Hypnosis and hypnotism
What is hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a state of relaxation and concentration
at one with a state of heightened awareness induced by suggestion.
It is a non-addictive power for the good and is a natural manifestation
of the mind at work.
Hypnosis
has been in use for thousands of years. There is a great deal of evidence
to support the belief that Hypnosis was being used by the Ancient Greeks
and Romans - for therapeutic benefit - as far back as about the fourth Century
BC.
Egyptians had very popular 'sleep temples' in which people were asked to
lie down and listen to somebody chanting to help cure illness and problems
as far back as 1550BC.
Hypnosis translated from Greek (Hypnos) means
'to sleep' and while in the state of hypnosis, a person is very, very relaxed.
While a person is in this more relaxed state, they find it easier to accept
beneficial suggestions (e.g. "you are now a non-smoker").
Stage hypnosis and misconceptions
It is unfortunate that most people's first encounter of hypnosis is through
watching television and stage hypnotists at work. This can lead people to
believe that they may be controlled or manipulated or made to do something
silly.
NOTHING could be further from the truth.
At all times you remain in control and perfectly awake. Hypnosis for therapeutic
purposes is just about relaxation. You may feel very heavy, relaxed, lethargic
or quite light and tingly. It's just a wonderful, deeply pleasant and relaxing
experience.
A good technical definition of hypnosis is: A state of relaxation and concentration
at one with a heightened awareness induced by suggestion. The word hypnosis
is derived from the Greek word 'hypnos' meaning 'to sleep', but is actually
far from being asleep.
By the time the early users of hypnosis realised this and tried to change
the name it had already stuck.
Hypnosis - true or false?
'In hypnosis you are asleep'
FALSE - you are wide awake at all times.
'You can be made to do something against your will'
FALSE - Nobody can make you do anything that you do not want to do.
'Hypnosis is a natural state of mind'
TRUE - It is completely natural state of concentration and relaxation. It
has been used for hundreds of years.
'There are some people that can't be hypnotised'
FALSE - Everybody can be, if they want to, and when they follow simple instructions
on how to relax.
'You can't remember what happened'
FALSE - There isn't any amnesia after hypnosis, you will remember everything
that took place.
'There is no offical hypnotherapy regulatory body'
TRUE - At the moment, no one hypnotherapy organisation has any precedence
over any other. The IAPH however is one of the largest and oldest hypnotherapy
and hypno-analysis organisations in the UK and has stood the test of time.
History of hypnosis
