True or False: Hypnosis Works for Stress Management, Weight Loss, and More?
Posted by on Dec 25, 2010
Hypnosis is more than the gaze into my eyes nonsense of the stage and demonstrational hypnotist. Hypnosis is a medically accepted science, approved by the American Medical Association in 1958. Always use a licensed health care professional for competent hypnotic treatment. Photo courtesy Photos8.com
Before you ask does hypnosis work, you should ask what hypnosis is.
The Random House Dictionary defines hypnosis as “an artificially induced state resembling sleep characterized by heightened susceptibility to suggestion.”
If that definition is confusing, here are a few of my favorites:
“Hypnosis is a state of mind in which critical faculty of the human mind is bypassed and selective thinking is established.” Dave Elman Author, Hypnotherapy
“There are as many definitions of hypnosis as there are definers.” W.S. Kroger, MDAuthor, Clinical & Experimental Hypnosis
Kroger’s is the most accurate. Here’s why:
Every hypnotist can only define hypnosis based on his experience with hypnosis. The applications techniques and strategies used by the hypnotist combined with individual responses, results and outcomes of those people he has hypnotized. That’s why there are as many definitions of hypnosis as there are definers.
Every hypnotist has different skill levels, experience and training. Therefore, the difference in their opinions – what hypnosis is, how does hypnosis work, how it is best used, what the benefits of hypnosis are – will vary with each practitioner based solely on personal experience.
“Yeah, but does hypnosis work?”
Stay with me. I’m going to give you the answer you want. A brief review of the line history of hypnosis will answer your question with surgical precision. Then I will answer the question you should be asking, WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF HYPNOSIS, WILL IT WORK FOR ME?
The theories about hypnosis abound. None are fact. All are inconclusive. Here are some startling and revealing facts that answer the question, “Does hypnosis work?” and “How does hypnosis work?”
Before Hypnosis For Stop Smoking
- Earliest written record of hypnosis described in Ebers papyrus, 3,000 years ago.
- Earliest medical records describe healing in hypnotic form conducted in the Aesculapiean temples.
- Rcamier performs first recorded use of hypnoanesthesia in surgery. (1821)
- Dr. James Esdaile performs hundreds of surgeries during battlefield conditions with amazing success.
- Dr. James Braid is called the Father of Modern Hypnotism for coining the terms hypnosis and hypnotism. Braid later regretted the moniker realizing hypnosis was not sleep. (1841)
- Catholic Church approves hypnosis in the Holy See of 1847.
- Sigmund Freud bombs as a hypnotist but his failure did not slow the progress of hypnosis.
- Clark Hull’s Yale University experiments renew interest in hypnosis and is responsible for the scientific understanding we have for hypnosis today. (1933)
- Dave Elman, stage hypnotist, introduces time saving hypnotic procedures and teaches an estimated 10,000 physicians his techniques. Elman’s contributions cannot be underestimated. He is credited for making hypnosis economically practical for busy physicians. Elman’s work is still considered to be of the best ever. His basic induction is widely used in clinics today.
- British Medical Association approves the use of hypnosis in 1955.
- Ormond McGill, stage hypnotist, introduced the model for modern day demonstrational hypnosis. Cognizant at all times to protect the individual’s worth, dignity and integrity while keeping the entertainment value high. McGill introduced America to hypnosis from a stage and made it palatable and popular.
- Another professional stage hypnotist of the same genre is Dr. Edwin Baron who’s ethical demonstrations won major coverage by Time, Life, Look, Reader’s Digest and several other media popular in the 1950s and early 1960s.
- The American Medical Association approved the use of hypnosis in 1958.
Hypnosis receives mass acceptance as society searches for ways to lose weight and stop smoking. The success of everyday applications of hypnosis lead to acceptance of hypnosis in fields that include business, law enforcement, sports and academics. Hypnosis is a first choice treatment instead of the last hope for many hypnotic applications. More simply, hypnosis has arrived. The public’s current sophistication combined with modern scientific hypnosis has created a perfect storm for you and most everyone to make significant improvement in overall physical and psychological well being. Hypnosis helps you discover who you really are so you can be who you want to be.
Does Hypnosis Work? Approximately 12,000 psychologists, dentists, law enforcement officers, MDs, hypnotherapists and social workers hypnotize an estimated 10,000 Americans everyday for a wide array of applications.
Harvard, Stanford, Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons and other leading institutions of higher learning offer varying degrees of education in the science of hypnosis.
The Armed Forces, police, professional sport teams and corporate America have all documented the use of hypnosis.
The Chicago Sun Times (March, 2006) featured an article that in my professional opinion hit the nail on the head, “Hypnosis is safe, natural and effective.” What more could you ask for? A winner by even the most critical standards.
Psychology, psychotherapy and psychoanalysis are a few modern day sciences given birth by the emergence and subsequent study of hypnosis.
Hypnosis is the art and science of suggestion. Suggestion is the uncritical acceptance of an idea.
To answer your question, does hypnosis work? Yes! An emphatic yes backed by studies and documented results. It is indisputable. Hypnosis’ value in several fields has been well documented and studied for decades.
Does hypnosis work for everyone for everything? No. And it would be naive to ever believe it would.
There are no magic wands or miracle cures. No replacement for your commitment and desire to succeed. Hypnosis cannot make your decisions for you, it can only influence them.
Most everyone can enjoy the many benefits of hypnosis with the exception of the very old, very young and the intellectually challenged. Personal commitment and cooperation are mandatory for success.
Dr. John Gullo has been practicing clinical psychology and medical hypnosis for 50 years. He has been a training supervisor for the internationally respected Albert Ellis Institute (NYC) and a university graduate school professor.
His contributions and work in the field of psychology have earned Diplomatic Status from the American Board of Psychotherapy and Hypnotherapy and the American Psychological Practitioner’s Association. I am also a Platinum Recipient of the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology. His practice in Tampa specializes in hypnotherapy for smoking cessation, weight loss, stress relief, anxiety and depression, fears and phobias. http://www.advancedmedicalhypnosis.com
Author: Dr John Gullo
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Pressure cooker
Hypnosis Q & A
Posted by on Dec 23, 2010
Hi. I’m Richard Blumenthal, MS, NCC, LMHC. I’ve tried to anticipate some of your questions about hypnosis.
Q: Richard, what is hypnosis?
A: Hypnosis is a natural state of mind, deepening the focus of your attention. The feeling of hypnosis has been described as a relaxing daydream, sometimes a meditative staring off into space, or other telltale sign that the person is involved more in an inner experience, than what is going on around her or him. While in hypnosis, your mind is more open to helpful ideas that may be accepted directly into the way you think. These ideas can help change or control behaviors, emotions, health, anything the vast power of the mind may influence.
Q: But, I’ve been this way for most of my life. Can people really change?
A: It may appear sometimes that you’ve felt a certain way, or done a particular thing for what seems like forever. But much of it, maybe most of it, is actually learned behavior. You see, while individual people may have tendencies, what biologists call predispositions, how that tendency is played out in your life depends on what you have learned from experience. Often, we’ve learned a thought routine so well that our resulting behaviors and feelings seem automatic, triggered into action before we even know it. That’s where hypnosis comes in. Hypnosis is a wonderful, powerful way to add carefully chosen thinking on to your experience. You can re-learn how to think about something, this time with a well-planned goal in mind. Yes, people can definitely change. More importantly, you can definitely change!
Q: Richard, I think I read somewhere that “all hypnosis is really self hypnosis”. But, if that’s true, then why don’t these changes happen just because I want them to?
A: Hypnosis requires something called induction. Remember, hypnosis is a unique state of mind, different from your ordinary state of mind. Your ordinary mind must therefore be induced, that is changed into a different state to acheive hypnosis. Neuroscientists using sophisticated brain imaging equipment have actually found important alterations between the functioning of the ordinary brain and the hypnotically induced brain. Specifically, hypnosis seems to bypass some of the barriers the brain has built to inhibit new learning. The hypnotic state diminishes these barriers, allowing ideas to flow more directly to the learning centers with greater ease.
Q: But, isn’t hypnosis just for people with really bad problems, or mental illness?
A: Hypnosis has been used by the most successful atheletes, high powered business people, actors, musicians, writers, and others, all for the most positive and uplifting of reasons. They all want to improve their skills, their health, their appearance, and enjoyment of life. Hypnosis makes their talent more available. Yes, it’s true that hypnosis is an extraordinary therapeutic tool used in clinical psychology, but it is literally for EVERYONE. It makes that which is good even better and transforms better into the best!
Q: What if I can’t wake up from the hypnosis?
A: There is truly no such thing. In all my years of reading about and practicing hypnosis, I have never once come across a case of a hypnotized person being unable to awaken from it. Sometimes, hypnosis feels so relaxing and soothing that the person may fall asleep, but even then will awaken quickly, as you would from a short nap. By the way, I always begin every hypnosis script with the phrase, “At any time you have the ability to awaken yourself and instantly return to your ordinary thinking.” You are in total control during the experience. The hypnotist is just a guide.
Q: What are hypnosis scripts?
A: The term hypnosis script (or self hypnosis script) simply refers to the dialogue that is spoken in order to induce the state of hypnosis and then make the desired suggestions. Hypnosis scripts can include techniques that range from emphasizing progressive relaxation and descriptive imagery, to story-telling and direct suggestion. The goal of every script is to induce the state of hypnosis for a specific outcome. Based on years of study and practice, I always include a variety of hypnosis techniques in each of my hypnosis mp3s.
Q: What can hypnosis be used for?
A: While hypnosis is best known for successful weight loss, to quit smoking, to reduce anxiety and tension, for self confidence, fear, etc, the truth is, hypnosis may be useful for any topic that is influenced by the mind. That certainly takes in a lot of territory. We can think of it like this: hypnosis can’t change the weather, but it can help you to remember to use your umbrella. Hypnosis can’t change the need for a mathematical formula, but it can make the formula easier to remember.
I sincerely encourage everyone to take full advantage of this natural marvel. Hypnosis really helps! Thanks for reading.
The work of Richard A. Blumenthal, MS, NCC has been published in such esteemed journals as Medical Hypnoanalysis, The International Journal of Psychosomatics, The Journal of Human Behavior and Learning, and The British Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. Mr. Blumenthal is the originator of Rational Suggestion Therapy, and the inventor of HypnoSoft Self Hypnosis Software, located at http://www.hypnosoft.com, for which he was awarded a United States patent. Mr. Blumenthal has made his specially prepared hypnosis MP3s available at http://self-hypnosis.org
Author: Richard Blumenthal
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Programmable Multi-cooker
Hypnosis Q & A
Posted by on Dec 21, 2010
Hi. I’m Richard Blumenthal, MS, NCC, LMHC. I’ve tried to anticipate some of your questions about hypnosis.
Q: Richard, what is hypnosis?
A: Hypnosis is a natural state of mind, deepening the focus of your attention. The feeling of hypnosis has been described as a relaxing daydream, sometimes a meditative staring off into space, or other telltale sign that the person is involved more in an inner experience, than what is going on around her or him. While in hypnosis, your mind is more open to helpful ideas that may be accepted directly into the way you think. These ideas can help change or control behaviors, emotions, health, anything the vast power of the mind may influence.
Q: But, I’ve been this way for most of my life. Can people really change?
A: It may appear sometimes that you’ve felt a certain way, or done a particular thing for what seems like forever. But much of it, maybe most of it, is actually learned behavior. You see, while individual people may have tendencies, what biologists call predispositions, how that tendency is played out in your life depends on what you have learned from experience. Often, we’ve learned a thought routine so well that our resulting behaviors and feelings seem automatic, triggered into action before we even know it. That’s where hypnosis comes in. Hypnosis is a wonderful, powerful way to add carefully chosen thinking on to your experience. You can re-learn how to think about something, this time with a well-planned goal in mind. Yes, people can definitely change. More importantly, you can definitely change!
Q: Richard, I think I read somewhere that “all hypnosis is really self hypnosis”. But, if that’s true, then why don’t these changes happen just because I want them to?
A: Hypnosis requires something called induction. Remember, hypnosis is a unique state of mind, different from your ordinary state of mind. Your ordinary mind must therefore be induced, that is changed into a different state to acheive hypnosis. Neuroscientists using sophisticated brain imaging equipment have actually found important alterations between the functioning of the ordinary brain and the hypnotically induced brain. Specifically, hypnosis seems to bypass some of the barriers the brain has built to inhibit new learning. The hypnotic state diminishes these barriers, allowing ideas to flow more directly to the learning centers with greater ease.
Q: But, isn’t hypnosis just for people with really bad problems, or mental illness?
A: Hypnosis has been used by the most successful atheletes, high powered business people, actors, musicians, writers, and others, all for the most positive and uplifting of reasons. They all want to improve their skills, their health, their appearance, and enjoyment of life. Hypnosis makes their talent more available. Yes, it’s true that hypnosis is an extraordinary therapeutic tool used in clinical psychology, but it is literally for EVERYONE. It makes that which is good even better and transforms better into the best!
Q: What if I can’t wake up from the hypnosis?
A: There is truly no such thing. In all my years of reading about and practicing hypnosis, I have never once come across a case of a hypnotized person being unable to awaken from it. Sometimes, hypnosis feels so relaxing and soothing that the person may fall asleep, but even then will awaken quickly, as you would from a short nap. By the way, I always begin every hypnosis script with the phrase, “At any time you have the ability to awaken yourself and instantly return to your ordinary thinking.” You are in total control during the experience. The hypnotist is just a guide.
Q: What are hypnosis scripts?
A: The term hypnosis script (or self hypnosis script) simply refers to the dialogue that is spoken in order to induce the state of hypnosis and then make the desired suggestions. Hypnosis scripts can include techniques that range from emphasizing progressive relaxation and descriptive imagery, to story-telling and direct suggestion. The goal of every script is to induce the state of hypnosis for a specific outcome. Based on years of study and practice, I always include a variety of hypnosis techniques in each of my hypnosis mp3s.
Q: What can hypnosis be used for?
A: While hypnosis is best known for successful weight loss, to quit smoking, to reduce anxiety and tension, for self confidence, fear, etc, the truth is, hypnosis may be useful for any topic that is influenced by the mind. That certainly takes in a lot of territory. We can think of it like this: hypnosis can’t change the weather, but it can help you to remember to use your umbrella. Hypnosis can’t change the need for a mathematical formula, but it can make the formula easier to remember.
I sincerely encourage everyone to take full advantage of this natural marvel. Hypnosis really helps! Thanks for reading.
The work of Richard A. Blumenthal, MS, NCC has been published in such esteemed journals as Medical Hypnoanalysis, The International Journal of Psychosomatics, The Journal of Human Behavior and Learning, and The British Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. Mr. Blumenthal is the originator of Rational Suggestion Therapy, and the inventor of HypnoSoft Self Hypnosis Software, located at http://www.hypnosoft.com, for which he was awarded a United States patent. Mr. Blumenthal has made his specially prepared hypnosis MP3s available at http://self-hypnosis.org
Author: Richard Blumenthal
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
How to choose a blood pressure monitor
Hypnosis Q & A
Posted by on Dec 19, 2010
Hi. I’m Richard Blumenthal, MS, NCC, LMHC. I’ve tried to anticipate some of your questions about hypnosis.
Q: Richard, what is hypnosis?
A: Hypnosis is a natural state of mind, deepening the focus of your attention. The feeling of hypnosis has been described as a relaxing daydream, sometimes a meditative staring off into space, or other telltale sign that the person is involved more in an inner experience, than what is going on around her or him. While in hypnosis, your mind is more open to helpful ideas that may be accepted directly into the way you think. These ideas can help change or control behaviors, emotions, health, anything the vast power of the mind may influence.
Q: But, I’ve been this way for most of my life. Can people really change?
A: It may appear sometimes that you’ve felt a certain way, or done a particular thing for what seems like forever. But much of it, maybe most of it, is actually learned behavior. You see, while individual people may have tendencies, what biologists call predispositions, how that tendency is played out in your life depends on what you have learned from experience. Often, we’ve learned a thought routine so well that our resulting behaviors and feelings seem automatic, triggered into action before we even know it. That’s where hypnosis comes in. Hypnosis is a wonderful, powerful way to add carefully chosen thinking on to your experience. You can re-learn how to think about something, this time with a well-planned goal in mind. Yes, people can definitely change. More importantly, you can definitely change!
Q: Richard, I think I read somewhere that “all hypnosis is really self hypnosis”. But, if that’s true, then why don’t these changes happen just because I want them to?
A: Hypnosis requires something called induction. Remember, hypnosis is a unique state of mind, different from your ordinary state of mind. Your ordinary mind must therefore be induced, that is changed into a different state to acheive hypnosis. Neuroscientists using sophisticated brain imaging equipment have actually found important alterations between the functioning of the ordinary brain and the hypnotically induced brain. Specifically, hypnosis seems to bypass some of the barriers the brain has built to inhibit new learning. The hypnotic state diminishes these barriers, allowing ideas to flow more directly to the learning centers with greater ease.
Q: But, isn’t hypnosis just for people with really bad problems, or mental illness?
A: Hypnosis has been used by the most successful atheletes, high powered business people, actors, musicians, writers, and others, all for the most positive and uplifting of reasons. They all want to improve their skills, their health, their appearance, and enjoyment of life. Hypnosis makes their talent more available. Yes, it’s true that hypnosis is an extraordinary therapeutic tool used in clinical psychology, but it is literally for EVERYONE. It makes that which is good even better and transforms better into the best!
Q: What if I can’t wake up from the hypnosis?
A: There is truly no such thing. In all my years of reading about and practicing hypnosis, I have never once come across a case of a hypnotized person being unable to awaken from it. Sometimes, hypnosis feels so relaxing and soothing that the person may fall asleep, but even then will awaken quickly, as you would from a short nap. By the way, I always begin every hypnosis script with the phrase, “At any time you have the ability to awaken yourself and instantly return to your ordinary thinking.” You are in total control during the experience. The hypnotist is just a guide.
Q: What are hypnosis scripts?
A: The term hypnosis script (or self hypnosis script) simply refers to the dialogue that is spoken in order to induce the state of hypnosis and then make the desired suggestions. Hypnosis scripts can include techniques that range from emphasizing progressive relaxation and descriptive imagery, to story-telling and direct suggestion. The goal of every script is to induce the state of hypnosis for a specific outcome. Based on years of study and practice, I always include a variety of hypnosis techniques in each of my hypnosis mp3s.
Q: What can hypnosis be used for?
A: While hypnosis is best known for successful weight loss, to quit smoking, to reduce anxiety and tension, for self confidence, fear, etc, the truth is, hypnosis may be useful for any topic that is influenced by the mind. That certainly takes in a lot of territory. We can think of it like this: hypnosis can’t change the weather, but it can help you to remember to use your umbrella. Hypnosis can’t change the need for a mathematical formula, but it can make the formula easier to remember.
I sincerely encourage everyone to take full advantage of this natural marvel. Hypnosis really helps! Thanks for reading.
The work of Richard A. Blumenthal, MS, NCC has been published in such esteemed journals as Medical Hypnoanalysis, The International Journal of Psychosomatics, The Journal of Human Behavior and Learning, and The British Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. Mr. Blumenthal is the originator of Rational Suggestion Therapy, and the inventor of HypnoSoft Self Hypnosis Software, located at http://www.hypnosoft.com, for which he was awarded a United States patent. Mr. Blumenthal has made his specially prepared hypnosis MP3s available at http://self-hypnosis.org
Author: Richard Blumenthal
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Low Cost Prototype PCB Assembly
Hypnosis Q & A
Posted by on Dec 17, 2010
Hi. I’m Richard Blumenthal, MS, NCC, LMHC. I’ve tried to anticipate some of your questions about hypnosis.
Q: Richard, what is hypnosis?
A: Hypnosis is a natural state of mind, deepening the focus of your attention. The feeling of hypnosis has been described as a relaxing daydream, sometimes a meditative staring off into space, or other telltale sign that the person is involved more in an inner experience, than what is going on around her or him. While in hypnosis, your mind is more open to helpful ideas that may be accepted directly into the way you think. These ideas can help change or control behaviors, emotions, health, anything the vast power of the mind may influence.
Q: But, I’ve been this way for most of my life. Can people really change?
A: It may appear sometimes that you’ve felt a certain way, or done a particular thing for what seems like forever. But much of it, maybe most of it, is actually learned behavior. You see, while individual people may have tendencies, what biologists call predispositions, how that tendency is played out in your life depends on what you have learned from experience. Often, we’ve learned a thought routine so well that our resulting behaviors and feelings seem automatic, triggered into action before we even know it. That’s where hypnosis comes in. Hypnosis is a wonderful, powerful way to add carefully chosen thinking on to your experience. You can re-learn how to think about something, this time with a well-planned goal in mind. Yes, people can definitely change. More importantly, you can definitely change!
Q: Richard, I think I read somewhere that “all hypnosis is really self hypnosis”. But, if that’s true, then why don’t these changes happen just because I want them to?
A: Hypnosis requires something called induction. Remember, hypnosis is a unique state of mind, different from your ordinary state of mind. Your ordinary mind must therefore be induced, that is changed into a different state to acheive hypnosis. Neuroscientists using sophisticated brain imaging equipment have actually found important alterations between the functioning of the ordinary brain and the hypnotically induced brain. Specifically, hypnosis seems to bypass some of the barriers the brain has built to inhibit new learning. The hypnotic state diminishes these barriers, allowing ideas to flow more directly to the learning centers with greater ease.
Q: But, isn’t hypnosis just for people with really bad problems, or mental illness?
A: Hypnosis has been used by the most successful atheletes, high powered business people, actors, musicians, writers, and others, all for the most positive and uplifting of reasons. They all want to improve their skills, their health, their appearance, and enjoyment of life. Hypnosis makes their talent more available. Yes, it’s true that hypnosis is an extraordinary therapeutic tool used in clinical psychology, but it is literally for EVERYONE. It makes that which is good even better and transforms better into the best!
Q: What if I can’t wake up from the hypnosis?
A: There is truly no such thing. In all my years of reading about and practicing hypnosis, I have never once come across a case of a hypnotized person being unable to awaken from it. Sometimes, hypnosis feels so relaxing and soothing that the person may fall asleep, but even then will awaken quickly, as you would from a short nap. By the way, I always begin every hypnosis script with the phrase, “At any time you have the ability to awaken yourself and instantly return to your ordinary thinking.” You are in total control during the experience. The hypnotist is just a guide.
Q: What are hypnosis scripts?
A: The term hypnosis script (or self hypnosis script) simply refers to the dialogue that is spoken in order to induce the state of hypnosis and then make the desired suggestions. Hypnosis scripts can include techniques that range from emphasizing progressive relaxation and descriptive imagery, to story-telling and direct suggestion. The goal of every script is to induce the state of hypnosis for a specific outcome. Based on years of study and practice, I always include a variety of hypnosis techniques in each of my hypnosis mp3s.
Q: What can hypnosis be used for?
A: While hypnosis is best known for successful weight loss, to quit smoking, to reduce anxiety and tension, for self confidence, fear, etc, the truth is, hypnosis may be useful for any topic that is influenced by the mind. That certainly takes in a lot of territory. We can think of it like this: hypnosis can’t change the weather, but it can help you to remember to use your umbrella. Hypnosis can’t change the need for a mathematical formula, but it can make the formula easier to remember.
I sincerely encourage everyone to take full advantage of this natural marvel. Hypnosis really helps! Thanks for reading.
The work of Richard A. Blumenthal, MS, NCC has been published in such esteemed journals as Medical Hypnoanalysis, The International Journal of Psychosomatics, The Journal of Human Behavior and Learning, and The British Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. Mr. Blumenthal is the originator of Rational Suggestion Therapy, and the inventor of HypnoSoft Self Hypnosis Software, located at http://www.hypnosoft.com, for which he was awarded a United States patent. Mr. Blumenthal has made his specially prepared hypnosis MP3s available at http://self-hypnosis.org
Author: Richard Blumenthal
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Assisted living
Hypnosis Q & A
Posted by on Dec 15, 2010
Hi. I’m Richard Blumenthal, MS, NCC, LMHC. I’ve tried to anticipate some of your questions about hypnosis.
Q: Richard, what is hypnosis?
A: Hypnosis is a natural state of mind, deepening the focus of your attention. The feeling of hypnosis has been described as a relaxing daydream, sometimes a meditative staring off into space, or other telltale sign that the person is involved more in an inner experience, than what is going on around her or him. While in hypnosis, your mind is more open to helpful ideas that may be accepted directly into the way you think. These ideas can help change or control behaviors, emotions, health, anything the vast power of the mind may influence.
Q: But, I’ve been this way for most of my life. Can people really change?
A: It may appear sometimes that you’ve felt a certain way, or done a particular thing for what seems like forever. But much of it, maybe most of it, is actually learned behavior. You see, while individual people may have tendencies, what biologists call predispositions, how that tendency is played out in your life depends on what you have learned from experience. Often, we’ve learned a thought routine so well that our resulting behaviors and feelings seem automatic, triggered into action before we even know it. That’s where hypnosis comes in. Hypnosis is a wonderful, powerful way to add carefully chosen thinking on to your experience. You can re-learn how to think about something, this time with a well-planned goal in mind. Yes, people can definitely change. More importantly, you can definitely change!
Q: Richard, I think I read somewhere that “all hypnosis is really self hypnosis”. But, if that’s true, then why don’t these changes happen just because I want them to?
A: Hypnosis requires something called induction. Remember, hypnosis is a unique state of mind, different from your ordinary state of mind. Your ordinary mind must therefore be induced, that is changed into a different state to acheive hypnosis. Neuroscientists using sophisticated brain imaging equipment have actually found important alterations between the functioning of the ordinary brain and the hypnotically induced brain. Specifically, hypnosis seems to bypass some of the barriers the brain has built to inhibit new learning. The hypnotic state diminishes these barriers, allowing ideas to flow more directly to the learning centers with greater ease.
Q: But, isn’t hypnosis just for people with really bad problems, or mental illness?
A: Hypnosis has been used by the most successful atheletes, high powered business people, actors, musicians, writers, and others, all for the most positive and uplifting of reasons. They all want to improve their skills, their health, their appearance, and enjoyment of life. Hypnosis makes their talent more available. Yes, it’s true that hypnosis is an extraordinary therapeutic tool used in clinical psychology, but it is literally for EVERYONE. It makes that which is good even better and transforms better into the best!
Q: What if I can’t wake up from the hypnosis?
A: There is truly no such thing. In all my years of reading about and practicing hypnosis, I have never once come across a case of a hypnotized person being unable to awaken from it. Sometimes, hypnosis feels so relaxing and soothing that the person may fall asleep, but even then will awaken quickly, as you would from a short nap. By the way, I always begin every hypnosis script with the phrase, “At any time you have the ability to awaken yourself and instantly return to your ordinary thinking.” You are in total control during the experience. The hypnotist is just a guide.
Q: What are hypnosis scripts?
A: The term hypnosis script (or self hypnosis script) simply refers to the dialogue that is spoken in order to induce the state of hypnosis and then make the desired suggestions. Hypnosis scripts can include techniques that range from emphasizing progressive relaxation and descriptive imagery, to story-telling and direct suggestion. The goal of every script is to induce the state of hypnosis for a specific outcome. Based on years of study and practice, I always include a variety of hypnosis techniques in each of my hypnosis mp3s.
Q: What can hypnosis be used for?
A: While hypnosis is best known for successful weight loss, to quit smoking, to reduce anxiety and tension, for self confidence, fear, etc, the truth is, hypnosis may be useful for any topic that is influenced by the mind. That certainly takes in a lot of territory. We can think of it like this: hypnosis can’t change the weather, but it can help you to remember to use your umbrella. Hypnosis can’t change the need for a mathematical formula, but it can make the formula easier to remember.
I sincerely encourage everyone to take full advantage of this natural marvel. Hypnosis really helps! Thanks for reading.
The work of Richard A. Blumenthal, MS, NCC has been published in such esteemed journals as Medical Hypnoanalysis, The International Journal of Psychosomatics, The Journal of Human Behavior and Learning, and The British Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis. Mr. Blumenthal is the originator of Rational Suggestion Therapy, and the inventor of HypnoSoft Self Hypnosis Software, located at http://www.hypnosoft.com, for which he was awarded a United States patent. Mr. Blumenthal has made his specially prepared hypnosis MP3s available at http://self-hypnosis.org
Author: Richard Blumenthal
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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