Tuesday, June 9, 2009

What is Hypnosis ahd How Does it Really Work?

You may have wondered what hypnosis is really all about. Many people have misperceptions of it and think that a hypnotist will make you cluck like a chicken--though I personally have never seen anyone do this. Some people think it means that someone is going to have control over them or that they'll go into a stupor and won't know what's going on.

None of these is necessarily what happens. Hypnosis is a state of profound relaxation. Some people relax very deeply; some relax very lightly. Most people are right in the middle. Most people have full awareness and full control.

Hypnotists use hypnosis to relax others and to make suggestions to them. Hypnotherapists create an interaction in which they talk with people while they're relaxed and find out valuable information about what's going on inside and how problems can be resolved.

Here are some more characteristics of hypnosis:

  • Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness.While one is in hypnosis, or trance, the conscious mind becomes quiet, allowing access to the highly suggestible subconscious mind. Usually the mind is very busy, and it creates a barrier to getting in touch with the deep inner self. When the mind is quiet, it's amazing what we can find inside. One misconception is that people who are hypnotized are unconscious. This is false. While in hypnosis, one maintains control and awareness, and in fact many people can become super-conscious during hypnosis. They become clearer and can contact more profound parts of themselves.

  • Research has shown electrical changes in the brain during hypnosis, where brain waves become slower than when one is in the normal waking state. Hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation with focused concentration in which relaxed brainwave states of alpha, theta, and delta can be reached. These brainwave states are progressively deeper and deeper (and that's why hypnotists use those words!) The deep states of hypnosis are called the coma state and the somnambulistic state, but not everyone goes into these deeper levels.

  • We naturally go into hypnosis when we daydream or watch television without distraction. You may have heard of "highway hypnosis," in which you're driving on the freeway and either miss your exit or are surprised when the exit shows up. You've been in a kind of "open-eyed trance."

  • Hypnotherapists use hypnosis as a tool to assist those who desire positive transformation in their lives. Hypnotherapists can help people to transform their greatest difficulties, such as anger, fear, sadness--any of the emotions and problems of living. They assist people to make contact with these experiences, whether past or present, and get in touch with a part of the self in which there is infinite potential. Some hypnotherapists use regression therapies, which go into past issues--and this may include past life regression, if this is congruent with one's belief system. Others work with finding out inner blocks or limitations and help people to overcome them. Others work with pain or stress, childbirth or medical issues. The list of possibilities is vast.

You can use hypnosis for life transformation, spiritual growth and healing, helping you to overcome whatever may be your current obstacles and move you into a new level of your life.

Would you like to find out more about hypnosis or how you might become a hypnotherapist? Go to http://www.hypnotherapycenter.com

If you'd like more information about life transformation, spiritual growth, and healing, download our free 100 page ebook Extraordinary Healing at http://www.thewisemind.com

Marilyn Gordon is a board certified hypnotherapist, teacher, speaker, healer, school director, and author with over thirty years of experience. Her latest book is The Wise Mind: The Brilliant Key to Life Transformation and Healing.

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