FAQs
WHAT IS HYPNOSIS?
Hypnosis is not the same as sleep. The subject will still be aware, awake and in full control.
It is a different state of consciousness, neither awake nor asleep, an altered state of mind.
We have two states of mind. The Conscious and the Subconscious. During everyday life you use your conscious mind to make decisions and carry out routines.
Your subconscious mind works in the background. It stores information, memories and habits.
During hypnosis you are guided into a deep state of relaxation and once in this state your subconscious mind becomes very alert. Your conscious mind is, for the want of a better analogy, sent off to have a little snooze. Once in this state your subconscious mind is in a position to receive new thoughts and information, negative thoughts can be replaced with positive ones.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Hypnosis is thought to work by altering our state of consciousness in such a way that the analytical left hand side of the brain is turned off, while the non analytical, right hand side is made more alert. The conscious control of the mind is inhibited and the subconscious mind is awoken. Since the sub conscious mind is a deeper seated a more instinctive force than the conscious mind, this is the part which has to change for the patients’ behaviours and physical state to alter.
For example, a patient who consciously wants to overcome their fear of spiders may try everything they consciously can to do it, but will still fail as long as their sub conscious mind retains this terror and prevents them from succeeding. Progress can only be made by re-programming the subconscious mind so that deep seated instincts and beliefs are abolished or altered.
WHAT FORM MIGHT THE TREATMENT TAKE?
The technique does not involve the patient being put into a deep sleep. The patient cannot be made to do anything they would not ordinarily do. They remain fully aware of their surroundings and situation. They are not vulnerable to every given command of the therapist. The important thing is that the patient WANTS to change some behavioural habit or addiction and is highly motivated to do so. They have to want the treatment to work and must establish a good clinical rapport with the therapist in order for it to do so.
The readiness and ability of patients to be hypnotised varies considerably and hypnotherapy generally requires several sessions in order to achieve meaningful results. However, the patient can learn the technique of self-hypnosis which can be practised at home to re-enforce the usefulness of the sessions with the therapist. This can help distress and anxiety related conditions.
MYTHS AND MISCONCEPTIONS
Hypnotherapy often conjures images of swinging pendulums, but it's a powerful therapeutic tool with profound benefits.
“I can’t be hypnotised – you won’t get me”
There are some people who believe they cannot be hypnotised. This is incorrect. Everyone – or nearly everyone can be. Hypnosis does require the ability to concentrate so the only people who aren’t susceptible are the very young or those who are well beyond average intelligence and have problems.
“Will I lose control”?
No – Absolutely NOT.
One of the most popular myths is the idea that a person will lose control and be ‘made to dance like a chicken’ (oh please, not that one again).
The actual fact is that those people who ‘volunteer’ for the stage show are of the personality type who would love to ‘be funny’, they would love to be more popular, to be the life and soul of the party – but they are afraid of looking silly.
What if they were not funny, if people didn’t laugh. They are afraid of rejection.
By doing it ‘on stage’ they can say “the hypnotist made me do it”.... thus hiding behind reality courtesy of the stage master.
“Only the weak can be hypnotised”
Quite the opposite. Hypnosis is actually a natural state. It is dictated by brain wave activity. It is all about changing from Beta to Alpha state.
“Hypnosis is just deep sleep”
Well, hypnosis is even used by the police in forensic work, subjects are sometimes able to provide significant additional factual material relevant to criminal investigations, you couldn’t do that if you were asleep. Your mind becomes very clear and you can open your eyes at any time if you need to.
“What is the worst thing that can happen to me while I am hypnotised"
The worst thing that can happen is NOTHING. ......... yes, that’s right NOTHING............ NO THING !.......... think about it, the worst is that NO CHANGE will be brought about, no POSITIVE change. ........... so yes, you could say that the session failed. So NOTHING happened.
No one has ever become ‘stuck’ in a hypnotic state. You may physically fall asleep but please assured that your own mind will wake you up.