WHAT IS HYPNOSIS
• Natural: A comfortable state of deep relaxation, heightened awareness, and inner focus.
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• Part of everyday life: Daydreaming, becoming absorbed in a movie or book, or driving home on auto-pilot are all examples of the hypnotic state.
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• Self-directed: Hypnosis is truly self-hypnosis. You can enter this state whenever you choose, and you can return to full alertness at any moment simply by opening your eyes.
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• Accessible to all: Some are very receptive to hypnosis right away, while others, with gentle guidance, can also experience it fully.
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• Restorative: Just seven minutes in hypnosis is as nurturing as an hour of deep sleep.
MYTHS OF HYPNOSIS
Two common myths often surround hypnosis. The first is that it is unnatural. The second is that it means losing control to someone else. These ideas may have become popular because they make for more dramatic scenes in films or on stage. They are entertaining, but they are not accurate.
The truth is that hypnosis is a natural and comfortable state that happens every day. The short moments before waking up or falling asleep are known as the theta brain wave state, which is a hypnotic state. In this calm and deeply relaxed state, the mind moves beyond the rational and analytical, becoming open and receptive. Theta brain waves are linked to the subconscious mind, which stores memories, emotions, beliefs, and patterns of behaviour.
This is why working with the subconscious mind is so powerful. A hypnotherapist helps you enter and remain in the hypnotic state, and through suggestion or therapy, works to release and transform distressing thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
As for the idea of losing control, the opposite is true. Even in deep hypnosis, you never lose awareness or act against your will or values. The conscious mind is simply resting, as if sitting further back on the bus while the subconscious takes the driver’s seat. The deeper the state, the further back it moves, though it is always present.
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Rather than losing control, hypnosis is a way to regain it, freeing yourself from distressing thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, and opening the way to a more balanced, healthy, and fulfilling life. That is the real sign of personal strength, clarity, and control.