In some previous posts, I talked about what hypnosis is and is not and how it feels to be hypnotized. One practical definition of hypnosis is that hypnosis is a conscious mental state characterized by deep absorption, with a decrease in our attention to the surrounding stimuli and some degrees of hyper-suggestibility. It is considered a natural capacity of our minds. It can happen on different occasions in our daily lives. However, in a hypnotherapy session, this ability of the mind is accentuated, elaborated and utilized for therapy.
Hypnosis is not something that happens to us. It is a state we intentionally enter. The therapist facilitates its occurrence and we consent to experience it. In this way, all occasions of hypnosis are essentially a form of self-hypnosis. Experience shows that in the process of “awakening” the hypnotic state, the presence of a therapist, although very helpful, is not always necessary. People have the ability to enter hypnosis all by themselves even in the absence of a therapist. This is called auto-hypnosis or self-hypnosis.
Usually, a classical session of hypnosis starts by one or more of the techniques called “induction methods.” The function of these techniques is to initiate the hypnotic trance. These methods are then followed by somewhat similar techniques to deepen the experience. When the person is deep enough, the therapeutic phase of the session begins. Hypnotherapy is, by nature, a target-oriented type of therapy. Depending on the person’s intentions and targets, there are tons of techniques to use in the trance state to reach the therapeutic goals.
Self-hypnosis is when we do the induction, deepening and suggestions all by ourselves. We are both the hypnotist and the hypnotized. The easiest way to do self-hypnosis is to first experience hypnosis with a hypnotherapist for a couple of sessions and then when we get an understanding of the nature of the trance state, the therapist can teach us self-hypnosis. However, even without this experience, learning self-hypnosis, through books or workshops, is possible; although it is not as easy as when we have the guidance of a therapist. The process involves learning to go to trance, learning to stay focused on the goal and learning to design appropriate and effective suggestions.
Self-hypnosis is all about connecting with ourselves and reaching for the inner resources we all have to get the change we desire. With self-hypnosis, we have a powerful tool at the tips of our fingers. We can use it whenever and wherever we need. We can utilize it for stress management, control of anxiety and anger, overcome our fears and control physical issues like pain. It is an effective tool to keep us motivated for our goals. It can help us boost our self-esteem and increase our resilience. We can use it to get rid of bad habits and implant good ones. It is a tool for change. Perseverance in the practice of self-hypnosis is a road to personal improvement.
