What is hypnosis? The US Government defines hypnosis as “Bypass of the critical factor of the conscious mind.  The establishment of acceptable selective thinking.” Can anyone be hypnotized? Yes, if they so desire.  Anyone can achieve this altered state of consciousness as long as you desire to.  The hypnotist cannot force you to go into hypnosis against your will. Will I know what is happening? Yes.  If anything, you can become more aware of what is happening.  Although your eyes are closed, your other senses can be heightened. Will I remember what happened? Yes and no.  You will remember some things, but most of the time not everything. This is the way the memory works normally.  For example, during a speech, you may start off listening to the speaker, but you won't remember everything that has been said. Some scientists say we only retain about 30 percent of what we hear unless we take written notes to aid our memory. Will I lose control? No.  You remain in control at all times.  It becomes very evident when in hypnosis, that if you choose to get up and walk out of the session, then you certainly have all the means and control to do just that. Will I be forced to accept suggestions? No.  Your Subconscious is very protective of you and will not allow you to accept any suggestions that go against your morals or beliefs.  A professional hypnotist is not going to make suggestions you are unlikely to accept. Mythbusters, the TV show that proves or dispels beliefs through in-depth testing and experiments, has taken on a few experiments about hypnosis.  Question: Can you plant a suggestion to make someone do something against their will?  Results: No, The subject has to want to accept the suggestion given. Question: Is memory recall better while hypnotised? Results: Yes! Many more details were available to the subject under hypnosis. What happens if the hypnotist has a heart attack? Should this unlikely event occur, you will open your eyes and act as you would if this had happened at any other time. Is this dangerous? No.  You are perfectly safe, as achieving altered states of consciousness and awareness is a naturally occurring process anyway. What if I fall asleep during the hypnosis session? It has been discovered by several research groups that the hearing acts like a surveillance camera. Your eyes close, but you ears cannot close.  They remain open always, taking in information constantly. When a mother is "asleep" and hears her baby cry, she will "awaken" immediately.  So even if you seem to fall "asleep" during the session, your brain is still recording all of the information in your subconscious mind. What is being in an altered state of consciousness and awareness like? It is quite an ordinary experience.  You have already experienced what it is like in your everyday activities.  Daydreaming is an altered state of consciousness.  When you are reading a book on a train and are oblivious to other noises and passengers, you are in hypnosis.  We experience altered states of consciousness and awareness throughout the day, whether we are aware of it or not. How many sessions will I need? This all depends on the problem or change that you want to make.Clients who wish tosmokingone to three sessions,each one-60 minutes. For anything else, clientscould have as many as 1 -10 sessions.The hypnotist can see two different people for the same situation. One person mightone session and the other might need five.The reason for this is that we are all unique and react differently. So how can being in hypnosis help resolve a problem? When you are in an altered state of consciousness (hypnosis), you are more relaxed both physically and mentally.  Your mind operates more efficiently and effectively in this state.  An example of this is when you try to remember someone’s name.  It is on the tip of your tongue but you just can't get to it.  After you stop trying, the name comes to you easily and automatically. Can hypnosis be used to reduce pain and/or suffering from illness? Yes, hypnosis can be very effective in alleviating unwarranted pain in the body and discomfort from many ailments. How long does a session last? Usually it can be from 45 minutes to two-hours.  Sessions will vary from person to person. How often will I need to see the hypnotist? This depends on the type of problem and on the progress made.  Occasionally resolving issues can be a one session miracle.  However, most are 2-4 sessions.  If a hypnotist tells you it will take over 4 sessions, be wary of that hypnotist and check his references before you schedule your sessions.

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Published on: 2009-10-19 (295 reads)