Does hypnosis really exist? Hypnosis and hypnotherapy: myths and facts
Perhaps the most common question with which a specialist’s meeting with a patient begins is: why is hypnosis dangerous?
It should immediately be noted that there are contraindications, in the presence of which it is not recommended to be exposed to hypnotic and NLP techniques. The list includes: epilepsy, mental disorders - schizophrenia in various forms and hysteria, a tendency to seizures, as well as alcohol and drug intoxication, fever, acute poisoning.
Despite the fact that there is a successful practice of treating colds using Ericksonian hypnosis methods, people suffering from the indicated ailments should still refrain from the initial use.
At the mercy of the hypnotist
When speaking about the possible dangers of hypnosis, most patients mean the fear of being in the power of the hypnotist by turning off the person’s will. Such fears are unfounded and often far-fetched. Let's look at the main fears.
The help of a modern specialist is aimed at solving the problems of normal, mentally healthy people, which may be associated with getting rid of various types of fears, problems in building relationships, finding a partner, and others. Many ignorant people are influenced by stereotypes based on films and pop performances, which rarely correspond to the real state of affairs.
Why is hypnosis dangerous for the human psyche?
Any person, plunging into a state of trance, has the intention of adjusting certain details of his own psyche and making some improvements. At the same time, he has every right and opportunity to get out of this state at any time if he doesn’t like something - for example, the patient hears attitudes that strictly contradict him, or experiences physical discomfort.
Today on the Internet you can see videos in which a hypnotist puts women into a trance, has violent sex with her, and then brings her out of this state. The woman gets dressed as if nothing had happened and has absolutely no memory of what happened to her. However, experts deny the likelihood of such phenomena, the existence of which in nature is extremely unlikely.
Some may object, citing the example of gypsy hypnosis, with the help of which scammers take away valuables, money, and apartments from people. It is necessary to understand what gypsy hypnosis is. First of all, this is ordinary chattering aimed at overloading a person’s consciousness. As a rule, gypsies approach in a group - one demands to change money, the second asks something, the third picks you up, the fourth asks something else. Thus, a person’s consciousness is completely overloaded, and as a result, he himself does not remember how he was deceived by losing money.
Standard mind overload techniques are sometimes used to achieve greater effectiveness in individual therapy cases. To this end, the specialist begins to chatter the client or invites him to solve mathematical problems, make some kind of calculation, overloading his consciousness and achieving his shutdown.
An additional benefit of this practice is manifested in the formation of resistance in the patient, who has managed to immerse himself in a state of trance with the help of a specialist, to attempts to deceive by attackers somewhere on the street. Such a person is aware of the circumstances under which his brain begins to turn off and immersion in a trance occurs and, if there is trust, he does not resist, allowing himself to enter the desired state. If trust is absent, the person will not enter a trance state.
However, even while in a state of immersion, the patient can easily come out of it, feeling some physical or emotional discomfort. In practice, funny cases happen. So, the client, being in a trance state, unexpectedly came out of it, experiencing strong sexual arousal. Being deeply immersed, the young man decided to interrupt the session and independently came out of the trance. It is noteworthy that during the session, the patient, with the help of a specialist, dealt with the issue of searching for a relationship, and, at some point, the body naturally reacted.
Is hypnosis dangerous for humans?
There are fears that a hypnotist can instill in a person an obligation to carry out certain commands from a distance. This effect is called post-hypnotic suggestion and is characterized by the phenomenon when a person who comes out of a trance state, after some time, can begin to carry out certain instructions that he received during the immersion. In this case, it is necessary to understand that no one can connect to a person’s consciousness, but there is an attitude received by the patient during the session, which helps to gain confidence in certain circumstances and is part of the therapeutic correction of behavior.
In addition, any specialist values his reputation and is not interested in using any dishonest methods that could harm the patient or leave an imprint on his professional activities. Submitting oneself to the will of another person is a responsibility that requires a colossal expenditure of one’s own time, effort and energy as a specialist to guide a person through life.
The task of a modern hypnotherapist is to help the patient mobilize his own reserves, direct him on the right path and get rid of aggravating circumstances that prevent the full manifestation of all his individual abilities. So why is hypnosis dangerous for a person?
Another common fear is to give all your money and property to a hypnotist under the influence of suggestion. It is based on the same gypsy hypnosis, the influence of which forces people to give all their money to attackers. The peculiarity of this effect is its temporary nature. Having woken up from hypnosis, victims turn to law enforcement agencies, and would-be hypnotists get themselves into trouble in the form of problems with the law.
A specialist who respects himself and his patients will never engage in such tricks due to moral and ethical principles, as well as the publicity that accompanies this type of activity, risking causing irreparable damage to his own reputation. True professionals use honest methods in their work that do not contradict the law. In addition, as mentioned above, a person who has experienced immersion in a trance state with the help of a specialist is practically not susceptible to attempts by scammers, understanding the whole mechanism of what is happening.
Is hypnosis dangerous for humans? Real life example
A striking example is the story of a client who turned to a hypnologist for help to solve a specific problem. The session was successful, the patient easily fell into a trance, solved his own problems with the support of a professional and safely emerged from the hypnotic state.
After a short amount of time, this man, during a meeting with a certain woman, felt familiar signs of influence. Understanding what was happening based on past experience, he turned off the state, managing to prevent an attempt to influence him at the subconscious level. Thus, the specialist’s session helped the patient not only solve the assigned tasks, but also protected him from the possible negative consequences of unwanted interference in his own psyche.
It is extremely important to take a responsible approach to choosing a hypnotherapist. You should definitely pay attention to whether he has professional certificates confirming his knowledge of the techniques. In addition, the specialist must engage in targeted activities in a specific area.
Dealing with the designated specifics - for example, relationships, medicine and others, the therapist works with tasks in which he has achieved mastery, provided by years of practice, special knowledge, and research into specifics from different angles.
Thus, a hypnologist practicing health improvement must have medical skills. A relationship specialist has extensive experience working with people, helping them build new relationships, understand existing ones and analyze past ones, help them make decisions about the advisability of continuing communication, returning former partners and ways to achieve the desired result.
A professional hypnologist in the field of gender interaction will help normalize your sex life, solve your own problems, get rid of negative attitudes, gain confidence, etc.
Any narrowly focused question that defines the specifics of a hypnotherapist’s activity actually includes a fairly wide range of related topics. The framework of intersexual relationships may well include harmonization of sleep with the help of hypnotic and meditative practices, motivation and increased self-confidence, and the search for one’s path in life.
An example of such a relationship is the desire of a client - a young man - to meet a girl, the problem in the implementation of which is low self-esteem. To get rid of the inhibitory factor, it is necessary to find out the direction of life, earning potential, and social desires. Solving all these issues will help increase self-esteem, grow in your own eyes and the eyes of others, arousing interest in the opposite sex. The same goes for women. You need to find yourself, your interests, dreams and ways to achieve them - this will allow you to reveal your own attractiveness. Such questions are interrelated, which is why hypnologists effectively address them in the context of a specific task.
Vlad Pozier | Relationship Psychologist
A practicing psychologist with extensive experience in the field of love relationships between a man and a woman will help you see and reveal personal qualities that are attractive to the opposite sex and use them when meeting and communicating with people you like.
During individual conversations with Vladimir Sokolov, you will not only get rid of complexes, but also be able to build new lines of your behavior. Under the sensitive guidance of this specialist, hundreds of people were able to realize the value of real relationships and get rid of the burden of past grievances and addictions.
The results of close communication with a psychologist will not keep you waiting long, as he is a professional in his field, masterfully using hypnotechnics and advanced psychotherapeutic techniques
It is not uncommon to read about the so-called risks associated with hypnosis. Personally, I have performed several thousand hypnosis sessions and have never encountered a dangerous situation. However, at the beginning of my activity, I made two mistakes and I will not hide it.
Once I suggested to a curious journalist that she had returned to childhood again and was only three years old.
The fact is that my son just turned three years old, and I arranged a meeting for him with a journalist. Although I didn’t tell him anything, the baby immediately realized that this big aunt was actually a small child. He took her with him to the children's room. I followed them and watched them play. They argued about toys, then made up again. I was forced to intervene only when the journalist definitely wanted to get into my little son’s wooden crib.
Then the journalist discovered the TV. The son explained how to turn the TV on and off, how to change programs. She was shocked, because in her childhood there were no televisions. She could not tear herself away from the fascinating process of turning on and off the TV and changing programs until I interrupted the experiment. And then I discovered that she did not react to my words, “ rapport" turned out to be violated.
Apparently I left her as a child for too long and she grew into the role. I tried various methods to establish contact, but all in vain. Then I resorted to the remedy that I had been taught for such cases - to remain calm and deepen the hypnosis.
Since she did not react to my words, I covered her eyes with my hands for a few seconds and gave the appropriate suggestion to deepen. When I removed my hand, my eyes remained closed. I suggested to her that I wanted to interrupt the hypnosis. Very slowly he began to add one year at a time, brought it up to her current age and ended with the words: “Now I will count to three again, you will open your eyes and feel fresh and rested. You are now 23 years old, and everything will be the same as it was before the experiment began. On the count of three, open your eyes and feel completely fine.” As soon as I said “three,” she opened her eyes. Everything was fine.
Once again I suggested to the patient that he could only practice self-hypnosis once in my presence. Whatever he tells himself will be as true as if I had said it. And he will strictly follow this. Since I was not present at this, it seemed to me that there would be no harm from such an experiment.
I told the patient that he could give his subconscious only one task, and at the same time he had to tell me what it was. But he did not listen and immediately inspired himself: “I will count to three and fall asleep, and nothing can wake me up.”
Before I could intervene, it had already happened. In an unwise act, he made a terrible mistake. With the last phrase, he removed the opportunity to rid himself of hypnosis.
I only had to further deepen his suggestion about sleep, and I began to guide the patient with the words: “You are sleeping soundly and deeply, very soundly and deeply, and no one will wake you up. Now you feel that you have had enough sleep and notice how you gradually begin to wake up. Nobody wakes you up, you wake up on your own. But now you are completely awake.” As soon as I said this, he opened his eyes.
I told the patient about his mistake. I managed to force his subconscious to carry out the order without contradicting my own suggestion, only because I recognized it and only continued the patient’s self-hypnosis.
The patient really wanted to repeat the experience without making the mistake he had made. I explained to him that this would not work, since the subconscious had previously been inspired that he would have the right to engage in self-hypnosis only once, and the second experiment would be ineffective. He couldn’t believe it, but no matter how hard he tried, nothing worked - after all, the subconscious strictly followed the expressed suggestion.
So the reader can see for himself that with the correct technique, such misfires are quite harmless. You just don’t need to suggest something that would contradict a previously expressed suggestion, because otherwise there will be a clash of two differently directed suggestions. In this case, it is preferable to pick up the suggestion already expressed, even strengthen it in order to eliminate internal resistance, and then gradually remove the experimental person from the state of hypnosis.
Dr. Felgeshi also talks about one unfortunate incident. A mother came to the appointment with her daughter, who had menstrual irregularities. Dr. Felgeshi hypnotized her and suggested that her menstruation would occur on a certain day at 12 noon. The mother insisted on being present during the hypnosis session. Exactly on the day prescribed by the doctor, the daughter started bleeding - but so did the mother! This means that the order given under hypnosis also had an effect on the mother, although she was only a witness and not a patient.
If we talk about the dangers of hypnosis, then I would say that the suggestion may not be removed sufficiently or completely.
The hypnotist's favorite experience is to give the test subject a glass of water and suggest that it is cognac. He reacts accordingly and becomes intoxicated.
A sufficiently active counter-suggestion relieves alcoholic intoxication, but if this suggestion is not pronounced properly, then it happens that a person becomes drunk every time he drinks a glass of water.
Word to the authorities
The most famous hypnotherapists exclude the possibility of the dangers of hypnosis.
Dr. Liebeau from Nancy, the founder of the doctrine of hypnosis as a method of therapy, wrote: “Many years of experience in the use of hypnotic suggestion gives me reason to assert that it, if used correctly, is much more effective than medical treatment. Unlike drug treatment, it is safe, its effect is quick and pleasant.”
Professor Brueggelmann from Paderborn: "To the question whether hypnosis can be dangerous, I must answer briefly - no."
Dr. Mole adds: “The cardinal issue is whether properly executed hypnotic suggestion poses a health hazard. My answer to this question is no.”
Dr. Ringier from Zurich: “I can only repeat what I have said many times, namely: I have never, in any case, encountered the harmful effects of hypnosis.”
Director Dr. Scholz from Bremen: “I have never heard any complaints about the harmful effects of hypnosis occurring in practice. These are just theoretical constructions of opponents of hypnotic methods.”
Professor Moebius: “Of course, there are doctors who are prejudiced against hypnosis, but these are precisely those people who have no personal experience in this area and who are limited to false conclusions.”
Professor Sutherland from Massachusetts: “How can doctors talk about dangers who are not themselves versed in hypnosis. Show them to me, and I will instill in them so that they never again stutter about the dangers of indoctrination.”
Dr. Otto Wetterstrand: “I predict a great future for hypnosis and can only join the opinion expressed by Professor Bernheim in his epochal work on suggestion, namely: suggestive therapy is one of the most valuable achievements of modern medicine.”
It can be added that the only danger is insufficient qualifications of the practicing hypnotist.
During hypnosis sessions, a specialist is able to change a person’s self-control functions. To introduce the patient into such a state, various techniques are used, most often sound and light exposure. During trance, inhibition of the central nervous system occurs, and as a result, consciousness. Under the influence of a hypnotist, a person performs various commands. He becomes so similar to a weak-willed doll that many doubt whether hypnosis really exists, or whether this is just a trick of charlatans.
What happens during hypnosis
Impact techniques are used to change concentration. As a result, the person may relive certain images, sensations, and memories in a more intense form. Disorientation in space may occur.
Another feature of the hypnotic state is the subjective feeling of lack of will. A person becomes a passive observer and can tell information of interest if it has been hidden for a long time. The truth may come out, and the specialist will find ways to solve the current problem. The hypnotist can give commands for action that are carried out regardless of the will of the patient.
Under the influence of hypnosis, physical and mental relaxation is felt. The body can be relaxed or tense. Often there is a feeling of flying, swimming, tingling in different parts of the body. A practitioner may use hypnosis techniques for physical or mental healing.
Psychotherapists resort to this effect to eliminate pain and restore peace of mind. Hypnosis opens up unlimited possibilities for age regression. The experience of a past life is often recreated in order to remember the most vivid details and events. The hypnotist, putting a person into a trance state, gains access to remote memory.
What myths surround hypnosis?
Many people believe that during hypnosis a person sleeps. But this is a myth, a fiction that has no scientific basis. In a trance state, the patient follows certain instructions and settings. Scientists have found that hypnosis is a change in a person’s state. He cannot control his mind because he is in a deeply relaxed state. Sensations in the body and feelings continue to work as before.
There are other common misconceptions:
- The hypnologist can give instructions that contradict the will of the patient. In a state of trance, a person does not control his actions, so he can carry out various tasks. Many are confident that if a hypnologist gives an instruction to kill, then it will be carried out by the patient. It is important to remember that such actions are contrary to human values and are technologically difficult. Not every practitioner has the necessary knowledge and experience to make his patient follow such instructions.
- Suggestion of sexual fantasies. Unscrupulous hypnologists may make such attempts while the person is in a state of trance. If such actions are contrary to the worldview, the actions will be in vain.
- Hypnosis doesn't work. Only in isolated cases does a person not fall into a trance state. It is important to remember that people with high intelligence and developed imagination make contact more easily and fall into a state of trance.
- Anyone can become a hypnotist. According to statistics, people believe that the profession is easy and accessible. Such thoughts arise after watching shows and television programs where specialists demonstrate fast and dexterous techniques. The project invites hypnotizable people who quickly fall into a trance, so you shouldn’t trust the show.
- Hypnosis can change personality traits. The specialist only eliminates the cause that led to the injury and prevents you from living happily. He cannot turn a person into an alcoholic, a maniac or a murderer, nor can he change reality or worldview. Every person has protection, so the psyche will work to maintain integrity.
- The doctor will be able to learn about the hidden secrets. In order for the specialist to reveal all the patient’s secrets, the latter must provide his consent to such cooperation. The hypnotist will have to spend a huge amount of time and effort to get him to talk about his deepest secrets.
All of these statements refute myths and have scientific basis, so it is important to take them into account when collaborating with hypnologists. They will really help you avoid a lot of trouble. The specialist is guided by the rules and job responsibilities, and therefore cannot act against the law and moral qualities of another person.
What types of hypnosis exist from a scientific point of view?
There are several main types of hypnosis. All of them are effective from a scientific point of view and are used in practice. Officially, there are several types:
- Classical. During the session, the specialist works with the person’s consciousness, using clear formulations and guidelines. The presented technique has found wide application in medicine. A hypnotist can cure neurotic disorders, phobias, sexual problems, depression, drug, alcohol and tobacco addiction. In a state of trance, patients cannot distinguish between reality and events that are recreated by consciousness.
- Hidden. This has an indirect effect on mental state. Verbal techniques are used in advertising, business, and politics. The main task is to obtain profit and benefit. The most famous and effective methods are Gypsy and Ericksonian hypnosis. If you follow the technique, you can instantly put a person into a trance state.
- Psychotropogenic. To hypnotize, you will need to use psychotropic and narcotic drugs that have a direct effect on the mental state.
During hypnosis, a specialist gains access to a person’s subconscious. At the very beginning, the patient is put into a trance state. With the help of leading questions, he learns useful information and opens access to a problem that led to dire consequences.
What are the indications for use
People turn to a hypnologist for help for various reasons. From a scientific point of view, this is a specialist who deals with mental health. During the training process, different areas of activity are studied. A hypnologist performs the tasks of a psychologist, psychiatrist and psychotherapist.
In the field of psychotherapy, hypnotic techniques help speed up treatment. When a person is put into a trance state, he can understand his problems. Thanks to modern methods of hypnosis, you can get rid of various bad habits, relive certain memories, get rid of fear and stressful situations. Specialists help develop new behavior patterns that are more suitable for certain life changes.
Hypnosis has been studied for a long time from a psychological and medical perspective. Thanks to the positive results, the presented technique is used to treat the following health problems:
- Irritable bowel syndrome.
- Reducing mental and physical pain.
- Discomfort during medical procedures.
- Treatment of burns.
- Creating the right mood before surgery.
- Facilitation of labor.
Hypnosis is often used to treat chronic pain, as well as problems associated with psychosomatics. Patients get rid of various bad habits that interfere with recovery and getting rid of diseases. In dentistry (https://mir-ulybok.ru/) this is an effective alternative to using drugs to relieve pain.
In a trance state, patients experience reduced bleeding during manipulations and eliminated discomfort after facial and jaw surgery. Effective modern techniques help in the treatment of enuresis in children and night teeth grinding.
How to learn hypnosis
The main skill for a person who has decided to become a hypnotist is faith in his own strengths and capabilities. At the very beginning of training, it is important to study the theoretical foundations. It is impossible to impose your own worldview without confidence. During the learning process, it is important to regularly improve your own knowledge and improve quality.
Practitioners need to give up bad habits. This includes smoking, drinking alcohol and strong coffee. Constant self-control helps strengthen the power to control one's own actions and actions. Thanks to this practice, the ability to influence other people improves.
While learning hypnosis, it is recommended to switch strictly to vegetarian food. It is strictly forbidden to show negative emotions or use lies in any form. It is important for beginning hypnotists to regularly practice gaze and focus on specific actions. Daily practice will be required to develop new skills and abilities.
First, you need to hold your gaze on the selected object for 1–2 minutes. Focusing duration is increased to 10 minutes. Between approaches you need to give your eyes a rest. In addition to looking, they develop the desired timbre of voice. There is a huge selection of speech therapy exercises.
Conclusion
It has been proven that hypnosis exists. This is an effective technique for influencing the subconscious. The technique has found application in medicine, psychotherapy and other social spheres of life. Patients can get rid of many diseases that are associated with disruption of the central nervous system, psycho-emotional state, and severe depression.
To hypnotize other people, you need to start with simple techniques and techniques. It is important to regularly improve basic skills, study theory and apply it in practice. The main task of a novice hypnotist is to develop stability and self-confidence.
Hypnosis is a trance state through which the subject comes into contact with his own unconscious, and serves to treat pain and some physical disorders of psychological origin.
Let us study the methods by which the hypnotic state is induced, the practice and the positive effects by which hypnosis helps to cure certain ailments.
What is hypnosis - what is trance for?
Hypnosis – state of relaxation and short-term alienation from the world that surrounds us, including slower perception of the outside world, to focus on your inner world.
The hypnotic state occurs every day in the life of every person and is determined by the presence of a kind of internal rhythm called ultradic cycle, which governs the state of concentration and dispersal, which, depending on the characteristics of each individual person, can occur every half hour, every hour, every hour and a half, and so on.
The hypnotic state can manifest itself with various “symptoms”: yawning, sighing, difficulty concentrating, absent-mindedness, carelessness, tendency to rock in a chair, tapping fingers, etc.
Enter in state of hypnosis can a psychotherapist through a method called hypnotherapy, in which the subject is placed in a state of relaxation, alienation from the outside world, but with partial preservation of consciousness and active will.
Hypnosis used in therapeutic practice and is a valuable method in the treatment of pain and physical ailments, which have a psychological component related to the sphere of emotionality, such as anxiety, depression, as well as timidity and lack of self-esteem.
The benefits of hypnosis - what can be cured
Experts use the hypnosis method to solve a wide range of health problems, including:
- Control of painful moments. The subjective perception of pain increases with increasing states of anxiety, the elimination of which through hypnosis helps to reduce the perception of pain. In addition, chronic pain creates negative expectations in the subject, creating additional psychological suffering that can be removed by the practice of hypnosis.
- Limit and control pain and stress. Hypnosis helps the subject to maintain a state of calm, even during difficult times, by attributing the correct meaning to them.
- Treatment of phobias, that is, irrational fear of people, animals, objects (agoraphobia: fear of open spaces; arachnophobia: fear of spiders; claustrophobia: fear of enclosed spaces, etc.). The hypnotist's job is to help the patient change their perceptual filters so that they can live without the anxiety and fear that usually accompany it.
- Dependence on smoking and other substances. In this case, the therapist strengthens the feeling of abstinence, in other cases, redirects the addiction to healthier habits; at the same time, it increases awareness of the harm that smoking causes to the person himself and his family.
- Excessive shyness. For very timid people who are afraid to create social relationships, hypnosis helps to find creative resources in the subconscious, which will increase their self-esteem and experience situations in which the problem of shyness was solved without struggling with oneself.
- Eating problems. Eating disorders such as bulimia, anorexia, obesity are often associated with the emotional and mental sphere. Hypnosis can be effective for those suffering from an eating disorder because it can find the root of the disorder, change it, and return the person to normal behavior.
Will hypnosis help you lose weight?Some are convinced of the effectiveness of hypnosis in the fight against obesity (if combined with a healthy diet and exercise), others consider it completely ineffective. Either way, through hypnosis you can get in touch with the deepest part of your own mind, better known as unconscious, and influence this part of the psyche in several ways:
Hypnosis, on its own, can't do much... only when combined with proper and balanced nutrition, movement and exercise. |
Hypnosis techniques - how to change perception
There are a lot of hypnosis methods and they are selected by the therapist depending on the theoretical and methodological orientation of the therapist, as well as depending on the problem and characteristics of the patient.
The most common methods of hypnosis are:
Traditional hypnosis
The typical state of trance and hypnosis is achieved using reading text. To induce a state of hypnosis, special words and voice are used.
The process consists of three stages:
- Preparing for hypnosis, which includes any techniques that allow you to achieve a trance state;
- A state of trance when the subject is not aware of the experience being experienced, is alienated from the external world and is directed towards the internal world;
- Awakening is when the therapist returns the patient to their natural state of consciousness.
Obviously, for hypnosis to work, the patient must completely trust the therapist.
Dynamic hypnosis
Unlike the traditional dynamic hypnosis uses additional elements such as gestures and symbols. The therapist makes gestures and noises to change the distance between the patient and himself to disorient the patient's perceptual abilities.
Tracing, which consists of repeating the patient's posture and orientation, is very effective with this method. After a series of repetitions of this type, the patient associates his reactions with the therapist and reproduces them automatically.
Dynamic hypnosis is based mainly on nonverbal communication, which is based on three archetypal symbols: “Rod”, “Circle” and “Triangle”.
This connection may be four different types:
- proximatics: hypnosis is achieved by rotating the body in space and maintaining patient-therapist positions
- kinesics: concerns body gestures, movements and postures
- digital which involves touching the patient's body
- paralinguistic, which is based on sounds that have no obvious meaning.
After the phase hypnosis induction the so-called hypnotic flash: The patient, in order to relieve accumulated tension, responds to a request made by the therapist, who tries to destroy the problem by replacing it with a new form of behavior.
At the end comes the stage restoration of a state of wakefulness, in which the patient returns to a state of active consciousness.
Regressive hypnosis
Another type of practice by which hypnotic trance is achieved is regressive hypnosis.
Hypnotic induction in a regressive hypnosis session is also carried out by a qualified therapist: the goal of such therapy is to return the patient to the traumatic experience that gives rise to the symptom, in order to change the influence he has on his current life.
Therapists who practice regression hypnosis claim that through this practice, patients can use very distant memories, in some cases even from past lives.
It must be said that in the scientific community many are skeptical about such statements: the memories that arise during a session, according to most scientists, are only vivid fantasies that have nothing to do with reality. Therefore, it is dangerous to use regressive hypnosis in highly suggestible or psychologically weak people.
More modern methods of hypnosis
Recently, hypnotherapy has once again become a very useful tool in clinical practice, thanks to the work of Milton Erickson. He developed a method of hypnotic technique, when a state called “expanded consciousness” is achieved, that is, a state of altered consciousness, which is not an alternative to the natural state of consciousness.
The therapist in this case does not look for motives, does not seek to find out “why”, he only stimulates the resources of the patient’s unconscious and uses them to force him to look for a new way of thinking and behaving in a situation that creates discomfort.
Where and when can hypnosis be performed?
Hypnosis is usually practiced in quiet environment and without additional sound stimulation, with soft lighting and a temperature not exceeding 20 degrees.
The walls of the room should have a certain color: blue, green, purple and pale pink, which directly affects the induction of a hypnotic state.
The best time for hypnosis is between 11 am and 5 pm and not too close to mealtimes.
Timing of the hypnotic course
The mode of therapeutic course in which hypnotherapy is used, as a rule, depends on the type of problems and the therapist (depending on his theoretical training. Sessions are carried out weekly or every two weeks; keeping the hypnotic state from 45 to 90 minutes.
False myths about hypnotherapyBefore we talk about any contraindications, we should dispel some myths about hypnosis:
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Contraindications of hypnosis – when it is better not to practice
Having dispelled these myths, it must be said that hypnosis, as a rule, has no contraindications, but it is better to avoid it in some cases:
- In case of hypertension, hyperthyroidism and heart disease, because people with such pathologies do not tolerate strong emotions well;
- children and teenagers who do not yet have a well-defined individuality and hypnosis can disorient them.
- in the presence of serious mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, because in such individuals, mental problems are associated with chemical imbalances.
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Have you ever been so engrossed in a book that you didn't even hear people talking to you? If yes, then you already roughly know what the trance state in which a person is under hypnosis is.
website decided to find out how hypnosis works and who it works especially well with.
There are different types of hypnosis
Hypnosis is a state of highly focused attention in which a person is highly suggestible. In a waking state, the brain is filled with different thoughts, and under hypnosis a person is able to concentrate very deeply on one thought or feeling.
There is a difference between academic hypnosis and street hypnosis.
- Academic hypnosis needed to help a person extract any necessary information from the subconscious. This is a type of relaxation technique, and the main work here is done by the person being hypnotized, and the hypnotist only helps him get into the right frame of mind. Sometimes the results are surprising: a person remembers something that he forgot a long time ago, or overcomes his fears.
- Stage hypnosis- this is what we see on TV or on stage: a hypnosis guru with a scary look makes volunteers do all sorts of stupid things. In reality, these are just ordinary magic tricks, plus probably a few especially suggestible people in the audience who really believe in what is happening and are eager to experience the “magic” for themselves.
- Criminal hypnosis- these are prohibited techniques that are used by street beggars and other bad people. They can put a person into a trance, so much so that he will have memory lapses.
Check if you are easily hypnotized
Answer these questions with “yes” or “no.”
- Do you have any tricks of your own to fall asleep faster or relieve pain? For example, counting sheep, concentrating on breathing or something else, and so on.
- Have you ever felt like time sometimes speeds up, and when you're bored it slows down?
- Do you talk to yourself, even if only mentally?
- Do you think you have a rich imagination?
- Are you interested in yoga, meditation and other techniques that help you explore your consciousness and ability to concentrate?
- Does it happen that you daydream?
- Can you listen to someone and then realize that you weren't listening at all?
- Can you focus on school or work if needed?
- Is your self-esteem above average?
- Can you be so immersed in a book, for example, that you stop responding to questions?
If you answered “yes” to most questions, then you can be hypnotized quite easily. But don’t rush to get upset: Contrary to popular belief, this does not mean that you are stupid or weak-willed. On the contrary, hypnotizability directly depends on a person’s ability to concentrate, ability to make decisions and, in a sense, on his intelligence.
When taking the test, you might think that most people in the world would answer these questions positively. This is so, because people who cannot be hypnotized are a minority (about 25%, and according to some data even less). As a rule, these are people with an unstable psyche, low self-esteem and other problems. Or they are just very closed people.
A person with a smooth emotional background, open to everything new, will most likely be amenable to academic hypnosis. But hypnotizing someone who is skeptical or has low self-esteem will be a difficult task.
What traits should a hypnotist have?
In addition to perfectly hypnotizable people, there are also those who make the best hypnotists. They have the following features:
- a penchant for acting and a love of performing in front of an audience;
- the desire to reduce the distance as much as possible when communicating with people (you could even call this the desire to “get into the soul”).
In principle, almost anyone can put another into a light trance.
A little about criminal hypnosis
The work of street hypnotists is structured like this:
- At first, they do something that will make you pay attention to them - they say something pleasant (“Ay, beauty, gild your pen!”) or play on a feeling of fear (“I see you are carrying trouble with you, tell me what?” ).
- Then (and some people start this part right away) the hypnotists say something strange, which causes the person to become confused. For example, one man who almost took the bait told how a boy came up to him and said: “Uncle, give me the headphones, they’re women’s” Oddly enough, such a break in the pattern at some point knocks a person out of reality, and he becomes susceptible to suggestion. The author of this article tried this method on his family. Unfortunately, they didn’t give him any money, but for some time they were really in a stupor.
- Another way to put a person into a trance is to overload his brain with information. It's like opening a couple of dozen programs on your computer at once, causing it to freeze. The same thing happens to a person when street beggars simultaneously begin to mumble some kind of gibberish into his ears, shake their bright skirts and touch him. The channels of perception are overloaded, and now the person is ready to give his last money if he is simply asked.
- Among other things, street charlatans are excellent psychologists. Many of them pass on their secrets from generation to generation, so they easily manage to manipulate people.
And although this will sound a little rude, scientists agree that if someone fell for the bait of charlatans, then he, one way or another, subconsciously “opened the door” for them.
What should you do to avoid becoming a target of street hypnotists?
With street hypnosis, everything works a little differently than with academic hypnosis: in addition to being hypnotizable (the ability to fall into a trance), a person must have a high degree of gullibility and suggestibility. Therefore, it will be difficult to confuse a positive, sensible person, which cannot be said about a fearful person under stress.
- Don't count crows in public places. Scammers primarily look for people in the crowd who are confused, depressed, or simply look like simpletons.
- Filter information. Do you believe in omens or send letters of happiness to your friends? Then you are a real find for hypnotists and scammers. Don’t believe that you can be harmed so easily.
- If contact with a suspicious person occurs, take the initiative into your own hands - break the pattern yourself! When asked to tell your fortune, answer that you have already been told your fortune today, or ask what day tomorrow is according to the Julian calendar. And quickly but calmly retreat.
Finally, a couple of stories from those who have been under hypnosis
- “I was hypnotized once. I had to stretch my arms forward and make sure they didn't bend when they were hit. I couldn't do it. Then they very calmly gave me instructions several times on what to do and how: “Imagine that you are tightly holding on to that tall building in the window” and “Your hands have turned to stone.” And after that I managed to hold back the blow. I have come to the conclusion that hypnosis only works if you believe in it. I didn’t believe it until a person whose opinion seemed authoritative to me said that it was possible.”
“One of the most hellish stories of my life! I go to myself, I don’t bother anyone. A woman of about 60 comes towards me and asks where the post office is. I told her where to go and moved on. She called out to me, saying something that made me turn around (something about her personal life). After this there is emptiness, interrupted by some surreal memories. I woke up in some public garden with the realization that I had taken all the jewelry and money out of the house with my own hands. And in my head there is only a huge mother-of-pearl button from this woman’s cloak.”
“I had some hesitations in my speech - a slight stutter. My parents took me to hypnosis. It looked like this: a dark room, people and a psychiatrist. Everyone sits down in chairs. The doctor begins to say in an absolutely idiotic, mournful voice: “The people are relaxing, we-y-ys are relaxing...” The first time it was very funny. Then, when everyone is in a trance (or pretending to be), he approaches everyone and whispers something specific about his illness. Actually, it's a cool thing. He whispered to me about relaxing the center of speech. I stopped stuttering for a while.”
Hypnosis is a phenomenon that seems incredible, but it is quite real. By the way, there is an opinion that hypnosis does not exist at all and it is only the behavior of a person who wants to be hypnotized, multiplied by the authority of the hypnotist. What do you think about this? Have you ever had any stories related to hypnosis?