What is Hypnosis?

A state of relaxation and/or a level of concentration that the average individual reaches daily. Self- hypnosis is accomplished most often when one is “absorbed” in a TV program, experiencing repetition (highway driving), or daydreaming. However, “Hypnotherapy” is guided relaxation and/or concentration where the ideas expressed (suggestions) by the therapist are generally remembered more readily, which in turn creates anew awareness. Depending on your motivations, there may be a shift in attitude about specific subject matters (habits and stresses). The only requirement for getting therapeutic results is that the you have a conscious desire to change, or in other words, are in agreement with the suggestions.

Hypnosis is a scientifically verified and effective technique that can promote accelerated human change. With Hypnosis, we can create desired changes in behavior and encourage mental and physical well-being. Learn how to guide yourself and others to lose weight, quit smoking and be free of physical pain. These programs are especially suited for health care professionals, practicing therapists, and all individuals seeking to make a positive change in their lives.

A relaxed, focused state of concentration. That is the definition. But the actual state of hypnosis is a little harder to define. Until recently it was assumed that it was similar to sleep, or that the mind was somehow unconscious. In reality, there is a specific state that the brain enters into when it is receptive to suggestion. This has been discovered on scans during hypnosis. It is not an unusual state of mind, and may feel like you are not in a trance, or in hypnosis. For most people they simply feel relaxed. There is a change in the brain wave activity, similar to that time just before sleep when the alpha state is entered. Your brain’s waking state is a beta brain wave, just as you are going to sleep it changes to alpha and then to delta and theta in deep sleep. The alpha state is a very dreamy, pleasant state. During this time the mind is very open to visualizations and creating a rich sensory experience. The more real the experience becomes in the subconscious mind during this state, the more effect it will have on your waking behavior.

Do people do things under hypnosis that are against their morals, or values?

No. Hypnosis cannot detach the ego. As a general rule, if you were given a suggestion you did not agree with, you would simply refuse, laugh at it, or awaken (regain normal awareness). In stage hypnosis, the volunteers are usually under the influence of alcohol and have come to the show for the purpose of relaxing, acting silly and having a good time, therefore, they are easily encouraged to do so. Because inhibitions are often reduced under hypnosis, the subject is more likely to experience their inner character traits and motivations.

Can a person’s memory be erased?

No. If one undergoing hypnosis wants to remember, he/she will. In some cases, amnesia can he produced with a post-hypnotic suggestion, but it wears off as quickly as the subject wishes. However, a certified hypnotherapist can help a person transform a memory that may be causing problems. The mind contains unconscious memories that generally are responsible for our decisions, attitudes, feelings, and behaviors.

Do people under hypnosis go to sleep or become unconscious?

No. One should not expect to go to sleep! Hypnosis is a hyper-state of awareness that feels very relaxing. One is completely aware of everything that is occurring in the surrounding environment as well as that which is happening in the inner mind. Many authors in the field feel that hypnosis is a state of consciousness somewhere between being awake and asleep. Some people may go out of hypnosis by falling into natural sleep, but then they may need to be awakened.

Can hypnosis make me tell secrets?

Not at all. You will not divulge any information that you would not ordinarily divulge. You always have a choice, and your brain did not stop functioning or reasoning. However, you may find that you discover some inner truths about yourself, or your situation, or some self sabotage, that you did not know about consciously. What this means is that your subconscious mind may have some inner programming going on that you do not know about that causes you to keep making the same mistakes, get sick, get angry, have rotten luck, or ignore important clues about your success or failure. The really good news is that when you uncover these inner truths that have been kept secret from your subconscious mind, your mind can no longer play that game. When the unconscious strategy is revealed, the gig is up. Your inner mind must now do it differently. The program only worked when it was in stealth mode. Here is an example. I had a pain in my back, between my shoulder blades. …….

Can Hypnosis make me do something against my will?

Absolutely not. This is probably the biggest myth of all. Stage hypnotists seem to make people do strange things while hypnotized, but the truth is that these people are doing these things because they have a desire to be outrageous. If the stage hypnotists chooses their subjects carefully they will have willing participants. You will never do anything, or accept any suggestion that violates your morals or values. If that was possible, all the hypnotists in the world could make you go rob the banks and bring back the money. We would be rich, and rule the world. Obviously, this is not the case.

What if I don’t wake up?

No one has ever got stuck in a terminal state of hypnosis. It simply cannot happen. If the hypnotist left the room, or if you were listening to a tape and the power went out, you would either fall asleep and wake up naturally, or your subconscious mind would detect that there is no voice guiding you and bring you to conscious awareness.

Will I forget everything during the session?

It occasionally happens that there is amnesia for the session. Sometimes the hypnotist will suggest that you forget what transpired, and occasionally this may have that effect. Most hypnotists want you to be aware of the session. You will be aware of everything around you, and remember most, if not all, that happened in the session. Usually, you will remember it better than a conversation we had, because your mind is in such a focused state.

Can anyone be hypnotized?

Yes, in fact hypnotizability is often a learned trait. You can teach your body and mind to go into trance, and get better and better at it as you practice your self hypnosis. Most people don’t think they are hypnotized after a session. What they do notice is that some things have changed – maybe that day, maybe the next week. Sometimes the effects are subtle and sometimes profound. One woman told me about a profound healing experience after three days of listening to my healing program. Her tumor disappeared. Another man who had a stroke told me that the feeling and movement returned to his arm 1 months after our sessions. Another told me that they lost 7 pounds in one week after the first session. That is amazing, of course, but sometimes when the mind is really ready to make a change, it can happen quickly. Sometimes when the brain and body needs to do some healing work it can happen over time. One of my clients was sure that he was not hypnotized in any of our sessions, but after only 5 sessions, his lifetime of relentless migraines were gone. And when I saw him 8 months later, he says that he still has not had one migraine.

The truth about hypnosis is this.

It can be the one most important tool to change the way your mind experiences your world. If there ever was a magic wand, that could help you change anything about your life, your health or your behavior, this might be it. Good Hypnotherapists know how to gently release blocks and fears, and create a new inner belief that will set the wheels in motion to make changes in the way you think, feel and behave.

We are constantly hypnotizing ourselves. I think that sometimes we are our own worst enemy, when we call ourselves names, or put ourselves down and reinforce fears and limitations. It can get to be a habit and if you do it long enough you will develop a belief that will get the results you ask for.

You have the power to make your brain happy or sad, afraid or confident, healthy or sick. Want to learn how to use it. Keep listening.

Can Hypnosis make changes in my body?

You are constantly growing new cells. Every cell that dies off get it’s instructions from the old cell, and in the case of skin cells, if there was a scar, the new cell is instructed to form in the same way as the old cell and become part of the scar tissue. But why does this perfectly healthy new cell have to take on the memory of the old cell? We get completely new skin every 20 days. All of our skin cells are replaced. They do not need to be replaced with the old messages. Hypnosis seems to be the messenger that can send information to the new cell, and break the communication of damage or aging, or injury. I have had many clients who have made scars go away. Hypnotists are very familiar with the process of permanently enlarging breasts with hypnosis because the cells respond to suggestion to become larger and more plentiful. Men have also enlarged their genitals with this same process. It is a well researched fact that hypnosis can increase the function of the immune system and affect cancer cells. In fact, Norman Cousins did a test to find out just how dramatic the effect is on the immune system after just one hour. He had blood drawn before his meditation session, then again immediately after. In one hour some immune factors in the blood had increased 200%. So when you have a cold, if you let yourself be miserable and focus on how sick you are getting, that is what you will get! Your immune system will respond by suppressing the activity.

DOES IT REALLY WORK?

The bottom line is YES. Every week people quit smoking (some with heavy habits of 3 packs per day for decades), lose weight, improve their sports game, self confidence, sleep habits, self esteem, & much, much, more through hypnosis.
You may even know some people who have used hypnosis in their personal lives.

HOW WELL IT WORK!!!

Here’s a Recent Comparison Study:

•  Psychoanalysis: 38% recovery after 600 sessions
•   Behavior Therapy: 72% recovery after 22 sessions
•   Hypnotherapy 93% recovery after 6 sessions

                 – American Health Magazine

Jenn goddard is a Cerified hypnotist in Orlando Florida