What is hypnosis?
The state of hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness, where the subject experiences profound relaxation. The extent of the relaxation increases the minds’ ability to concentrate on positive suggestions. States of hypnosis vary in degrees of openness to suggestion, yet even in a light state, you can experience dramatic changes in achieving goals.
How do I know if I am hypnotized?
Usually, a person being hypnotized for the first time won’t think that they have been “under” at all, simply because they think it will result in being unconscious. This is not the case at all. Hypnosis is a state of complete relaxation. Some people sense a feeling of “heaviness”, while others have a light or floating sensation. Although you are perfectly aware of surroundings and sounds, your attention becomes concentrated on the voice of the hypnotist and other sounds seem to fade away. Your ability to succeed in being hypnotized relates directly to how well you follow the instructions of the hypnotist.
Is it possible that I could not be brought out of hypnosis?
Absolutely not! The state of hypnosis requires that you concentrate on an outside stimulus, the hypnotist’s voice. If that voice disappears for a few minutes with no other stimulus, you will naturally fall asleep and awaken after a short time. Because you are not “asleep”, it is impossible for you not to “wake up”.
Can I be hypnotized against my will?
Again, absolutely not! Since you can only be hypnotized by cooperating fully with the hypnotist’s instructions, you cannot be hypnotized if you don’t want to be. This is why performing hypnotists often wind up having people on stage who weren’t hypnotized: they cam up with the attitude, “I’ll show that this doesn’t work”. If you don’t want hypnosis to work, it won’t!
Can I be hypnotized?
Everybody is hypnotizable to some degree. The key factor is you must cooperate with the hypnotist in order to have success. The level of concentration that you achieve will depend directly on how well you follow the hypnotist’s instructions.
Can I only be a “little” hypnotized?
How light or deep a state of hypnosis you achieve will depend on how well you follow instructions. However, in a light state, your mind will accept positive suggestions to help change attitudes or behavior.
What is self-hypnosis?
Self hypnosis merely means that you make positive suggestions to yourself while your mind is in a highly suggestible state. This is the primary advantage of self-hypnosis over subliminal tapes of having a hypnotist give you suggestions for change. In self-hypnosis, constructive, healthful thoughts are placed in your subconscious mind BY YOU! No one else is telling you how to behave. YOU are the one that drives your desire to change.
Can hypnosis really help a person to stop smoking?
If you really want to stop smoking, hypnosis is one of t he most effective tools. It helps you avoid the anxiety and irritability that usually accompany the process of quitting. It helps reinforce your reasons to stop, so those positive thoughts become more important than giving in to the urge to smoke. Literally millions of people have used hypnosis through expensive clinical settings to help them stop smoking.
How effective is hypnosis in weight control?
Again, hypnosis alone will not make you lose weight. It is, however, VERY effective in helping you deal with the tensions and worries that may people “relieve” by running to the refrigerator. Hypnosis helps you improve your self image: a recognized factor in helping control your weight. When you posses self-confidence and are proud of how you look, you don’t need the stress “crutch” that food can become. Hypnosis helps you visualize that slimmer, more attractive you.
Is hypnosis dangerous?
Hypnosis is no more dangerous than normal sleep. Many hypnotists begin with an initial suggestion that if any emergency occurs, you will be immediately alert and ready to deal with it. In this sense, it’s safer than normal sleep. There is no evidence that hypnosis causes any physical, emotional, or psychological damage. Relaxation, which is the primary focus of hypnosis, actually helps relieve anxieties and allows greater relaxation in a far shorter period of time than natural sleep.