A Layman's Guide to Hypnosis
- By:Milos Pesic
Although a subject under hypnosis does appear to take on the characteristics of a person asleep, they are actually completely alert. Hypnosis is so complicated to define, as nobody in fact knows what is taking place inside the mind of a hypnotized subject. What we do know is that whilst in trance state the subject becomes truly suggestible. A subject`s attention, while they are going into hypnosis, is narrowed down slowly. Firstly, the sense of sight is lost as the hypnotic subject is told to close their eyes. A little later it is not uncommon for the hypnotic subject to lose whole consciousness of their body. Although one by one the senses are slowly slipping away, one sense is exceedingly enhanced by the induction process. This is the sense of hearing. A subject put under hypnosis can repeatedly hear faraway sounds that they wouldn`t be able to hear in the standard waking state. This, undeniably, means that through the whole process the subject can easily hear all the things that the hypnotist may suggest. When you begin to induce trance state in people you will frequently find that upon awakening the subject, they will suppose they could not have been hypnotized as they could still hear your voice. The delusion that they will not be able to hear your voice often comes from those people who believe hypnosis to be the same as sleep.
A person in the trance is exceedingly susceptible to suggestion. One of the main reasons for this is that, whilst in the hypnotic state, you are only able to concentrate on one thing at a time. For instance, if I were to tell you that you are a pretty ballerina, you would instantaneously compare this hypnosis suggestion with what you already know to be correct, and, unless of course you are a ballerina, you would tell me I am talking nonsense. The hypnotised subject though is not able to entertain the thought that they might not be what I have suggested, as their incomplete attentiveness is taken up by the thought that they are essentially a delicate ballerina. The end result, as desired, ends in the subject hopping to their feet to perform a series of pirouettes across the stage.
The human mind is split into two very different sections. The conscious mind, which is accountable for all our conscious thoughts and decisions, and the subconscious mind, which regulates our autonomous activity. The mind can be best thought of as a computer, the subconscious as the processor and the conscious as the monitor and keyboard. Our subconscious mind is a form of guardian; it secures our body and helps us to go on.
Though our subconscious can do voluminoustasks that consciously would be unviable, it also has one extremely basic feature. Somewhere between our two minds is what we call the critical factor. This is almost certainly best described as a door, at which is a keeper. Our subconscious mind will process anything that enters it no matter how odd. So, as long as you can get a suggestion through the door it will be adhered to. This is precisely why hypnosis works. The guardian's door can be inconsiderately opened while we are under hypnosis.About the author:
Milos Pesic is a professional hypnotist who runs a highly popular and comprehensive
Hypnosis and Self Hypnosis web site. Also visit his Hypnosis
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