New Blog Added 09 June 2014. What happens to the mind in hypnosis?
Here is some helpful information to help understand about what happens to our brains in the hypnosis state.
Our brains continuously move between four naturally occurring states.
• Beta (Wide Awake. Fully Alert. Ordinary reality)
• Alpha (Deeply relaxed. Light hypnosis. Meditation. Daydreaming)
• Theta (Drowsy. Tranquil .Deep hypnosis, Intuition)
• Delta (Deeply unconscious. Sleep. Visiting other dimensions.)
Beta brain waves are associated with normal waking consciousness and a heightened state of alertness, logic and critical reasoning.
However when we enter into the hypnotic state our brain wave pattern changes, we enter the hypnotic state at the alpha level and this is where our brain wave pattern slows down.
When the hypnosis procedure begins there is a phase which the client enters that is known as the hypnodial state, this is the state between waking and sleeping where the client starts to feel relaxed, loose and comfortable and is the state we all experience just before we go to sleep and when we just wake up. During this stage the client is fully aware and conscious, but beginning to relax deeply and lose focus on their surroundings as they start to focus on the therapist’s voice. This stage is considered as a hypnotic state as the client is already beginning to accept suggestions as they relax down into hypnosis.
The next stage down is the very light trance state where the client feels lazy and lethargic and becomes more deeply relaxed.During this stage the therapist may expect to notice observable signs of hypnosis such as facial flushing or eye movement as the eyelids may flutter or eyeballs move around under the eyelids as the brain processes data. This shows the hypnotherapist that the client is moving down deeper, getting closer to the ideal state.
The next stage the client reaches on their journey down into hypnosis is the cataleptic trance which is a medium to deeper state. This is where the client becomes more deeply relaxed and loses focus completely on what is going on around them and starts to feel disconnected from their surroundings, they may even lose all sense of time. This is when the client enters an ideal hypnotic state. This is between the alpha and theta states and is a state which practically everyone can reach and is where most hypnotic work is actually carried out.
The upper reaches of the theta state are the ideal states as getting too lower down into the very deep levels may take the client into complete somnambulism where the subconscious mind may not want to engage on any level at all. This is because a client in this state is feeling extremely good and comfortable and does not want any distractions at all. In the somnambulistic state, major surgical procedures have been conducted with no need for any anaesthetic at all. It would be possible to insert a pin under a finger nail and a person in a somnambulistic state would feel nothing at all. This is not a productive state in which to engage in therapy.
During the ideal state between deep alpha and upper theta the client easily responds to the therapist’s voice and positive suggestions and even though the client has overall control of themselves in this state the hypnotherapist’s suggestions will have a very strong influence.
When the client returns to normal beta consciousness they may find that they have hypnotic amnesia. This is perfectly normal as the conscious mind has been bypassed.
Generally although most hypnotherapy takes place in the brainwave states between Alpha and Theta that it is the place where the unconscious part of our mind operates, it is perfectly possible to conduct successful hypnotherapy in the alpha state too.
The normal waking state is the beta state which is at 13-39 cycles per second whereas the alpha state (hypnosis) is 8-13 cycles per second.
The alpha state is the deeply relaxed light hypnosis subconscious state and is where the critical conscious faculty, the judgemental conscious mind with all of its hang ups and neurosis is bypassed and it is whilst in the subconscious hypnotized state that we can address the subconscious mind without ‘ourselves’ getting in the way. As cited above quite a lot of hypnosis work can be successfully conducted in the Alpha state.
The Theta state is the deeply hypnotized state where the subconscious mind operates. When the client is in hypnosis we can begin to reprogram the mind more easily at the subconscious level to so that the client can access their own inner resources and enable themselves to bring that change into the conscious mind. We are looking to create a balance of harmony between the conscious and the subconscious mind so that they can work together to bring about positive change.
The subconscious state of hypnosis allows our subconscious mind to accept new suggestions rather like reprogramming a hard drive on your pc. Addressing the subconscious mind allows us to change perceptions, thinking, beliefs and accept positive suggestion to help us improve our lives.
Hypnosis is a process that creates a balanced state between the left and right hemispheres of the brain, a state that is temporarily created in hypnosis where both hemispheres exists in harmony with one another which produces and altered state of consciousness.
When a hypnotic procedure is used we are addressing the right side of the brain,(the subconscious mind) by means of words, (the use of the conscious mind)
The purpose of the use of a hypnotic induction is to create that bridge between the parts of the mind the left to the right. Once that bridge is established the hypnotic state can be established and the therapy work with positive suggestion can begin.
All hypnosis is in fact self hypnosis and whether one learns self hypnosis or has someone hypnotize them, we are all capable of tapping into the power of our subconscious mind and creating phenomenal positive change.
http://www.trevorwaleshypnotherapysolutions.co.uk/blog/famous-people-who-have-used-hypnotherapy
Tiger Woods is one such famous person who puts a large part of his success down to the life changing benefits that using self hypnosis has brought to perfecting his visualisation,focus and golf playing skills.
The keys to success are consistency and perseverance. Change is not always instantaneous but by accessing our subconscious minds we CAN determine our own results.
Being a therapist with a range of therapy skills brings to mind the fact that as therapists we each have a set of keys. We wont know for certain if that key will fit that lock and unlock the jail in the clients mind until we try, but having more than one key equips us with a variety of options to find the right one that unlocks the door for the client and helps them to access their inner resources and change their minds and change their lives. When that right key is found the changes can often occur very quickly much to the delight of the client.
Most people believe they can’t be hypnotized but they are quite wrong as it is a naturally occurring state.
We all enter hypnosis numerous times each and every day, for e.g. on a long car journey where everything is mainly on autopilot. How many times have you driven from a –b and can’t remember key points of the journey?
We enter hypnosis when engrossed in a pc game or good book or film and when we go to sleep. Hypnosis is totally natural.
Since all hypnosis is self hypnosis we can decide whether we are going to allow ourselves to enter the state voluntarily and so we can either be resistive and we may not even understand why or we can freely submit and reap the benefits. The vast majority of people who try hypnosis freely submit to the process and find that it is very enjoyable and very relaxing.
So which kind of person might find it difficult to enter hypnosis then?
In most cases the critical thinkers with analytical personalities who do not like to lose control are most likely the very people who will hold back until they are 100% totally sure it is safe, but here is an interesting thing, when they can convince themselves they are the very best subjects as they are already so very good at being disciplined in control and focussed.
Most people who have never experienced hypnosis don’t really know what to expect during their first hypnosis session. What is it like?
Hypnosis is like the day dream state where you are aware and at the same time not aware. Hypnosis can be successfully conducted in the Alpha state which is light trance where you are most likely to be aware of all that is going on around you. However for more complex deeply rooted problems which require Hypno- analysis and regression, more long term change work and growth is best carried out whilst the client is in the Theta state.
How deep in trance should I be?
The depth of trance that can be experienced is determined by two things. How deep the client can let themselves go and of course the skill of the hypnotherapist in guiding the client down into hypnosis. Some work requires only light trance whereas other more in depth work may require a good depth of trance. Generally the deeper you can go the more effective the process will be
Some people will tell you they remember everything and feel like they haven’t been in hypnosis at all whilst some people experience what we call hypnotic amnesia and forget fragments.
Others fall so deeply into trance that they remember nothing at all. This is what we call the Theta state and beyond that is the Delta state which is sleep.
In the Theta state the brain waves register at 4-8 cycles per second and the Delta state registers at between .5-4 cycles per second.
Theta--The theta state is the meditation, deeper hypnosis, and light sleep state. This is also the lucid dreaming state and OBE state (out of body experience) in which our brain is operating in the 4-8 Hz range. We get there through guided meditations that take us on a journey deep within ourselves. We also, of course, can get there through going to sleep.
Delta-- Delta is the deep sleep, healing state, generating brain waves in the 0.5-4 Hz range. This occurs during our sleep cycles at night.
Now here is an interesting thing. Even if the client falls into sleep state which sometimes occurs, once the bridge is established during hypnosis , the subconscious can still absorb the suggestion because the subconscious mind never sleeps .it is always active.
Its job is to protect you and regulate your bodily functions such as your breathing and your blood flow and your heart beating.
Did you ever wonder why you wake up at night to a strange noise and wonder why? Or did you ever move from a really noisy area to a quite area and find you cannot sleep for a period of time? That is your subconscious mind on duty. Pattern matching and remaining alert at all times. So in the case of a sudden noise your subconscious mind detects this as something out of the ordinary and Bingo! Your awake! So you see the subconscious mind never ever sleeps.
This fact was established many years ago by Hypnotherapist Dave Elman when he discovered that even anaesthetised patients undergoing surgery where susceptible to suggestion even though the surgeons were not aware of the power of their own language. Dave educated surgeons about the importance of clean language avoiding suggestions that a person would take a long time to recover and that they would “really feel it” for example. Dave spent hundreds of hours assessing what happened in theatre and noted the differences between positive suggestion, no suggestions and sometimes negative misplaced suggestions. Although written in the 1950’s his seminal work ‘Hypnotherapy’ is regarded by many hypnotherapists as a classic. You can still order it through the likes of Amazon
How do I know if I am accessing a deep enough trance?
Firstly your therapist will be guiding you and there is usually a period of a few weeks before the main session where you will be encouraged to work on simple relaxation hypnosis usually recorded onto CD. The reason for this is to condition yourself to enter this state at will, which do not forget you already know how to experience naturally and automatically but you need to be taught at first how to get your body and mind used to invoking the hypnotic state at will. Like anything else it is practice makes perfect and the more you practice the easier you will find it to go deeper and deeper into hypnosis.
As pointed out above some hypnosis work takes place perfectly well in the alpha state and it isn't always necessary to get into the deeper states.
The alpha wave states can be used for inspiration and creativity and rapid learning whereas the theta states are best used for visualisation and suggestion work dealing with more complex emotional problems
The deeper states also lend themselves to be used for lucid dreaming and non ordinary reality change work i.e remote viewing, psychic development.
What are the observable signs of hypnosis and how do I know I am under?
During hypnosis the body undergoes certain physical changes so the therapist is perfectly able to tell whether a client has entered hypnosis. The first tests are the client accepting instruction and altering their breathing pattern on suggestion by the therapist and then with eye closure and the suggestion that the eyelids are so heavy they cannot be opened even when the suggestion is given for the eyes to open. Other observable signs of hypnosis are deep relaxation, if one raises an arm or hand it just flops back down or stays in place upon the suggestion of the therapist. Also we look for facial flushing and rapid eye movement through closed eyelids. The eyelids can be seen to flutter as the brain is processing information. Also redness around the eyes is another sign a client is in hypnosis.
So although the client may not feel as if they are in hypnosis because their pre judged expectations lead them to believe they will enter a zombie like state, the therapist is always watching and testing.
People often ask is hypnosis safe. In nearly 99% of cases it is and it is only in a few instances where it would not be recommended, Epilepsy, Heart conditions and psychotic behaviour.
You can’t get stuck in hypnosis and although you can be made to do something you wouldn't ordinarily find yourself doing which is the whole point of hypnosis to eliminate a block or overcome fear or find ways to improve skills, it is nigh on impossible to make someone do something against their will. The only way this is possible is through a lengthy programme of unethical covert brainwashing techniques and that is not going to happen when you see a fully qualified,registered hypnotherapist who has public liability insurance and works to a strict governing bodies code of ethics.
