Hypnosis is a process using a particular collection of tools and skills that:
- Enable a person to move in and out of various states of consciousness.
- Enable the user to guide awareness (the conscious mind).
- Are used to enhance or diminish certain patterns of thinking, feeling, behaving, believing, or relating.
- May affect behavior of the cells of the body, the emotional state, the thoughts and images in the mind,
and the belief system.
- Used properly, can facilitate healing and wholeness at every level of system.
The term self-hypnosis is used to refer to the situation in which a person is
giving the suggestions to himself or herself.
To gain access to the powerful tools of self-hypnosis, you need to learn how to induce
(or allow a self hypnosis audio recording to induce) a relaxed,
receptive, trusting, open state of consciousness through a series of suggestions
given to yourself (autosuggestion).
Find a Balanced Mind With Power Of HypnosisIf you are like most folks,
you might notice that your state of consciousness changes from day to day,
and sometimes several times a day.
In one moment you feel enthusiastic, and in another, bored. You might feel romantic in one moment,
and in the next, very unresponsive.
Self hypnosis programs can be used to help you change from one state of mind,
or from one mood, to another.
Before we get into how to perform self hypnosis, you should be aware of the benefits
that self hypnosis has to offer.
Often people are unaware that hypnosis is more than just a state of mind.
It can actually work to:
- Treat addictions
- Help you lose weight (and keep it off!)
- Help you manage chronic pain you may be suffering from.
- Work to reduce stress.
- Help you deal and confront childhood issues, such as abuse or lack of self esteem.
- Cure or help manage sleep disorders.
- Promote deep relaxation.
- Help change your behavior patterns if they have been hindering your current lifestyle.
- Uncover memories or experiences that you lost touch with.
- Treat issues such as anxiety or depression.
Because of all the benefits that self-hypnosis has to offer, you are going to want to figure out
what your goal is before you begin self-hypnosis. For instance, you could be doing it just to relax,
or you might be trying to change your way or thinking. A good way to get ready to achieve your goal
with self-hypnosis is to write out some affirmations beforehand that you can go over in your mind as
you enter a state of trance.
For instance:
“I will do my best on my exam tomorrow. I am smart and I will retain all the information that is presented to me.”
“I am fully capable of achieving whatever it may be that I set my mind to.
I am in control of my own destiny and I am valuable and loved.”
Step 1: Prepare Yourself for Hypnosis
Get into something comfortable: When you want to relax at home, you usually do not try
to relax in tight jeans, a buttoned shirt, or any restrictive clothing.
When you prepare yourself for self hypnosis, you should put on comfortable
clothes that are not going to distract you. Pay attention to the temperature of where you are,
as you may want something such as a sweater to keep you warm or shorts to keep you cool.
Find somewhere quiet: Depending on where you want to position yourself, you will want to find a quiet space.
You may want to sit or lie down during hypnosis, so find a nice comfortable bed, couch, or
chair that you will be able to achieve mental peace in.
Put away distractions: Self hypnosis has to do with a lot of focus.
Take this time to turn off your phone or any electronics that you have.
Entering a phase of trance will not be effective if you are around a
computer or listening to alerts from your phone.
Close your eyes: As you close your eyes, try to get rid of any stress, fear, or anxiety that you feel is weighing you down.
At first, you might find this difficult, but work to force those thoughts away.
Imagine them lifting up from you and floating away into the air.
If you have trouble doing this with your eyes closed, you can alternatively pick a focal point
in your room to focus on and allow your eyes to get heavy and relaxed.
Relax: There may be a lot of tension in your body that you are unaware of.
Start with the bottom of your feet and work your way up with each of your body parts slowly releasing tension.
Imagine the tension slowly seeping up through your body and vanishing.
Visualize your body becoming lighter with each moment.
You may find it easier to use imagery techniques,
such as imagining water rushing around your feet or having your body be lifted up from the ground.
Breathe: Breathing is an important part of self-hypnosis.
Make sure that you take slow and deep breaths in order to release any negativity or tension that may be surrounding you.
Aim to breath and fill in your lungs with life, energy, and vibrancy.
Visualize: Visualizing scenarios can help you achieve certain results that you want.
For instance, if you are looking to lose weight, consider imagining yourself shedding pounds by swimming off the weight.
You can get as detailed as possible, but make sure that you are employing your five senses.
You can do this by asking yourself these questions: what do I smell, taste, and feel?
Appreciate: At this point, you should feel relaxed. Take this time to appreciate your state of relaxation.
Imagine yourself at the top of stairs that lead to water. Visualize yourself descending the stairs and
emerging your body in the cleanliness and purity of the water.
Free yourself: As you descend into the water, allow yourself to visualize your feet floating up and
your body floating freely in the water. Narrate in your mind what you are doing, and speak in a future tense.
Repeat positive statements, and avoid any negativity.
Exit: After you feel relaxed at peace, you can consider exiting your state of hypnosis.
Walk up the stairs in your mind from which you have descended, and continue repeating your positive statements as you emerge from the water.
selfhypnosisNow that you have performed self-hypnosis, you will want to put your efforts into play.
There are plenty of ways that you can enhance your experience to achieve the state that you hoped for.
Mean what you say: For any of the mantras that you uttered during your hypnosis, be sure that you meant them.
Believe in yourself and your actions, because this will help you achieve your visualizations.
Physically enhance your experience: There are certain exercises that you can do while you are in your self-hypnotic state.
Try intertwining your fingers together, wiggling your toes, or visualize your arms getting heavy.
Use outer assistance: Real world stimuli can also be used to help you achieve and enter hypnosis.
For instance, you can try music, timers, or the sound of water or the rain forest to put you at ease.
Emerge with positivity: We all have goals in life that we hope to achieve.
You can use self hypnosis to help you visualize what you would like your life to look like, and any goals that you might have for yourself.
Do not be afraid to use hypnotic techniques to help you become the person that you wish to be.
Before you attempt self-hypnosis for the first time it is useful to have told somebody else in the nearby vicinity what you are doing.
Reaching a hypnotic state is a little like sleeping and you may be more comfortable telling somebody else that you are going for a nap.
By telling somebody else, you are not likely to be disturbed or worried that you may be disturbed.
Part of the point of self-hypnosis is that you will become less aware of your immediate surroundings –
like when you sleep – so if there was an emergency then somebody nearby will be able to ‘wake’ you.
To start the process you need to feel physically relaxed and comfortable.
Try using a basic relaxation technique such as the one outlined on our Relaxation Techniques page.
Find an object that you can focus your vision and attention on –
ideally this object will involve you looking slightly upwards on the wall or ceiling in front of you.
Clear your mind of all thoughts and just focus on your object.
This is obviously quite hard to achieve but take your time to let thoughts leave you.
Become aware of your eyes, think about your eyelids becoming heavy and slowly closing.
Focus on your breathing as your eyes close, breathe deeply and evenly.
Tell yourself that you will relax more every time you breathe out.
Slow your breathing and let yourself relax deeper and deeper with every breath.
Use your mind’s eye to visualise a gentle up and down or sideways movement of an object.
Perhaps the hand of a metronome or a pendulum – anything that has a regular, slow and steady swing.
Watch the item sway backwards and forwards or up and down in your mind’s eye.