The Lies and Truth about Hypnosis

When hearing the word “hypnosis” many immediately think of an old man with a pocket watch controlling an unwilling subject. The person appears asleep, often frightening events are recovered and, ultimately, the person emerges with sweat and panic. This is the hypnosis of the movies.

Then there are those amazing hypnotists at comedy clubs or colleges who mesmerize the audience with their power. They display their incredible ability to make people do things that embarrass them like barking like a dog, sexual acts or even forgetting their name. They argue that they introduce hypnosis to a larger audience and, to their credit many people emerge with a new understanding and interest in this cool process. Unfortunately, there are also some audience members who get scared.

While the previous examples can be entertaining in a weird way, the actual experience of hypnosis is much more profound and enjoyable than depicted in the movies or on stage. These performances can demonstrate the power of the mind but have caused much fear in people who contact me asking, “Is it dangerous?”  Here are the common myths of hypnosis and the real truth about this wonderful process:

1.    The hypnotist has power over his/her subject -  FALSE
The hypnotist or hypnotherapist is simply a guide to help the client/subject enter into the trance state. The person is in complete control of their experience and can open their eyes at any time. They can also reject any idea that does not match their moral beliefs. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis – there is no difference. The subject is completely in charge of how deep they go into the state. Some naturally enter more easily than others. You will notice the stage hypnotist will bring several subjects on stage and test to find the one out of the crowd that is more suggestible. About one in ten people are highly hypnotizable.

2.    You are knocked out and unconscious – FALSE
Depending on the depth of trance, most subjects hear everything and are very conscious of what is going on around them. Actually, the state helps the subject become hyper-aware of subtle sounds as their mind is more focused on the present moment. (Hypnosis is a great training tool for those with ADD.) Subjects almost always remember everything that occurs in a session. The feeling is similar to being absorbed in a good movie.

3.    Some people cannot be hypnotized – TRUE
Hypnosis is a natural state that every person enters in and out every day. It is the state of mind you enter just before drifting off to sleep and upon awakening. People experience a trance state when they are driving a familiar route, watching television or a movie, or even listening to an engaging speaker.  With that said, there are some people who cannot use hypnosis as a therapeutic tool because of mental impairments. This myth is a convenient excuse for someone who is not properly trained in hypnosis. Most failure rates are caused by the lack of rapport between the client and the hypnotist. No one can be hypnotized against their will. If proper rapport is not established, the client will refuse to relax.

4.     Hypnosis erases parts of your mind – FALSE
The hypnotic experience alone does not erase things from your brain or mind. What hypnosis does is create a relaxed state of mind so that the subject can work with his/her subconscious beliefs and amend them. The subject does the changing by accepting new ideas and beliefs in the state by working with the framework of their existing beliefs. Since all of our memories are part fact and part fantasy, the subject can rewrite the “story” in the subconscious mind so that the emotional reaction or thought patterns shift to become more in line with the person’s personal goals. For example, the hypnotist does not erase smoking from a person’s mind but can reframe the idea of smoking to be something unpleasant so that the subject will have no desire for the cigarette after the session. If a person has negative self-talk, the hypnotist can guide the subject to find resources in the subconscious that help to foster love and acceptance. The person starts to feel different, more confident after the session. If there is a belief that the subject will never find love, the hypnosis state can allow them to daydream being in a great relationship and change the belief on the deep subconscious level.

5.    Hypnosis is only good for people who are dumb and gullible – FALSE
Actually, the smarter the subject, the easier it is for him/her to go into a hypnotic trance and have great results. Not sure why this is, but research has shown that the higher the intelligence, the more responsive the subject is to hypnosis.

The best aspect of hypnosis is the feeling you get in the state and after you come out. Many clients have claimed to feel light, joyful, and even giggly afterward. Some have the experience of floating weightless in a warm, wonderful cushion of comfort. This state is a natural high as your body returns back to homeostasis and reduces stress naturally.  There are so many modalities that claim to shift subconscious belief systems, but I find that hypnosis is the fastest, easiest and most enjoyable of the bunch.

How Hypnosis Works:
Since a majority of your thoughts are the same every day, you experience the same situations and people throughout your life that reflect the fixed ideas in your subconscious mind. All of your behaviors, thoughts and beliefs run deep in your subconscious on autopilot. Most of these ideas were stored before the age of ten and you have probably outgrown most of them. By updating the subconscious with new “adult perspective” information, your subconscious will take them on and automatically act differently.  Your conscious will is only part of the equation; you must have your subconscious in alignment with the new idea in order for the belief to stick.

Hypnosis allows the mind to be more open for change. In a relaxed state of mind, you can retrain your thinking to be in alignment with new ideas that you choose to give you the life experience you really want. Feeding the mind with suggestions in a hypnotic trance, the subconscious takes these ideas literally and will not kick them out like it does when you are not in trance. For example, if you are tired of struggling with your weight, hypnosis can transform beliefs about what food you like, how fast you chew and even motivate you to get to the gym. Daily self-hypnosis with supportive suggestions acts like training wheels for your subconscious mind. Usually after 30-60 days, the new behavioral change is permanent.

Many of my clients tell me that the process feels like magic. After years of struggling with an issue, they find their self-talk transforming and their behaviors more supportive to their goals. Affirmations are not enough. One suggestion in hypnosis is equal to one thousand affirmations. This is the fastest and most effective self-help system available.  Everybody should give hypnosis a chance to work for them.

Hypnosis for New Year’s Resolutions

How to quit habits and change old patterns with hypnosis. Listen to Deb’s ABC News interview about how hypnosis can shift subconscious behaviors.

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Hypnotic Coaching – An alternative to therapy

Sick of long-drawn out therapy and need a quick shift. Hypnotic-Coaching is a combination of life coaching with the power of hypnosis. This new way of taking control of your mind and your life can help you lose weight, attract love, increase wealth and even find a job.  Debra offers Express Coaching packages with no long-term contracts (because you won’t need it).

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Hypnotic Videos – ABC News Interview

Hear Debra explain how you can be hypnotized while watching television and about her hypnotic-videos that people can watch and change behavior.

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Hypnosis, The Mind and Your Life

Hear a recent talk by Debra Berndt about how our mind works and how your thinking impacts your life. This was a small gathering in New York City on March 1, 2009. The quality is not great because of the low lighting. Be sure to check out my other post where I do a live hypnosis session.

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Live Hypnosis Sample Video

Check out Debra Berndt’s Hypnotic Sample Session at the Spread the Love in NYC event in March, 2009. Take your mind on vacation and relax and enjoy a simple technique to bring your awareness to joy and love.

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Attract Men with Hypnosis

Do you want to know the secret on how to attract men with hypnosis? Most hypnotists will tell you that you should use manipulative hypnotic techniques on the object of your desire. This type of trick is temporary and will not get you closer to attracting your true love.  You may have a fun night out on the town, but aren’t you tired of those? Don’t you want something a little deeper?

The more powerful way to attract men is to use hypnosis on yourself. Self-hypnosis is a great way to change limiting beliefs on the subconscious level so that you can improve your confidence, sense of self-worth and feel more attractive. Not only will you attract more men, but they will want to hang out because your authentic confidence is not an act that will wear off.

How does it work? By relaxing the mind, you open a doorway to the subconscious (the real source of your self-worth) and activate those positive, supportive ideas that help you naturally be more attractive. Affirmations just sit on the surface of your mind and rarely change the subconscious belief system. It takes 1,000 affirmations to equal ONE suggestion in hypnosis!

Think about how much more powerful you will be in a shorter amount of time. It takes 30-60 days to make a permanent shift in the subconscious.  Haven’t you waited long enough?

Don’t be fooled by fancy hypnotic tricks, the real change starts within you. By listening to self-hypnosis, your subconscious mind will be reminded about how wonderful you are and then you will be expressing that incredible self to the world. Men will notice you.

Financial Stress & Hypnosis

How to Use Self-Hypnosis To Reverse a Limiting Belief

Step 1: Discover the Limiting Belief (exact wording-in your language)

Step 2: Write Your Suggestions

Brainstorm phrases to reverse the belief. So if the limiting belief is that you are not worthy. You would reverse it by saying “I am worthy” as well as all the supporting evidence that you are worthy. You can also put in your session to ask your subconscious show you all the reasons why you are _____ (or whatever your new belief is)

Tips for effective suggestions:
•Believable – Make sure you make your suggestions somewhat believable and attainable.
•Positive – Avoid Negative Words – Avoid using negative words like “not,” “won’t,” “no” or “don’t.” You subconscious mind does not hear the negatives, only general ideas.
•Present Tense – Do not put “I will feel worthy now” because the word “will” suggests to your subconscious mind that the experience is coming in the future, not right now. The subconscious mind thinks only in the present tense so the idea of future never manifests. Do not mention the past.
•Simple – Avoid using big words as your inner mind has the mentality of a bright nine year old.
•Specific/Accurate – Use incremental steps if necessary and state your goals as accurate as possible.
•Realistic – Avoid using general terms like always, never,
•Use Action – State progression of steps to achieve the goal.
•Use Emotion – Use emotional words to excite the imagination of your subconscious.
•Repetition – Repeat some main ideas over at least three times each throughout the session.

Step 3: Enter into a trance (One suggestion in hypnosis has the power of 1,000 affirmations)! All you need to do is close your eyes and relax your mind and focus inward just a bit to experience hypnosis, it is really easy. Then repeat in your mind your suggestions or record them into a voice recorder and play them back to you with soft, relaxing music every day.

Step 4: Accept the New Belief
It takes 30-60 days to completely shift an idea in the subconscious so be patient.

If you are having trouble accepting the new belief, check to see if there is a conflict in your subconscious (a negative payoff you get from staying in the old pattern).

If you don’t like to do this on your own, get one of my guided self-hypnosis programs to assist you in the shift at my online store

Speed Dating Tips on Love Coach Show

Tune in to the Love Coach Show Today at 4:30pm when Love Coaches Debra Berndt and DeAnne Hirsch discuss tips for speed dating.  Come back here to listen to the replay or listen live every Wednesday at 4:30pm on Real Coaching Radio Network. Find out how to attract healthy dating relationships!

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