Hypnosis can be defined as a “natural” state of increased concentration that responds to suggestions that are useful in the therapeutic process. Almost everyone has experienced a state similar to a hypnotic trance at some time, although they may not have been aware of it.
In fact, children from birth are assuming suggestions of all kinds that can condition a lifetime through words and messages from culture, parents, school, religion, politics… Adults, too, are without realizing it assuming numerous beliefs and messages that come to us from abroad. Most of them subliminal that can incite us to feel vulnerable, with anxiety, fear, stress, prone to fall into addictions, buy what we don't want, or feel inferior in certain situations. For this reason, with clinical hypnosis it is possible to de-condition situations that are affecting us negatively, and to carry out an internal restructuring for personal health and well-being.
Everything that can be felt or imagined in the hypnotic state with a defined intention, goes directly to the deepest structure of our brain with the opportunity of identifying the causes of any situation or symptom and possible solutions.
All hypnosis is actually self-hypnosis
It is the person himself who has the ability to enter hypnosis. Normally, you can't hypnotize a person if they don't want to. Through different suggestions and images, the person, by himself, is reaching the hypnotic state.
In the hypnotic state, it is the person himself who activates many neurotransmitters that will facilitate the necessary physiological, sensory, emotional, cognitive or behavioral changes produced by the appropriate suggestions; to manage positively stress and anxiety levels in any life situation, quit smoking, control pain, raise defenses against illness, concentrate on studies, pass an exam, stop biting your nails strong>…
Do you lose consciousness in the hypnotic state?
It is important to clarify that in hypnosis you do not lose consciousness. Our conscious mind “relaxes”, “is receptive”, “observes” and “learns” from the hypnotic experience that occurs naturally. Some patients when they go out of hypnosis, and they are asked if they believe they have been hypnotized, most answer no, even though the fact has been evident and they have felt better. This shows how unfairly hypnosis is sometimes misunderstood.
What does a person feel when they are in the hypnotic experience?
A lot of peace and tranquility in the face of the positive changes that usually take place and above all, great clarity to understand and manage the solutions to your problem easily and quickly.
Will they know what is going on around them while they are in hypnosis?
Yeah, they'll be more aware of their surroundings when they're hypnotized. Many people equate hypnosis with sleep and think they will “be out of it all” when in fact the opposite is true. What happens is that the sensory perception threshold is modified. They will be more sensitive in each of their five senses, since the brain waves of hypnotized people show a state of alert wakefulness. The grass will seem greener to them, the sky bluer, sounds will be better captured, and positive suggestions will take hold better.
Will they remember the hypnotic session?
Approximately 90% of the time, the person will remember the practical session, and they will remember it clearly. In 10% of cases, spontaneous amnesia of certain details can be produced without it ceasing to be effective. Amnesia, in hypnosis, is a natural phenomenon that occurs in some people, and appears without being provoked. On the other hand, hypnosis can also be used, if necessary, to improve memory of these phenomena.
Is there control by the patient in the hypnotic state?
Yes! In psychotherapy, the objective of clinical hypnosis is to offer more self-control to the patient. Therefore, by learning Self-Hypnosis, anything can be done and, in fact, done better, since the patient is more free from distractions and prepared to face any difficult situation. You can take an exam, respond to a sports competition, make love or play an instrument in a hypnotic state and do it better than ever because your personal capacity is increased. It is like being in “full Consciousness”, to make life a conscious act from what makes us feel better with ourselves and with others.
Can clinical hypnosis cause any problems?
No! Clinical hypnosis, if it is directed by health professionals and qualified specialists (psychologists or doctors), there should be no difficulties. However, hypnosis in general could only be a difficulty when it was used by inexperienced people. We all know of people with personality disorders who have been victims of hypnotic practices without any rigor and without any results. Here I remember again that hypnosis is just a tool, like the scalpel is for the surgeon, and that it must be used by honest clinical professionals with a vocation to help their patients.
Why do people seem to be asleep in stage hypnosis and assume everything they are told?
Stage hypnosis is a performance, a show whose sole purpose is entertainment. The people who venture onto the stage, have chosen themselves to animate the show, and often have the ability to enter the hypnotic state or act as if they were hypnotized. On the other hand, the hypnotist always tends to decide those volunteers most willing to comply with his orders. The show hypnotist is typically an expert at reading body language and other subtle telltale signs that people want to do as they are told and put on a good show.
While performance hypnosis is just fun, clinical hypnosis, however, has a psychotherapeutic purpose, considering the needs of integral health and well-being of the patient.
Who can be hypnotized and who can't?
Most of us can assume hypnotic suggestions; the only people with whom special care must be taken are those who suffer from serious mental illnesses (schizophrenia, psychosis…). With these people, it is better to work in individual sessions and with very light trances.
People who have a very low IQ or mental retardation also find it difficult to enter a hypnotic state, although there are professionals who are experts in adapting to the patient's experience.
People with a tendency to epileptic seizures should not work with hypnosis, either.
On the other hand, people with an excessively “rational” tendency, who use phrases like nobody hypnotizes me!, or I don't believe it!, tend to feel an unconscious fear. But when fully informed about the benefits of hypnosis, they tend to choose a good professional to help themselves.
