Can hypnosis unlock buried memories and emotions?

Hypnosis has ancient origins, dating back thousands of years. It involves entering a trance, which is a natural mental state that you experience daily. Essentially, it is an altered state of consciousness where you are neither fully asleep nor completely alert. A typical example is when you watch a movie. If you find the movie enjoyable, your conscious mind temporarily stops focusing on your immediate environment as you immerse yourself in the on-screen world. Without entering a light trance while watching, these programs wouldn't be as enjoyable.

To find a film and its plot entertaining, you must immerse yourself in the characters, perceiving them as real people. We all recognize how disappointing a movie is when we fail to connect with the characters, making them unconvincing—the film loses its captivating power and ceases to entertain. A hypnotic trance is essentially a state of deep relaxation that produces alpha and sometimes theta waves in the brain. Occasionally, a person can be in a deep trance without realizing it, simply feeling very relaxed. In rare instances, they might even believe they have fallen asleep!

Anyone can be hypnotized, as all forms of hypnosis essentially involve self-hypnosis. To be hypnotized, a person must be willing to relinquish control to the hypnotist. Without the subject's willing participation, a hypnotist has little power. It is very challenging to hypnotize someone who is heavily intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, as these individuals are already in a self-induced trance, making it nearly impossible to guide them into another altered state. Additionally, it is impossible to hypnotize someone who is firmly opposed to undergoing hypnosis.

Hypnotherapy is a specialized form of hypnosis primarily utilized by healthcare professionals. Since hypnosis is a highly effective tool for accessing the subconscious mind, it can be used to treat many emotionally induced illnesses. As the medical field increasingly recognizes the mind's influence on illness and healing, it has been found that certain physical conditions, such as warts and skin disorders like eczema, can be effectively treated with hypnosis. In essence, hypnotherapy is an alternative therapy that employs hypnosis as a catalyst to facilitate inner change in a patient, which might otherwise require months or even years of conventional therapy methods.

Hypnosis is entirely safe! It serves as an effective and swift way to achieve a deeply relaxed, natural state of mind and body. There are no drugs used, no unpleasant or unwanted side effects, and it is not addictive in any way. All you need is a comfortable chair, couch, or bed, a willingness to relax and let go, and either a trained professional or a professional recording to follow.

You maintain control over yourself before, during, and after a hypnosis session. Even if you are a particularly "good subject" and might forget the experience afterward, you remain aware of what is happening during the session. You cannot be compelled to do or say anything that contradicts your moral or ethical beliefs, regardless of what Hollywood portrays in "The Manchurian Candidate." You will hear everything said to you and be aware of everything occurring around you. Many people actually become more sensitive to their surroundings, with heightened senses, noticing even the smallest details while in trance. Naturally, you return to normal once you "wake up."

The vast majority of people remember everything that was said to them by the therapist when the hypnosis session is over. In fact it's a pretty good bet to say that everyone who reads this article will be in that group.

It is the job of a hypnotherapist to make you feel comfortable before, during and after a session so if, at anytime, you feel uncomfortable with what the therapist is doing or saying tell them to stop! In order to get the most from any hypnosis session you must be able to relate to the hypnotist or hypnotherapist and trust them. For this reason all reputable hypnosis professionals give a free consultation before you ever enter a trance state. Seek out a hypnotist you feel comfortable with and who makes you feel that they can get the results that you are looking for - after all you are in charge!

Hypnosis is merely a tool. It is a highly effective method for producing inner change that is permanent. I can understand that some religions forbid their followers to take part in anything that may cause them to lose control of their mental, emotional and conscious functions but believing that hypnosis or a hypnotist can do any of these things is just a misunderstanding of the process. Hypnosis in no way interferes with your free will. You will not do anything that is against your ethics. Under no circumstances will you ever do anything that is totally unacceptable to you or goes against your personal code of conduct. Neither will you do anything that is against your moral code or which feels wrong to do. If strutting around like a chicken would cause you serious embarrassment then you just won't do it!

There is no danger of becoming trapped in a trance state. This is another Hollywood myth designed for entertainment purposes and has absolutely no basis in fact. The real fact is, you can terminate the hypnotic session at any time you wish just by opening your eyes and stretching! If a hypnotist, for any reason, were to leave you in a hypnotised state or a hypnotic recording stopped unexpectedly, you would either wake immediately or fall into a natural, light state of sleep and wake after a very short space of time - and this would only happen if you wanted to stay in the relaxed state!

The cost of hypnosis and hypnotherapy vary depending on your location, the popularity of the therapist, and the length and nature of the sessions you wish to purchase. Don't go for the cheap option! Visit a few hypnosis centers. Take the free consultation. these consultations are designed so that you can make a choice as to whether the hypnotist is the right person for you or not. Its his/her job to convince you of that. A good start is to experience hypnosis through a carefully chosen tape, CD or MP3. By using a pre-made recording you can experience, in the comfort of your own home or office, the relaxing meditative state of trance and see whether it is for you or not!