A lot of people think when they’re Hypnotized they’re going to be asleep.
Where do they get that idea? From television and stage Hypnosis. For whatever reason, Hypnotists in those circumstances use the word “Sleep” when what they really mean is “close your eyes and be relaxed.”
Of course, it doesn’t help much that the word “Hypnosis” is derived from a Greek word for sleep. It was first coined around 1841 by a Scottish surgeon named James Braid. It was originally intended to mean a “sleep” of the nervous system where the person experiencing Hypnosis would become physically relaxed and focused on a single idea while minimizing distractions.
Later, Braid regretted using the word “Hypnosis” or “Hypnotism” because it encouraged the misconception that when a person was Hypnotized that they went to “sleep”. Here’s an excerpt from “Hypnotic Therapeutics written by Braid in 1853:
It is of great importance that it should be clearly understood by patients, that it is by no means generally requisite that they should lapse into the state of unconsciousness in order to ensure the salutary effects of the nervous sleep. Many imagine, that unless they become torpid and insensible, no beneficial effect can ensue. This is a complete misapprehension, for the happy results of innumerable cases treated with the greatest success by hypnotism, clearly prove, that cases which had resisted all ordinary treatment by the exhibition of medicines and external applications, have readily yielded to the impression made on the nervous system by this peculiar influence, even when they were perfectly conscious of all that was done, and could remember, after awaking, every circumstance that had happened during the nervous sleep. This was strikingly verified in my own case, when I cured myself of a violent rheumatic attack by throwing myself into the nervous sleep [i.e., into self-hypnosis] for eight or nine minutes, from which I was aroused perfectly free from pain, although I had been perfectly conscious all the while.
When clients come into my office, explain to them that Hypnosis is a natural, normal experience for all of us. You don’t have to be relaxed even!When you’re watching a sport being played, you’re in a state of focus to the extent that things around you seem to fade away. And even when an athlete is playing a sport, they are in a state of Hypnosis. In fact, the more they are into that state of Hypnosis, the better they play!
Of course, most of my clients do get very relaxed in one of my big, comfortable recliners. Sometimes they do go to sleep. Sometimes they’re awake and alert all the way through. Most of the time, they drift back and forth between a very relaxed state and a relaxed, but aware state. It doesn’t matter! Even when we’re deep asleep, we still hear. You did know that didn’t you? When you go to sleep, you close your eyes, but not your ears.
That’s why I give my clients Hypnosis CDs I produce for them to listen to while they’re sleeping. Even in their sleep, they’re getting powerful, positive suggestions to help reduce stress while at the same time making the positive changes they want to make.
For the 4th year in a row, I’m on the Faculty of the National Guild of Hypnotists. I’ll be teaching a two day workshop -- “Fun/Effective Hypnosis For Children And Teens Plant The Positive Seeds Of Hypnosis When They Are Young”. If you’re a Hypnotist and want to feel more confident working with young clients and teens – this is the workshop where you will learn so many techniques that will help you do just that! And you’ll be able to put them to work with your clients as soon as you get back to your office – even the older children (the ones we call “Adults”).
Here’s a link to the information about the workshop on the National Guild of Hypnotists website: http://www.ngh.net/conv/2011/229.pdf
