Hypnosis - What It Is

Hypnosis and hypnotherapy are among the most misunderstood and misconceived topics in the medical industry. Even though in 1955 the British Medical Association set up a study which favorably reported hypnosis as a therapeutic tool and even recommended that it should be taught at medical schools, many people still fear hypnosis thinking the hypnotist will have complete control over their actions, making them "walk like a chicken," or "quack like a duck." In order to dispel this initial belief, we must first understand the trance itself.

A trance is defined by Websters as a "half-conscious state, seemingly between sleeping and waking, in which ability to function voluntarily may be suspended." This definition may still reinforce the mystical ideas people have of hypnosis so i will offer a simpler definition. A trance is simply a state of physical and mental relaxation. In fact most people go through several trances in a day! It commonly happens when people are driving. Have you ever driven somewhere and not really remembered the journey there? Or have you ever been at a red light only to be notified that it changed color by the angry honk of a horn behind you? This are both common, daily examples of a trance: a state of deep relaxation and concentration.

When in a trance you feel more physically and mentally relaxed. It is an extraordinarily pleasant experience, and you can tell that you are still in control. You can hear exactly what's going on around you, unless you choose to drift your attention away. You become aware that you can easily stand up, talk, or move whenever you want. A lot of people (me included) when they first experience a hypnotic trance move their fingers or hands in order to test whether they can move at will. Sometimes a patient can be a little difficult to wake up. This is not a sinister thing as it has been portrayed. It is more a case that a patient just "can't be bothered" to wake up as it feels so pleasant. However they soon become bored and will wake up pretty soon. One trick the old hypnosis pros use is to tell the patient that they are charging for the time. It's amazing how quickly they then wake up!

Common questions someone new to hypnosis may ask include "can I be hypnotized?" "what effects will I feel?" and "can I be made to do things against my will?" Almost everyone can be hypnotized, albeit some will be faster than others. The factors influencing this mainly have to do with trust and relaxation. If someone is preoccupied and/or has trust problems, they will not be a good candidate for hypnosis. The immediate effect of hypnotism is the induced trance like state of pleasant physical and mental relaxation. Hypnotherapy can also be used for long term effects such as increased overall relaxation, quitting smoking, losing weight, getting over phobias, etc. And to the final question - NO - you cannot be made to do things against your will, ethics, or principles. This myth seems to have arisen from Stage Hypnosis, where a hypnotist derives their results mainly from their subjects extrovertedness, peer pressure, and desire to please, rather than the deep relaxation derived from the hypnosis, hypnotherapy, and self-hypnosis discussed on this site.

Welcome to My Hypnosis Blog!

Welcome to my blog about Hypnosis and Self Hypnosis. Here you will find everything about hypnosis, self hypnosis, hypnotherapy, and free hypnosis mp3s. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at plj1280@yahoo.com