Hypnotherapy

What it’s like being hypnotised

What it’s like being hypnotised

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In this post, we asked someone who had been through hypnotherapy what their experience was like. If you are curious about hypnotherapy, this is a good post for you. Kay only wanted to try out a general relaxation session with no goal in mind. Remember that sessions are tailored to each individual’s needs.

Kay’s experience

I decided to go under hypnosis partly out of curiosity and partly because I’ve read up on its benefits. I was assured that I wouldn’t come out of it making chicken noises so that was good enough for me. The session started with a chat about my life story and what I wanted to work on. For the session, I picked something quite general like having a healthy lifestyle as a goal. We discussed my current lifestyle and what I’ve been doing to change it. I sat on a reclining chair with my legs slightly elevated and had a blanket over me and the lights were turned low. A relaxing music played in the background. Then I was asked to close my eyes and listen to the voice,  following instructions of deep breathing as I sank my whole body into the seat.

My goals

He then started talking about my goals and reaching them. To be honest, it is still hard to remember what he was saying. Apparently, that’s quite normal when you’re under a hypnotic state. What I do remember is how my body felt. I was glued to the seat and I could not get up if I wanted to. I was so relaxed I thought I was asleep. But I couldn’t have been because I was still hearing things — his voice, the music. There were moments I could hear and understand what he was saying to me. But there were also moments when I was listening to the voice but not really comprehending the words. I was in a very deep state of relaxation, almost like having a nap but not really. I came back from the session without that groggy feeling you get after a nap. It was a strange transition from deep relaxation to being back to reality because my body didn’t struggle to get out of it. Unlike when you wake up from a nap and you don’t want to so you lay down for a while before fully waking up. One thing I did find strange was that although my goal was fitness, my mind went somewhere else when he mentioned about achieving my goals. What came to my head was my writing. When I mentioned this after the session, he said sometimes the real goal comes to our minds while under hypnosis. Overall it was a good first experience that I wouldn’t hesitate to try again.

Do you want to have a free consultation with a hypnotherapist? Contact us!

Hypnotherapy: The real information

Hypnotherapy: The real information

real hypnotherapy
The word “hypnosis” comes from the Greek word “hypnos” which means “to sleep”. Shamen and ancient healers have used trance states throughout history as a healing tool. Modern hypnosis as we know it is first recognised in the work of Dr. Franz Mesmer, an 18th century Austrian physician. He worked with magnets and hypnotic techniques. You may have heard the term “mesmerise” which describes these techniques. The practice fell into disuse because the medical community of the time thought the procedures to be unscientific. It regained popularity in the mid-20th century largely due to the efforts of Dr. Milton Erickson. He was a successful psychiatrist who lends his name to a branch of hypnotherapy -The Ericksonian Model. Also hypnotherapy was validated as a medical procedure in 1958 and is still growing as a respected treatment.

What is it really like?

Hypnosis is not like in the movies. No dark, penetrating eyes, swinging watches, deep, zombie like trances and so on. In fact many people are aware of everything that is said during a session, some don’t remember anything and others only remember feelings. All of that is fine because they are still under hypnosis which is a perfectly natural state of consciousness. We all slip in and out of trance several times a day when we perform routine functions like driving the car over a well-known route. How many times have you reached a point in a journey and realised you don’t remember the last 10, 20,or 30 minutes? Trance. Watching TV, playing video games and even reading. Again, how many times do you end up reading the same page over and over because you don’t remember what you just read? Trance.

What does hypnosis do?

Hypnotherapy calls up this highly relaxed state when we want it instead of “waking up” from it wondering what had just happened. While in a trance state we are up to 200 times more likely to accept hypnotic suggestions. Just as you can routinely perform functions without being “out of it” so too you may or may not carry on conversations and recall what was said during a hypnosis session. This does not mean that the hypnosis has not worked. You are always in control and can open or close your eyes, speak, move. I am simply here to guide you through the steps and keep you safe. We wouldn’t want you rolling off the couch, would we? You can bring yourself out of hypnosis, or stop yourself from going into hypnosis, simply by willing it. Even if you fall asleep during the session you will still obtain the full benefit of the hypnotherapy. Recent research has shown that our hearing never sleeps. This probably dates back to our caveman days being alert to predators that hunt in the night. And today, of course, while we sleep we are still aware of babies crying, intruders, sick family members, telephones, knocks at the front door etc. So even if you do happen to fall asleep the message will still get through loud and clear.

It is a scientific process

Hypnosis has been clinically proven to provide medical and therapeutic relief particularly in the areas of pain and anxieties. Research throughout the world has time and again shown the effectiveness of hypnosis as a treatment. For instance studies in Switzerland have shown hypnosis to be effective in pain management. Studies undertaken by the American Lung Association in Ohio and the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Centre have found hypnosis to be effective in quitting smoking. South African studies have shown hypnotherapy to be an effective tool to improve self-esteem. Studies in England have shown hypnotherapy can substantially improve the quality of life of terminally ill cancer patients and people living with dementia. Many more studies into hypnotherapy have indicated its usefulness across a broad spectrum of issues.

As a treatment

Hypnotherapy can be used to treat a growing number of conditions and has many advantages over many other treatments. This includes, but not limited to, cost, time and safety advantages when compared to other clinical and pharmaceutical options. People experience hypnosis in vastly different ways. From feeling total detachment and extreme relaxation to feeling guided to achieve an outcome. Or even to feeling that they have remained fully awake and can remember everything that was said. All of these reactions (and many more) are perfectly fine and occur naturally as part of being in a hypnotic state. Healing will take place.

Do you want to give hypnotherapy a go? Contact us for a FREE first session.

Top 3 myths about Hypnotherapy

Top 3 myths about Hypnotherapy

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Top 3 myths about Hypnotherapy When you hear hypnotherapy, what is the first thing that enters your head? Mumbo jumbo? Voodoo? Clucking like a chicken? There are a lot of misinformation out there about hypnotherapy but you need to know the truth before making up your own mind. In this post we will tell you the top three myths about hypnotherapy.

Myth 1: It will take control of you

This is one of the biggest myths out there – that the hypnotherapist can take control of your mind. That when he snaps his fingers when you see each other, he can make you do things. The hypnotherapist is not all powerful or a magician, nor is he a mind-controller (not that they exist). They will only be able to help you according to the program you initially agreed upon.

Myth 2: It will make you do embarrassing things

You’ve seen those videos where people cluck like a chicken or dance around half naked. And you think you could be one of them if you let a hypnotherapist enter your mind. But that’s not actually the case. Those are all movie fiction, great for entertaining the audience but without a shred of truth. Hypnotherapy is used to improve people’s lives, not to make them do silly things.

Myth 3: It will make you do horrible things

We can’t emphasise enough that no one can make you do things you don’t want to do. Especially when they’re horrible things like stealing and murder. Again, this is just fiction and has no basis in real life. Your mind is your own and no one can take that away from you. A hypnotherapist can only enhance your desire to be a better human being, to improve yourself — not to make you do things that go against your moral code.

Do you want to try a free hypnotherapy session? Contact us!