Demystifying Hypnosis

I am a Clinical Hypnotherapist and I have worked with thousands of individuals who have wanted to make changes to create personal success in their lives. Many individuals have stereotyped impressions of Hypnosis either because they have heard stories or watched something depicting the trance state. Some have seen a stage show and watched with curiosity as the Hypnotist seemingly controls subjects up on stage and has them perform funny routines.

Hypnosis is a fascinating field and no one knows for sure just what it is, but we use it anyway. It is much like electricity, we use it but are not really able to define it.

I have however encounter those individuals who are afraid of hypnosis and believe that is something to be avoided. I want to demystify the fears and misconceptions that have shrouded the trance state and take the mystery out of this incredible healing modality! I have had heard many individuals clump hypnosis with psychics, astrologers or magicians. While all of those categories have their place, hypnosis has absolutely nothing to do with any of them. The trance state is even referred to in the Bible several times and a friend of mine who is a Chaplain in the Navy uses hypnosis to help those he counsels on a regular basis.

The benefit of hypnosis goes far beyond anyone's imagination. I have helped thousands take back their lives and create success beyond their greatest expectations. Hypnosis can help someone who wants to improve their sports performance or it can be used for more serious matters such overcoming negative emotions. You probably have read or heard about those who have quit smoking by using hypnosis, but hypnosis can help those who are having financial challenges, relationship challenges and even health challenges. Anyone can apply hypnotic techniques to transform any area of their life.

Once you understand the mechanisms of hypnosis you'll find just how easy it works. You can use hypnosis on your own as in self-hypnosis or you can enlist the help of a trained hypnotherapist. In any event I want to impress upon the reader that this is such a valuable tool in transforming one's life. There is no known deleterious effect from its use. Hypnosis is a natural phenomenon and it is a safe and effective process. Even the American Medical Association in 1963 became so impressed with the effectiveness of hypnosis that it recommended that all pre-med students should be given 140 hours of hypnosis training.

Now, for some historical background regarding hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Hypnosis has been around for thousands of years. Early Egyptians used hypnosis which is depicted in an artifact showing an ancient Egyptian Hypnotist with a patient at the British Museum. Even the Chinese, Celts, American Indians, Eastern Indians and Africans have descriptions of hypnosis in their folklore and in earlier historical accounts.

Hypnosis was used by Pavlov for over fifty years. In the early 1800's Dr. James Braid conceived the name hypnosis from the Greek word Hypno which means sleep. He noticed when his patients were in a trance state they had rapid eye movement indicating what he thought was sleep. Later on he realized he made a mistake because his patients were not asleep but rather in an altered state of consciousness and were indeed aware of their surroundings but in a different way. He tried to change the name hypnosis to monoideism but it was too late. Hypnosis is not sleep rather it is an altered state of consciousness.

An 18th Century Swiss Physician Frederick Anton Mesmer, the most noted and prominent individual (who history now refers to as the father of hypnotism) used hypnosis with very ambitions expectations. He thought hypnosis was a form of magnetism and he became very famous throughout Europe. Hypnosis has been referred to as mesmerism because of Dr. Mesmer.

According the American Journal of Psychology, entering the state of hypnosis consists of gradually limiting the field of attention until a perfectly concentrated and unvarying focus is reached.

To describe hypnosis in another way let's take the example of going to the movies . . . . . . . . .

Going to the movie is one of the most striking examples of the trance state. You will more than likely go to a movie with someone else and as you wait for the movie, you sit and talk. As the lights begin to dim your attention becomes more and more engaged in what is happening on the big screen. As you watch the movie your attention becomes more concentrated and if it is a good movie you are pulled into the characters, the plot, the sights and the sounds. As the story develops you become intrigued, entranced, and moved emotionally. By now you have literally lost touch with your surroundings and you may even forget altogether about the other people in the theatre and even the person you came with. You may periodically become aware of your friend and exchange a word or two but then you instantly get drawn into the movie again. This absorbed state of mind indicates the trance state or hypnotic state.

You are not unconscious rather you are in a altered state of consciousness. This simply is all that hypnosis is. No bells and whistles, no unusual images floating through your mind just a serene absorbed state of mind. Have you ever missed your exit while driving, this is the trance state.

You can visit me at www.codyhorton.com and discover more about hypnosis. In the meantime . . . . keep on trancin.