Take a deep breath.
Relax. And get ready for a very enjoyable adventure: your journey into
self-hypnosis.
The first question
most people ask is "can I really be hypnotized?"
The answer is that
there is no doubt about it. The ability to enter hypnotic trance is a
natural human attribute. You already move in and out of various trances
several times each day.
Here are two
everyday examples. One is the experience of driving on a highway lost in
daydreams when you suddenly realize that you have driven past your exit as
if on automatic pilot. Where were you? How about lightly hypnotized? Another
is television viewing. You may never have thought of it this way. But
whenever you get deeply involved in a movie you enter a light hypnotic
trance. If you need convincing, observe a five-year-old glued to the TV set
any Saturday morning. You’ll see a slack jawed, alert-yet-relaxed, future
consumer with a vacant, "hypnotized" expression. Are we adults that
different when deeply engrossed in a good movie? Of course not. We also
"suspend disbelief" when watching stories on video. Day-to-day problems fade
away. We are, in effect, very much in a trance.
In therapeutic
hypnosis, we become entranced by a story about ourselves and our
capabilities. We enter a state where we can access untapped mental resources
to make changes in thought, emotion or behavior that can seem amazing, even
miraculous.
Interested? I
thought you might be. So, let’s get down to the technique itself. Basically,
you have a choice of two approaches. Let’s call them "low- tech" and
"high-tech" self-hypnosis.
Both require a
hypnotic script BEFORE you start. In the "low tech" approach you mentally
recite the script. The only equipment is your mind. In the high-tech
variation, you tape record the script in your own voice. When you listen to
it you become your own hypnotist.
I find the
high-tech approach preferable, especially for beginners. Unless a
professional hypnotist has trained you in self-hypnosis, trying to be both
hypnotist and subject can get too confusing. Most people fail when they work
alone. With the high-tech approach, you cannot fail. Even if you don’t think
you are "hypnotized," you will relax and spend time reviewing your goals.
That alone has benefit. Plus, you can listen to your tapes over and over
again adding the power of repetition.
When should you use
self-hypnosis? Just about anytime a more positive attitude could make a
difference. Use it to increase confidence or concentration, improve memory,
reduce stress or pump-up motivation for your exercise program. Like any
skill, the more experience you have, the better you become. Eventually you
may want to tackle more complex issues. But it is best to start simple.
Hypnosis is generally recognized as a VERY SAFE practice. However, if you
try to use it for the wrong purpose, you could aggravate existing
conditions: at the least you’ll be ignoring proper medical treatment. So,
please don’t try to be your own psychotherapist or physician. By the way,
mixing recreational drugs and self-hypnosis is never a good idea.
You can use the
script I provide in this article to get started. Or write your own. Read it
into a tape recorder in a slow, confident style. Play it back and listen
with the intention of experiencing hypnosis. At first you may have to
"pretend" to go into trance. Soon you will feel a shift as you enter a true
hypnotic state. Be patient. Sometimes benefits come quickly. But just as
often they build over time.
The Self-Hypnosis
Script
A hypnotic script
consists of three parts. First is the induction. This is the "patter"
that guides the subject (you in this case) into trance. The treatment
section follows as you program the new ideas, beliefs, emotions and
possibilities you wish to acquire. Express your suggestions in a simple,
positive statement. "I now enjoy eating healthy foods" is far preferable to
"Donuts will make me want to vomit." Then emergence . This is a fancy
term for "wake yourself up." And, emerging from hypnosis is as easy as
deciding you have had enough of a TV show and using the clicker to turn the
box off.
Here is a simple
script to start you off. Record it in a slow, confident voice. Then get
yourself comfortable. Sit or lie down. Turn off the phone. Make sure you
will be undisturbed for 20 minutes or so. Put on headphones. And listen to
the sound of your voice…
Induction:
Fix your eyes on a spot a little higher than eye level. And let yourself
relax. As I count from 100 downwards I want and expect my body to become
very relaxed and my eyes very, very heavy. Because as I count backwards I
will open my eyes on even numbers like 100 and close them on odd numbers
like 99. This makes my eyes very tired and soon I don’t feel like opening
them anymore. This occurs by the time I get to 80 or sooner. I then fall
into a very deep trance and envision lying on a beautiful beach on a perfect
beach day.
(MENTALLY COUNT VERY
SLOWLY REPEATING "RELAX JUST RELAX" AFTER EACH NUMBER: 100, 99, 98,97,96,
95, 94, 93, 92, 91, 90, 89, 88, 87, 86, 85, 84, 83, 82, 81, 80).
Now I close my eyes
and keep them closed. I imagine I am at a beautiful beach. It is a sunny
day. I am by the water lying near the surf. I continue counting backwards.
When I reach 60 I imagine myself walking to the edge of the water writing
DEEP ASLEEP in the sand. Then I see the surf come in and wash the words
away. When they are gone, I imagine myself deeply hypnotized, my mind open
to new positive ideas, behaviors and emotions. 60 I am writing DEEP ASLEEP
in the moist sand. The words are gone and I am deep asleep, yet alert to the
sounds of my own voice.
(MENTALLY COUNT
VERY SLOWLY REPEATING "RELAX EVEN DEEPER" AFTER EACH NUMBER 79, 78, 77, 76,
75, 74, 73, 72, 71, 70, 69, 68, 67, 66, 65, 64, 63, 62, 61, 60.THEN PAUSE
FOR 60 SECONDS)
Treatment (REPEAT SEVERAL
TIMES) I am now open to change. I give myself the command that I am able to
enter hypnosis more easily and deeply listening to this tape each time I
hear it. (FOR FUTURE TAPES YOU’LL WANT TO INSERT OTHER COMMANDS HERE SUCH AS
"I ENJOY HEALTHY FOODS." OR "I NOW LOVE TO EXERCISE").
Emergence:
As I count up from 1 to 5, I awaken alert and refreshed. 1 Easily, and
Slowly Returning, 2 Feeling Wonderful, 3 Alert, Refreshed, 4. Knowing I am
getting better and better everyday, 5 I open my eyes and return to normal
consciousness FEELING GREAT.
That’s it. No
magick other than the limitless marvel known as the human mind. You might
ask why spend money on a professional hypnotherapist? The short answer is
that when you visit me you get the benefit of knowledge of the hypnotic
state and treatment options. You also can expect a much deeper, more
powerful experience resulting in faster improvement and superior results.
Like more information? Then come in for a free introductory 15 minute
consultation.
Scheduling Instructions
To schedule
your first hypnosis appointment or arrange a free 15-20 minute consultation to
see whether hypnosis is right for you, click the new client intake form link: New Hypnosis Client Intake Form
