Hypnosis is not new, it is simply an “altered state of conscious awareness”, “a narrowing of the focus of the mind” or in simpler terms a little like “day dreaming”.

Hypnotherapy in its more primitive form has been used for many centuries throughout the world by many different societies for the purpose of religious and healing ceremonies:

• Some examples of these would be:
  • the Australian Aborigines during Dreamtime,
  • the Native American medicine men using it for healing purposes;
  • in Africa it has been used traditional rituals including the chanting and dancing to the beat of drums, and
  • the American Slaves also used hypnosis in the form of singing for relief from their deplorable environment, and
  • of course it is currently used today by Politicians, Ministers of Religion, Doctors, Psychologists, Therapists and of course television and radio – those ads we watch or listen to are a form of hypnosis. How many of you pay attention to those ads without even knowing it?

The founder of “modern” hypnosis was Franz Anton Mesmer dating back to the early 1700’s, and in 1842, James Braid named this technique “hypnotism” (Greek for “sleep”), even though the person is not actually asleep.

Hypnosis is itself not easily defined and can be a different experience for everyone; however, it is a natural state of the mind and it is natural for all humans and many animals.

Hypnosis is a light trance like state with varying degrees of consciousness – the levels range from a state of alertness to a sleep like state. Basically, the lights are on but nobody is at home!

The use of Hypnotherapy has increased steadily in popularity over the past several decades and is now recognized as a valuable tool to bring about positive changes in peoples lives. You probably don’t realize it, but hypnosis is part of your daily existence, simply by reading a book, watching a television program, or simply having a conversation with friends.

What it can assist with:

Assistance can be offered in a multitude of areas, but is commonly known for the following:

• Stopping Smoking;
• Weight Control;
• Stress Management;
• Pain Management;
• Sleeping Disorders;
• Depression;
• Anxiety and Panic Attacks;
• Studying Difficulties;
• Dental issues;
• Nail biting;
• Pain free childbirth;
• Fears, phobias and
• Many, many personal issues from bedwetting to cancer.

The list is almost endless.

Who can use it?

Hypnosis isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, however, the majority of people can use it with great benefits, the person just needs to be open to the thought of possible change, and

There is really no age barrier, children tend to be very receptive to its use as they don’t have as many preconceived ideas as an adult has, however,

The only areas of contra-indication for the use of hypnotherapy is for people whom suffer from some psychotic disorders, have pace makers or use illegal drugs (illegal drug users must be drug free for at least 4 days).

Hypnosis is not:

• harmful in anyway, and
  
  
• it is not a form of control, it isn’t possible to take control of the persons mind in any shape or form as it requires the person’s permission to be able to work with them on any given topic; and
  
  
• it is not a magic wand; it still requires commitment from the person to achieve the desired goal;
  
  
• And those worries of not waking up, not possible either - if left in a hypnotic state, the person would simply either wake up of their own accord or fall into a true sleep and awaken after a pleasant nap and it is the persons choice to enter or leave the “trance” like state at any time they may wish; and
  
  
• Amazingly, there is no concept of time in a state of hypnosis, the person is aware of the sounds and activities going on around them, but, simply does not react to it unless they felt that they were in some form of danger, at which time they would be immediately alert.  In fact 50 minutes of hypnosis is worth two and a half hours of sleep. Just like daylight savings we win or loose an hour with no trouble at all.
  
  
• And yes, those shows seen on television do use hypnosis, however, they are only successful because they pick those people that are prepared to “be a little extroverted”.

How is it done?

There are varying methods, however, generally hypnosis is bought about by the therapist’s voice facilitating progressive relaxation within the body and offering positive suggestion using disassociated speech pattern.

In others words instead of speaking directly about the person which can often make someone defensive as there are not too many of us that like being told what to do, the therapist will speak about “the body, that hand, those eyes” – it tends to depersonalize everything and make the body more receptive to the positive concepts.

What does it feel like?

Chances are, at one time or another, you have already found yourself in an altered state of conscious awareness:

• perhaps driving along a familiar roadway and realizing you have passed the street that you wanted, or you may have been watching TV, hearing and seeing it but not really absorbing what is going on. How many of you can relate to this? We have all done it from time to time.
  
  
• It is also not uncommon to have a sense of strangeness or unreality – meaning that you may see yourself or your surroundings in a whole new way, perhaps more detached or more aware than usual – a sensation of drifting or floating. Thoughts will cross the mind, however, no real decision will be made.
  
  
• Every person reacts differently, however, generally speaking you will be likely to experience varying degrees of relaxation, sleepiness, heaviness or lightness in the limbs, skin warmth or coldness, sensations of tingling or feelings of electricity, and narrowness of attention.

Benefits of hypnotherapy:

 If you really think about it, everything we do in our lives is the result of a thought, feeling and consequently a response.

 Therefore, Hypnotherapy will assist in:

• Helping to identify what those trigger points for the difficulties being experienced maybe;
  • releases pent-up thoughts and feelings;
  • Reduces or eliminates negatives in a persons’ life;
  • Assists in becoming a calmer, more effective, healthier
  • Provides strategies to overcome the difficulties being experienced;
  • Incorporate new responses into a persons’ life;
  • It calms the sympathetic and para-sympathetic nervous systems (which relieves, stress, anxiety and pain).
  • Builds resilience, giving better coping abilities;
  • Clears the mind, providing a clearer perspective of the issues/thought processes;
  • Helps build confidence and self esteem; and
  • Brings balance to the mind, body and soul.
  • Accept the repressed feelings that are causing the difficulties;
  • Feel freedom to accept those feelings.

And in general terms - The side benefits are:

A fascinating new experience – hypnosis can improve general functioning – to make the person feel better mentally and physically.

It can:

• enrich lives in many ways, from changing habits and better health to creative development and high psychic levels;
• it improves sleep, reduces stress, and it can produce anesthesia in the body, assisting with control of painful symptoms;
• it can also control some organic functions, such as bleeding and heart rate, improve the person’s immune system and allow control over reactions to certain situations. In fact Ainsley Mears used hypnotherapy during the war years as anesthetic to stop the pain for the injured;
• it can assist the body in developing higher levels of concentration: increases capacity to learn and remember in enormous detail; and
• it can benefit the person enormously in dealing with difficulties from the past.

Hypnosis has many advantages, whether it be numbing your gums or having the ability to control the fear of driving over a bridge, using a lift or overcoming difficult situations.

It can change your life minimally, or it can make a dramatic difference to your lifestyle, success and feeling of wellbeing.