Hypnosis Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What does hypnosis feel like?
A.Hypnosis is a means of moving into a perfectly natural state of mind that people actually move in and out of several times in a day. Have you ever had the experience of driving along the highway and suddenly realizing that you passed your exit several miles back? Or been so caught up in a book or movie or video game that you don't even realize that someone has been speaking to you for the past several minutes? THAT is hypnosis. So you see, when a hypnotist induces you into hypnosis they are not asking you to experience anything strange or that you haven't experienced before.
Q. Can anyone be hypnotized?
A. Anyone of at least average intelligence, who can follow directions can be hypnotized. Occasionally, a person may need several attempts before actually entering into hypnosis. What causes this? Generally, it's holding onto a little bit of fear- fear of loss of control. This is actually a misunderstanding as the proper use of hypnosis actually gives you greater control over all aspects of your life.
Q. Will I do something against my will?
A.When you are hypnotized , you are aware of all suggestions given to you and you will not do anything against your moral or ethical principles. (despite what you may have seen in stage shows of hypnosis)
Q. Will I Remember Everything That Happens in Hypnosis?
A.Yes, you will remember everything that happens in hypnosis if that is your desire. Occasionally a person might choose to selectively forget certain facts for a time and then bring them up later when they are more ready.
Q. What If You Can't Bring Me Out of It?
A. There is no danger of a person failing to come out of the hypnotic state. In fact it would be impossible to remain hypnotized. Some people choose to stay in trance a little longer because it feels so good and it's the most relaxed they've been in their lives!
Q. But I Can't be Hypnotized!
A. Again, ANYONE can be hypnotized (see above). There is no such thing as a "good" subject or a "bad" subject, only those who choose not to follow directions.
Q. WHY HYPNOSIS?
A. Because in hypnosis you access your subconscious or more powerful part of your mind where real, lasting change takes place. You may have heard it said that we only use 10% of our brain; hypnosis is a way to get access to that other 90% . Especially in habit and pain control, this eliminates any internal battle that may occur.
More Hypnosis Facts
According to Roberta De Silva, Cht:
Fact: Any person of normal intelligence can be hypnotized. All that is necessary is imagination and a willingness to cooperate. The best subject is a person who has a good reason for hypnosis and a strong motivation to accomplish a particular need or desire. The ability to be hypnotized is dependent upon the ability to relax and simply listen.
For example, if you were going to learn to play the piano, your teacher would point to a particular key and say, "This is middle C." To you, that is a suggestion. You either accept or reject the fact that the note in question is middle C. If you accept, you will undoubtedly go on and learn to play the piano. If you reject the suggestion, you may eventually learn to play, but it will be a long, hard and confusing process. If you approach hypnosis with confidence, rather than fear, you will achieve your desired goals. Dave Elman, who instructs dentists in the field of hypnosis, has this to say - "Remove fear, and one hundred people out of one hundred will enter hypnosis easily."
For more information, check out How Hypnosis works
Hypnosis Organizations
- Hypnobabies Frequently Asked Questions
Q) When should I start Hypnobabies Classes?
A) Anytime! Some women take classes early in their pregnancy, and practicing Hypnobabies helps them to be relaxed, comfortable and confident for the rest of their pregnancies. Others start later, at 6 or 7 months, when they know they can devote 30-40 minutes daily to practicing.
Q) Can my Birth Partner come to Hypnobabies Class with me?
A) Yes! We teach the Birth Partner right along with our Hypno-Moms - what hypnosis is, (they experience it in class and get their own Birth Partner’s hypnosis CD, to keep them calm and relaxed about pregnancy and childbirth!) and how to support and help our Hypno-moms during pregnancy the birthing itself and after the baby comes. They participate fully in each class, and with each hypnosis script.
Q) Will I be able to move around and be awake, and aware of my body and my baby during my labor, using hypnosis?
A) Absolutely! Being in Hypnobabies’ “Eyes Open Childbirth Hypnosis" is not like being asleep or detached from the sensations of your baby’s birth. You are awake and aware of everything going on around you, and you experience baby’s every movement. You remain deeply in hypnosis, confident and calm, even while moving and changing positions. Your Hypnobabies hypno-anesthesia allows you to experience all the power of childbirth without the discomfort.
Q) How does hypnosis for childbirth work?
A) Short version: Like computer data entry. If you want to create a document to use later, you open one, enter the text and save the contents in a “file”, then give the file a name. Later, when you want to edit that document, you find the file name and open it, add to the document text and save it again. When you are completely finished with your document, you find the file by its name, complete and ready, and print it out for your use.
In Hypnobabies, our “files” are our medical hypno-anesthesia “scripts” in the form of CD tracks and paper scripts, and all you have to do is *listen* to them. In doing so, you train your inner mind, just like entering text, what to accept. Each week, you add a little bit of training, just like the text in your document, and your inner mind creates a new belief system about childbirth. It accepts that the normal birthing sensations that you will have when you give birth; pushing, pulling, stretching, pressure sensations, will indeed be there, but without discomfort attached to them. You train it to accept cues and techniques to bring you deeper into relaxation and hypnosis, and when you use them on your birthing day, just like printing out your document, they are there for you automatically! Your mind is very powerful and is capable of creating the deepest physical relaxation possible as well as a very comfortable birthing experience. Use it!
A) Long version: Download our Introduction to Hypnobabies CD, with a 20 minute explanation of what hypnosis and Hypnobabies are, and a special gift – our “Relax Me” hypnosis session, which allows you to actually experience deep relaxation and a hypnotic state, as well as learn a special cue that trains you to become calm and relaxed in any situation, which you can use for the rest of your life! Download free Hypnobabies CD here (comming soon)
Q) Should I take a Hypnobabies class or do the home study course?
A) Our Hypnobabies Home Study Course for Expectant Mothers is being used with great success by mothers all over the world right now, and it contains the same basic curriculum, hypnosis scripts and cues, but we suggest that anyone who is near a Hypnobabies Instructor take our Hypnobabies Class with a Certified Hypnobabies Instructor (HCHI certified). The benefits of attending a Hypnobabies Class include:
- More detailed information on every subject
- Additional handouts
- 5 Hypnobabies scripts in a booklet, including our very important Visualize Your Birth script (which is not in the home study course)
- Hypnosis demonstrations of all Hypnobabies techniques
- Depth assessment of each student’s hypnosis levels by the Hypnobabies instructor
- Phone consultations with your Hypnobabies Instructor
- Prenatal exercise demonstration and practice
- Full hands-on training for the Birth Partner, including the Birth Partner’s Guide Booklet and the Birth Partner’s hypnosis CD
- The book “Back Labor No More”, and in-depth explanations, demonstrations and practice of the Belly Lift from this book (so important)
- Optimal Fetal Positioning explanations and demonstrations to prevent posterior presentation
- Our Birthing Rehearsal in Class # 6, which is invaluable for helping each Hypno-Mom fully understand and experience their Hypnobabies techniques in a birthing scenario, complete with Birth Balls, changing positions, walking etc. It is also great practice for the Birth Partner to use his deepening cues and techniques that help the mom so wonderfully during labor. This helps build the confidence level of Mom and the Birth Partner tremendously.
