Hypnotherapy

How often have you heard someone saying that if you just put your mind into doing something, you will definitely succeed? The power of a person’s mind is something that is not understood by all. The human subconscious mind is so powerful, that when used to its maximum capacity, can bring about tremendous changes in your life. It is this strength of the human mind, which is the basic premise and what is tapped into through hypnotherapy.

What Is Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy is a kind of alternative therapy, in which hypnosis is used to bring about positive changes in a person’s life. Using the methods and techniques of hypnosis, a hypnotherapist (practitioner of hypnotherapy) tries to guide a person’s thinking, so as to bring about restorative and beneficial changes in the individual’s life. To fully understand hypnotherapy, it is essential to first know what hypnosis is. So, let’s get right to it.

Understanding Hypnosis

Mention the word hypnosis and people are likely to start thinking of it as something that is used to lure you into a trance and make you do things that you do not want to. Hypnosis is also often thought of as ‘magic’ by those who don’t quite understand it. But these are all myths. Hypnosis is not some magic and definitely does not have to be manipulative.

Hypnosis is a state of mind, wherein the mind is floating between the realms of total consciousness and sleep. Such a state is called the sub-consciousness of a person. In the human brain, there are chemical changes occurring at any given time. All the activity that goes on in the brain can be divided into four broad ranges, namely:

• Total wakefulness

• Hypnotic state

• Dream state

• Sleep stage

As you can see from the above, hypnosis is when you are between full consciousness and sleep. When a person is in the state of consciousness, anything that he does is after ‘thinking’ about it. Reason, logic, critical assessment; all come into the picture only when you are in the stage of total wakefulness. By taking your mind into the hypnotic state, you can bypass all these factors and then do things that would have otherwise not been possible because of active thinking.

Thus, when in a hypnotic state, you can make suggestions to your subconscious mind, and direct your mind to act in a particular way, or do a specific thing, even when you come out of hypnosis. And as the human subconscious is a very powerful tool, you will carry out the suggestions that are ingrained into your subconscious (during the hypnosis) without even realizing that you are doing so.

The Process of Hypnotherapy

Every person goes into hypnosis many times in a day, seldom realizing that they did. Have you ever found yourself driving about and then realizing that you have reached your destination, but having absolutely no recollection of how you got there? Well. That happens because your mind wanders into a hypnotic state, wherein it takes over and does what is in your subconscious, without your conscious mind being aware of it.

The same principle is used in hypnotherapy. But where hypnosis may be used in a negative manner too, hypnotherapy is always used to bring about positive changes. Hypnotherapy is not possible if you do not want to be hypnotized. So, only with your complete willingness to undergo hypnotherapy, will a hypnotherapist begin the therapy with you.

Here is what a typical session with a hypnotherapist is like.

Firstly, the hypnotherapist will make sure that you are willing to be hypnotized and that you are committed to the hypnotherapy. This is important as without the will of a person, it is practically impossible to hypnotize them. The fact that you are in a session with a hypnotherapist can be taken as agreement enough.

Then the hypnotherapist will tell you what hypnosis is and how the process of hypnotherapy works. He will also tell you what to expect (physical sensations as well as mental feelings) while undergoing hypnotherapy.

Once you understand what hypnotherapy is all about, the hypnotherapist will take a detailed account of your problems and find out exactly what you wish to achieve through hypnotherapy. With a thorough understanding of the nature of healing that you are seeking, the hypnotherapist will then start your hypnotherapy session.

The therapist will then put you in a hypnotic state and make suggestions so as to try and cure whatever it is that ails you. Once the suggestions are absorbed into your subconscious mind, the therapist will then bring you back into full consciousness. If the therapist feels the need, he may even teach you some techniques for self-hypnosis, so that you get the full benefits of hypnotherapy.

What Can Hypnotherapy Be Used For

Hypnotherapy is an awesome tool that can be used to treat various problems in a person’s life. Here are some avenues where hypnotherapy can be very beneficial:

• Changing ‘Bad’ Habits: People who smoke, drink excessively, or even something as mundane as biting your nails; all these compulsions can be treated with hypnotherapy.
   

• Conquering Fears: Many people have fears and phobias, such as fear of heights, fear of closed spaces, fear of flying, etc, which can cause great inconveniences in life. All these phobias can be easily dealt with by undergoing hypnotherapy.
   

• Removing Negative Thoughts and Feelings: Many people are consumed with negative thoughts and feelings, most of which have no basis in reality. Obsessing about something, having an inferiority complex, depression, anxiety, etc; a person can be rid of all such unwanted feelings through hypnotherapy.

In addition to the above, hypnotherapy can also be used to relieve physical pain, improve your physical performances, help manage stress, make you sleep better, improve your memory, enhance your concentration, improve your sexual abilities, and can also be used as an effective means to lose weight.

Thus, with the help of hypnotherapy, you can use the amazing power of your mind and change many things in your life which need altering. Hypnotherapy is a form of healing, which is very effective, and can even cure many health problems without you having to expose your body to drugs and medicines and then suffer their ill effects.