This week we take a fascinating look at hypnosis in all it's guises. From entertainment to
therapeutic wonder, you may be surprised at what you discover about this ancient art.
When people think about hypnosis, an image comes to mind of a man sitting and swinging
a pendulum in front of someone and saying to them, "You are getting very sleepy."
This is an image that has been portrayed in movies and the media for years, yet the history
of hypnosis goes back much further than most people realize, and is said to be very helpful
and healing in several ways.
Those who have undergone hypnosis often recall events from the
past that they previously had no memory of whatsoever, and this technique is often used to
bring up repressed thoughts and emotions in order to help a person overcome certain fears or
other problems.
Taking a look at the history of hypnosis is both fascinating and educational as well.
Humble Beginnings: A Brief History Of Hypnosis
The Hindus in India are said to be the originators of the history of hypnosis by using it as a health
tool in which they would take those who were ill within their village to a placed called a sleep temple.
Likewise, this practice was used in Greece and Egypt as well. The ancient Sanskrit in a book called
the Law of Manu spoke of different states of hypnosis; the "sleep-waking" state, the "dream-sleep" state,
and the "Ecstasy-sleep" state. Inductions which were hypnotic in nature were used to lull as person into
a sleep state in order to heal them of their sickness or disease.
In the late 1700's, a man named Franz Mesmer became the first Western scientist to become involved with
hypnosis and started researching an effect called "animal magnetism" or "mesmerism," which is a word still
used today. He believed that this power resided inside of humans and animals and used magnetic force as
a tool in treating people. In what some consider to be the first placebo-controlled trial study, Benjamin Franklin
conducted a trial to test the magnetic theory, and it was determined that mesmerism was only used by the
imagination. Within the history of hypnosis, magnetic therapies are still around today as one form of alternative
medicine, yet Mesmer himself died obscurely in 1815.
Formal psychological study of hypnotism began to be studied in the 1800's by a neurologist named Jean-Martin
Charcot who prescribed this treatment for hysteria.
He also opened the way in the history of hypnosis for its use in multiple personality disorders as well. This
approach is still used today in order to help treat those who suffer with hearing voices, as it can help to sort
out and relive these problems.
Hypnosis: What Is It? by: Paddy Landau
Hypnosis -- What is it? What can we use it for? And can you be hypnotised?
Sally sat down in the chair. She looked at me and paused. "I don't think you'll be able to hypnotise me," she said.
"What makes you think that?" I asked.
"I've been to a hypnotist, and he couldn't hypnotise me. Another time, I went to a stage show, and the hypnotist
just couldn't get me to do the stuff. I went to a hypnotherapist after that, and nothing happened. So I don't think
you can hypnotise me."
I've heard endless variations of "I can't be hypnotised," with reasons ranging from Sally's story to,
"I just don't think you can".
What is hypnosis?
The thing is, when we ask, "What is hypnosis?" we get many different answers, depending on whom you ask.
Hypnosis is everything
The loosest definition is NLP's "Everything is hypnosis." NLP says that hypnosis is simply a different state --
and whenever you change your mental state, it would mean you're in some type of hypnosis!
Whilst this definition is useful and practical for NLP-type work, it certainly doesn't answer what most of us think
of as hypnosis.
Hypnosis is obedience
Thanks to the movies, many people think that when you go into hypnosis, you obey the hypnotist without question
and against your will; and when you come out of hypnosis, you forget what was happening.
Like most Hollywood themes, this is nonsense. It does sometimes happen that a person has spontaneous amnesia
(in other words, he forgets what happened while in hypnosis), but it's rare.
It's also possible for a hypnotist to deliberately cause amnesia, but that generally needs a lot of trust. Some wicked
person saying, "And then you will shoot the man opposite you"
Would not generate much trust, would it?
Hypnosis is a trance
If we think of hypnosis as a sleepy trance-like state, this covers most types of modern hypnosis therapy. However,
a person under hypnosis can wake up and still be in hypnosis. You've seen this in stage hypnosis shows.
In fact, hypnosis is generally a more alert state, where you are more aware of what's going on.
The science
Researchers have measured what happens in the brain when under hypnosis. Although they don't understand hypnosis
yet, they have spotted a number of important things going on. One interesting thing is that, under hypnosis, the left brain
(which we usually think of as the "logical" side) becomes less active, and the right brain (the "creative" side) more active.
Under hypnosis, we can access our more creative and imaginative parts, and make great and lasting changes. In fact,
I teach self-hypnosis to all my clients so that they can continue to improve after
we've finished our sessions together.
A number of other things happen in the brain, but I won't go into them here.
What can we use hypnosis for?
Hypnosis lets you to change your state of mind, either temporarily or permanently. So, hypnosis is useful whenever you
need to change your state of mind. Here are just a few examples:
Entertainment -- you've seen stage hypnosis, and it can be tremendous fun. Another favourite is to go out and get drunk
on water. At closing time, you can safely sober up in seconds and drive home without hangovers, without destroying your
liver and without wasting all that money!
Therapy -- when a therapist uses hypnosis to speed up or improve therapeutic change
Education -- good teachers will hypnotise their pupils (using the NLP definition of hypnosis) to speed up learning and make
it more enjoyable
Rapid change -- when a hypnotist uses hypnosis to effect fast changes to mental states; such as removing phobias,
getting someone off alcohol, increasing confidence, and so many more
Sports performance -- to improve game-playing skills. Expert golfers, for example, use a form of self-hypnosis when they
take each shot
Can you be hypnotised?
I lifted Sally's arm. I let go and it stayed there. "Are you keeping it there deliberately?" I asked.
"No," Sally said, looking at her arm as if it were a strange object.
"OK," I said. "Imagine that your arm is a stiff rod that can't bend. No matter how hard you try, you just can't bend it.
Can you imagine that?"
"Yes," said Sally.
"Right, then, try to bend it." Sally's arm stayed straight. "Try harder," I said. "I can't see it bending." It still stayed straight.
"I can't," Sally laughed.
"The funny thing is, Sally, when I tap the arm, you can feel control coming right back to you and you can bend it, now."
I tapped her arm. Sally bent it, relaxed it into her lap and looked at me.
Anyone can be hypnotised... It requires is trust; so, if you're not happy with the hypnotist, it won't happen. It needs you
to be willing to go along with the hypnotist; that's because it's your unconscious that does the work, and your unconscious
wants your permission to go ahead.
Sometimes, a person can't be hypnotised, because they're scared of losing control. I used to be like that.
During my first training, I became frustrated at not being able to enjoy the experience (hypnosis is very, very pleasant),
and I made a point of allowing myself to lose the control. I'm really glad I did, because the hypnotist used the opportunity
to fix a big sleeping problem I had been having for years!
If you're scared of losing control, you can ask your hypnotist to hypnotise you in a way that you keep full control.
Actually, you always stay in control: Experiments have shown that a hypnotist can't make you do anything that you find
ethically distasteful. You could believe that you're naked on stage in front of an audience, but if the hypnotist told you to
actually take off your clothes, you'd come straight out of hypnosis (unless you're a natural exhibitionist!).
In short, hypnosis is completely safe under trained hands.
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Ericksonian Hypnosis--Reconnect With The Inner Child
I could spend the next ten years writing on the topic of hypnosis because it is such a broad
and fascinating subject and I hope to bring you some special hypnosis articles and products
in the very near future.
Next week I want to share with you some of the hypnotic language patterns that I use as an
NLP Practitioner. You will be surprised how many you already know and hear on a regular basis
on television adverts and even in news and government broadcasts.
Many embedded commands are given to you on a daily basis and some of them do not have
your best interests at heart, so it can be useful to know when they are being used.
Also, on a more positive note, you can quickly learn to use hypnotic and influential language
in many situations in your life. From securing a raise at work, to dealing more effectively
with your children and those people you come into contact with on a regular basis.
The Hindus in India are said to be the originators of the history of hypnosis by using it as a health
tool in which they would take those who were ill within their village to a placed called a sleep temple.
Likewise, this practice was used in Greece and Egypt as well. The ancient Sanskrit in a book called
the Law of Manu spoke of different states of hypnosis; the "sleep-waking" state, the "dream-sleep" state,
and the "Ecstasy-sleep" state. Inductions which were hypnotic in nature were used to lull as person into
a sleep state in order to heal them of their sickness or disease.
Hypnosis -- What is it? What can we use it for? And can you be hypnotised?
