So, what exactly is hypnosis?
Warning! Hypnotic mobile phone trance state!
Are you reading this article on your mobile phone?
If so, you are one of the approximately 5 billion people (two thirds of the world’s population) who are so engrossed by what you are watching or reading that you are ‘mesmerised,’ or ‘transfixed’ by the content on your phone. Some people have been known to be so mesmerised by their phones that they have been knocked down by an oncoming vehicle! Being hypnotised by your mobile phone is a rather hazardous past time.
Well my friend, the humble mobile phone is probably the greatest hypnotist of the 21st century-Move over television and Paul McKenna!
Let’s not forget of course the almighty power of the greatest marketing companies on the planet who through the extremely clever use of slogans, music and images, captivate your senses. Did you just do a Britney Spears, oops I did it again?
Before you know it, are you purchasing yet another item you really do not need after viewing that tantalising image? Or are you stood in line at a fast food outlet, your mouth watering as you queue up for more nutritionLESS food that your body really does NOT need after seeing a specific ad?
And you are worried about being hypnotised?
Well, you should be! You’ve been hypnotised every second of your life by the world around you, or more specifically by society. Ultimately, the job of a good hypnotist is to DEhypnotise you.
Thanks to Hollywood and sensationalist trash TV, hypnosis has acquired a rather shady and dubious image-picture a sinister looking man waving his pocket watch back and forth before a vulnerable woman who then succumbs to his charms!
"Look into my eyes! Look into my eyes! And the let the world deceive you!"
I hate to break it to you, but Hollywood is also one of the great hypnotists, hypnotising you into believing an untruth. While there are many discerning individuals who will do their own research, there are far too many who do not and prefer to believe what they have been spoon fed by the mass media.
Have you ever been so focused on something that despite being loosely aware of what is going on around you, time seems to stand still? See, hypnosis is everywhere: You pass in and out of the hypnotic/trance state, also known as the alpha brain wave state, throughout your day.
The hypnagogic state is that lovely drowsy state just as you are falling asleep and the hypnopompic state is when you are about to emerge from the sleep state.
Have you ever practised meditation, Yoga or for the 21st century western mindset, Mindfulness?
Have you tried emptying your mind, focusing on your breath, being in the now, and observing the ‘monkey mind chatter’ ? This is also known as the interference of the conscious mind, that part of the mind that simply hates being ignored!
The, ‘what am I going to cook later’ or ‘did I take the washing out the machine and answer that important email?’
When you are able to quieten that incessant chatter and drift into a state of bliss, that same daydream state that can be achieved when engrossed in a good book, watching a great movie, listening to an incredible song or long distance driving, then you are in a light hypnotic state.
All these states are in the alpha brain wave state, the hypnotic/trance state, a relaxed detached state that we all love so much.
Some say you are in that same state when you say, ‘I do’ at your wedding!
There are deeper hypnotic states, just as there are in meditation and healing like the theta state but to keep things simple let’s just understand that the hypnotic state is a completely natural mind state that you drift in and out of throughout the day and you are not asleep.
So, what’s the difference between a hypnotist and a hypnotherapist?
We all practise self hypnosis (the daydream state) daily without realising it, which is what I’ve mentioned previously but when you are ‘hypnotised’ by someone else (by choice) they simply use specific induction techniques.
These techniques involve full focus, tiring the eyes (eye movements or staring at a specific spot), relaxing the body through breathing and mindfulness and in some cases, rapid or instant inductions, which momentarily confuse the ‘conscious mind’ (Mr monkey chat) and allow you to drift into that yummy alpha brain wave state very quickly.
A hypnotherapist has been trained to use the state of hypnosis to help you make positive life changes, like quit smoking, enhance sports performance, positive behavioural changes, improve study and concentration or deal with long buried issues etc
Any number of things that can be achieved without the constant interference of the monkey mind! You can’t be hypnotised against your will by the therapist, so as much as the hypnotherapist tries, if you unconsciously still wish to smoke, you will continue to do so.
A stage hypnotist for example will use similar techniques after previously doing tests with the audience to see who is more susceptible to falling faster and deeper into the hypnotic state. Susceptible does not mean manipulation or weakness, simply an ability to fall either instantly or rapidly into that brain wave state. The fact that they also choose to go up on stage also demonstrates a deeper acceptance of being comfortable before an audience, even those that in their ‘normal’ conscious beta state would possibly never be so extrovert!
So guys, hope this clarifies a few of your questions concerning hypnosis and just remember, put down that mobile when crossing the road!
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