Misunderstandings about Hypnosis

Misunderstandings About Hypnosis - By Karen Hastings

Hypnosis refers to being in a trance like state, the kind of states that people experience naturally all the time in daily life. If you have ever been driving somewhere and have suddenly realised you have reached your destination, whilst being absorbed in thoughts about other things, if you have ever been so engrossed in a good book or movie, that you have been unaware of time or distractions, if you have ever daydreamed, then you have experienced trance.
Hypnotherapist's use hypnotic techniques in order to induce a trance like state in the individual. Whilst the individual is in trance, the therapist makes suggestions towards the client's goal. Hypnotherapy is based on the belief that when a person is in a trance state, conscious criticism and analysis is switched off, allowing therapy to be directed at the unconscious mind. It is also understood that the unconscious mind has access to areas of yourself that your conscious mind doesn't. For example, people have used self-hypnosis to control pain, control physiological functions such as heart rate and solve problems, which they are unable to do consciously.
As an Occupational Therapist, therapist who often uses hypnotic techniques, at my NLP and Hypnotherapy practice, Herts for therapeutic benefits, I am aware that many people have inaccurate beliefs about hypnosis. For example, a friend asked me if I could work with her husband to make him give up smoking and pick up his socks! Two activities which he had no intention of stopping! In fact hypnotherapists cannot make people do anything they do not want to do and this will be explained along with other common misconceptions.
1. Hypnotherapists can make you do things against your will - This is not the case. During hypnosis you will be in a relaxed state and choose to follow the therapists voice and listen to the suggestions. The session relies on 100% commitment from the client, as all the work is carried out by the client in their imagination. The therapist can guide but cannot control what goes on inside your head. Therefore, if the therapist ever made any suggestions, which did not fit with your values or which you did not agree with, then you would immediately come out of your relaxed trance state. Since the success of hypnotherapy relies so much on the motivation and commitment of the client, a hypnotherapist cannot get rid of a 'problem' that your not that bothered about solving.
2. Hypnosis is like being in a deep sleep - Unlike sleep, during hypnosis you will actually be highly aware of your surroundings and your senses will be switched on as you concentrate and focus on the therapists voice.
3. Some people can't be hypnotised - Most people can go into relaxed trance states, as it's a normal experience that we have in life. A person who is particularly nervous about hypnotherapy, perhaps due to misconceptions about it, could resist going into trance if they really didn't want too. A good hypnotherapist is able to guide a nervous client into relaxation, this can be done at the clients own pace over a few sessions.
4. Hypnosis is therapy - There is a big difference between a stage hypnotist and an experienced hypnotherapist. Hypnosis is a technique. Hypnotherapy is the therapy that is carried out during trance. A hypnotherapist must have a good understanding of clinical conditions and disorders in order to assess and treat appropriately. For this reason it's important to ascertain what experience your hypnotherapist has.
5. I've had hypnotherapy and I didn't go under! - The first time I had hypnotherapy,I had the experience of being unsure of whether I had been 'successfully' hypnotised. The reason is that some people expect hypnosis to feel unique in some way, when it is a familiar feeling of being relaxed and highly focused, like during day-dreaming. It's not like being anesthetised!

About the Author

Karen is a registered mental health occupational therapist. She has worked in the NHS with people with acute and chronic mental health problems. Karen practices privately in Hertfordshire, and offers NLP and hypnotherapy, Hertfordshire, in order to treat a range of emotional, psychological and behavioural problems. For more information about hypnotherapy, Herts visit http://www.karenhastings.co.uk

Hypnosis

Hypnosis

Control stress hypnosis by John Hartley

It is important to understand that we don't always "feel" emotions in the way we may think that we do. Our efforts to protect ourselves from being hurt emotionally can cause lots of trouble since our mind and body find other ways or expressing the suppressed emotions. Hypnosis can unlock these secrets and re-program the mind in positivism. Hence, control stress hypnosis by weeding out the bad and suppressed hurt feeling that is deeply buried in the sub-conscious.
Hypnosis is the process by which an altered state of mental consciousness is induced that allows constructive suggestions directly to the subconscious mind. By giving constructive suggestions to the subconscious mind, control stress hypnosis helps.
Disorder due to stress is characterized by insomnia, irritability, impatience, restlessness, hyperactivity-sweating, increased palpitations, light-headedness, high resting pulse and respiratory rate, fatigue, stomach upset, lump in the throat, pervasive, persistent anxiety, worry, thoughts, or anticipation of misfortune to self or others. You can use control stress hypnosis, to root out the underlying factors behind its symptoms.
Anxiety is different from that of panic and fear, in that anxiety is a chronic state of arousal, where panic and fear is sudden, and an acute state. If you suffer from anxiety you will mostly complain of not being able to concentrate or poor memory. Here hypnosis is utilized to significantly reduce anxiety disorders through the use of relaxation, and using visualization techniques to overcome exaggerated fearful thought processes. You will need a referral by a physician for this therapy.
Hypnosis to reduce anxiety
Control stress hypnosis is a very powerful tool for curing anxiety. Through hypnosis, your subconscious mind can be trained to respond more to rational judgment than to imaginary fear. Hypnosis anxiety treatment treats the cause of anxiety and not the symptoms.
Stress results from a psychological and biological reaction to a perceived threat. A stress response includes an increase in blood pressure, pulse rate, energy levels, mental activity, and muscle strength. If stress is not dealt with while it is at a low level, the symptoms of stress can escalate to cause other problems such as anxiety and depression.
The control stress hypnosis process teaches you how to bring the body into a relaxed state. By experiencing the deep relaxation of a hypnotic state, the body learns to relax. You will feel more rested, energetic, and you will find the sleep becoming deeper and more peaceful. As you begin to feel better physically, your thinking will become clearer, and your reactions to stressful situations will be calmer. As you learn to control, the response to stress triggers, your emotions will be more controlled as well, and you will begin to experience a greater sense of peace and serenity no matter what circumstances in which you may find yourself. Hypnosis helps reduce anxiety and stress by teaching your body and mind to cope, change and adapt to whatever situation may arise in your life. This, by itself, is the key to successful stress management.
Rex Truman is a writer who has studied hypnosis, and shares his findings with people who want to know more about this therapy at www.hypnosis-selfhypnosis.com
About the Author
Self Hypnosis