How does hypnosis work?
Broadly speaking, there are two parts to our minds, the conscious and the unconscious mind (also known as the subconscious mind). Often a problem or an issue or a difficulty in changing something like a habit (eg smoking or over eating) is because of a conflict between the conscious and unconscious mind. Usually, if there is a conflict between the conscious and unconscious mind, the unconscious mind wins. The unconscious mind is the storehouse of our habits, behaviours, values, beliefs, emotions, and self-image. In hypnosis we can communicate directly with the unconscious mind, without our logical conscious thoughts getting in the way. By influencing the unconscious mind during hypnosis we can bring about a change you desire naturally and automatically with little conscious effort and good lasting effect.
Hypnosis works by bringing a subject into a peculiar state of consciousness with reduced peripheral awareness accompanied by strictly focused attention. James Braid coined the word hypnosis, meaning nervous sleep, from the Greek word hypnos, which means sleep. In actuality, hypnosis is not sleep. Clinically speaking, hypnosis differs from sleep in the level of alpha brain waves. Alpha brain waves are measured low during sleep, but high during hypnosis. In addition, a hypnotized person can hear; the sleeping person cannot. Modern views of hypnosis indicate that persons are born with a certain level of hypnotizability. This ability or ease in entering what is known as the trance state, cannot be enhanced or increased. A person is a good subject, having a higher level of hypnotizability, or a poor subject, having a low or no ability to enter the trance.
Once the Hypnotic State is induced and the doorway to the Subconscious Mind is opened, with your permission, the competent Hypnotist can provide information, in a language and form that the Subconscious can accept, to help you change the behaviors, feelings and thoughts that you want to change. We utilize the fact that the Subconscious Mind has the ability (actually the tendency) to accept what it imagines as real. This can greatly reduce the felt stress of changing unhealthy habits to healthier habits.
This is a good question. There are many scientists and doctors still trying to figure it out by dissecting every part of it. But I will give you the long version and the short version of hypnosis. The long version: Hypnosis is the disorganization of the inhibitory (conscious mind) system by overloading it with information from the external environment, conscious, subconscious or the body. The short version: Hypnosis consists of two parts the induction and the post suggestion. The purpose of these post suggestions is to get your subconscious in control of your life. Just as your subconscious controls your heart beat and your breathing among other things, the subconscious can help you in other areas as well. There are numerous ways to induct or put the mind into trance. The most common methods are direct gaze, eye fixation, or visualization/imagery techniques. Once the client is induced or in trance, the hypnotherapist will then make post hypnotic suggestions that could have long lasting
Hypnosis uses the subconscious mind to help you identify and release self-limiting beliefs. Hypnotherapists use many techniques, including guided imagery, meditation and dream study, among others – to uncover the root causes of unwanted behavior. In hypnosis, your ordinary negative thoughts and bad habit patterns can be replaced with new, more positive beliefs. Through post-hypnotic suggestions, this new information can be incorporated into daily life. Hypnotherapy can quickly bring about dramatic changes in behavior. Within each of us is the possibility of a fulfilling, rewarding life. But all too often, painful past experiences and limited identities keep us from realizing our true potential.
