The Life-Changing Power of Hypnosis: What You Need to Know
I've been a clinical hypnotherapist for 19 years. I've seen the changes it can make for people, and I've experienced powerful changes myself from using hypnosis. Yet people regularly search the internet for things like “is hypnosis for real?" There are still many misconceptions about hypnosis, what it is and how it works. Some still believe that being hypnotized involves being under the power of a hypnotist, rather than the therapeutic, relaxed state that hypnosis actually is. So let's uncover some of these misunderstandings.
What is hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a state of focused concentration or attention, often accompanied by deep relaxation. It is used as a type of therapy to change automatically accepted unhelpful ideas and feelings, such as low self-esteem or addictions.
Think about a time when you watched a movie and you got very absorbed in it. Your full attention was focused. That is like a hypnotic trance. Of course you could stop watching the movie at any time. In just the same way you can stop a hypnotic trance. You can just open your eyes and think about something else. You are in control.
Throughout life we are being influenced. We are influenced by things we see such as television adverts. We are influenced by our peers, our own thoughts, the news channels we follow. Hypnotherapy is a form of influence deliberately aimed at creating positive beneficial changes. Hypnosis is increasingly being recognized as an appropriate, useful therapy.
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What does hypnosis feel like?
Hypnosis is in a sense, a daydreamy state where you open your mind to ideas and influences. You may feel very relaxed, you may experience vivid visualizations. Some people are more easily hypnotized than others, but it can be improved with practice. After half an hour in hypnosis, it may feel like it was only 5 or 10 minutes. So, how does hypnosis actually work to create change?
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Can hypnosis really change your life?
Hypnosis can be used to change how you feel. It can improve some medical conditions, reduce or control pain, overcome phobias, relieve stress and stop panic attacks. Despite the fact that hypnosis is a powerful tool that can change your habits, reactions and feelings, it is still misunderstood by many. Sadly, some people only try hypnosis as a last resort after exhausting all other options to solve their problem. The thing that is really special about hypnosis is that it is a natural and easy way to change your feelings and reactions. It will only give you what you want, so any suggestion that you consciously think “no” to is literally rejected immediately.
How do the changes take effect?
Listening to a hypnosis audio to increase social confidence for example, should work very well and quickly, especially if you have previous experience of being socially confident in the past, however briefly. This is because your subconscious mind can recall the memory and tap into those feelings and behaviors.
If you are extremely shy, the results may take longer as your subconscious mind may have no reference point to attach the new response to. Creating a new reaction, feeling or behavior with hypnosis can be achieved successfully, but it takes repetition of hypnosis to achieve significant changes. Hypnosis works really well when used along with positive life changes where possible to reinforce the change and test it out. If you really want to make a particular change in your life, and you commit to it, hypnosis can help.
What can hypnosis help with?
Hypnosis (or hypnotherapy) can be used to treat many ailments and conditions. It can help develop inner strength, a positive mindset and reduce stress. Some common uses are:
Anxiety
Stress
Panic attacks
Phobias
Addictions
PTSD
Weight loss
Insomnia
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Pain control
Fibromyalgia
Headaches (migraines or tension headaches)
Skin conditions
Nausea
Compulsive behaviors
Confidence and self-esteem
ADHD
Relationship issues
Image: Andrea Piacquadio, Pexels
Why does hypnosis work better for some people and less for others?
How easily you go into a hypnotic trance depends on your suggestibility. There are also other factors that affect how you respond to hypnosis. These factors include personality type, how nervous or relaxed you feel and if you have used hypnosis or meditation previously. Even if you are not particularly hypnotizable, you can learn to get into an excellent hypnosis state and benefit from hypnosis if you have the desire to do so. A little perseverance and an open mind are all that is needed. So while some people are naturals at going into hypnosis, it is something that can be achieved with practice. It may surprise you to know that getting the results you are looking for with hypnosis does not really depend on the depth of the hypnotic trance you achieve.
How hypnotizable are you?
Is hypnosis risky?
When used correctly hypnosis is perfectly safe. Any suggestions you do not like you can easily reject. If you want to come out of a hypnotic trance you can do that at any time by choosing to. However, there are certain situations where hypnosis may not be appropriate. Of course the obvious is that you must never use hypnosis audios or self-hypnosis techniques when operating machinery or driving, nor in any situation where your attention or concentration is required.
Some illnesses may require your doctor's approval before using hypnosis, such as severe mental health problems, such as bipolar, psychotic issues, hallucinations, delusions, schizophrenia. If you have epilepsy or seizure disorder, it is best to check with your neurologist as some types of epilepsy could be triggered by hypnotic states in certain circumstances. If you have consumed alcohol in excess or recreational drugs it is advisable to abstain from using hypnosis.
Find out more
More questions and answers about hypnosis can be found on the Rachael Eccles Website here www.rachaeleccles.com
Do Hypnosis audios work as well as hypnosis in person?
How to find a hypnotherapist
Are there different levels of hypnotic trance?
Can anyone be hypnotized?
Can you get stuck in hypnosis?
What is stage hypnosis?
Will I lose control?
Is hypnosis real?
Do you have to be in a deep trance for it to work?