A state between sleep and reality jeopardizes a person’s perception: in a trance, the mind is most vulnerable to suggestion. Vigilance is lost, and the responsibility lies entirely with the interlocutor who decided to take advantage of the situation. Since people are introduced into hypnosis, what methods exist and what is important to consider when diving? Is the process safe and useful?
The concept of hypnosis in science
There is a terminology that is used to describe the state of complete immersion in consciousness.
- Hypnosis. The relaxed, focused mood that a person reaches in a phase of fatigue or slumber.
- Hypnotism. The process used to trigger a trance state. Typical induction of such immersion may include distinct breathing, closing the eyes, and speaking a countdown.
- Hypnotherapy. Refers to the use of trance as a therapy. Trained professionals help patients achieve self-improvement goals with an inspired mood.
Experienced scientists in the latter category know how to introduce a person into hypnosis unnoticed, because they have unlimited experience behind them. The technique is based on the trust of the subject to the interlocutor, a vulnerable condition. It is enough to verify the relaxed state of a person and monotonously tell a made-up story. You can not raise your voice. The peculiarity lies in the fact that a character with his name must be present in history, and events must be confused, knocking down concentration. So, the actions of the hero of the story through the sleepy veil of the listener will be reflected in his future decisions in real life.
Hypnotherapy: Taming the Unconscious
Immersion in a trance can be considered as meditation, where the set goal is in front. They have similarities in achieving a specific task: relax and concentrate on relaxation. The main difference is that if you enter a person into a state of hypnosis, as experienced experts do, then the level of awareness of the individual will increase.
Starting to explore the subconscious, the patient can improve brain activity and understand non-verbal signs. The process includes three steps:
- Induction. To begin with, at a gradual pace, a person is put into hypnosis as soon as he completely relaxes. The patient sits in a chair (sometimes lies on a sofa, bed, so that he is comfortable and cozy) with his eyes closed. A professional can also use controlled breathing techniques or an invented script to relieve stress on a person and focus on the voice. Some use audio recordings, but they produce less effect.
- Hypnotic state. Following induction, the patient falls into a trance. After that, he feels mentally and physically relaxed. The level of calm, concentration and awareness rises.
- Suggestion. In the third phase, it is easy to see whether it is possible to enter a person into hypnosis, since the replacement and updating of subconscious thoughts is activated. Offers can be formed in different ways. Traditional hypnosis, for example, uses direct commands, while Erickson’s uses metaphors. The neuro-linguistic programming of consciousness, however, acts differently because it imitates patterns of thinking.
When consciously immersed in a trance state, handy tools are also used: watches or shiny jewelry that attract attention.
Hypnotherapy: what helps?
The subconscious mind controls almost all psychological aspects. It autonomously generates thinking by 95%. Focusing on unwanted behavior, few know how a person is introduced into hypnosis and why the technique can save you from serious problems.
- Phobias and fears. Long work helps unravel associations that hold creepy memories or thoughts in place. Hypnosis helps with fear of flying, driving, growing up, a doctor or dentist, insects, intimacy.
- Habits. They are fixed in thinking through repetition and reinforcement. Smokers are susceptible to a series of triggers: stress, meals, driving, or boredom. Knowing how to enter a person into hypnosis, experts will examine unconscious dependencies on emotions and help get rid of substance abuse, gambling, overeating and procrastination.
- Restless thinking. The trance state provides new information establishing more positive associations. Hypnosis can help with social, educational, stage anxiety.
- Negative perception of your personality. The subconscious mind controls a person’s opinion of himself. Negative thoughts form when they affect self-esteem and confidence. By the method of suggestion, professionals help to see positive information, cope with criticism, negativity and indecision.
- Health problems. Negative thoughts encourage diseases. For example, insomnia is characterized by fear or anxiety. Finding a problem helps with stress, hypochondria, headaches, treatment of chronic pain, agoraphobia and impotence.
So, hypnotherapy is effective for a number of unconsciously motivated conditions.
Types of Trans Dives
Specialists use three techniques to access classified information. They also let you know how to quickly enter a person into hypnosis. It is impossible to obtain accurate data about yourself if you use only one of the methods.
- Traditional hypnosis. Relaxation opens the door to consciousness, where clues to the problem appear. This type is often used in people without analytical thinking. Simple commands are used: "do not smoke", "everything will be fine", "soon you will feel better."
- Erickson hypnosis. Sentences are replaced by metaphors and short stories. This helps the mind to establish a connection between the association and the intended behavior, hiding the message from the critical mind. Metaphors mask in short sentences in stories.
- Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). In order to learn how to enter into hypnosis in this way, you will need to become a professional. The technique is reminiscent of current therapy: a specialist will guide the client through unpleasant memories and determine triggers of behavior. NLP eliminates negative associations, for example, about morning coffee, which causes cravings for sweets.
The unconscious side can always be detected with the help of an experienced professional and get rid of bad habits or fears.
Options for diving in trance
There are three ways to inspire what you want. Scientists distinguish the following:
- Self hypnosis. Management takes place independently. Having built the script in advance and having calculated the steps, the person causes a trance and continues to pronounce the memorized text. The session lasts five minutes.
- Guided Hypnosis. A pre-recorded trance diving session is applied. Audio includes introductory parts, steps and suggestions for specific conditions.
- Clinical hypnosis. Used only with a specialist in person or by video link.
The latter option is recognized as the most effective, because a professional finds individual problems, communications and builds on them.
Relaxation technique
During a session with a specialist, the first thing that is offered to the client is to sit on a sofa or lie down. Relaxation is a key element in learning to put people into hypnosis, as well as a sense of comfort. The most common sequence:
- Convenient to settle down.
- Lie down.
- Count down.
- Control breathing.
- Relax your muscles.
- Speak quietly.
The hypnosis technique is designed for beginners. After entering into a state of trance, a person becomes open to suggestion. Indirect sentences should be applied and annoying sounds should be excluded from speech.
Visualization
The patient is asked to remember the room that he knows in detail: the floor, the shape of the windows, the picture on the wall, the smell, the light. In a state of immersion in hypnosis, he is asked to mentally move to another room - less familiar. By focusing on the recollections of the details, the mind is revealed for the suggestions of a specialist.
Sudden shock
Using the everyday handshake technique, a person is introduced into a trance by surprise. Erickson demonstrated this method when he stepped on a woman’s leg and quickly voiced a hypnotic sentence. The sensation of falling shock the brain system and instantly opens access to unconscious suggestion.
Breath countdown
The technique of controlled breaths is characteristic of meditation, but it is also effective for a mild form of self-hypnosis. You will need to adhere to the sequence:
- Close your eyes and sit right in the open pose.
- Breathe deeply through the nose.
- Slowly and calmly count to one hundred.
The person will be in a trance, and if nothing happens, you should repeat the exercise.
Reframing
The technique is used as a broad metaphor, allowing you to change the perception of the experience in the mind. For example, a client wants to lose weight, but he does not have enough willpower, so he gave up and prefers to play a computer. Reframing introduces a person into hypnosis as a virtual character on an unconscious level. The specialist is interested in how much time is given to the game, listens to the story about the “pumping” process. After there is a rethinking and indirect comparison with a real person.
Losing weight is similar to improving a character in video games, as it requires effort and daily exercise. In the beginning there is not much difference, but over time, the characteristics become stronger.
Immersion in a trance state is safe and useful for adjusting the characteristics of the psyche, defects and getting rid of phobias, bad habits and fears. It is important to consider that before applying the technique you need practice and regular training. There are many ways to the unconscious and there are no wrong ways to get to the truth.