About Hypnosis
What is Hypnosis?
People have been studying and debating over exactly what hypnosis is for more than 200 years, but science has yet to fully explain how it actually happens. However, It is a state of heightened receptivity. The basic definition of hypnosis given by most hypnotists has been "a state of deep relaxation combined with focused attention directed toward a specific goal."
When a person enters hypnosis, there is a change in their brain wave activity, similar to that time just before sleep when the alpha state is entered. When you are wide-awake, the beta brain wave state is predominate, but as you become relaxed, it changes to alpha. For sleep, you also go further into the theta and delta states. During the alpha state, the mind is very open to visualizations and creating a rich sensory experience. Since you are up to 200 times more receptive to suggestions given even while in the light state of alpha, it is not necessary to go deep into hypnosis for change to be possible.
Some characteristics of hypnosis include:
- Muscle Relaxation
- Deep, Easy Breathing
- Feelings of Mental Well-Being
- Increased Physical Comfort
- Effortless Focus & Concentration
- Sense of Being Outside of Time
- Heightened Sense of Imagination
- More Easily Able to Recall Past Events
- Increased Ability to Accept New Ideas
Common Misconceptions about Hypnosis
Hypnosis is not sleep.
It may look like sleep to the observer, but in fact a hypnotized person is simply completely relaxed. Although some individuals do become so deeply relaxed when in hypnosis that they may think they fell asleep, most people experience a heightened state of mental alertness, and tend to recall everything that occurred during their session.
Everyone has the ability to be hypnotized.
What we call “hypnosis” is in fact something you already do naturally several times a day – without even realizing it! It is very similar to daydreaming or the “auto-pilot” mode you go into when driving a car, becoming so focused on inner thoughts that your awareness of your surroundings fades away. Have you ever had the experience of hitting the snooze alarm and then continuing to lie in bed with your eyes closed, aware of yourself and the room, but not quite able to fully wake up? This is another example of the hypnotic state. Hypnotists simply are skilled in helping individuals access this altered state at will, and use specialized techniques to change negative thoughts and behavioral patterns into ones that are positive and result in more desired behavior.
The hypnotist is not in control of you.
They are only a guide, a facilitator, who is trained in the art of hypnotism. But the power is supplied by you, the client. The hypnotist will only be in control as far as you give him/her the control. The hypnotist can only suggest, but it is your subconscious mind that determines whether or not the suggestion will be carried out.
You cannot be made to do anything against your will.
You are in control of the process, including how deep you allow yourself to go into hypnosis. Your subconscious mind’s primary function is to keep you safe. You will only act upon suggestions that reinforce expected behavior, do not endanger your life, and are aligned with your own morals. Otherwise, you will simply ignore the suggestion, or perhaps even come right out of hypnosis.
You cannot get “stuck” in hypnosis.
Interaction between you and the hypnotist is needed for maintaining the state of hypnosis. Should the hypnotist stop speaking to you unexpectedly, you would either come right out of the hypnotic state, or simply drift off to natural sleep and wake up shortly after.