Hypnosis HQ

Hypnosis: Can You Hypnotize Me to Believe in It?

2008-04-22T07:48:00.000-07:00

The Webster’s New International Dictionary defines hypnosis as “the induction of a state resembling sleep or somnambulism, which is called hypnosis or hypnotic sleep; also loosely - the induced state of hypnosis.”

There are degrees of hypnosis which have been characterized as “lethargic, cataleptic and somnambulistic hypnosis; and again, simply as light and heavy hypnotic sleep, with corresponding variations in suggestibility.”

However, Encyclopedia Britannica further states “there remains no generally acceptable explanation for hypnosis, though one prominent theory focuses on the possibility of discrete dissociative states affecting portions of consciousness.”

The word hypnosis is derived from the Greek word hypnos, meaning sleep. Hypnotism is often presumed to make someone go under a state of reduced consciousness while the person remains awake. The general behavior of those under hypnosis are being extremely positive to suggestions, and achieving a high level of relaxation. Daydreaming is another activity likened to hypnotism, wherein a person looks oblivious to his surroundings yet experiencing heightened imagination – depending on how light the trance is.

There are two ways by which hypnosis is performed: (1) hetero-hypnosis, wherein a hypnotist induces a state of being in trance and being open to suggestions; and (2) auto-hypnosis, wherein the state is self-induced.

The results are the same. Any suggestion that is carried out a period of time after hypnosis, is known as post-hypnotic suggestion.
Believe it or not, we experience being hypnotized everyday – following the definition of hypnosis as being in a trance-like state, or intensely focusing on a particular activity/subject thus tuning out almost everything else internally and otherwise.

Ever been so engrossed with a movie or a book that you did not immediately notice someone calling you already at the top of his voice? Reading, writing, closely listening to a record are examples of activities that can put us in a light trance, and altering our attention such that we can become extremely attentive to these, that we unconsciously shut off outside subjects vying for our attention.

Furthermore, we sometimes become so affected by the imaginary world of a daydream or a chapter of a book that our emotions take over. We cry over an affecting song, feel fear as the villain gets near the hero’s hiding place, or even scream over a particularly frightening scene.

This kind of phenomenon, referred to as self-hypnosis, is so common and so human a trait that Milton Erickson, a hypnotism expert in the 20th century, concluded that people hypnotize themselves on a daily basis.

Note then, that this kind of “everyday trance” is different from the trance brought about by deep hypnosis, and is comparable to that relaxed mental state between wakefulness and sleep. There is also a difference between auto-hypnosis, where the state of extreme suggestibility is self-induced; and hetero-hypnosis, where it is induced by a hypnotist or another person. All these we will try to explain further in the succeeding chapters.

In all of the above mentioned categories, the hypnotized person, as stated in the Encyclopedia Britannica, “seems to respond in an uncritical, automatic fashion, ignoring aspects of the environment (e.g., sights, sounds) not pointed out by the hypnotist. Even the subject's memory and awareness of self may be altered by suggestions, and the effects of the suggestions may be extended (post-hypnotically) into the subject's subsequent waking activity…”

In self-induced hypnotism, a person feels relaxed and very open. As in while buried in a book or engrossed in a film, concerns about the “real world” seems forgotten for a while and temporarily escaped from.

This is parallel to hypnosis with the aid of a hypnotist. If the hypnotist states the person under his “spell” is in extreme heat, the person may start to sweat and experience high temperature, even if it the atmosphere is perfectly fine. If he suggests to a timid and painfully shy person that he is in fact an extremely confident man who is so sure of himself, the person may suddenly feel open to socializing with other people, strangers even.

But every person practicing hypnotism worth his work is the first to admit that the effect is only temporary. For example, a person can be made to quit smoking by suggesting through hypnosis that the smoke is poisonous and deadly. That person then starts to become adverse to smoke, and feel nauseous whenever he gets near it. Thus, he may shun cigarettes. But if this is not followed up by corresponding therapy and other methods geared for long-term results, the habit will come back eventually.

Another proven limitation of hypnotism is even while under it, a person’s common sense, principles, beliefs and life convictions remain unchanged throughout and after the experience. No one can also be hypnotized against his will, because the mind has to be willingly and consciously open to be affected by the hypnotist’s suggestions.

For example, hypnotism cannot make a Muslim eat pork or a Superman fan fly out of a window. Since the mind is still fully alert – only this time the subconscious is more open – the person’s sense of safety is still on guard. His sensibilities will continue to govern his decision-making process.

Then again, we can never really be sure. One story goes saying a man, undergoing hypnosis to boost his self-confidence, was told by the hypnotist that he “could do anything, anything as long as he puts his mind into it.” For more effect, the hypnotist says: “Why, you could even rob a bank if you want to.” Although the hypnotist may have meant the statement only as a metaphor, his subject then proceeds to rob a bank a couple of days later!

A study says that on the average, 25 out of 100 people can be hypnotized very easily. Almost all children belong to this group, who are perceived to be highly susceptible to suggestion. This ratio varies according to the hypnotist’s personality, technique, and experience. The success of the hypnotist also depends on the subject’s personality, attention span, and mental status at the moment. Interestingly, while it seems rational that persons with high intellect cannot be easily hypnotized because of their capacity to process all information that gets into their brain – it is in fact the opposite. It is believed that intelligent people are also the most creative – thus they can easily associate the hypnotist’s word play with their own visual or sensory representations.

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Hypnosis: Fact or Fraud?

2008-04-22T07:38:00.000-07:00

“The Sleeping Prophet” Edgar Cayce would command himself to engage in out-of-body experiences and near-death experiences through self-hypnosis. Under a trance state, he would give readings and diagnoses to people he has never met. His followers documented almost 14,000 journeys unto the spirit realm, made through his subconscious mind – or what Cayce referred to as the soul.

Sensational historian David Lewis revealed that Adolf Hitler was once hypnotized and this may have been the root of the kind of life he has led. Lewis claimed that in 1918, Hitler believed he has gone completely blind – despite diagnoses of doctors that nothing is wrong with his eyes. Through hypnosis, a doctor suggested to Hitler that indeed, he has lost his eyesight – but through will power he can make himself see again. “That’s because God made him an exceptional person,” the good doctor added. “Since then,” Lewis said, “the hypnosis marked Hitler so much that he took life believing he was exceptional, and the rest, as they say, is history. “

Robert F. Kennedy’s assassin was under the influence of a mastermind through hypnotism during the assassination, and was said to have shown robotic, trance-like movements and repeated “RFK must die” over and over again during police interrogation.

Have you read about clairvoyants reaching into other dimensions to get rare or secret information? How about mediums meddling with the underworld and calling the dead? Hypnosis stories – are they for real?

Hypnosis may be one of the most debated upon and controversial topics known to us, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get our facts right. Before we delve further in our study of mind control and its twists and turns, let’s try to get our facts straight first. Here are some of the most popular – yet unproven – takes on hypnosis.

The Powerful Mystical Mysterious Master Hypnotist
No, he doesn’t have supernatural powers. He’s not casting an ancient spell. He’s not an apostle of Satan. Neither is he a saint.

Your friendly neighborhood hypnotist – be he a licensed doctor or a new-age practitioner – does not possess that special kind of “animal magnetism” either. That theory has long been dismissed, as early as in the 17th century. Today, it is proven that to be able to initiate a hypnotism session, the hypnotist may merely provide a very specific visual element to focus on, some soothing music perhaps, and a very convincing, authoritative spiel repeated in a monotone. You need only to be relaxed, aware, and willing to be hypnotized. Of course, the effects of hypnosis can rely on the hypnotist’s ability and experience; as well as the motivation and mental conditioning of the subject.

The Dreamer
People claiming they are under hypnosis – are they dreaming?
The opposite is true – when you are under hypnosis, rather than sleeping, you are actually fully alert. In fact, more alert than normal. Being under hypnotism requires your mind to focus intensely, whether it’s the swinging motion of the pendulum clock, the monotone pattern of the hypnotist’s voice, and the sound of your own breathing as you relax. For your subconscious to take over, you need to concentrate intently. Under a state of trance, you will still be fully aware of the things you will be saying and doing, as suggested upon by the hypnotist – including activities not related to sleeping, such as walking, running around, reading, laughing, and even acting like a chicken.

The Live Chicken-Eating Girl
No way! Not eating live chicken, unless of course, you really prefer such gastronomic experiment.

It was widely believed that hypnotists can turn people into zombie-like, robotic creatures ready to obey their master’s bid and call. Popular culture portrayed hypnotized people to behave differently, or do extraordinary, life-threatening, illegal or immoral acts.

Sorry to disappoint you and your cinematic notions, but hypnotism cannot force you to do things against your will (unless the hypnotist is pointing a gun at you – but that’s a stickup). You, an ordinary, law-abiding citizen, will not turn wild and go trashing people’s windshields when under hypnosis. You will still maintain your principles; even if instructed, you won’t trample upon your religion’s holiest shrine. Your sense of right and wrong will remain intact. Nobody can make you strip in front of a crowd - unless you want to. 

The hypnotist can only make suggestions that can alter your consciousness, making you more open and easily “manipulated” – to a certain extent. People who have experienced stage hypnotism said that they can refuse to follow the hypnotist’s suggestions, just that “it’s easier to follow him.” This is so because the active, aggressive, decision-making part of the consciousness becomes timid when under a trance. So it is “easier” to just automatically respond to suggestions. To some extent, the hypnotist can control the actions and the way his subjects behave. Conversely, the effect of hypnosis also depends upon your motivation, willingness, and faith to make it work for you.

The Deranged Hit Man
It was formerly believed that the perfect assassin is one under the influence of hypnotism - someone who will be intensely focused on the task, every obstacle trampled upon; someone who will be so sure to get the job done efficiently and cleanly; a lean, mean killing machine. Snap out of it! You may have been watching too many movies and television shows.

As stated, no amount of hypnotism can force anybody to act against his instincts or his moral principles. Yes, you may not help but chuckle like a chicken when, for example, you were chosen as a participant in a hypnotism show. But you may opt not to pull that trigger given that one evil hypnotist tells you to do so. When someone mentions a suggestion as serious as this, something in your mind clicks off automatically and lets you decide rationally. Like when you’re tipsy, you may sing “My Way” without inhibitions and with all the vocal calisthenics you could muster; but you are still aware and you can cut off the song (and probably release your audience from further discomfort) any moment you want to.

One theory on the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy was that the accused did the act because he was hypnotized. It was said that the assassin showed behavior typical of a hypnotized individual. Witnesses said he “moved like a robot” during the time he shot RFK. Tests showed that he is a highly suggestible, easily hypnotic subject. Still nothing of these was acknowledged, or even presented to the court.

But hey, that’s another story – or remake of “The Manchurian Candidate” - altogether.

The All-Around Wonder Drug
On the other side of the spectrum, while some people perceive hypnosis as evil and manipulative, some have prescribed it as a cure-all for all kinds of conditions - from weight loss to finding the “key” to financial success. Hypnotists claim they can help a person quit smoking through a number of techniques. One is by suggesting that cigarette smoke will cause him to feel nauseous – so that every time somebody lights up a stick, the patient will start to feel dizzy and may even feel like throwing up.

Insomniacs or people having trouble with sleeping have been said to get their first night’s sound sleep after being treated through hypnosis. Testimonials all over the internet have also asserted that hypnotism have improved their capacity to learn, the sharpness of their memory, their performance in sports, or their intelligence. Behavior can also be modified. Even speech defects, physical limitations, and your personality can experience dramatic changes. Your whole life can even make a turnaround with the help of hypnosis. You can be so effective a businessperson that you can experience financial growth. You can be so attractive that you can marry anyone you fancy!

Sounds outstanding – but is hypnotism really that effective?

Yes and No.

Yes, hypnotism really has been used as part of the treatment and therapy of various physical and psychological conditions. Through its ability to tap into the subconscious and to intensify focus and concentration, hypnosis can help you be more attuned with your intellectual and emotional capacity; thus helping you modify your habits and behaviors, or wield more control over the way you think and analyze.

But no, it is not the cure-all for your problems. It is not proven to be effective every time, as often claimed. The United States general surgeon reports there is “insufficient evidence to support hypnosis as a treatment for smoking cessation.” Again, the effectiveness of hypnotism depends on each and every different case it is being used for.

Indeed, it will not hurt to try hypnotism; but don’t rely on it too much either. It may help you and may change your life forever. It may also work for you for an allotted period only. Or it may not – and you may walk out of another hypnotism session unchanged and still be the same old self. Your results will depend on a lot of other factors aside from hypnosis, such as determination, motivation, and will power. Your destiny is still in your own hands.

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Hypnosis: Introduction

2008-04-22T07:33:00.000-07:00

"You are completely relaxed... you feel warm and comfortable … you feel you really need to close your eyes and sleep... your eyelids are getting heavy... heavier... and heavier... slowly, you close them... now they are closed... you are getting sleepier.... and sleepier.... you are going to SLEEP...... deeper and deeper asleep... SLEEP!"

Many of us are familiar with this scene: A bizarre-looking man holds a clock pendant and continuously, determinedly swings it in front of a vulnerable, lost-looking young woman. He utters the phrase repeatedly, in slower and lower intonation: “You’re getting sleepy… You’re getting sleepy…” The girl stares blankly into the clock. The world turns and swirls around her, spiraling and spiraling. Then eventually, she starts to act like (a) a zombie, (b) a vamp, (c) a chicken, or (d) all of the above simultaneously.

Thanks to popular culture, hypnotism has achieved an eerie, mystical, otherworldly and sometimes evil reputation. While the scenario illustrated above may have a little ring of truth to it (Hypnosis using verbal suggestion is powerful; and people under hypnosis can be made to believe and therefore act as a different identity), there is certainly a lot more than meets the eye about hypnotism.

Doubtless one of the most intriguing – yet also one of the most bewildering – topics to come across man, hypnotism transcends boundaries as it continues to be studied, analyzed, and interpreted in diverse fields of wisdom. From medicine, psychology, new age, self-help, religion, history, media and popular culture, hypnotism is accorded with different meanings, interpretations, and uses: the conclusions never final, the reports ever-evolving.

This may be rooted from one thesis: that studying hypnotism would inevitably mean studying the human mind, and definitely the human mind is an ever-changing overlapping universe of significance, interpretation, and purpose.

In this e-book, we will try to touch on the different aspects of understanding hypnotism, and how it was and still is being utilized (or condemned by some parties), for various reasons. There is even a chapter or two on do-it-yourself hypnotism. So, read on and judge for yourself. Join me as we try to discuss some of the major points of view regarding mind control. Explore – or reject – the possibility of controlling the human mind and the life of the person possessing it. But please – should you decide to move further into the topic – let us be clear. Nobody is controlling your decision, and anything you will be engaging in shall be done on your own free will!

Next: Hypnosis: Fact or Fraud?