Can hypnosis help in dealing with phobias?
People have fears of all kinds that can be helped with hypnosis. Usually people habitually put their attention on some kind of fantasy of the future, such as flunking an exam, forgetting words during a speech, crashing in a car or airplane, and so forth. Hypnosis can provide a state of mind in which you can imagine yourself with your attention in the present instead of an unpleasant fantasy of catastrophe. This will make it easier for you to practice the habit of putting your attention in the real world, where there usually is little danger.
Can hypnosis help me remember something in the past?
Hypnosis has been used with mixed results to enhance recollection. If the information desired was remembered clearly at one time, there stands a good chance that hypnosis can help retrieve it. Often people try hypnosis to locate a lost object. Most often the lost object became lost because the client was unaware of it when it vanished, and hypnosis will only allow one to remember the state of unawareness.
People have had hunches to look in unexplored places for lost objects after a hypnosis session, and have been successful in locating them. This is because the subconscious was actually aware of the location beyond the rational knowledge of the conscious mind.
Can hypnosis help me remember scholastic material?
Hypnosis is excellent for preparing the mind to receive new information and attach it to the cognitive framework already in the mind. It is also useful in preparing the mind for optimum performance in test situations, as well as overcoming test phobia.
What about past life regression?
Our lives are a combination of many patterns created from our experiences. Some of the experiences from past lives have been so profound that they subconsciously influence us today. Hypnosis is useful for recovering recollection of these experiences. Few people have complete revivification of past life experiences in hypnosis, while most experience it as a kind of daydream, much as you might recall vividly a particular outstanding holiday. The information gained can give personal insight into the influences that shape your likes and dislikes, talents and weaknesses.
Can anyone be hypnotized?
Everyone has a subconscious mind, and everyone can accept suggestion, if they are neurologically healthy. Therefore, all healthy people can be hypnotized to a useful degree. The question is the depth of hypnosis a person may enter, and how easily.
You could go to see a sad movie and accept the suggestion that it is real, to the extent that you are deeply moved. The person next to you could be crying his eyes out. The movie is effective for you both, although the experience is different.
What about people doing crazy things on stage under hypnosis?
We all know that people don't need to be hypnotized to do crazy things. The stage hypnotist must work with volunteers, since no one can be hypnotized to do anything against their better judgement. To the volunteer in such a situation of entertainment, it is very appealing to be part of the show and to cast off the mantle of responsibility for a time. The stage hypnotist also gives a quick hypnosis succeptibility test to ensure that he's working with highly suggestible people.
