HYPNOSIS…What is it?
People are affected by hypnotic suggestion virtually every day of their lives through friends, commercials on television, and scenes in motion pictures.
Using hypnosis, however, allows the body to be relaxed, the conscious mind to become quiet, and the suggestions to be directed at the subconscious mind. The subconscious mind cannot make value judgments; it just accepts suggestions. It stores information and gives it priority based on impact. If you are given suggestions amidst all the daily distractions you normally encounter, it has little impact; but, if your entire attention is focused on the suggestion, as with hypnosis, the suggestion has a far greater impact. By communicating directly with the subconscious mind, the student will be able to “draw out” or “change” already programmed information directly at source.
The most common use of hypnosis today is in the elimination of certain habits such as smoking or overeating. By its very nature, a habit is something that has been created over a period of time. Hypnosis can be used very successfully to eliminate habits such as smoking or overeating., but there are some factors that must be considered before hypnosis will work.
First, the subject must have a certain amount of motivation. Remember, hypnosis is not a magical panacea; instead, it is an exercise that can be performed over a period of time to recondition your mental muscles. If you have a true desire to change a habit, hypnosis will enhance your efforts. Like power steering in an automobile as opposed to manual steering, it makes things easier.
Another established use of hypnosis is enabling a person to learn to invoke the “relaxation response”. Relaxation can alleviate many symptoms of varied illnesses, such as relieving some of the pain associated with arthritic conditions, cardiovascular diseases, asthma, hypertension, and neuromuscular problems. Hypnosis is becoming a valuable adjunct to medical therapy. It can enable the user to take better control of his life and body.
Hypnosis is also being used in painless childbirth practices. The best way to utilize hypnosis in teaching a woman how to achieve a painless childbirth is to teach her to use hypnosis many months prior to the birthing event. There are literally thousands of recorded cases in which a hypnotized mother has given birth to a healthy baby without the use of anesthesia or any mind altering drug.
Hypnosis is a scientific, naturally relaxing and proven way for you to allow your subconscious mind to do the job it was intended to do.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS HYPNOSIS?
Hypnosis is a state of mental and physical relaxation. It is a technique through which the subconscious mind can be reached. When your mental state relaxes, your concentration powers increase tenfold. Although some people have a fear of hyppnosis, there is nothing mysterious about it as there is nothing abnormal about it. Medical research has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt the therapeutic value of hypnosis.
IS BEING HYPNOTIZED THE SIGN OF A WEAK MIND?
No. The opposite is true.The more intelligent and imaginative a person is, the better subject they will make. Any person of average intelligence has the understanding and comprehension required to be hypnotized. The majority of people who do not go into hypnosis are those who have the mistaken notion that hypnosis will hurt them.
DOES A HYPONTHERAPIST HAVE SPECIAL POWERS?
No. In fact, the hypnotherapy does not hypnotize you. You are hypnotizing yourself through his/her direction. The therapist is only a guide.
WHAT DEGREE OF CONCENTRATION IS REQUIRED?
You may have had the experience of watching a sporting event or a television program so intensely that you were unaware when someone spoke to you. You have also probably discovered a bruise or cut on your body although you were totally unaware of having received the injury. Anyone having experiences similar to these has sufficient capacity for concentration to become hypnotized.
WILL I BE UNCONSCIOUS DURING THE HYPNOTIC SESSION?
No. Even though you will feel completely and pleasantly relaxed, you will be acutely aware of everything that is happening, you just won’t care. Since many people believe that hypnosis produces unconsciousness, they are often confused on this point.
WOULD THERE BE ANY POSSIBILITY OF MY NOT COMING OUT OF THE HYPNOTIC STATE?
None whatsoever! Hypnosis is merely a stage of relaxation. You are not asleep. You are as aware as you are right now reading this pamphlet. Whenever you wish to terminate a hypnotic state you may.
DO YOU LOOSE CONTROL WHEN YOU GO INTO HYPNOSIS?
No. Emphatically no. You are in as much control when in hypnosis as you are now. You will not do anything in hypnosis that you would not do normally. You will not violate any religious, ethical. Moral or even political values.
WILL I RECALL WHAT HAPPENED DURING MY HYPNOTIC SESSION?
Yes. Your subconscious mind will definitely recall what transpired. In the majority of cases, your conscious mind will also remember, unless given a suggestion otherwise, for whatever reason. The therapeutic value of hypnosis depends upon subconscious retention entirely, and will be unaffected by whether your conscious mind remembers the session.
WILL HYPNOSIS WEAKEN MY WILLPOWER?
No. A strengthening of resolve and not a weakening occurs. This fact is utilized to combat the functional or organic “dis-ease” from which the person is suffering. Only a small fraction of your vast mental potential is normally used, and even this is frequently reduced by stress, anxiety and tension of everyday living. Through hypnosis, we endeavor to utilize this potential.
IS HYPNOSIS APPROVED BY THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY?
Yes. In 1958 the American Medical Association approved the use of hypnosis.
IS HYPNOSIS EFFECTIVE IN ELIMINATING UNDESIREABLE HABITS?
Yes. It is a very effective means provided the person has an earnest desire to achieve permanent relief. Hypnosis can be extremely effective in eliminating smoking, overeating, stress and anxiety, enhancing self-confidence or sports performance, and relieving some chronic pain conditions.
ABOUT THE THERAPIST
Anne Marie Connor, DCH, has been involved in the Stress Management field since 1980. She received her Doctorate in Clinical Hypnotherapy in 1993 In her private practice she combines her extensive experience in mind-body therapies with leading edge techniques such as NLP and Time Line Therapy© to facilitate a person towards high level wellness and harmony of body, mind and spirit.
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