precautions, such as locking doors or wearing safety belts.
Most fears develop during childhood, but fears can develop during adulthood. Some fears that develop in adulthood are caused by chemical imbalances such as a hypoglycemic reaction; but many are the results of repressed memories. One indication of whether a fear is physical or psychological is the duration of the reaction. Psychological reactions are usually triggered by anticipations, and become les intense once the anticipated event begins. Physical reactions tend to become more intense once the event begins.
If a person experiences a fear strongly and/or frequently, they may begin to fear losing control. They can become afraid to feel the fear; and go out of their way to avoid anything that might trigger it. When this happens, the fear has become a phobia. (A fear may also considered an individual can feel the sensation of being afraid without recognizing what triggered the feeling.)
Whenever a fear or phobia gets in someone’s way, interfering with their life-style, or causing them to avoid something they would like to do, then it should be treated.
In mild cases, where a person recognized the triggers but would like help controlling their reaction, post-hypnotic suggestions can help them control their breathing, slow their heart, and achieve a relaxed state of mind. This permits them to deal with the problem in a calm and rational manner.
More severe cases are often the result of a traumatic childhood event. Most of the time the event can no longer be recalled by the conscious mind, but is still retained in the subconscious. In these cases, the hypnotherapist will often employ age regression.
Age regression is one of the most powerful tools available to the hypnotherapist. With it, s/he can guide the person back in time, and help them reexamine the event that initially triggered the fear from an objective point of view. Once the cause is revealed, the fear of losing control is eliminated. Control is soon established.
Once a sense of control is established, repeatedly confronting the fear through hypnotherapy quickly reduces, and soon eliminated the fear.
Athletic Performance
Hypnosis Can Help You Reach Your Personal Best
Training only the body and ignoring the mind invites a mediocre performance. Hypnosis won’t turn the weekend warrior into a national champion, but it can help anyone achieve their personal best. How? By arming them with improved concentration, a clearer focus on goal achievement, the ability to visualize, and most importantly, a strong positive attitude.
Most sports psychologists will agree: 80 percent of an athlete’s performance is due to attitude and mental conditioning.
Concentration is vital, but sometimes difficult to develop. Hypnotherapy has long been an effective means of improving concentration skills. Post-hypnotic suggestion can help a person focus on the task at hand and shut out distractions.
Goal setting is also essential. Without a goal, it is pointless to begin any task. A goal must be specific. Otherwise it would be impossible to tell when the goal was reached. Playing better tennis is too general, but improving a serve or backhand is easily attainable, and successful attainment is easily recognized.
Visualization can also provide an essential element to achieving success. Mental rehearsal before the performance can lead to increased confidence during the performance. Visualization at the moment of performance can also produce dramatic results.
Imagery should include all the senses, and not be limited to just the visual. A diver, for example, would “see” the form of the dive, “smell” the chlorine, feel the wetness of entering the water, and hear the cheers of the crowd. Perfection requires the use of all senses.
Many professionals employ some form of self-hypnosis to help them achieve their success. Mary Lou Retton, for example was only 16 when she won the gold medal in 1984. The night before the competition, she laid in bed and mentally rehearsed her performance. Just as she had many times before, she imagined herself going through the routine. She saw her body performing the movies; she felt the impact as her hands grabbed the bars. She imagined herself performing all her routines perfectly –seeing herself in her mind, going through all the moves with charm, poise, and confidence. The result was a perfect performance, and a gold medal.
Most important is the positive attitude. Hypnotherapy can change negative thoughts and eliminate performance anxieties. The occasional poor performance will no longer cause irritation, anger, discouragement or any other detrimental emotional reaction. Performance anxieties related to fear of failure, fear of humiliation or even the fear of success (the apprehension that success will cause others to expect even further improvement) can also be dealt with and eliminated. As a result, concentration, coordination, and technique will improve. Enjoyment will be greatly enhanced.
Learning and Memory Enhancement
Learning should be a lifelong process for everyone. The potential rewards of continuously learning new things can not be overstated. Whether learning new skills for the job, or studying a topic of personal interest, everyone can benefit from continuing their education.
There are many factors that may impede the learning process. The two most important factors are low-esteem and lack of motivation. Poor study habits, poor memory, lack of reward, poor nutrition, and even medication can also adversely affect an individual’s ability to learn new things. Fortunately, hypnotherapy can help with all these things.
Motivation is emotional, and comes from within. Knowing the benefits of success is not enough. Feeling a strong desire to acquire those benefits is essential. If too many desires compete for the individual’s time and attention, he may not able to focus. The desires can loose their strength, and less will be accomplished. The individual should set priorities. Once that is accomplishes, hypnotherapy can reinforce those priorities and strengthen his focus.
Self-esteem is built up with a series of successes and rewards. Setting interim goals as steps to achieving an ultimate goal can help. Each time a goal is achieved, the individual should recognize their success and reward themselves. Hypnotherapy can help establish this type of pattern in a person’s attitude.
Good study habits include time management and elimination of distractions. Bad time management can drain a person’s energy and emotions. Good time management consists of organizing the work; breaking large jobs into smaller, easily accomplished tasks. Distractions can be eliminated by selecting a location that is devoted exclusively to study. Going there only to study, and leaving when concentration becomes difficult or when done studying for the day. The location should as free from distraction as possible. i.e., no TV radio and no family and friends running in and out every few minutes.
People use three types of memory when learning: Sensory Memory, Motor Skill Memory, and Concept Memory. Sensory Memory deals with sights, scents, sounds, tastes, and touches. Motor Skill Memory deals with movement and coordination such as riding a bicycle, typing or dancing. Concept Memory deals with words and ideas. Written material must be meaningful and organized. A good way to study is to read the broad concepts first then narrow in on the specifics. This helps with comprehension, and also helps to avoid reading irrelevant material.
Poor nutrition and medications pose a different problem. Lack of protein in a diet may sometimes cause concentration and retention problems. Antihistamines and many other medications can cause drowsiness, also making concentration difficult. Some medications even block the neural-pathways in the brain. In these cases a physician must be consulted before beginning a program of hypnotherapy.
But for most people hypnotherapy can provide insight, guidance and direction to establish personal learning goals, boost self-esteem and create motivation. Enhances learning and improved memory result.
Weight Loss Through Hypnosis
More Effective Than Diet Programs
Many people become overweight when they begin to use food to satisfy an emotional need; to compensate for something they feel is missing in their lives. Some people overeat to compensate for an unpleasant experience. Other eat to reward themselves, or possibly for entertainment. Some want to be noticed, and many use a large body to offset a small ego. Food can be used to compensate for a lack of love, to offset fear, or overcome frustration, to deal with boredom, or sometimes even to avoid sex.
Often, the reasons they began overeating are anchored in their past; some emotional event that caused them to begin eating for security, self preservation or protection. The memory of the event remains sealed in the subconscious mind, even if they have consciously forgotten it.
For these people, dieting alone will not be enough to lose the weight and keep it off. They often view the diet as a short term program; and look forward to achieving their weight goal so they can return to eating “normally”. Once they meet their goal, they reward themselves with the huge meals or heavy deserts that they have been craving; and the weight quickly returns.
Dieting never eliminates the subconscious need for excess food. It’s just a form of self-torture they go through, until they eventually give in to their subconscious desires. They may go up and down the scale continuously, never letting go of the desire for excess food.
A hypnotherapy program will do more than just modify an individual’s behavior. It addresses all issues which may be affecting their eating habits. The hypnotherapist will ask: “When do you overeat? Where do you overeat?” and most importantly, “Why?”
S/he will also help examine the client’s self-esteem and self-confidence. Do these areas of self image requite strengthening?
The hypnosis session will help the client look back on their life, and locate the event (or events) which led to the current attitude toward food. This is the first step in eliminating the subconscious desire for excess food.
The second step will be in instill a new attitude toward eating, such as “I am satisfied with small amounts of healthy hood.” Hypnotic conditioning with cassette tapes are used to reinforce the new attitude. When used for 30 days, the attitude comes a permanent part of the client’s outlook on life. New eating habits are formed, that will last a life time. The weight easily stays off; and the roller coaster ride is over.
Can Hypnosis Make You Thin?
Tired of carrying around those extra twenty pounds? Sick and tired of diets that don’t work? Are you ready to shed that flab once and for all?
Hypnosis may be the answer for you.
But not if you’re expecting miracles.
Hypnosis is not a magic bullet. It cannot make you stop craving potato chips or never feel hungry again. It can’t make you exercise or make you like vegetables or make you do anything.
What, then, can hypnosis do that “will power” can’t?
Hypnosis, a state of deep relaxation and intense mental focus, can help you “reprogram” old attitudes and beliefs about eating. While in the state of hypnosis your subconscious (inner) mind is more available for you, more open to receive suggestions that will then become a part of those messages in the “back of your mind” that nudge you toward new behaviors. Like a modern day Jimminy Cricket, hypnotically implanted messages to urge you to “do the right thing” – to follow through with the changes that you decided to make in your life.
Hypnotic messages that suggest new attitudes like “You eat small portions of food and feel completely satisfied. You eat only in response to your body’s natural need for food as “fuel” can help re-program bad eating habits. Repetition of such suggestions, especially if listened to regularly on a taped message, can boost your determination and enhance your conscious “willpower.”
Often, however, such messages alone are not enough. It takes a combination of behavioral modification (watching your diet, learning how to eat healthily, and exercising regularly) and psychological education (understanding why you have certain eating patterns and how to change them ) in order to achieve permanent weight loss. A good hypnotherapist will address both these issues as well. Not only should you receive mental suggestions for behavioral and lifestyle changes, your hypnotherapist should explore with you any emotional connections to food and eating habits. Once you realize why you are eating when you are not hungry (and if we all ate only when we were hungry there would be no need for any weight loss programs) you can begin to changes that behavior.
A good hypnotherapist will work with positive programming, using your own success to spur you on and not rely on “aversion therapy” or “negative conditions” to achieve your goals. Suggestions that stress positive changes ( looking the way you want to look, feeling the way you want to feel) and that increase self-esteem can help you succeed not only in your weight loss, but in other areas of your life as well.
Mental imagery is another important part of hypnosis. Using hypnosis for weight loss, after achieving a deep state of relaxation your hypnotherapist might lead you through an imaginary journey where you might imagine yourself wearing a dress or suit you’ve grown out of. You might imagine the positive comments of your friends or co-workers. You would be encouraged to use all five senses in your imagery, seeing and feeling yourself grow thinner, stronger, more healthy and vital. Studies show that the more real your inner experience, the more likely the final results will match your mental “program.”
When used as a part of an overall program of behavioral modification and attitude adjustment, hypnosis can be the extra dimension that your weight loss program needs for long term success. While not magic, hypnosis can provide powerful tools to help you fight the battle of the bulge, tools that just may make the difference between success and failure.
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