What follows is a list of frequently asked questions, which may help to allay any concerns which you may have.
What is it like to be hypnotised?
Hypnosis is a way of engaging the imagination to help someone to respond to suggestions and ideas which are going to help them. Unlike sleep, you awake throughout and although your mind may wander, it is listening. It is like being in a relaxed guided daydream and ideas may come and go, as you follow along with suggestions which are given for the benefit of your subconscious mind. Some suggestions may appeal more than others and that is perfectly fine. You are always in control.
Can anyone be hypnotised?
Mostly yes… People are unique and react differently to each other, based on whose involved (trust), time and place. Add to the physical, the subjects mental state, capabilities and motivation, while interweaving into this communication style, rapport, language patterns and non-verbal communication. It turns into an art form, which is a far cry from the old method of reading a hypnotic script in a monotone voice to 100 people to determine what percentage of the population is hypnotisable…
All hypnosis is “self hypnosis” and as long as a subject has removed any fear and is comfortable within themselves and the current environment, and there is no reason why they can’t let go, then they should have no problems going into hypnosis.
Does Hypnosis work?
Yes and No. Let me deal with the no first. Hypnosis is not mind control, yet many people have this perception that you will no longer have a choice. As though you will never ever be able to never smoke again. Quite often I hear people say, my friend used hypnosis to stopped smoking, but it only lasted 6 weeks / 6 months… etc To which I sometimes reply, so who hypnotised them to start smoking again? They look at me perplexed and then I smile, before correcting their understanding of how hypnosis works.
Yes, I have seen first hand how people have transformed their lives after a few sessions and know for certain it works. Now as with any change, there is an element expectation and motivation. Do you believe hypnosis can help, are you open to it and do you really want to change? What will that change mean for you and how will it transform your life? Hypnosis is a tool, which can dramatically assist in establishing change at a subconscious level. However, it cannot make you want the change!
Will I loose control?
Hypnosis sometimes gets a bad wrap in the media and movies… and it would be so much easier from clinical perspective, if even a portion of the control which the media would have you believe was true.
“I am the hypnotist, you will hear my words and forever more remain a non-smoke and by the way, maintain a healthy weight too” – Job Done
Do you want to loose control? All hypnosis is self hypnosis, and you have to let yourself be hypnotised to get the benefit. Trust your subconscious mind to keep you safe and let yourself be guided.
Is hypnosis safe?
The subconscious mind is designed to keep you safe. Even when you deeply hypnotised, your subconscious mind is always listening and if presented with a suggestion it does not like, can either ignore a suggestion or emerge you from hypnosis. There are no side affects, no toxins enter the body and you cannot get addicted to it. Hypnosis a shortcut to speaking directly to the subconscious mind. So in my humble opinion, it is probably one of quickest and safest ways of affecting change.
One caveat to this is when using hypnosis to adjust the intensity of pain. Pain is the bodying warning system to inform you something is wrong… A medical professionals needs to investigate the source of pain and rule our any sinister cause, before you use hypnosis to mask pain. Failure to heed this warning, could cause a potentially fatal ailment, left untreated.
Can I get stuck in hypnosis?
Ever been stuck in a daydream…. Some people mistake hypnosis as sleep or a being in a come. Where in reality while In hypnosis you are awake and listening throughout. Sometimes you may find you pay more attention than at other times, but you always capable of listening in. even if you do not consciously pay attention, your subconscious is listening, and will emerge you if required. However is is so relaxing and feels fantastic that sometimes people just want to stay there for a while.
While in hypnosis your perception of time changes. 30 minutes in hypnosis can feel like it was only a few minutes.
What does hypnosis feel like?
Most people find hypnosis a very enjoyable and relaxing state. Not unlike a daydream. They often surprised how gentle it is and many people do not believe that they were even hypnotised, yet show them that they were in hypnosis for 30 minutes and that usually convinces them, as it normally only feels like a few minutes. This is only one of the hypnotic phenomena that are experienced quite frequently. Other phenomena include:
- Time Distortion – Change to the perception of time ( Quicker or slower)
- Catalepsy – Immobility of muscles. Unable to move a limb or it stays where placed.
- Amnesia – Forgetting your name or what happened (temporary).
- Hypermnesia – Recall more details than usually consciously aware of.
- Analgesia – Reduction of pain
- Anaesthesia – Removal of pain
- Dissociation – Become removed from the situation you currently in.
- Future pacing – Vivid mental rehearsal
- Positive Hallucination – Experiencing (eg seeing / hearing) something that is not real
- Negative Hallucination – Not experiencing (seeing / hearing) something that is actually present
- Ideo-motor response (IMR) – Suggested subconscious movements / signals that are not performed by the conscious mind. (a way of communicating with the subconscious)
- Regression – Vividly imagine / reliving in the mind an experience from your past.
- Post Hypnotic Suggestion (PHS) – A suggestion to be carried out later once out of Hypnosis. (eg Feel confident each time you talk in front of a crowd.)
Can I drive after hypnosis?
If you were capable and legally allowed to drive before you were hypnotised then you can drive shortly after you have emerged from hypnosis. Hypnosis has been known to stir emotions and people have been known to feel relief, laugh, cry or a combination shortly after emerging. So it is best to wait a couple of minutes before heading out the door. Make sure you feeling okay, grounded and in the present.
