Let's talk about hypnosis

Let's talk about Hypnosis. 

By Olivier Hidalgo. NGH Certified Trainer. 

Owner of NLP Hypnosis Centre.

London, Ontario. Canada.

Member of National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH).

I will try to be brief, although being a complex subject is difficult. 

Everyone can enter the hypnotic state. 

The subconscious mind does not keep accurate information of what happens to us, but an interpretation of what happened. If three people witness a car accident and all three are interviewed under hypnosis, all three could give different information about what happened during the accident. 

If the three witnesses saw the license plates, the three will give the number ... because it is a very specific fact. 

It is worth noting here, that a person in hypnosis can lie. 

What is hypnosis? 

Hypnosis is a technique that takes you into the hypnotic state. A state of total concentration. Of focused attention. A state where you temporarily put aside the critical faculty and accept suggestions more easily. A state that allows you to access your subconscious more easily. 

As a matter of ease, hypnotists use the word hypnosis instead of a hypnotic state. We use the word sleep, although it is not sleep or relaxation. A person can be in hypnosis and with their eyes open, running, jumping ... in activity. 

If you say ... I am very analytical, with very high IQ, nobody can hypnotize me. My answer is … if you can concentrate, you can pay attention, you can use your imagination and you can follow instructions, you can go into hypnosis. If you say ... I saw a hypnotist or two, and they couldn't hypnotize me. That does not mean that you cannot enter the hypnotic state. No, it simply means that these hypnotists were not able to hypnotize you or to guide you into the hypnotic state. If a hypnotist or a health care professional tells you that you cannot be hypnotized, you should ask what this person means by hypnosis, maybe he has the wrong idea of what hypnosis is. 

Of course different people enter different levels of the hypnotic state and some take longer. There are several factors that can cause this, be it the inexperience of the hypnotist or false concepts about hypnosis that the person could have. For example, if a person believes that hypnosis is mind control, that it is bad or dangerous, that he could reveal his secrets…. It is worth noting all these are false ideas ... the person will present a subconscious resistance to being hypnotized, even if he consciously says that he would like to be hypnotized. 

The vast majority of hypnotists will not hypnotize people who have heart problems, or Epilepsy, or who have concentration problems, or neurological or mental problems. Not because they cannot be hypnotized, but because if a problem occurs, such as a heart attack for example, hypnosis and the hypnotist would be blamed, and not the heart attack. Some say that everything that can be done with hypnosis, can be done with willpower, the difference is that as hypnosis helps you access your subconscious change is faster and more efficient. 

On the other hand if we talk about super consciousness, or cosmic or universal consciousness, hypnosis teaches us to communicate more and better with our subconscious mind and therefore it can be a useful tool to access our spiritual aspect or our connection with God, the Cosmic, the Universal Consciousness or whatever you want to call it. 

What is hypnosis? How does it work? How hypnosis can help us? 

There are many types of hypnosis, but let’s define the 3 most common ones. Stage Hypnosis, Hypnotherapy, Hypnosis used in medical problems. Hypnosis (Consulting Hypnotism), the use of Hypnosis for self-improvement and problems that are not medical. Let’s clarify that depending on the country where you live the laws and regulations for a Professional Hypnotist and/or Hypnotherapist may be very different. 

Hypnosis is a state of high concentration where you can more easily access your subconscious. You become more open to suggestions even though you can always refuse what is suggested to you. Subconscious: part of our mind where we find our habits, our beliefs and where is what we do automatically during the day. Let us clarify that it is not a physical part. The subconscious is a concept to differentiate between the conscious, subconscious and the unconscious. 

Stage Hypnosis is the use of hypnosis for fun and entertainment purposes. What you see in TV, Theatre and Cinema. 

Is Stage Hypnosis Real? 

Certainly it is. Of course as in any entertainment profession there will be those who prepare things and people, but in general Stage Hypnosis is real. It is important here to clarify three myths. – During Hypnosis you are neither asleep nor unconscious. That’s why in Stage Hypnosis you can see that people have their eyes opened and that they move. – The Hypnotist does not control or dominate you. In Stage Hypnosis the Hypnotist does his part and seems to control the volunteers, but in reality there is no control, but suggestibility or that the volunteers become more open to suggestions. – Accessing the subconscious is not something bad, dangerous or diabolic. In fact we access the subconscious many times during the day. 

The subconscious is that part where the “programs” that handle our days are. Habits, good and bad. Things we do automatically, like when we drive for example. Hypnotherapy is the use of Hypnosis for medical purposes. For example the use of hypnosis in the treatment of alcoholism, problems with drugs. Control of pain. The use of Hypnosis instead of anesthesia in surgeries. 

Do I need to believe in Hypnosis to work? 

No. Hypnosis is not something to believe in. Hypnosis is a technique that helps you access your subconscious. If you visit our office for a Hypnosis session and follow my instructions I assure you that you will enter Hypnosis. It is worth clarifying here that Hypnosis is not a magic pill, sometimes it does not work and it is not 100% effective. It certainly works and is effective in many cases, but it is not a panacea or a cure all. 

Hypnosis has many uses and benefits. It is now widely used for smoking cessation, weight reduction and weight control. Control and management of chronic pain. Change of bad habits. Creating positive habits. Relaxation, stress reduction and better sleep. Personal motivation. Reduction and control of labor pains. Self-esteem and self-improvement. 

One of the greatest benefits of Hypnosis is that it can help us to change false beliefs that create problems in our lives and in relationships with others. 

Is there any danger in Hypnosis? 

As every technique or process has, Hypnosis has problems and dangers. The greatest danger is a hypnotist without adequate preparation or without experience. It is very easy to learn to hypnotize. On the other hand, preparation and experience are needed to apply the technique properly. An example. Many years ago several Health Care Professionals used Hypnosis in cases of sexual abuse. In order not to make the story long, it turned out that such Professionals were not very efficient in the use of Hypnosis and instead of helping their patients, they hurt them since they created into them “false memories”. 

A false memory is a memory of something that never really happened. It was discovered that some of what was believed to be cases of sexual abuse by relatives were memories implanted by the Professionals for the inappropriate use of Hypnosis and other techniques. It is worth clarifying that the concept of false memories is still very controversial in the scientific environment, between those who accept that exists and can be created and those who do not accept it. 

That is why it is important that you consult with your Doctor if it is a medical problem and/or consult with a Hypnosis Professional who has studied and is a member of a prestigious institution such as the NGH (National Guild of Hypnotists). A Professional Hypnotist (a Consulting Hypnotist for example), is governed by the laws of the country and does not treat medical problems, unless of course he is also a Health Care Professional. 

At NLP Hypnosis Centre, which is my company, we follow the laws of Ontario, Canada and the NGH (National Guild of Hypnotists) recommendations regarding what we can do or not. For example if your problem is medical, we will first ask you for a referral from your Physician who agrees with the use of Hypnosis. 

If your problem is not medical, we will do first a series of tests to determine if we can help you and if the use of Hypnosis would be of benefit to you. We also use other techniques, in case Hypnosis is not the best solution. 

Our guarantee is … if you visit our office or we visit you at your home, office or business because you want to experience Hypnosis and for some reason do not enter Hypnosis your session is completely Free. We refund your money, without any conditions. 

Hypnosis is a very powerful, effective and safe technique. I always compare it with a scalpel. A scalpel is very powerful, efficient and safe if used by a professional, just as Hypnosis is. A scalpel in the hands of an ignorant, or an inefficient doctor can be very dangerous. Also with Hypnosis, that is why always consult with a Health Care Professional who practices Hypnosis or a Professional of Hypnosis, certified by a prestigious institution. That he or she is member of a prestigious organization such as the NGH. Always review the opinions and testimonials of those who have used his/her services.