Originally, self hypnosis was thought of as sleep, then as an "altered state of consciousness". Only after using instruments to monitor brain activity did researchers learn that there was negligible difference between someone in a trance or hypnosis, and someone not. Peoples experiences with self hypnosis vary widely depending on their own expectations, but there are some commonalities. For instance, most people experience a reduced awareness of events going on around them including noises and conversations. Although people are not unconscious when under self hypnosis, many experience extreme relaxation and seem to have reduced awareness of their own body including their arms and legs.
Nearly everyone can learn effective techniques for self hypnosis. Whether your goal is weight loss or to stop smoking, self hypnosis can be a very useful treatment option for many different health and emotional problems.
Let's look at the reasons why self hypnosis can be such an appealing option:
1. It is not a drug, so therefore there are no side effects.
2. It is non-invasive which means there is no surgery and nothing gets inserted into the body.
3. Self hypnosis is also relatively inexpensive when compared to other forms of treatment, and can usually show results within one or two treatments.
Self hypnosis is the original mind/body medicine. It helps you regulate your behavior, alter your thoughts, and use your mind to control your body. To be effective, you must get into a meditative state to change your thought process in order to change your behavior. However, this does not mean you have to be in a relaxed state so to speak. Although this is helpful, self hypnosis can be effective even when you're tense, upset, or unhappy.
As you begin to learn about self hypnosis, you will discover a method that works best for you. Doing this without any guidance from anyone can be difficult. The first step in achieving your goals with self hypnosis is to research and learn as much as you can on the subject so you know what to expect.
Self hypnosis is a very powerful tool you can use to change just about any aspect of yourself, but it is not a magic cure and is usually only effective if you truly want to make a change.
