Self-hypnosis And Positive Affirmations

The Art of Self Therapy

• Publisher: Straightforward Publishing Digital
• Year: 2015
• ISBN:
  9781847165541
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: Hypnotism
• Index: Psychology

Hypnosis is the gentle healer: no chemicals, no side effects and it puts the patient in a state that holds great potential for healing by giving the patient access to the subconscious mind. Self- Hypnosis and Positive Affirmations is a book about how hypnosis combined with positive affirmations can be powerful in treating a number of physical, psychological, stress related disorders, phobias and promoting sporting performance among others. This book is original and practical, and will benefit anyone who wishes to investigate further.

Chapter One

A History of Hypnosis

Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815) is widely known as the modern father of hypnosis and the story of hypnosis follows on with one of Mesmer’s disciples, who had originally been persuaded by his two brothers to join a new society called The Society of the Harmony. This was run by Mesmer himself with a little time on his hands on leave from the army. His first subject was deeply hypnotisable, falling asleep with his subconscious, however, staying awake, he could talk to the patient asking him questions and getting replies. He went on with others to find that his first patient was not unique after all. Mesmer discovered that the cures involved were not due to animal magnetism but suggestion. He went on to develop the eye fixation technique, the state that resulted from this was what he originally called hypnosis.

Dr John Elliotson was the first to demonstrate the use of hypnosis in British medicine. Before an audience of 200 medics he cured a dumb epileptic using Mesmerism and also used hypnosis in operations.

In France, Auguste Ambroise Leibeault and Hippolyte Bernheim (1837-1919) were the first to regard hypnosis as a normal phenomenon. They emphasized that expectation was the most important factor in the induction of hypnosis and that hypnosis works by mental influence. It is at this time when hypnosis was gaining acceptance and recognition that Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) an Austrian neurologist became interested in hypnosis and decided to visit Leibeault and Bernheim at their hypnosis clinic to learn their induction techniques, as he observed people enter hypnotic trances, he began to recognize the existence of the subconscious. The trance state is now widely recognized as a highly effective tool in behavioural change and healing.

Later on Milton Erikson (1901-1980) developed many ideas and techniques in hypnosis that were very different from what was commonly practiced. He believed that the unconscious or subconscious mind was always listening, he also maintained that going into a trance is an everyday occurrence, something that human beings do everyday for example when driving, listening to the radio, reading, walking, and other forms of activities that get the mind to concentrate and stay still. It is common and normal to go into a trance while you are immersed in an activity.

WHAT IS HYPNOSIS?

Hypnosis is a state of mind brought about by the use of a set of techniques. The word hypnosis comes from the Greek word for sleep. Hypnosis is a deeply relaxed state where your mind can help you to focus extremely well on any task that either you with self-hypnosis or your hypnotherapist suggest to help you.

Hypnosis enhances an individual’s concentration and increases their responsiveness to suggestion in order to make the beneficial changes that an individual may wish to make in their thought patterns, their behaviours or their physiological state. Hypnosis used for therapeutic purposes becomes hypnotherapy.

THE MIND

The mind is an element of an individual that enables them to be aware of their surroundings and experience feelings, thoughts, actions and emotion. The mind can be broken down into two parts;

1- The conscious mind: is the analytical, critical and reasoning part of the mind that rules our awareness and understanding. It is the final processing point of our decisions, actions and re...