Myths About Hypnosis

Myths About Hypnosis

Hypnosis Myth -1

Only weak-minded people can be hypnotized

The truth is that everyone can be hypnotized.  As a matter of fact, each one of us are using hypnosis in some form every single day of our lives either consciously or unconsciously.
We are experiencing some form of a trance-like hypnotic state each time we engage our imagination, each time we engage our emotions, each time our attention is focused upon our subjective experience.
The goal of a hypnosis session is successful installation of a desired outcomes deep into the subconscious mind from where it eventually expresses automatically without any further conscious activity. 
We dis empower ourselves when we choose limiting beliefs which reduce the number of available options toward reaching desired outcome; and we empower ourselves whenever we open ourselves to more options.
The people that are easiest to hypnotize are those who have great imagination and are able to maintain the focus on the desired objective.  In other words, its people who still nourish that childlike quality of pretending, acting "as if" that which they desire to experience is their only reality.

Hypnosis Myth -2 

Hypnotist has complete power over you when you are hypnotized

People who play the role of a hypnotist are not only those who label themselves as hypnotist, but can be anyone who is skilled with using language, capturing another person's imagination or is perceived as having an authority by the listener in a given context. You could say that the first hypnotists we experienced in our lives were our own parents - even if they did the whole act of hypnotizing unknowingly.
Hypnotist or another person who is playing the role of a hypnotist (knowingly or unknowingly) can have as much power over you as you give them. Hypnosis can be done in much more subtle ways than someone telling you to "take a deep breath and close your eyes now ... and hold onto every word I say ... because your life may depend on it". It may be a simple statement that someone utters which stimulates your imagination and more importantly your emotions - a statement of hope and encouragement or of some dismal consequences.
It is always up to you, whether you are having a session with a hypnotist, listening to hypnosis recording or receiving information through some other media - from a doctor, a lawyer, a salesman, an ad in a paper, watching news, reading books or newspapers - whether you want to accept or reject the ideas and statements offered. For that reason we say that "all hypnosis is ultimately self-hypnosis" and that you are always in control.
The role of a hypnotist in a therapeutic setting is to help you establish communication channel with your subconscious in order to overcome your inner obstacles and reach your goals. All that any hypnotist can do for you, you can do for yourself on your own, too - if you take some time to learn self-hypnosis. A skilled hypnotist can help you a great deal simply due to experience and knowledge of variety of helpful techniques, but ultimately all the power is right in your mind and it is only a matter of learning to access it and practicing to develop, or rather unfold it so that you can accomplish anything you desire.

Hypnosis Myth -3

If you can hear the hypnotist, you were not hypnotized

This misconception has probably come about due to another common misconception which equates the state of hypnosis with sleep. 
A lot of people believe that when they are hypnotized they will not be aware of anything that is happening around them.  Yet, if you lost all connection with the hypnotist, how could you follow the instructions? 
While the level of awareness of your surroundings may shift to some degree, you will still be aware of the hypnotist or his voice.  The better you are able to play the game of "let's pretend" and immerse yourself in your subjective reality (inner world experiences), the less will you be aware of your surroundings in the way that you are accustomed to.  That's why we call it - "altered reality". In this altered reality, your awareness of the hypnotist may change and you may interpret him as someone else - maybe a friend or a stranger or magician - but you will still be aware of the hypnotist's voice.

Hypnosis Myth -4

You can remain permanently stuck in hypnosis

No one ever got stuck, but some people enjoy deep trance so much that they don't want to come out.  Imagine being in a state where your body feels so deeply relaxed that you may not need to pay any attention to it, and your mind is completely free of any stresses associated with your daily life and you are finally able to experience all of your most cherished dreams and secret desires come to life in full color with exquisite sensations.  At least here, perhaps for the first time, you are able to experience total freedom, inner peace and happiness and all seems absolutely perfect in your world.  You are in control. 
Do you know what happens to your body?  It begins to release an abundance of pleasure hormones .  You feel better than you ever felt before.  The deeper into trance you go, the better you feel.  You have no desire to leave this state.  But the session comes to an end and you are invited to emerge out of this state of total bliss.  You have two choices: either you reluctantly choose to live this state knowing that you'll be able to experience it again or you refuse to come out. 
Thanks 
www.hellopsychologist.in

Meditation ( Start Living Without Worries )

1) Make it a formal practice. You will only get to the next level in meditation by setting aside specific time (preferably two times a day) to be still.

2) Start with the breath. Breathing deep slows the heart rate, relaxes the muscles, focuses the mind and is an ideal way to begin practice.
3) Stretch first. Stretching loosens the muscles and tendons allowing you to sit (or lie) more comfortably. Additionally, stretching starts the process of “going inward” and brings added attention to the body.

4) Meditate with Purpose. Beginners must understand that meditation is an ACTIVE process. The art of focusing your attention to a single point is hard work, and you have to be purposefully engaged!

5) Notice frustration creep up on you. This is very common for beginners as we think “hey, what am I doing here” or “why can’t I just quiet my damn mind already”. When this happens, really focus in on your breath and let the frustrated feelings go.

6) Experiment. Although many of us think of effective meditation as a Yogi sitting cross-legged beneath a Bonzi tree, beginners should be more experimental and try different types of meditation. Try sitting, lying, eyes open, eyes closed, etc.

7) Feel your body parts. A great practice for beginning meditators is to take notice of the body when a meditative state starts to take hold. Once the mind quiets, put all your attention to the feet and then slowly move your way up the body (include your internal organs). This is very healthy and an indicator that you are on the right path.

8) Pick a specific room in your home to meditate. Make sure it is not the same room where you do work, exercise, or sleep. Place candles and other spiritual paraphernalia in the room to help you feel at ease.

9) Read a book (or two) on meditation. Preferably an instructional guide AND one that describes the benefits of deep meditative states. 

10) Commit for the long haul. Meditation is a life-long practice, and you will benefit most by NOT examining the results of your daily practice. Just do the best you can every day, and then let it go!

11) Listen to instructional tapes and CDs.  www.hellopsychologist.in 

12) Generate moments of awareness during the day. Finding your breath and “being present” while not in formal practice is a wonderful way to evolve your meditation habits.

13) Make sure you will not be disturbed. One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is not insuring peaceful practice conditions. If you have it in the back of your mind that the phone might ring, your kids might wake, or your coffee pot might whistle than you will not be able to attain a state of deep relaxation.

14) Notice small adjustments. For beginning meditators, the slightest physical movements can transform a meditative practice from one of frustration to one of renewal. These adjustments may be barely noticeable to an observer, but they can mean everything for your practice.

15) Use a candle. Meditating with eyes closed can be challenging for a beginner. Lighting a candle and using it as your point of focus allows you to strengthen your attention with a visual cue. This can be very powerful.

16) Do NOT Stress. This may be the most important tip for beginners, and the hardest to implement. No matter what happens during your meditation practice, do not stress about it. This includes being nervous before meditating and angry afterwards. Meditation is what it is, and just do the best you can at the time.

17) Do it together. Meditating with a partner or loved one can have many wonderful benefits, and can improve your practice. However, it is necessary to make sure that you set agreed-upon ground rules before you begin!

18) Meditate early in the morning. Without a doubt, early morning is an ideal
time to practice: it is quieter, your mind is not filled with the usual clutter, and there is less chance you will be disturbed. Make it a habit to get up half an hour earlier to meditate.

19) Be Grateful at the end. Once your practice is through, spend 2-3 minutes feeling appreciative of the opportunity to practice and your mind’s ability to focus.

Past Life Regression History

History

Mythology

Past life regression is mentioned in the Upanishads of ancient India,^[6] but is discussed in greater detail in the Yoga Sutras of Patañjali. Writing during the second century BC, the Hindu scholarPatañjali discussed the soul being burdened with an accumulation of impressions that were part of the karma from previous lives.^[7] Patañjali called the process of past life regression, prati-prasav(literally "reverse birthing"), and involved addressing current problems through memories of past lives. Prati-prasav is used today as a practice in some types of yoga.^[8][9] In the religious mythology ofChina, souls are prevented from remembering their past lives by the deity Meng Po, also known as the "Lady of Forgetfullness", who gives them a bittersweet drink that erases all memories before they climb the wheel of reincarnation.^[10]

Modern era

In the modern era, it was the works of Madame Blavatsky, co-founder of the Theosophical Society, which brought it a new found popularity, especially in the West. French educator Allan Kardec also researched into past life regression in The Spirits Book and Heaven and Hell. Past life regression therapy has been developed since the 1950s by psychologists, psychiatrists and mediums. The belief gained credibility because some of the advocates possess legitimate credentials, though these credentials were in areas unrelated to religion, psychotherapy or other domains dealing with past lives and mental health. Interest in the phenomenon started due to American housewife Virginia Tighe reporting and recounting the alleged memories of a 19th-century Irish woman named Bridey Murphy; later investigation failed to support the existence of such a woman and the memories were attributed to Tighe's childhood during which she spent time living next to an Irish immigrant.^[1]

Technique

In the West, past-life regression practitioners use hypnosis and suggestion to promote recall in their patients, using a series of questions designed to elicit statements and memories about the past life's history and identity.^[3] Some practitioners also use bridging techniques from a client’s current-life problem to bring "past-life stories" to conscious awareness.^[11] Practitioners believe that unresolved issues from alleged past lives may be the cause of their patients' problems,^[12] The technique is not taught as part of any medical internships.^[1] Luis Cordón states that this can be problematic as it creates delusions under the guise of therapy. Memories can vary from harmless to actually increasing suffering in the patient or their families. The memories are experienced as vivid as those based on events experienced in one's life, impossible to differentiate from true memories of actual events, and accordingly any damage can be difficult to undo.^[2]

Chinese numerologists use the Buddhist/Taoist text the Three Lives Book to describe details of past lives.^[13] Teachers of Eastern religion claim to be able to use siddhi or abhijna abilities to regress other's lives.^[14]

Sources of memories

Scientific consensus is that the memories are the result of cryptomnesia, narratives created by the subconscious mind using imagination, forgotten information and suggestions from the therapist.^{[1][2][3][15][16][17][18]} Memories created under hypnosis are indistinguishable from actual memories and can be more vivid than factual memories.^[2][19] The greatest predictor of individuals reporting memories of past lives appears to be their beliefs about the existence in reincarnation - individuals who believe in reincarnation are more likely to report such memories, while sceptics or disbelievers are less so.^[1][5]

Examinations of three cases of apparent past life regression (Bridey Murphy, Jane Evans and an unnamed English woman) revealed memories that were superficially convincing. However, investigation by experts in the languages used and historical periods described revealed flaws in all three patients' recall. The evidence included speech patterns that were "...used by movie makers and writers to convey the flavour of 16th century English speech" rather than actual Renaissance English, a date that was inaccurate but was the same as a recognized printing error in historical pamphlets, and a subject that reported historically accurate information from the Roman era that was identical to information found in a 1947 novel set in the same time as the individual's memories, with the same name reported by the person regressed. Other details cited are common knowledge and not evidence of the factual nature of the memories; subjects asked to provide historical information that would allow checking provided only vague responses that did not allow for verification, and sometimes were unable to provide critical details that would have been common knowledge (e.g. a subject who was unable to provide the name of the Emperor of Japan during the 1940s despite describing a life of a Japanese fighter pilot during World War II).^[4]

Experimental studies

A 1976 study found that 40% of hypnotizable subjects described new identities and used different names when given a suggestion to regress past their birth.^[4] In the 1990s a series of experiments undertaken by Nicholas Spanos examined the nature of past life memories. Descriptions of alleged past lives were found to be extremely elaborate, with vivid, detailed descriptions. Subjects who reported memories of past lives exhibited high hypnotizability, and patients demonstrated that it was the expectations conveyed by the experimenter that were most important in determining the characteristics reported by the patients during their 'memories'. The degree to which the memories were considered credible by the experimental subjects was correlated most significantly to the subjects' beliefs about reincarnation and their expectation to remember a past life rather than hypnotizability. Spanos' research leads him to the conclusion that past lives are not memories, but actually social constructions based on patients acting "as if" they were someone else, but with significant flaws that would not be expected of actual memories. To create these memories, Spanos' subjects drew upon the expectations established by authority figures and information outside of the experiment such as television, novels, life experiences and their own desires.^[4]

thanks for the contant wikipedia

Self hypnosis

Self-hypnosis is similar to what people experience when they go to a hypnotherapist, with the one biggest difference of not leaving with slightly less money in their pocket. The biggest thing is that people need to understand the brain controls emotions, which is what actually makes it possible for someone to heal themselves mentally. In order to have a successful regimen, it is important for the person to find a quiet place and time, so they will not be disturbed by others. To begin the routine, the person should close their eyes and imagine some really calming scene, such as ocean waves or a beach, and visualize all of the stress just floating away. The routine can be done as frequently as the person likes, and most people practice this regimen for at least 15 minutes.

Stop Smoking India

http://youtu.be/SV8KgmkNXTE 

Use of Hypnosis

1. stress reduction
2. emotional recovery
3. bad habit improvement
4. new skill development
5. concentration development 
6. obsession  reduction
7. anxiety reduction