What is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is one of the most remarkable phenomena known to man. It is as old as the human mind, as aged as the beginning of the world. Wherever researchers look they find the indelible traces of the influence of hypnotism.

The principles of hypnotism were employed by the ancient Egyptians, and by medicine men of centuries ago. The priests of the ancient Egyptian sleep temples used the power of suggestion in curing the afflicted.. The Egyptians, Persians, Greeks and Romans were the first to recognize its force. In days past the knowledge of how to hypnotize was reserved for the Aristocrat ruling class. More and more nowadays the average person is coming to realize the power they have. The power to heal and change which has been hidden from them in the past!

Hypnosis is a natural state that occurs both during waking conscious states and passive sleepy states. For our purposes the explanation concerns only what we do in the office.

There are five main parts to the explanation:

1. Common Fallacies about Hypnosis.
    

2. Misconceptions about Hypnosis.
    

3. How It Feels To Be Hypnotized.
    

4. How Hypnosis Works!
    

5. The Difference Between Hypnosis and Self-Hypnosis.

Common Fallacies about Hypnosis.

First of all, hypnosis is probably not anything close to what you have seen in the movies, on TV, or read about in novels. What you may have seen Vincent Price do on the late show in the name of Hypnotism is just a show, a movie, a fantasy. Most of what anyone sees or hears promotes misconceptions. You should erase those erroneous images from your mind now.

Secondly, if you have ever seen a Hypnosis Stage Show, you may have the impression that the Hypnotist had complete control over the volunteers, but this just isn't so. Remember that those volunteers came from a large group of people and they want to have a good time. They want to do crazy things – within boundaries! If the Hypnotist asked them to do anything against their beliefs, their ethics, their morals, or even anything that was taken as humiliating, you would have seen a very different show. There would have been resistance, and most probably people becoming alert and leaving the stage. Of course, in the hypnotist,s office it's not fun and games. It is totally professional and completely safe.

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Misconceptions About Hypnosis.

There are four misconceptions about hypnosis that people generally hold:

1. Some people wonder if their "Secrets" can be extracted while they are in a trance. This of course is not possible, for if it were, unscrupulous hypnotists would have done something like having their clients get money from their bank accounts and bring it to them and then have amnesia for the incident. Our authorities, of course, would not tolerate this! It just can't happen. In fact; one could lie in hypnosis, refuse to answer or if really upset, emerge themselves. So don't worry about secrets.
    

2. Many think they will "Lose Control" This is also false. In fact, those people who are so afraid of losing control are just the ones that have already lost control in certain areas of their life. They can dearly use hypnosis to gain control over parts of their life.
    

3. Some are afraid that once hypnotized they may be "Stuck in The Trance" or if something happened to the Hypnotist and he didn't emerge them they would forever stay in the state. Just not possible! In fact, if the hypnotist did pass out, the client would get bored after a few minutes of silence and emerge himself or herself - or possibly just pass into regular sleep.
    

4. Many have heard that less than half the population can be Hypnotized and they are afraid that they "Can't Be Hypnotized" and will be wasting their time and money. This untruth has been and still is propagated by ill-trained, and inexperienced "so called hypnotists". In truth any person that can understand the words that the hypnotist says is able to allow themselves to go into trance. Trance is just a normal state that we are in and out of many many times in our daily lives.

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How It Feels To Be Hypnotized.

Being in hypnosis is a nebulous thing. Although you realize that you have a special level of relaxation, you are also aware of everything around you and often feel that you aren't in a trance. Often it feels like you are dozing off to sleep at night. It's kind of a half-awake – half-asleep feeling. Some people feel heaviness in their limbs, some a tingling feeling. But all in all there is never a feeling that you are not there or not aware. Normally you will focus in on the hypnotists words leaving other things to blend into the background.

It feels great! Many have never experienced being that relaxed in their lives. This deep relaxation helps people to feel refreshed and invigorated after a session

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How Hypnosis Works!

For our purposes, let's imagine the mind as having three parts - the Conscious, the Subconscious, and the Autonomic Nervous System.
 

The Autonomic Nervous System: This part makes sure that our automatic functions and systems work smoothly. (So no matter how relaxed you get, you're sure everything is working as needed.)

The Conscious: This is the part that we think as our total mind our "real me". It is the part we think with, the part that is logical, and analytical. It has a temporary memory and temporary will power. (Yes - will power is only temporary and when you learn this it then becomes evident why so many fail trying to make permanent changes with a temporary tool.)

The Subconscious: We think that our conscious mind is in charge, but not so. Our subconscious is where our emotions and feelings are. It keeps a permanent memory of everything we have seen and done. It's where our habits and beliefs are held so tightly. It allows us to automatically do things. For example, remember how hard it was to learn to tie the laces on a shoe when you were young. But with repetition it became automatic. We do so many things automatically it would be hard to imagine having to live thinking of each little movement needed for everything we do.

Once a habit or belief is entrenched into the subconscious, it stays there and if your conscious mind changes, the subconscious won't go along with it. Here is where problems start. Two parts of our mind become in conflict. Whether it's dieting, quitting a habit, guilt feelings, changing a behavior, or just how we feel about ourselves, somehow the subconscious needs to be changed and the easiest and fastest way is by going to a Hypnotist.

The subconscious is the "real you", and when it takes hold of a suggestion that you want - it will continue on that course with endless energy. Will-power and conscious direction are then just helpers in making the permanent change desired. Thesubconscious is the protective part of our mind and does whatever needed to protect us. Sometimes the things it does to protect one part of us is hurting another part and a conflict then becomes evident. Hypnosis can dissolve this conflict and help people with a full range of Psychosomatic Illnesses (many of which appear to be organic in origin).

The subconscious usually moves in two directions - either towards pleasure or away from pain. When you learn to fully understand this, then you will learn to know yourself.

Our subconscious desperately hangs on to beliefs and habits even when they are sometimes negative to our existence. Often our complex society is to blame for "miss-programming" the subconscious, which is so open when we are young. We may want to change but our subconscious mind thinks it knows better and nixes the change! With hypnosis our subconscious is more apt to accept the changes we want!

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The Difference between Hypnosis and Self-Hypnosis.

Actually all hypnosis is self-hypnosis, the hypnotist is only the guide. The individual allows themselves to become relaxed more and more and can learn to get into the state very quickly and deeply by themselves with correct practice and guidance. Monmouth Hypnosis offers a three session program where one can easily and inexpensively learn the skill of Self-Hypnosis! 

Learn About Self Hypnosis

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