We experience hypnosis daily, just never put a name to it. Have you ever driven from point A to point B and not remember how you got there? Your conscious mind simply turns off or gets distracted, while the subconscious continues to function normally. Hypnosis is a science - we simply developed a way to induce it through suggestion. The hypnotic state is natural phenomena and not a supernatural power.
Your mind is like a mental Rolodex that stores your experiences, behavior and beliefs. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. The best way to describe hypnosis is that there are two parts to your mind: conscious and sub-conscious. The conscious mind acts as a guard that reasons and accepts the suggestions. It sorts through these suggestions, and decides if they should pass through or get rejected. The subconscious takes everything blindly and without question. A hypnotist temporarily confuses, distracts or occupies the conscious mind, so that the suggestions that sneak through are accepted without question or reasoning.
In a stage presentation the hypnotist does NOT have ultimate control – the person simply gives them temporary control of their reality. That is why it is often stressed that a person would not do anything against their morals and beliefs.
Your mind acts as a computer program that logically deciphers the root of action. Through hypnosis we can enter new information into this program and re-script your subconscious mind by replacing negative beliefs and way of thinking with a new set of positive and life-improving thoughts that propel you to achieve your goals and desires. When your internal beliefs change, you will transform to lead a positive existence. There is never surrender of mind or control. The hypnotized individual is fully aware of their actions.
Hypnosis is a way of accessing your subconscious that contains your wisdom, intelligence, intuition, instincts and perception. It is your untapped resource for creativity and imagination. Your subconscious mind is the part of your brain responsible for all bodily functions and automatic behavior (blinking, breathing, blood circulation, healing, habits and learnt skills). The sub-conscious directs most of your behavior functions and is also the source of your emotions. Hypnosis is a safe way to issue new instructions to reprogram your mind and create changes in mind and body. Hypnosis is the doorway to your inner world, the realms of your imagination and dreams, which you can enter to improve your well-being and quality of life.
In a show, some people were dismissed from the stage. Doesn't everyone "go under"?
Most people are susceptible to hypnosis and power of suggestion. However, in a stage presentation, for the sake of the show, volunteers that prove to be the best subjects in the shortest time are selected to remain on stage and participate in the routines.
I want to know more about hypnosis.
Anyone can learn to hypnotize. But like practitioners of any craft, you need to study it at length to become great and successful. Perfect place to start is the library and the internet. Your favorite search engine is a wonderful starting place.
Are the people hypnotized asleep?
The subject is normally not asleep, but extra aware. The word "sleep" is often used to equate the experience to a restful state. It stems from a Portuguese priest Abbe Faria who dramatically was the first to use the word to induce his subjects outside a monastery, achieving a convincing and dramatic effect. The term hypnosis originates from the Greek word "Hypnos", meaning sleep.
Why do hypnotists use a spiral or a pendulum?
It is simply a way to direct attention on one point. It is often not necessary, just used to simplify the procedure for their subject going under the spell of a crafty wordsmith.
How do I know when I am hypnotized? What does it feel like?
Generally you do not feel any different, but are more suggestible. The hypnotist can include "convincers" that will prove to the subjects that the state has been altered. These may include suggestibility tests or imagery altering. Normally, the subject simply gives temporary control of their environment to the hypnotist. The level of awareness is the only real measure, since the hypnotist guides his subject to concentrate on their thoughts and body. External stimuli can trigger a desired response, as in a stage show to achieve hilarious results.
Definition of hypnosis
A state of heightened awareness and focused concentration that can be used to manipulate the perception of pain, to access repressed material and to re-program behavior. Not all experts agree on similar definitions. It is up to the practitioner to research the most precise meaning.
Definitions of hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is a combination of hypnosis and therapeutic intervention . The therapist leads the patient to positive change while the patient is deeply relaxed in a state of heightened suggestibility called trance.