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Hypnosis is a fascinating subject that has stood the test of time. Due to unfamiliarity with the subject matter, there are several myths and misconceptions concerning hypnosis.
Over the years, a great deal of ‘magic’ and mystery has been linked to hypnosis.
As such, many hypnosis experts have gone the extra mile to try and explain what hypnosis is, how it works, and what are its effects/benefits.
Hypnosis is a state of heightened concentration and awareness, achieved through various clinical hypnosis techniques like guided relaxation, that allows the subject to respond to suggestions.
It is a sleep-like state of trance that allows the qualified health care practitioner to access the subconscious mind and make suggestions. Some of the characteristics of the trance-like state include a heightened state of awareness and focused attention, increased suggestibility, and explicit fantasies.
How does hypnosis take place?
Also known as hypnotherapy, hypnosis requires the experience and expertise of a trained and certified hypnotherapist or hypnotist to guide you through the steps effectively and achieve the best-desired results.
By using several hypnosis techniques, like guided relaxation and verbal repetitions and cues, the hypnotist makes suggestions to assist you in attaining the results you want. As a result, you become more susceptible to change and effective therapeutic treatment.
Usually, your conscious mind analyzes, questions, and only thinks of the present or near-present moments. You consciously remember things, consciously choose the words you speak, and believe consciously of problems right in front of you.
Hypnotherapy allows direct access to the unconscious mind, which is responsible for the ‘behind-the-scene’ thought process.
The unconscious mind is a vast information reservoir in your brain that helps you locate things you forgot, choose your words while speaking, and allows you to solve problems, among many others.
Whenever you have new ideas, you had the idea already in your unconscious mind. As a result, you may think of your subconscious mind as the real brains behind the operation.
Hypnotherapy allows the qualified practitioner to access your unconscious mind and retrieve any ‘forgotten’ memories, thoughts, or ideas. Alternatively, the practitioner may access your subconscious mind to give suggestions related to a permanent change in habits, beliefs, or thoughts.
While you are in a hypnotic state, the recommendations of the hypnotist surpass the critical factor of your brain since you are in a state of deep relaxation, allowing the idea to enter your subconscious mind.
According to psychology, you experience change in the unconscious mind before the conscious mind actively takes part and adopts the change in reality.
How do you unhypnotize someone?
After the whole hypnosis session, people typically get out of the hypnotic state gradually, or the hypnotist guides you out of the hypnosis.
But what is the best way to unhypnotize someone?
1. Effectively prime your subject out of the hypnosis
In the same manner that you made suggestions to your subject while he/she was in a hypnotic state, you can prepare them before awakening them with a more direct suggestion to come out of the hypnosis.
For example, you can create a scenario whereby you make him/her imagine how people wake up from sleep and hypnosis. Remember to use the same tone used during the whole session to prevent the subject from jumping out of the hypnotic state.
Describe the overall experience of waking up from sleep while using embedded commands. Soon after, make more direct suggestions in an elegant and relaxed tone to start the awakening induction.
2. Make the awakening from a hypnosis session conditional to a therapeutic gain
Like everything else in life, a good trance or hypnosis state must come to an end. To make this process easier, you may opt to use the induction process to prepare your subject for re-emergence from the trance.
For instance, you can say ‘as your eyelids feel heavier……. You will find them closing more and more as you continue to listen to my voice…….
And you may find that your eyelids will not just open until your conscious mind gives you a clear go-ahead of the positive change you can expect….’
3. Give an awakening cue
In hypnosis, we give cues from the tone of our voice. When you want your subject to relax or calm down, you will use a naturally soothing and gentle tone of voice.
Similarly, when you start talking in your normal voice, like when you are having a normal conversation, it may be used as a sign for your subject to come out of the hypnosis.
If you use the same soothe and gentle tone of voice while you are trying to awaken your subject from a hypnotic state, it will send them mixed signals. It could also potentially undo all the work you did while the subject was under hypnosis.
Change your tone of voice gradually as opposed to suddenly. Gently increase the sound, energy, and delivery of your voice to ensure a smooth transition by your subject.
Conclusion
Hypnotherapy is a therapeutic tool with enormous medical and personal benefits.
Not only does it help with personal growth, but it also aids in treating various ailments and conditions, like pain control, anxiety and other mood disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, insomnia, weight loss, and smoking cessation, among many others.
Generally, taking someone out of a trance is just as essential as inducing him/her into a state of trance. It requires as much expertise and care as any other hypnosis step.
As such, it is vital to use a certified hypnotherapist or hypnotist to help you reach your desired goals through hypnosis.