Tests conducted by Peter Naish of the Open University point to the fact that those who go into a hypnotic trance more easily are more likely to have an imbalance between their brain's two hemispheres.
This challenges the belief of sceptics who say that hypnotic trance is not a biological function, but simply a case of some people being more susceptible and willing to act out the trance. However, the recent research suggests that during hypnosis there is actually less connectivity between different regions of the brain and a decrease of activity in the rational, left side of the brain and an increase of activity in the more creative right side.
Naish's tests suggested a successful hypnotic trance required temporary domination by the brain's right side, which might be easier to bring about in people who tended to have an imbalance between the two spheres of their brain even when they are not in the trance.
To read the whole article, please click here
Showing posts with label hypnosis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hypnosis. Show all posts
Sunday, 24 January 2010
Monday, 4 January 2010
Mass Web Hypnosis Session On Internet Tonight In Attempt To Break Record
Hypnotist Chris Hughes is tonight going to attempt to break the world record for the highest number of people ever in a trance by holding a mass hypnosis session on the internet. He has managed to sign up more than 6,300 participants through using Facebook and Twitter, calling the event SocialTrance.
Read on for the whole news article
Read on for the whole news article
Saturday, 25 July 2009
Hypnotherapy Directory
Recognising the need for help is often one of the biggest steps on the road to recovery. But once the initial decision has been made there are numerous issues to consider - practical and otherwise. What about, for example, location, money, professionalism?
This is where The Hypnotherapy Directory comes in. It was set up to provide a simple, easy, and most importantly un-daunting way of connecting people that need help with the people that provide it. A comprehensive searching tool, the site allows postcode, town and country searches of the whole of the UK, and produces a list of hypnotherapists registered in this area. Each hypnotherapist has a profile, listing a bit about themselves, their approaches, what areas they deal with, and all their training, qualification and experience and fees.
The site shows which hypnotherapists are registered/accredited with a professional body, and full profiles are only displayed after insurance and qualification documents are checked or membership with a professional body has been verified.
Hypnotherapy Directory has also become a huge information bank - there are articles written by hypnotherapists, as well as comprehensive information on all kinds of distress - from depression to eating disorders to phobias, to help people identify their problems and become informed, not scared.
www.hypnotherapy-directory.org.uk
This is where The Hypnotherapy Directory comes in. It was set up to provide a simple, easy, and most importantly un-daunting way of connecting people that need help with the people that provide it. A comprehensive searching tool, the site allows postcode, town and country searches of the whole of the UK, and produces a list of hypnotherapists registered in this area. Each hypnotherapist has a profile, listing a bit about themselves, their approaches, what areas they deal with, and all their training, qualification and experience and fees.
The site shows which hypnotherapists are registered/accredited with a professional body, and full profiles are only displayed after insurance and qualification documents are checked or membership with a professional body has been verified.
Hypnotherapy Directory has also become a huge information bank - there are articles written by hypnotherapists, as well as comprehensive information on all kinds of distress - from depression to eating disorders to phobias, to help people identify their problems and become informed, not scared.
www.hypnotherapy-directory.org.uk
Tuesday, 19 May 2009
Is Hypnosis Safe and Will It Work For Me?
Everyone quite naturally enters a hypnotic trance several times during a day - on waking and falling asleep, if you become engrossed in a book or a TV programme, or if you arrive home and find you cannot remember the drive! Being in a trance is very relaxing, you will be aware of everything around you and will be able to end the session at any time if you choose to.
One of the more frequent questions that is asked is whether the person will get ‘stuck’ in the trance and not be able to be roused. The answer is no. As the hypnotherapy session comes to an end, the hypnotherapist will 'emerge' you from the trance and bring you back to your normal level of consciousness. The worst thing that could happen is that you relax so well that you fall asleep and then wake up quite naturally.
It is important to remember that the hypnotic subject is in charge of their experience at all times. They can come out of the trance and terminate their appointment at any time, and if there was an emergency, such as an alarm going off, they would rapidly emerge from the trance and be able to respond as appropriate.
Another frequent fear that is voiced is that the subject will find themselves ‘clucking and flapping like a hen’ when they are walking down the High Street or find themselves performing some other embarrassing feat in public. This is highly unlikely to happen, as even if the hypnotherapist had given you suggestions to do this, your subconscious would reject anything that it did not mesh with your moral compass and usual behaviour. It is also important to bear in mind that a professional, well qualified hypnotherapist would have no reason or desire to give these kinds of suggestions – it would soon be the end of their practice!
There is also a belief that being in a trance is a bit like being unconscious, and that nothing from a session will be remembered. There may be parts of the session you do not remember, or you may experience some time distortion where either time seems to speed up or slow down, but you will mostly be aware and remember what you experienced during the session.
People are also often sceptical that they can be hypnotised; that they will be unable to go into a trance. In fact, most people can be successfully put into a hypnotic trance and thereby gain the benefits of the positive and beneficial suggestions given by the hypnotherapist, and intelligent, well educated people often find it the easiest as they have the ability to concentrate.
One of the more frequent questions that is asked is whether the person will get ‘stuck’ in the trance and not be able to be roused. The answer is no. As the hypnotherapy session comes to an end, the hypnotherapist will 'emerge' you from the trance and bring you back to your normal level of consciousness. The worst thing that could happen is that you relax so well that you fall asleep and then wake up quite naturally.
It is important to remember that the hypnotic subject is in charge of their experience at all times. They can come out of the trance and terminate their appointment at any time, and if there was an emergency, such as an alarm going off, they would rapidly emerge from the trance and be able to respond as appropriate.
Another frequent fear that is voiced is that the subject will find themselves ‘clucking and flapping like a hen’ when they are walking down the High Street or find themselves performing some other embarrassing feat in public. This is highly unlikely to happen, as even if the hypnotherapist had given you suggestions to do this, your subconscious would reject anything that it did not mesh with your moral compass and usual behaviour. It is also important to bear in mind that a professional, well qualified hypnotherapist would have no reason or desire to give these kinds of suggestions – it would soon be the end of their practice!
There is also a belief that being in a trance is a bit like being unconscious, and that nothing from a session will be remembered. There may be parts of the session you do not remember, or you may experience some time distortion where either time seems to speed up or slow down, but you will mostly be aware and remember what you experienced during the session.
People are also often sceptical that they can be hypnotised; that they will be unable to go into a trance. In fact, most people can be successfully put into a hypnotic trance and thereby gain the benefits of the positive and beneficial suggestions given by the hypnotherapist, and intelligent, well educated people often find it the easiest as they have the ability to concentrate.
Saturday, 16 May 2009
What is Hypnosis
There are many definitions of hypnosis and the definitions have changed and evolved over time as our understanding of the hypnotic state has grown, from Franz Mesmer’s beliefs in the 1700s that a ‘magnetic fluid’ surrounded the body, through James Braid’s development of and coining of the phrase ‘hypnosis’ and the growth of the psychoanalytic movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries through to the work of Milton Erickson and Dave Elman
The online information source Wikipedia states that ‘hypnosis is often thought to be a wakeful state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility and diminished peripheral awareness’. Therefore it is a focussed state that can occur spontaneously, such as happens when driving or walking when a person ends up at a destination without any clear recollection of how they arrived there or when someone becomes very caught up in a television programme that they are watching, or can be induced by a hypnotist. In this state of focussed attention the hypnotist can give beneficial suggestions that will be taken on board more readily as the state of hypnosis allows for a greater suggestibility and there are no outside distractions filtering through.
Dave Elman stated ‘Hypnosis is a state of mind in which the critical faculty of the human is bypassed, and selective thinking established’ [Dave Elman, Hypnotherapy, 1964:26].
This mirrors the US Federal definition. This is probably one of the best definitions of hypnosis, as our critical factor come into play with our very earliest thoughts and our self-image is formed by the age of four. Our conscious minds cannot remember or retain every memory or piece of information that we are presented with on a daily basis, so the Reticular Activating System in our brains rejects things that the subconscious mind is not prepared to accept. These include all the things that do not fit in with our belief systems, so that if we hold a belief that we are overweight and destined to remain so, any comments on how slim we are looking or what a good figure we will be filtered out. It is very difficult to get someone to change their view of themselves purely through addressing the conscious mind. Hypnosis can be used to bypass this ‘critical faculty’ and to embed more positive suggestions in the subconscious that will better serve the hypnotic subject in life.
Another definition of hypnosis is that all hypnosis is self-hypnosis. The subject has to allow them self to go into the trance state, and the hypnotist is the navigator. The subject is the one who chooses to stay in the trance and can emerge from it at any time if they want to. With this definition it is the subject who chooses to respond or not respond in the trance, and to have a positive outcome the subject must be motivated and willing to succeed. Therefore, if a subject comes for hypnosis to be able to lose weight and have control of their body weight, they must first have to have a strong desire to be the size that they desire and a positive belief that the hypnosis will be able to help them. In addition, no hypnotist could make a subject do or believe something that they do not want to, as they are ultimately in control in the trance at all times.
The online information source Wikipedia states that ‘hypnosis is often thought to be a wakeful state of focused attention and heightened suggestibility and diminished peripheral awareness’. Therefore it is a focussed state that can occur spontaneously, such as happens when driving or walking when a person ends up at a destination without any clear recollection of how they arrived there or when someone becomes very caught up in a television programme that they are watching, or can be induced by a hypnotist. In this state of focussed attention the hypnotist can give beneficial suggestions that will be taken on board more readily as the state of hypnosis allows for a greater suggestibility and there are no outside distractions filtering through.
Dave Elman stated ‘Hypnosis is a state of mind in which the critical faculty of the human is bypassed, and selective thinking established’ [Dave Elman, Hypnotherapy, 1964:26].
This mirrors the US Federal definition. This is probably one of the best definitions of hypnosis, as our critical factor come into play with our very earliest thoughts and our self-image is formed by the age of four. Our conscious minds cannot remember or retain every memory or piece of information that we are presented with on a daily basis, so the Reticular Activating System in our brains rejects things that the subconscious mind is not prepared to accept. These include all the things that do not fit in with our belief systems, so that if we hold a belief that we are overweight and destined to remain so, any comments on how slim we are looking or what a good figure we will be filtered out. It is very difficult to get someone to change their view of themselves purely through addressing the conscious mind. Hypnosis can be used to bypass this ‘critical faculty’ and to embed more positive suggestions in the subconscious that will better serve the hypnotic subject in life.
Another definition of hypnosis is that all hypnosis is self-hypnosis. The subject has to allow them self to go into the trance state, and the hypnotist is the navigator. The subject is the one who chooses to stay in the trance and can emerge from it at any time if they want to. With this definition it is the subject who chooses to respond or not respond in the trance, and to have a positive outcome the subject must be motivated and willing to succeed. Therefore, if a subject comes for hypnosis to be able to lose weight and have control of their body weight, they must first have to have a strong desire to be the size that they desire and a positive belief that the hypnosis will be able to help them. In addition, no hypnotist could make a subject do or believe something that they do not want to, as they are ultimately in control in the trance at all times.
Monday, 11 May 2009
How To Cope With Anxiety
For us humans, anxiety develops from fears and concerns about the future. However, the future is unknown and none of us can accurately predict what will happen. What we do, though, is treat the future as a given, as if we do know what is going to occur and have a belief that we can control or change it. Just a quick scan across all the variables and possibilities of things that can or might happen during a day shows that this is just not true and that we have to deal with what comes our way – in one week in our house a pigeon flew down the chimney and the ceiling fell in! So there is no point in worrying about it, right?
So what does anxiety feel like?
Typically when people get anxious they start to hyperventilate, which is breathing faster and/or deeper than necessary, which brings on feelings of light headedness, dizziness, sweating, chills, nausea and trembling. Someone who is anxious can experience chest pain, feel like they have a constant lump in their throat, become very pale, develop skin rashes, indigestion, heartburn, diarrhoea or constipation.
So how do we go about combating anxiety?
One of the keys to combating anxiety is to relax. As we relax our bodies respond by slowing down the heart rate, slowing down the breathing rate, the muscles of the body become less tense, your blood distributes itself evenly throughout your body, your digestive tract returns to working normally and you find it easier to let go of your fearful thoughts.
So how do we relax?
When you start to feel anxious or frightened, the first thing you need to do is to bring your attention to your breathing.
Start to breathe slowly through your nose using your diaphragm and abdomen. Do not breathe through the mouth, and concentrate on exhaling slowly. Do not take excessively deep breaths, as this may exacerbate the symptoms.
Also, when you start to feel scared and anxious, the way you talk to yourself is very important. To help yourself to relax and become calm, again, it is very helpful to repeat some positive, coping statements to yourself. Some examples are:
‘I will relax and accept what is happening to me’
‘I can be anxious and still deal with the situation’
‘I will let my body relax into whatever is going on. This will pass’
‘This does not feel good, but I can handle it’.
‘I choose to be calm and confident in every situation’
If you feel that you are anxious or stressed a lot of the time, doing visualisations could be very helpful for you. These can be undertaken two or three times a day or, if your situation allows it, when you start to feel scared or anxious. Sit upright on a chair, with your feet on the ground and your hands resting loosely on your knees. Keep all legs, arms, fingers or toes uncrossed! Mentally relax your muscles and take some nice deep breaths before you begin.
Below you will find an example of a visualisation that you can use. You can find many more on pre-recorded CD’s, downloads, in books and on the internet. It is useful to record them somewhere that you play back and follow while you are visualising. You may also want to write your own and record them; using imagery and settings that appeal to you and that you know that you can relax in.
Breathing in Sunshine Guided Visualisation
Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Imagine, visualise or sense yourself sitting in a rolling green meadow, dotted with white daisies and golden buttercups.. The sky above is a beautiful blue and the sun is shining. As you are sitting there, sense that a strong ray of golden sunshine is penetrating through the top of your head. See or imagine the warm, golden light of the sun fill your head and then move slowly down your body, filling all of your body cavity with a wonderful, soothing, golden light. As the light of the sun fills your body, dirty black smoke is being gently forced out of the soles of your feet. This is all the anxiety and negativity being pushed out and cleansed away. When your body is totally full of the glorious sunshine, and all of the dirty smoke has been expelled, let the light leave your body knowing that all your anxiety and fears have also gone. Find yourself in a crystal clear waterfall or pool, and bathe in the pure, cleansing water to wash away any lingering remnants of anxiety or fear. Sense yourself sealing up the top of your head and the soles of your feet and surrounding yourself in a protective cocoon of glowing white light. When you are ready, open your eyes and notice how calm, relaxed and wonderful you feel.
If you would like to learn more about coping with anxiety and learning to relax, contact cmhypnotherapy in Bushey, Hertfordshire
So what does anxiety feel like?
Typically when people get anxious they start to hyperventilate, which is breathing faster and/or deeper than necessary, which brings on feelings of light headedness, dizziness, sweating, chills, nausea and trembling. Someone who is anxious can experience chest pain, feel like they have a constant lump in their throat, become very pale, develop skin rashes, indigestion, heartburn, diarrhoea or constipation.
So how do we go about combating anxiety?
One of the keys to combating anxiety is to relax. As we relax our bodies respond by slowing down the heart rate, slowing down the breathing rate, the muscles of the body become less tense, your blood distributes itself evenly throughout your body, your digestive tract returns to working normally and you find it easier to let go of your fearful thoughts.
So how do we relax?
When you start to feel anxious or frightened, the first thing you need to do is to bring your attention to your breathing.
Start to breathe slowly through your nose using your diaphragm and abdomen. Do not breathe through the mouth, and concentrate on exhaling slowly. Do not take excessively deep breaths, as this may exacerbate the symptoms.
Also, when you start to feel scared and anxious, the way you talk to yourself is very important. To help yourself to relax and become calm, again, it is very helpful to repeat some positive, coping statements to yourself. Some examples are:
‘I will relax and accept what is happening to me’
‘I can be anxious and still deal with the situation’
‘I will let my body relax into whatever is going on. This will pass’
‘This does not feel good, but I can handle it’.
‘I choose to be calm and confident in every situation’
If you feel that you are anxious or stressed a lot of the time, doing visualisations could be very helpful for you. These can be undertaken two or three times a day or, if your situation allows it, when you start to feel scared or anxious. Sit upright on a chair, with your feet on the ground and your hands resting loosely on your knees. Keep all legs, arms, fingers or toes uncrossed! Mentally relax your muscles and take some nice deep breaths before you begin.
Below you will find an example of a visualisation that you can use. You can find many more on pre-recorded CD’s, downloads, in books and on the internet. It is useful to record them somewhere that you play back and follow while you are visualising. You may also want to write your own and record them; using imagery and settings that appeal to you and that you know that you can relax in.
Breathing in Sunshine Guided Visualisation
Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Imagine, visualise or sense yourself sitting in a rolling green meadow, dotted with white daisies and golden buttercups.. The sky above is a beautiful blue and the sun is shining. As you are sitting there, sense that a strong ray of golden sunshine is penetrating through the top of your head. See or imagine the warm, golden light of the sun fill your head and then move slowly down your body, filling all of your body cavity with a wonderful, soothing, golden light. As the light of the sun fills your body, dirty black smoke is being gently forced out of the soles of your feet. This is all the anxiety and negativity being pushed out and cleansed away. When your body is totally full of the glorious sunshine, and all of the dirty smoke has been expelled, let the light leave your body knowing that all your anxiety and fears have also gone. Find yourself in a crystal clear waterfall or pool, and bathe in the pure, cleansing water to wash away any lingering remnants of anxiety or fear. Sense yourself sealing up the top of your head and the soles of your feet and surrounding yourself in a protective cocoon of glowing white light. When you are ready, open your eyes and notice how calm, relaxed and wonderful you feel.
If you would like to learn more about coping with anxiety and learning to relax, contact cmhypnotherapy in Bushey, Hertfordshire
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