What is Hypnosis?

Myths About Hypnosis:

1. MYTH: Many people hold the Hollywood image of a hypnotist as someone with a swinging pendulum putting you "under" a spell.

   FACT: Hypnotists are non-mystical human beings trained in a professional skill. Hypnosis is no more magical than the natural and relaxed quiet focus you experience when you are immersed in a good book. You are always in control, with your mind open and fully aware. A hypnotist is someone trained to help change ineffective thoughts and beliefs to effective and positive ones. She/he is a guide and support for you to go toward your goals and teach you how to independently reinforce your own progress.

    

2. MYTH: A hypnotist can make you do things against your will.

   FACT: No one will do anything in a trance state that goes against their beliefs or values. Your mind is completely relaxed and open, just as when you are involved in a good movie. You choose to follow the story-line. If you were to hear a child crying for attention during the movie, you would still be aware and responsive. Hypnosis is much the same. Anytime you need to tend to something, or find yourself uncomfortable, you can instantaneously come out of hypnosis.

    

3. MYTH: Only weak minded people can be hypnotized.

   FACT: The more intelligent or creative you are the easier is to hypnotize you. Anyone who wants to can be hypnotized. In certain cases of mental debility, hypnosis is impossible.

    

4. MYTH: Under hypnosis you are a zombie.

   FACT: Hypnosis is a state of HEIGHTENED awareness, suggestability and singular focus. Hypnosis is not sleep. It is not like a drug.

    

5. MYTH: You can get stuck in Hypnosis.

   FACT: Even if the hypnotist were to leave the room after putting you in hypnosis, after a few minutes you would simply open your eyes if you did not hear his voice. Hypnotists are ordinary human beings just like you. A hypnotist is your coach. They possess no mystical unearthly powers.

    

6. MYTH: Hypnotism is mumbo-jumbo.

   FACT: Consider the effects of advertising on how we measure ourselves. Are we slim enough? Do we have a big enough car? Are we successful? We are hypnotized every day by advertising without recognizing it. Hypnotherapy is way to unlearn many of the negative messages and suggestions we've accepted that compromise the potential of both ourselves and our relationships with loved ones.

    

Is It Easy To Do Self-Hypnosis?

All hypnosis is really self-hypnosis. A trained hypnotherapist can guide and assist you to reach your goals, but you are the one using your imagination. Therefore you are always in the driver's seat.

You can become your own hypnotherapist with practice. In the beginning, it may be easier to let yourself relax if you are not trying to both narrate your script and absorb the positive suggestions you are giving. Just to get started, a hypnotherapist is helpful to become familiar with the relaxed and pleasurable sensation of hypnosis. You will have more success getting back to this state once you've experienced it. Self-hypnosis is also a wonderful and effective tool for reinforcing the new ways of seeing yourself and experiencing the world that you may discover from your sessions.

You can start hypnotizing yourself right now by simply noticing your thoughts, recognizing a negative or fearful one when it arises and replacing the thought with an image or memory that fills you with a feeling of safety, calm, and joy. If at first you don't believe, act "as-if" for a time.Your subconcious doesn't know the difference between pretend and real, it just responds to the pictures you give it. Notice how effective you can be in changing your energy with the words you choose to describe your situation. Imagine that someone you look up to doesn't know you're in the room - and you hear that person describe you as wonderful, talented, and unique. Imagine how differently you would feel, rather than listening to your own self-doubts. Through self-hypnosis you can learn to nourish your self-confidence by treating yourself like you're the unique individual you know you are.

Believing is seeing, rather than the other way around. It may take a little practice to see yourself in a new light, but when you do, you will see how "working on issues" with hypnosis can actually be a pleasant, non-threatening experience.