Hypnosis for beginners: an introduction to hypnotism
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My first brush with hypnosis
It's amazing what you can find on the internet these days. A few clicks of the mouse, a phone call, a cheque in the post, and hey presto, suddenly you're on your way to acquiring uncommon knowledge, the key to the sub-conscious. One day I was at home, watching a lady on TV hypnotising a patient prior to surgery, and then just two short weeks later I was in a high-ceilinged draughty room on a wet November day, waiting for the mysteries of the human mind to be unravelled before me.
There were twelve of us in the room, a doctor, three salesmen, a student, a chef, a social worker, a delivery van driver, a pharmacy assistant, a nutritionist, a teaching assistant, and me. We were all there with a common purpose; to learn about hypnosis. We would, we were assured by the course leader, be able to perform simple hypnosis after just two days. Two days! If it were that easy to learn, why weren't more people able to do it? Was I sceptical? You bet!
Derren Brown performs mass hypnosis in American shopping mall
Losing weight through hypnosis and suggestion
A few well-chosen words weave their magic
Now, I don't know what exactly I was expecting, but I'd seen hypnotists on the tv, and I somehow assumed that the actual act of hypnosis was somewhere between a Vulcan mind meld and a conjuring trick. How could you get people to change their behaviour simply by talking to them? It seemed unlikely, and even though I'd parted with a wad of cash to be there, I still wasn't completely convinced. The day, for me, did not start well. After a formal introduction, Christina, one of the course leaders explained exactly what hypnosis is all about, and then she attempted a mass hypnosis on all twelve students.
As I listened to her soft, slow, words, I began to feel increasingly mutinous. What was this supposed to achieve? Apart from my eyes being closed, I felt no different. I listened to the phrasing, the cadence, the rhythm of her lingeringly, undulating voice, and let myself relax. It felt good to be sat there so still, so still and so comfortable, and able to concentrate on her words, yet at the same time free to let my mind travel wherever my inclination and imagination would let me go. Sunlight broke through the clouds and shone into the room, warming our faces. I began to nod. How pleasant to be sitting there dozing whilst Christina's words continued to wash over me, like waves on a beach, like ripples on a pool.
"Now" said Christina, "I'm going to count you up, and when I get to 10, I shall say ‘Wide awake!' and you will stretch and open your eyes, and awaken fully alert and refreshed. One, body energies rising, two, still very relaxed but becoming more aware, three, four, five, six. Your eyes feel as though they have been bathed in fresh spring water. Seven, eight, nine, ten. Wide awake!"
Stretching and yawning, I opened my eyes and found my fellow students similarly engaged. So what was all that about then?
On your marks. Get set. Go!
The weekend continued in much the same vein. Volunteers went to the front and were ‘hypnotised'. We learned a little about the uses of hypnosis, and the nature of trance, and a little about NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming). I talked to the other students in the breaks and began to panic a little. I just didn't get it, whatever ‘it' is. Surely hypnosis is an altered state, not just a feeling of pleasant drowsiness like nodding off in front of the tv after too many mince pies and brandy on Christmas Day?
On the final day we were invited to pair up and practise on each other using prepared scripts. ‘"Don't forget to speak slowly and clearly, and elongate your words!" Christina instructed, as we chose our partners and shuffled our chairs around.
"Fix your eyes on a point on the ceiling," I murmured to my partner, in the slowest voice I could muster, "Now take three, deep breaths. That's right." I continued my way through the script trying to pace myself to match the speed of the other students sitting around me all reading the same words at more or less the same time. My partner's eyes closed at my prompt, and he soon began to breathe more deeply. Was he hypnotised yet? I hadn't a clue, but I soldiered on, all the time aware of the mesmerising effect of the echoing voices around the room. There were suggested pauses written in at strategic points, and at each pause I would anxiously gaze up at the wall clock and watch the second hand tick round. Then finally, phew! I‘d come to the end. "Now I'm going to count from one to ten. One, body energies rising...." I continued on to ten, but my partners' eyes pinged open after five, and he looked suspiciously bright eyed and bushy tailed.
Now it was my turn to be guinea pig, and I settled down to enjoy five minutes shut eye. At least I could start composing a shopping list for the morning whilst I had a free moment. My partner had a pleasantly low voice, and a soft delivery. I obliged him by closing my eyes almost immediately and settled down to noticing the rhythm of my breathing, and allowing my toes to go loose, and limp, and lazy. It was so comfortable on that hard-backed chair, that I felt lighter than air, lighter than thistle-down, as light and as free as a wispy white cloud floating high above the earth in a perfect blue sky. The words washed over me, mellowing me, warming me, teasing me, leading me, echoing all about me in half a dozen different voices. And then it was over. "Ten," he intoned "Wide awake!" I yawned and stretched. "Thank you," I said, "That was lovely" and I meant it.
Short self-hypnosis clip
What Amanda did next, or how I became a hypnotist
And now, dear reader, you will be wondering whether this was the end of my brush with hypnosis, and I have to tell you that it was not. I signed up for the full ten month course, and finally graduated with a diploma in Integrated Hypnotherapy. I've found this ‘uncommon knowledge' to be mostly beneficial, and I've certainly been able to help many people through the use of these skills. Would I recommend hypnosis? Certainly, it's always worth a try, although not all interventions are guaranteed to be successful. My only caveat would be to always check that your hypnotherapist is properly trained and insured, and preferably go by recommendation.
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Comments
Hi Amanda,
You've got a great hypnosis hub here. Well done. It's been fascinating to read about your experiences.
Thanks for stopping by. I hadn't planned on writing about hypnosis on HubPages, but the idea just came to me a few evenings ago, and I couldn't shift it. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
I once proposed having school children hypnotised in order to instill a sense of reponsibility. Guess who shunned me for the next few weeks?
But, I argued, I was hypnotised as a child for that very purpose and it worked for a time. My study habits improved and my grades went up. The things I learned at that time have stayed with me for almost 50 years!
Unfortunately it was not reinforced and slowly wore off. Today, when I can afford it, I go to a friend who is a professional hypnitist and I find it makes a positive difference in my life.
Thanks for the recommendation! I looked up Milton Erickson and it turns out there's a foundation in Phoenix that's been established in his name! Apparently, his practice was based here. Who knew? Seems like a sign that I should learn more about him. :)
Hi Chef Jeff
I've tried hypnosis on my own kids, but they see it coming, and say things like 'Mummy, why are you using your hypno voice on me?' They're too smart for me!
Certainly, I've had some success with clients who wanted to be more focussed, and I've had any number of clients needing help with driving tests. As you say, the effects are not always permanent, but they can be dramatic.
Hi Melissa
Glad to have been of help. Erickson was a towering figure in the world of hypnosis, and a remarkable man in his own right. I hope you enjoy learning about him.
I've always been fascinated by hypnosis and your personal experiences were so interesting to read. I look forward to learning more about tapping into our inner powers. Imagine the possibilities :)
Hi Summer10,
Thanks for dropping by. I may expand on this a little when time and inspiration permit. It's an interesting subject, and possibly quite a controversial one!
Hi Amanda: I too was expecting the "acting like a chicken" thing or whatever silly behavior. Instead, it seems like a good way to relax and get focused. It is not unlike (in fact, I now think they are the same) the relaxation and breathing excercises taught as part of an actor's "tools" and preparation. It was very beneficial to me. I still do it sometimes as a way of falling asleep, but have mostly let it fall by the wayside.
Very nicely written and...hypnotic. Thanks!
Hi Christoph,
Yes, you're right. These kinds of breathing and relaxation techniques are widely practised and are useful for de-stressing, getting focussed,and, yes, also for falling asleep when your mind won't stop ticking. We can't underestimate the power of our minds, and it's good to know that we can, with practice, harness some of that power, and use it to make our lives a little easier.
I would love to learn Hypnosis some day, if it is able to cure bad habits then I am all for it. Nice Hub. Cheers.
Hypnosis is great for dealing with bad habits, but if you can't organise any hypnosis, do try some habit breaking instead. If you are a smoker, try smoking a different brand, or smoking with the opposite hand. If you bite your nails, try NOT biting the nails on one hand. Sometimes by drawing our attention to the habit, we can at least reduce the amount of times we do things. I've known smokers cut their cigarettes by half immediately just by paying a little more attention!
Thanks for stopping by CGull.
Thanks for sharing your experience with hypnosis. My therapist is now trying it on me and I, too, feel very relaxed after the session. I'm not looking to find hidden dark secrets in my past but the tools for dealing with day-to-day issues through relaxation. Thanks also for the tips for breaking the HABIT of smoking. :)
RoadLessTraveled
Hypnosis is fantastic for relaxation, and just being more relaxed helps us live day to day with greater ease. Sometimes we feel as though we have a mountain to climb, and that we have to pick our way laboriously over the rocks to get to the top, but Hypnosis tends to be a faster journey to the summit, more like hitching a helcopter ride! Good luck with your therapy, and thanks for stopping by.
Wonderful hub Amanda! So fluid and well-written, I enjoyed it. It all makes great sense to me, especially the de-stressing aspect of hypnosis, and I understand even better now how this can be related to yoga.
It's so great you've taken the time to learn something as valuable as this that can be of help to so many people.
I'm still laughing over the "hypno voice" comment you made about your kids! :D Kids are too smart sometimes.
Hi Pam,
Thanks for stopping by. I think there are many uses for these techniques, and their value can not be under-estimated. I've even used hypnosis to help reduce high blood pressure, as well as stress, phobias, overcoming bad habits etc. It doesn't work for everyone, but for some people it can make a huge difference.
Agreed. I think state of mind has everything to do with how well something works or doesn't work. I personally feel that there is plenty of value in alternative treatments (used in conjunction with traditional medicine), but if a person isn't open to it, then things such as reiki and hypnosis may not be as effective or perceived as effective.
Take care!
Thanks Pam,
I completely agree that some people are not open to these things. Some resist purely out of principle, or out of a fear of losing control! In fact, you cannot be made under hypnosis to act in a way that is completely contrary to your character, but few realise this.
Very interesting and well written hub. I might have to take a course and try it out on my husband, it'd with worth the money just for the laughs.
Thanks for dropping by Jerrilee. Perhaps you could both take a short course, and practise on each other! A Certificated course to qualify you as a hypnotherapist is likely to take between one and two years, but taster weekends such as the one I describe in this hub are a lot of fun, and a bit of an eye-opener!
Amanda- I once attended one seminar in India and being short was in the front row. The main speaker called me on to the stage and hypnotized me into saying certain things which I wouldn't have said otherwise. I was freaked out and don't know if Iam too easy to be hypnotized. I never went on to join the course but I still remember it being a powerful tool if someone wanted to put it to good use.
Hi Countrywomen,
Hypnotism is certainly a powerful tool in the right hands (and even in the wrong hands!) I think that's why so many sales and marketing people sign up for it. I guess it's all back to the power of influence, and subliminal messages. If you ever get a second chance to learn about it, I would recommend it to you. Even if I had never had the chance to practice as a hypnotherapist, I would still have found the course worthwhile.
Very interesting. I think hypnosis is a good way to heal and to change thought patterns and negative behaviors.
Thanks for stopping by Justmesuzanne,
Hypnosis is a wonderful tool in the right hands, and the power of the human mind should never be under-estimated. Learning hypnosis is a great way to get a glimpse into how things work, and I would reccommend it to anyone.
Amanda - you're full of surprises - can't think how I missed this hub!
I do wish more people would treat the mind first in so many chronic ailments - so much of what we suffer begins up there!
Hi Shalini,
The mind holds the key to so many problems. We're all like organic computers and we are constantly revising and updating our databases as we go through life. Occassionally inappropriate or unwanted behaviours get high-wired into our psyches, but it's surprising how readily many of them can be resolved through hypnosis. I think it's ahead of many of the 'talking therapies' in that respect.
Amanda- Since you do hypnosis their is a forum where discussion about past life regression therapy is being discussed http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/9864?page=11#post1
Hi CW,
I just checked out the link. Thanks for that. It's currently having a bit of an off-topic moment, but I shall have another look later.
Amanda,
This was a very interesting hub. I've never been hypnotised but always wanted to be. A naughty side of wants to learn hypnosis so I can make my boyfriend do whatever I want.
Hi Writer Rider,
I'm glad you enjoyed the hub. You know hypnosis is everywhere in various forms. The charismatic speaker or story-teller can quite literally 'entrance' you. If you watch a film or TV programme and find yourself in tears because of something that happens to a character, then that's also a form of hypnotism. If you watch the clip on my my 'easily influenced' hub, you'll see just how much we take on board without ever even realising it. Clinical hypnosis puts a natural process into an unnatural setting so that you become aware of the change that occurs. In many respects it's a very simple trick to acquire, but the skill lies in knowing how best to use it, and that takes a good deal of practise and training!
Hypnosis is a subject which has always attracted me. It's all in the mind...as they say. It's a pity that most people don't even know what a human mind is actually capable of. I had read somewhere that an average human being uses only 20% of his actual mind power, in whole of his lifetime. I, however, wonder sometimes that if a human being realizes this inherent power, lying dormant in him, would he use it for good or bad, considering his selfish traits?
I guess it would depend on the individual human being to a large extent Anjali. Some people have an enormous will to do good, but because they allow that will to the good to be dominated by their own ego, they end up causing harm instead, but that's just the Law of Unintended Consequences of course! I think in time we will learn to access more of the dormant parts, or at least learn what they're for. The human mind is a wonderful thing, and the study of hypnosis is one way to learn more about it.
That is a great intro-picture, as a new fan I just wanted to check some of your pages out, I look forward to returning to this page to read it in detail. xx
Thanks Catherina,
I hope you enjoy it.
I have undergone NLP training, whereby we are taught hypnosis. I've also tried hypnosis myself and it's amazing what comes out from my sessions. Your hub is certainly interesting! It's great to read from someone who has trained to be a hypnotherapist! Wishing you success!
Thanks Evelyn,
I use NLP with clients, alongside hypnosis, and it's a very useful adjunct. The mind is so powerful, and we are capable of so much if we did but know it. I've seen fantastic changes in people after just a few sessions. It's a very worthwhile skill, and I recommend it to everyone.
Hi what a great story. I don't know if you have heard of Martin St James, but I was fortunate enough to be picked to go up on stage a few years back to be hypnotised by him. Haha I was a washing machine,typewriter, a crazy professor,a go go dancer,amongst so many things. It was a fantastic experience I will never forget.
You must be a very good hypnotic subject! Hypnosis doesn't suit everyone, but many people do find it a release, and I've known people pay for hypnosis just to experience that lovely, floaty feeling! You might enjoy a weekend taster course yourself, and it would be an extra talent to go with your beauty skills!
Hi Amanda,
thanks for this informative lens - I specially like the pictures. In which city is that statue located? (where the man hypnotizes a woman in quiet dramatic scenery, haha).
Keep up the great work!
Hi Covert Hypnosis 1
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. The statue in the picture is of the Abbe de Faria, and it can be found in Panjim, Goa, India.
I love the hypnosis stuff. At the moment I talk about Derren Brown all the time. I am fascinated by the fact that people are so predicable and hold several classes that study peoples response to certain stimuli. 'I call them creative classes'. It's a lot of fun.
Look forward to reading more of your stuff.
Great info on hypnosis,
Hi Zooloot,
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I'm also a fan of Derren Brown, and my hub on Original Thinking was inspired by the work he did with marketing professionals. People are far more easily influenced than we care to acknowledge, and that fact is at once both empowering and terrifying. I've done a lot of work with people who have confidence issues, and hypnosis and NLP can achieve more in a comparatively short space of time than many of the so-called talking cures. The down-side to that is that the very skills employed to improve self-confidence can also be used in a negative context. It's a scary thought.
Hi Hypnosislearn,
Thank you for reading and commenting.
It is certainly interesting to control others behavior just by talking to them. I had an impression that it is completely like any other magical tricks that we often come across but didn't know that there are professional courses available too and reading your experience it does make sense to think about giving it a try. Good Hub!
Thanks for stopping by Packerpack, and for joining my fan club. If you are intrigued by the nature of influence, you might enjoy my hub on the subject. Hypnosis, far from being trickery, and magic, is actually well-respected and sometimes used by doctors and dentists as well as by hypnotherapists.
Uses hypnosis wisely.like healing disease, stop smoking, raise self confident
Thanks for stopping by Prasetio. Hypnosis is certainly useful for all the things you mention.
I really enjoyed reading your personal story. I know for me once I hypnotized my first subject, i was hooked!
Thanks for stopping by Hypnotize Yourself. Hypnosis is surprisingly easy, and that's why it ought to be better regulated, but I guess that's a topic for another hub....
Amanda Severn says:
13 months ago
Thanks for stopping by Melissa. Like yourself, my own experience of hypnosis has been mild and pleasant rather than deep and dramatic. I think that some people are just more susceptible than others, but that doesn't prevent hypnosis from being a helpful intervention. Certainly I have seen some wonderful results using hypnotherapy, particularly in cases involving issues of self-esteem and confidence.
I've read and enjoyed any number of books about hypnosis, but my favourites are Hypnotherapy for Dummies, which is a useful reference for both hypnotists and their clients, and also "My Voice Will Go With you" which is the story of Milton Erricson, who became famous for his therapeutic hypnotic interventions using metaphorical stories.