Since the inception of hypnosis more than 200 years ago, it has been impossible to find general
agreement among professionals on just exactly what hypnosis is. No definition or test has ever been devised to accurately assess whether or not a hypnotic state even exists. It may be that our
understanding of the healing inherent in what has been called hypnosis or therapeutic trance will continue to change as long as conceptions of consciousness and the nature of the mind continue to evolve. These processes of healing are natural function of whatever mind, imagination and life are. (Ernest Rossi 1993.)
Because there is no clear definition we have not idea in real terms how long hypnosis has been around, although there is evidece of similar uses in tribal man, witch doctors, ancient civilizations, ancient Egypt, greek and Persian cultures of which there is much documentation, hypno being the Greek God of sleep. Even in 500 b.c. sleep temples were introduced for the mentally ill.
Franz Mesmer however is considered the father of the modern day hypnosis, we derive mesmerised
from his name he lived in the 18th Century.
Have you ever driven your car over a familiar road and not been able to recall the route, or sat in
front of the television and not been following the plot because your mind is a million miles away, when
you were a child do you daydream?
These are all altered state of awareness and very healthy for us.
Hypnosis is an altered state of awareness but we tend to accompany this with closed eyes and a
relaxed body to enable a sense of detachment, which will enhance our processing skills. There is no mystery and no magic. There are no theatrical tricks of hidden messages; everything that you
accomplish during a period of hypnosis is entirely controlled by you. In fact if you do not consent
hypnosis cannot take place, you are always able to just stand up and walk away if you choose.
By engaging in relaxation of the body and the mind the critical faculty that is constantly making
judgements and deciding how we should react is allowed to take a back seat for a while. This critical faculty works on perceptions of past events and makes decisions that are primarily focused on self-protection. We try to avoid repeating the patterns of the past by putting this faculty to rest for a time we can utilise our imagination to help us decide what we want for the future and let mistaken beliefs formed by past experiences go and not hold us back. We communicate a set of new instruction to our critical faculty through the subconscious mind.
What is Hypnosis?
As previously mentioned, there is no agreed definition of the state of mind called hypnosis, and in our present state of knowledge a scientific explanation is not possible. But it is possible to describe the ways in which hypnosis differs from the normal state of awareness.
1.Attention is focussed on internal events. This occurs naturally in everyday life.
2.There is a lessening of interest in and conscious awareness of external realities. There is increased responsiveness to internally generate realities. Hypnosis is not sleep
3.All hypnosis is self-hypnosis, but a hypnotist can guide a willing person into it.
4. A hypnotist in rapport with the subject can guide and stimulate awareness of internal events in ways, which allows memories, thoughts and feelings and mislaid abilities
5. Hypnosis does not create new abilities, but enables existing capacities to be used in new ways.
In itself Hypnosis is not a therapy but a tool of therapy.
6. Hypnosis does not turn people into automates and people will reject suggestions unacceptable to
their personalities.
7. People respond to the hypnotic process and to suggestions in their own creative and unique way
and in the light of their personal understanding, experiences and abilities.
8. In the normal waking state, the conscious mind is in control and whilst maintaining a useful watch
on external realities, also imposes all kinds of biases, pre-suppositions, prejudices, rigidities, repressions, distortions and fixed patterns of beliefs, thoughts, feeling and behaviour.
In the hypnotic state the limitations of the conscious mind are set-aside for a time and the subconscious mind become more literal. There is an increased availability of thoughts and memories previously hidden from awareness, and a greater openness to new concepts and behaviours
9.Hypnosis usually requires some learning in order for it to be more beneficial.
10. Any normal and willing person can be hypnotised provided there is adequate motivation. This does not mean that any hypnotist can hypnotise everybody he meets.
