What is hypnosis?
Here are the very basics
There are many myths and misconceptions about hypnosis, all of which will be fully explained in your hypnotherapy session.
Hypnosis is a massive topic. Here, I have condensed it to provide concepts for a very basic understanding. Please ask me if you have any other questions. I love to talk about hypnosis and answer all the different questions that people can think of.
First, let's take a look at your conscious mind and subconscious mind:
The conscious part of your mind is that part of you that is always switched on. Always thinking, analysing, criticising, judging... thinking about the kids, the parents, the job, the business, the bills and so on. And on and on. All day long. It has a temporary short-term memory capacity and is where your willpower resides.
Your subconscious mind is where you store permanent memory, habits and programs and your emotions.
What is a hypnotic state?
By definition, hypnosis is a state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility.
It is a very natural and normal state, much like daydreaming. You are naturally in and out of hypnosis all day long.
You are in a state of hypnosis many times throughout the day; at the traffic lights, staring out of a window, looking at the waves rolling in on the sea, engrossed in a good book, watching the telly, etc. That's hypnosis! That's all it is! You are not asleep and you are aware of everything that is going on around you.
In your hypnotherapy session, relaxing techniques are used to quieten your thinking mind (beta), to relax the thoughts somewhat (alpha).
As per the definition of hypnosis above, you will be guided by your hypnotherapist to focus on certain things, such as the sounds around you, your hands, your feet or your breathing. When you are focusing your thoughts, it is harder for you to have your every day thoughts racing in your mind.
You are always aware and in control and you will naturally have your own thoughts coming in.
What happens once I am in hypnosis?
Your hypnotherapist will look for certain signs, such as flickering eyes or skin pallor, to know that you are ready to begin the part of hypnosis that entails metaphor and suggestion.
The suggestions that are given are only those that are agreed upon between you and your hypnotherapist, depending on what it is you wish to achieve.
We may use finger signals, called ideo-motor signals, where one finger will indicate a yes answer, another one a no answer. These answers come from your subconscious mind rather than your critical thinking mind. This is one very powerful method of many that can be used to help you to change outdated programs or habits in your subconscious mind.
Once the metaphors and suggestions have been given and repeated, your hypnotherapist will guide you back to your normal waking state, in which you will feel calm and refreshed and hopefully ready to go on with your life having made the changes that you wish to make.