Hypnosis involves achieving a heightened state of relaxation and mental awareness so that you can have a deep and meaningful conversation with yourself - or rather, your subconscious self. In self-hypnosis, instead of being guided through the process by a hypnotherapist, you guide yourself.
How does it work?
We all zone out from the world from time to time. Whether it is when driving the route to work on autopilot, or staring at the kettle waiting for it to boil. At these times, our mind is calm and focused on one particular train of thought. Hypnosis utilises this ‘zoning out' and ‘focusing in' technique to block out the rest of the world and allow our minds to concentrate.
To zone out, hypnosis uses relaxation and breathing techniques to calm the conscious mind. By introducing positive affirmations and suggestions to the subconscious mind, we can bring about physical and psychological changes.
How effective is it?
Studies into the use of self-hypnosis for medical purposes add weight to the theory. When self-hypnosis was used during childbirth at Adelaide's Women's and Children's Hospital, epidural use dropped by 17 per cent and the need for pain relief was halved. Another study published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Medical Health found that self-hypnosis before surgery reduced anxiety and pain. A similar study in the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis reported that self-hypnosis reduced pain for multiple sclerosis patients. In a study from Washington State University, patients with HPV who were treated solely with hypnosis were five times more likely to be completely cleared of the infection than patients who were treated medically.
How do I do it?
Milan Keswani is the founder of The Third Eye, which offers alternative therapies and courses, including a self-hypnosis induction workshop. She says, "We introduce people to the hypnotic state and give them tools so that they can achieve it by themselves at home. The most common reasons for signing up for a self-hypnosis workshop is to change behaviour, for heightened meditation, to encourage good sleep, and for stress release."
Steps to self-hypnosis
Once you have completed the induction workshop, self-hypnosis is simply a matter of following Keswani's procedure below and practicing regularly.
>> Choose a positive suggestion that you want to focus on. For example, it could be, ‘I sleep eight hours every night and wake up feeling refreshed'.
>> Make yourself comfortable in a sitting position, and close your eyes. Remove shoes, socks and your watch and turn off your phone.
>> Take three deep breaths in through the nose, out through the mouth. Breathe normally, focusing on your breath for a few minutes.
>> Repeat your positive statement seven times in your head, then focus on your breathing for one minute.
>> Repeat the last step.
>> Repeat the phrase ‘deep sleep' seven times in your head, then focus on your breathing for one minute.
>> Repeat the statement seven times in your head, then focus on your breathing.
>> When you feel ready, tell yourself in your head that you are going to bring yourself out of hypnosis on the count of five.
>> In your head, count one, two, three, four, five - then think "eyes open, wide awake" and open your eyes. If going to sleep, substitute the words ‘deep sleep' for ‘meditate' and don't count yourself out.
Keswani advises practising self-hypnosis in the same place each time and reiterates the importance of counting out. She says, "Hypnosis opens doors to your subconscious mind; if you dont count out, it's like leaving your front door open for anyone to come in."
To sign up for the next self-hypnosis workshop (Dh200), email info@thirdeyeonline.com, or visit www.thirdeyeonline.com. A
Self-hypnosis is good for…
>> Psychological conditions such as ADHD, phobias, addictions, blushing, low self-esteem, bed-wetting, eating disorders, obsessions, anxiety, stammering, stress and insomnia. Although hypnosis is good for depression, Keswani advises not practising self-hypnosis if you are feeling depressed or negative.>> It also helps with physical conditions like pain, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, psoriasis, tinnitus, arthritis, asthma, eczema, epilepsy, cerebral palsy and migraine. Hypnosis is said to have particularly good results when treating stress-induced conditions like dermatological and gastrointestinal problems.
>> Additionally, self-hypnosis can be used alongside chemotherapy to reduce the side-effects, to improve concentration and studying, and to boost physical ability and sports performance.
