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 Frequantly Asked
Questions about Hypnosis
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What is HYPNOSIS?
HYPNOSIS
is a natural state of mind in which a subject
is open to and more accepting of given suggestions.
Yet, the subject always retains an intact capacity
to reject any suggestions that are not compatible
with his/her moral values and personal beliefs.
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Is HYPNOSIS dangerous?
HYPNOSIS is safe if
used properly and judiciously. A well-trained
therapist will teach you how and when to use
HYPNOSIS safely. Specifically, if you are
using HYPNOSIS for pain control, you are simply
using the power of your mind.
* First, your are reducing or
completely eliminating the use of pain medication
and becoming drug free.
* Second, your are reducing the levels
of the stress hormones in your system that
would be caused by your subjective perception
of pain.
* Third, by reducing the tension of
the skeletal muscles, you are reducing accompanying
aches and pains, which further creates a sense
of well being.
* Fourth, you are reducing your overall
stress levels, including mental stress, which,
in turn, deepen your sense of well being and
encourage healing. The only side effects of
HYPNOSIS, that is if you would like to call
them side effects, are a sense of relaxation,
feeling of peace, and experience of harmony.
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Is HYPNOSIS sleep?
HYPNOSIS is not sleep,
despite the use of term "HYPNOSIS"
from the Greek root "hypnos", meaning
sleep. On the contrary, when hypnotized or
in trance, the subject is more alert and awake
than usual since he/she is entering into a
state of intense concentration.
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Who
can BE HYPNOTIZED?
It is estimated
that 95% of the population can BE HYPNOTIZED.
Generally, every consenting person with a
normal brain function can BE HYPNOTIZED. Persons
who cannot BE HYPNOTIZED either do not want
to be, or exhibit abnormal brain wave patterns.
Almost
anyone can be hypnotized. The only people
who cannot be hypnotized are those with an
exceptionally low IQ, those with a psychotic
process (thought disorder) and those who do
not wish to be hypnotized. The ability to
be hypnotized is often considered a si
gn of intelligence. Many brilliant inventors,
authors and scientists such as Thomas Edison
and Albert Einstein used various self-hypnosis
techniques for problem solving and creativity.
This powerful "in-between" state
is key in the creative process
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Can I BE HYPNOTIZED against my will?
No, you cannot BE HYPNOTIZED
against your will. Nobody can. Only consenting
individuals can BE HYPNOTIZED. In essence,
using hypnosis requires a partnership between
the therapist and the subject. The therapist
performs as a guide and the subject "does
the work". |
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Can the therapist make me do something I do not
want to do?
Although hypnosis is defined as a state of increased
receptiveness and responsiveness to verbal suggestions,
the therapist cannot make you do anything you do
not want to do. When hypnotized, you still maintain
your critical faculties to such a degree that you
can easily reject any inappropriate suggestions
offered by the therapist. It is you who are in control,
not your therapist. Your subconscious mind will
only accept suggestions that are in accordance with
your personal and moral values.
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How powerful are the hypnotherapist's suggestions?
If suitable suggestions are
formulated properly and reinforced sufficiently
throughout the session, the hypnotic subject is
likely to transform the given suggestions into actions.
Some suggestions may last a lifetime, others may
healthier behavioral patterns and fully incorporates
these suggestions into his or her lifestyle.
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What is the difference between clinical hypnosis
and stage hypnosis?
Clearly, clinical hypnosis and hypnotherapy
are used to create desired changes in the
person's condition. On the other hand, stage
hypnosis is used for entertainment purposes.
On stage, the performer will select a group
of willing participants, who, when given tacit
permission to let go of their inhibitions,
will do foolish and crazy stunts. They have
a perfect excuse for whatever they do, because
they claim they have been hypnotized. Whether
the entire group on stage was hypnotized or
not dowsn't really matter. If they choose
to, people do incredibly absurd things without
being hypnotized.
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Is there a hypnosis test to see if I can be
hypnotized?
Yes, one test that many hypnotherapists give
there clients before undergoing hypnotherapy
is the "lemon test." You'll like
this. Relax for a moment and imagine holding
a lemon in your hand. Now, imagine the porous
texture and the bright yellow color. Now imagine
taking a common kitchen knife and cutting
the lemon into neat little slices. Now, imagine
placing it under your nose and smelling the
lemony scent.
Now,
visualize taking a bite out of one of the
slices. Pause for a moment.
If you find yourself salivating, you've
passed the test. If you didn't salivate,
it doesn't mean you can't be hypnotized.
However, if you did salivate from that little
bit of visualization, you are definitely
"hypnotizable."
This
gives a better understanding of how hypnosis
works. The brain cannot distinguish between
an image created in your head and an image
you are seeing in reality. Therefore, when
you bite into that lemon, a series of things
happen that go unnoticed. You salivate.
Your lips pucker. Your brain sends digestive
juices to your stomach to break the juice
down into usable nutrients.
Here's
another test. You'll like this, too. Take
a second and smile. Okay, you can do better
than that. Imagine something great happening
in your life. You won the lottery. You became
a rock star. You passed the exam. Whatever.
Pretend that you are the happiest person
on the planet. Give a good solid smile and
hold it. If you smiled for just one minute,
you'll find that for no apparent reason
at all, you become a happier person. Instead
of smiling because you're happy, you are
happy because you are smiling. It may sound
strange, but, its true. Its the same concept
as the lemon test.
You
are sending messages all over your body
that are going unseen. Your blood pressure
and stress levels drop. Your brain would
produce an increase in beta-endorphines.
You may even find yourself chuckling for
no reason. And, then people around you smile
just because you're smiling. Then you find
yourself in a perfect environment for meeting
new friends, loved ones or business partners.
You just created a more positive situation
in your life in just one minute.
Then
the same works with frowning. Don't try
this. Keep smiling. A person might have
just won a Grammy, but, if they decided
to frown for no reason for one minute, they'd
find themselves sad or depressed for no
apparent reason. Now, take this idea and
run with it. Take a moment out of each day
to visualize yourself as a wealthy person,
a thinner person, a healthier person or
as a non-smoker. There is great power in
this form of visualization. Now, this is
not exactly self-hypnosis, but its close.
Let's call it a light version of self-hypnosis.
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Can hypnosis make me want to eat right or stop smoking?
When
a person asks this, we have to question their desire
to change. Hypnosis cannot make you want do something
that you really don't want to do. A person could
not be hypnotized out of the blue to run a marathon,
unless they already were a runner. Hypnosis is a
tool, like a hammer. You don't expect the hammer
to drive the nail in for you by itself. But it is
a whole lot easier using a hammer than just using
your hand. There is no easy substitute for making
efforts. In other words, hypnosis could give an
athlete the mental edge that could make the difference
between a bronze and a gold medal. It's all about
focus and aim.
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What is 'NLP'?
"NLP"
or Neuro-Linguistic Programming is a generic form
of hypnosis and one of many techniques that a qualified
Hypnotherapist may use. Don't be fooled by fancy
words. Often those who only practice NLP do not
have the in-depth training as a Hypnotherapist does.
("Interactive Guided Imagery" practitioners
fall in the same category.) NLP is a useful tool
in building rapport with friends or potential sales
clients, but without traditional hypnotic inductions,
in many cases it does not attain the hypnotic depth
that profound inner healing necessitates for longlasting
results.
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