What You Should Know About Hypnosis

Programming The Mind . . . Not Mind Control

-- by Sheree Silver Ph.d.

Probably the only experience that most of us have had with hypnosis was watching a stage hypnotist perform a live show with volunteers from the audience. The subjects would do all sorts of comic stunts for the hypnotist. Today we have discovered that hypnosis has many other uses.

Hypnosis - a Definition

Before I discuss the many benefits that hypnosis has to offer, let's define exactly what hypnosis is. In simple terms, hypnosis is nothing more than deep, deep relaxation. The conscious mind is relaxed, enabling the subconscious mind to be opened up for positive suggestions. The conscious mind controls mostly our breathing, hand movements, walking, and a small amount of thinking. The subconscious mind has a memory of everything that has ever happened to us, either positive or negative. In order to change our attitudes and improve our lives, it is necessary to change the programming in our subconscious minds. This is achieved by deeply relaxing the conscious mind (hypnosis) so that the subconscious mind is open to positive thoughts and suggestions. The subconscious mind does not distinguish between fact and fiction; therefore it will believe anything we teach it.

Your body is like a robot--it only does what your mind tells it to do. If your mind tells your body to relax, your body will relax. If your mind tells your body to feel ill, it will feel ill. Remember, our thoughts are very powerful. By getting rid of unwanted negative thinking, we can successfully change our behavior. Hypnosis is the tool for this behavioral modification.

When a person is hypnotized, it's a similar sensation to how you would feel right before you fall asleep. A common misconception about hypnosis is that many people think you are in a deep sleep while under. This is not true. You will hear everything going on around you. If by chance you feel uncomfortable, you will be able to bring yourself up at any time.

Improving Your Life Through Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can improve many different aspects of our lives. You can lose weight, stop smoking, reduce stress, increase sales ability, gain self-confidence, eliminate fears, achieve financial success, or anything else that you truly want to do. For example, if someone came to me to lose weight, their sessions would involve the following: While under hypnosis, I would give their subconscious mind positive suggestions that they no longer wish to be overweight, they have lost all desire for fattening foods, they are now eating smaller portions of well-balanced meals. They see themselves looking in the mirror and being slim and trim. All these suggestions, and more, help the mind to believe this is reality. These thoughts will now carry over into their daily lives. They are able to lose weight easily and permanently. The problem with diets is that they are not permanently programmed into the subconscious mind. You can go on a crash diet and lose 15 pounds in a month, but the weight will return the minute you go back to your old eating habits. By using hypnosis, we can permanently eliminate these bad habits so the weight will stay off.

I know that many of you may be skeptical about what you are reading; but time and time again, I have seen positive results. Hypnosis is safe. There are no shots, no pills, and nothing painful or unpleasant about it.

The major determining factor on the potential for success is the client's willingness to change. Hypnosis cannot make you do anything that you do not want to do. If you are coming to me to stop smoking, then hypnosis will not stop you from smoking. I strongly emphasize that you really have to want to change your negative habits in order for hypnotherapy to be effective.

In addition to losing weight and quitting smoking, hypnosis can be incorporated into today's hectic business world. I had a client come to me who was having problems getting organized at her place of work. At the end of the workday, her office would be a mess and she would not have enough time to get all the paperwork done. Within three sessions (for organization), she became extremely organized and had more than enough time to complete her work. Her job had become a lot more enjoyable.

Hypnosis: Real Life Examples

A gentleman came to me to increase his self-confidence and improve his sales ability. He had just started a new job, so he was a little apprehensive about it. After four hypnotherapy sessions for motivation and self-confidence, he was able to sell more than he ever dreamed possible. His confidence grew stronger every day.

Hypnotherapy has also proven to be a competitive edge when dealing with athletic competition. A twelve-year-old girl who was afraid of the high beam in a gymnastics competition came to me for help. The hypnotic session, in conjunction with a special relaxation program, eliminated all the fears the gymnast had of the high beam. Her school grades improved and she became happier and more relaxed in general.

Any type of fear or phobia can be treated with hypnosis. For example, a lady recently came to me because she was afraid to drive. She had been in an auto accident the year before and that experience caused anxiety every time she got into her car. Under hypnosis, I regressed her back to the accident where she discovered she was driving too fast. (As I indicated earlier, the subconscious mind has a memory of everything that has ever happened to us.) This was a surprise to her because she always thought the accident was the other person's fault. This had contributed to her fear. By using visual imagery, she saw herself driving easily and comfortably. She was able to let go of her fear completely.

So you see, hypnosis is a wonderful gift that we can all use. It's safe, relaxing, and anybody can be hypnotized. Sessions are individually tailored to fit the client's needs by using hypnosis, affirmations, goal-setting, and creative visualization. You can usually expect to come for four to five sessions, depending on the individual and the problem.

Sheree Silver is a Certified and Registered Hypnotherapist with the American Board of Hypnotherapy. She is Certified in Stress Management. She is also a psychic and Reiki Master. For more information, call her at 904- 619-4953 or toll-free at 1-888-562-7079.