Hypnosis:FAQ
Table of Contents:
- What is Hypnosis?
- Can My Bad Habits Be Conquered?
- Will I Do Something I Don't Want To?
- Can Hypnosis be dangerous?
- Can My Phobia Be Conquered?
- Can Hypnosis Really Help?
- Can anyone be Hypnotized, even me? What will
it feel like?
- What is Self-Hypnosis?
- Will I become a Zombie can you Hypnotize me
Against my Will?
- Will I Remember Being Hypnotized?
The experts differ on the answer to this question. But it is a very
natural function.
If you have ever driven somewhere and not remembered how you got there
when you arrived, you were hypnotized. Taken the wrong exit or missed an exit because you were driving on auto-pilot to somewhere
you usually go? You were hypnotized. When you focus on your work and not remember the time, you were in the hypnotic state.
Most people spend a large part of the time they are watching TV under hypnosis. Maybe that's why TV advertising is so effective.
The best answer may be that it is a state of heightened awareness
in which the conscious brain is bypassed, and communication is established directly with the sub-conscious. In this state,
the brains conscious power to reason, make excuses, and rationalize, does not come into play. That means that commands are
not evaluated as to if there is an excuse not to do them. But, rather only if there is some compelling physical, moral, or
safety reason not to do it.
All that hypnotism does is allow me to provide direction to your sub-conscious
in how to go about getting rid of the bad habit. And to do it without your conscious mind making excuses as to why it won’t
work. Because it is your mind that is doing the work, you must really want to stop the habit. If it’s smoking, eating
poorly, or any other habit, you must sincerely want to get rid of it. If you are, than this is one of the things that hypnosis
does really well.
I also have a "Stop Smoking, When Nothing Else Works in 90 Minutes"
program. It is available to individuals in the Metro Boston Area, or at workshops I give in various places. I also
have a corporate program which can be given in your offices. It can be given to as many as 85 people at the same time.
More can be handled by simply scheduling more seminar/workshops. Each seminar takes only 90 minutes.
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No. When you're in the state of hypnosis (i.e. a state of
heightened awareness)you will not do anything that is against your moral code, or that would endanger your safety. Unless
your conscious mind agreed, such as if you were trying to overcome a fear of bungee jumping and you really wanted to do it.
For instance, if a hypnotist ordered you to steal something, you would refuse (unless you saw nothing wrong with theft).
When you see a stage hypnotist make someone do something silly, that
person is doing it because their subconscious sees no harm in it. If it did, the command would be refused. Also, by volunteering
for something where they know they will be made to look silly, they have given their mental consent already. The subconscious
is ready to perform.
In hypnosis, you will not do anything against your moral code, or
that would put you in physical or mental danger that you would not put yourself in otherwise. In the hands of an amateur,
hypnosis, like most other tools, can be somewhat dangerous if misused. Suppose someone had you enter into the state of hypnosis
and told you that every time someone said your name you would clean your fingernails. Harmless enough, but if they forgot
to remove that command, or didn't do it properly, your boss might not be very happy with you the next day. This could be dangerous
to your ability to earn an income. The proper use of hypnosis, like any other tool, requires training for good results. In
the hands of a trained professional, hypnosis is very safe.
I'm sometimes asked, what would happen if the hypnotist didn't wake
me up? The answer is that the hypnosis would turn into normal sleep, from which you would awaken well rested.
It’s called desensitization training, and it’s one of
the things hypnotism does well. It can be very successful with most phobias. Some phobias take longer than others though.
The fear of open spaces, going outside the house, and of crowds, are related, and are among the phobias taking the longest
to desensitize. All phobias can be conquered.
Hypnosis can help with many things. The mind is a very powerful tool.
It need only be freed of the conscious mind’s feeling of impotence in dealing with the situation. The sub-conscious
mind can address a great many problems successfully.
It can improve memory, self-confidence, creativity, concentration,
break habits, deal with phobias, improve study habits, self image, relationships, improve health & happiness, ease life
transitions and many other things.
Anyone from around three years old on up can be hypnotized if they
are willing. Generally, the smarter you are, the easier it is to hypnotize you. The only real requirement is that you
be willing. Having some qualms about it is OK.
You will feel just like you do now. Many people in hypnosis,
don't believe they are hypnotized until it is proven to them in some way. If their eyes are closed, they will feel that they
are keeping them closed because they want to. If the hypnotist makes an arm float, or does some other similar thing to prove
to them that they are indeed hypnotized, they are usually amazed that they can not control it. Sometimes limbs feel heavy,
as if you can't move them. But that doesn't really bother you because you don't really want to anyway.
This is a state of hypnosis that you can put yourself into to work
on some problems that are important to you. It is also known as "Auto-Hypnosis". Self-Hypnosis can help you in very effective
way in dealing with many challenges in your life when you practice it regularly and diligently with discipline, persistence
and enthusiasm.
No, absolutely not. You will not become a zombie. And, generally speaking,
you can not be hypnotized against your will.
Generally speaking, yes. But sometimes we uncover things that the
conscious mind does not want to know about. I usually give this command before waking someone. "You may remember from this
session what is safe for you to remember and that you want to remember, and forget what is not safe for you to remember or
that you want to forget."
Some Myths around Hypnosis:
FAQ
1. Is being in hypnosis a reflection of a weak mind?
Of course not. In fact, the more intelligent, knowledgeable,
strong and open minded you are, the more easily hypnosis is for you.
2. Will my mind be damaged in any way?
Absolutely not. Your mind will not be damaged, altered
or changed in any way that you do not consent to. People under hypnosis will refuse a command or suggestion they feel will
be harmful to them. There is ALWAYS a part of your mind that knows where you are and what is going on.
3.
Will my will be controlled?
Certainly not. Hypnosis is always a "consent" state
and YOU have complete control of your situation at all times.
4. Will I do anything I should not do?
No. You will not do anything in hypnosis that you would
not do out of hypnosis.
5. Don't they take
control of your mind in a stage hypnosis show?
If you have seen a stage hypnosis show, please remember that these people have volunteered. They know they will be
asked to do silly things. By volunteering they have given their consent in advance. If you watch carefully, you will often
see someone not participating completely in each "scene". That is usually because they have some objection to that "scene".
6. What if I cannot wake up?
Hypnosis has been practiced for many thousands of
years and there is not even ONE recorded instance of someone not coming out of hypnosis. The difficulty is not getting you
OUT of hypnosis, it's keeping you IN.
7. Will it give me a headache?
On the contrary, you will feel wonderful. In fact,
if you have a headache when you go into hypnosis, it will be gone when you come out.
8. Will I be sound
asleep?
Absolutely not. You will be completely awake and know what
is happening at all times. If patients were asleep they would not hear and then not respond and so hypnosis would be useless.
No, you will not be asleep.
9. Is it harmful in any way?
No one has ever been harmed by hypnosis in any way.
10.
Will I blurt out any family secrets?
Certainly not. Hypnosis is not a lie detector or
a "truth serum." You will not say anything that you do not want to say, not one word.
11. What does it
feel like?
The universal answer is that it is "a very relaxing and
comfortable experience."
12. Who can be hypnotized?
Anyone who wants or needs hypnosis can be hypnotized. If
you do not want it then you will not be hypnotized, it's as simple as that.
