Self Hypnosis
Self Hypnosis
If you rather experiment with hypnosis prior to consulting a professional practitioner, these guidelines should be useful. Different people will have different aptitudes with self-hypnosis just they do with hypnosis proper. If find that you are easily drawn into movies, tv, or the opera, you probably have a high aptitude for hypnosis and self-hypnosis. Do you daydream easily or “zone out” when you are not interested in the conversation taking place around you? What about when you exercise: do you lose track of time during a vigorous workout? Or do you get so engrossed in your work that the day will have gone without you even thinking to stop for lunch? If you answered yes to any or all of these, then there is a good chance that you are naturally inclined towards hypnosis because these are all natural forms of hypnosis. If you feel a little unsure about launching directly into self-hypnosis, try some of the exercises detailed in the section on communicating with the inner mind, like automatic writing or the pendulum method.
If there is still doubt, you might wish to visit a hypnotherapist for an introductory session. They will usually include a posthypnotic suggestion making it easier for you to achieve induction yourself. However, if this is not possible for the time being, you should not pass up the opportunity to teach yourself. Here are some guidelines.
The first thing to do is set up a nice quiet environment. Unplug the phone, shut off the cell phone. Next choose some quiet, melodic music that you enjoy and which you associate with pleasant feelings. Although it is not necessary, it would help to have an object to focus on, especially until you become more proficient. My preference is a candle. This way you can dim the lights or turn them off entirely and focus on the one single flame eminating from the candle. The dancing flame is also a great hypnotic prop. Make yourself comfortable sitting or laying down where you can easily gaze at the candle. Make the suggestion to yourself such as “My eyes will grow tired and my eyelids will want to shut the more I look at this candle.” Let them close whenever you want. You should be ready with a phrase to signal to your subconcious that it is time to enter hypnosis. Try something like “I am now ready to start”. Repeat the phrase a few times slowly, like an incantation. Now begin your relaxation. You can start with your toes, wiggle your toes slightly and contract your leg muscles. Then slowly release the tension, relaxing the muscles in your feet and legs. Now concentrate on relaxing the muscles in your stomach and chest. You should notice that your breathing has slowed. Continue with your hands, then arms, up to the neck and head. Think to yourself “I’m going deeper and deeper”. Imagine walking down a corridor, down a flight of stairs, or down an elevator. Or if you wish, up an escalator towards light. It doesn’t matter the direction so much as the concept of deeper. Think to yourself, ’10, I am going deeper and deeper; 9 (viualize the suroundings, the rail of the stairs, the walls to either side of you); 8 (begin to see the bottom); and so on. It is important to avoid feelings of anxiety during this process. Do not obsess over whether ‘it is working’ or not. Simply use the first few occasions as trial runs. You will find that as you become used to the procedures, you will attain greater and greater depths of trance.
