Achieving hypnosis is a matter of directing the suggestibility that we all possess into the channels that may finally produce the hypnotic state. It can be much more complex than this reason in numerous cases, but let us use this as a working premise.
Everybody can be hypnotized. The time required for achieving hypnosis will vary from subject to subject. We will discuss some of the explanations for this in a successive chapter , but for our debate at this time we want to understand this point. I have run into countless people who were very disappointed because they did not make a response to hypnosis immediately or after a few attempts. They wished to know “what was wrong.” A reason that nothing was wrong somehow didn’t satisfy these people. “After all,” they argued, “didn’t I am going to a hypnotist especially to be hypnotized?” Some insinuated that maybe the hypnotist wasn’t too good.
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Let me explain that most subjects must be conditioned for hypnosis, and this conditioning is helped when the [14] subject practices certain conditioning exercises that I shall discuss in depth in chapter 6, titled “How To achieve Self-Hypnosis.” In my teaching, i have found that about one out of ten subjects reacts to the first attempt at hypnosis. One can’t make a definite statement re the time period important to learn self-hypnosis, but it’s my experience that this usually takes about one month. I have had subjects learn self-hypnosis in about thirty mins, but I must also relate that I have worked with subjects for one year before they achieved it.
For the most part, the laws of learning apply to self-hypnosis as with anything more that one would like to learn. It can be a relatively straightforward process, or it can be very confusing. The answer lies not so much with the hypnotist as with the subject.
One question that turns up is : “if i’m under hypnosis, how am I able to give myself suggestions?” during the hypnotic state, it has got to be recollected, the topic is always aware of what is happening. He hears what is said, follows directions and cancels the state when ordered to do so. In the self-hypnotic state, the subject is in full control. Therefore , he will think, reason, act, criticise, suggest or do whatever he desires. He’ll audibly give himself proposals, or he will mentally give himself suggestions. In either case, he doesn’t wake from the hypnotic state till he gives himself specific ideas to do so. Many feel if they audibly give themselves recommendations, they’ll “awaken.” In hypno-analysis, the subject answers questions in the hypnotic state. Having the topic talk doesn’t end the state. You can keep the talkative subject under hypnosis as long as you want. Similarly, the subject can be sitting erect with his eyes open and still be under hypnosis. Carrying this further, the subject might not be advised that he’s [15] under hypnosis. He can be given a cue not to recollect when the therapist makes a certain motion or announces a certain word that he’ll go into the hypnotic state but still keep his eyes open. Only a professional hypnotist could spot the change.
Another frequent question is : “How do I awaken myself from the self-hypnotic state?” You merely say to oneself that on counting to 5 you will open your eyes and wake up feeling good. Many times the topic drops off while giving himself posthypnotic proposals. This isn’t undesirable since the proposals will spill over into the subconscious mind as he is going from consciousness to unconsciousness.
A popular opinion of hypnosis is that the subject surrenders his will to the hypnotist in the midst of being hypnotized. Additionally, many are convinced that once the topic is hypnotised, the hypnotist has complete control of the topic and the topic is defenseless to fight idea. Both principles are erroneous. I think the 1st misconception comes from seeing techniques where the hypnotist requests the topic to have a look into his eyes. The hypnotist suggests to the subject that as he continues to have a look into his eyes he will fall into a deep hypnotic state. This, then, becomes a matter of who can outstare whom. The subject generally begins to blink his eyes and the hypnotist follows this up with rapid recommendations that the subject’s eyes are becoming watery and heavy and that the subject will fall into a deep hypnotic sleep just as soon as he ( the topic ) closes his eyes. This process gives the impression to the observer that the subject is “willed” to go under hypnosis. It would appear that once the hypnotist concentrates or wills adequately, the subject succumbs. In actual fact the hypnotist in this technique is not looking into the eyes of the topic. [16] He fixes his attention on the bridge of the nose of the subject.