It is estimated that 75% to 90% of all doctor’s visits are stress-related. Everything from the obvious anxiety, depression, anger disorder and nail biting habit to the not-so-obvious psoriasis, cancer pain, migraines and irritable bowel syndrome can be treated by self Hypnosis, rather than with medication. Modern day techniques largely center on NLP hypnosis, which is the use of artful language to evoke powerful positive imagery, affect inner emotions and retrain the mind to think more positively.
A lot of self hypnosis is all in the wording. NLP hypnosis posits the theory that flowery, artful language is better than authoritative commanding. For instance, you might say to yourself, “I really look forward to learning how to sky dive,” rather than the more authoritative “I’m going to learn to sky dive.” Secondly, you’ll want to use visual imagery. Often successful self-hypnotists will use phrases like “I see,” “I hear,” or “It feels like.” Images from nature work particularly good, such as waterfalls, fields full of flowers, streams, clouds, trees, beaches and auras. You should also try to choose attainable goals. So instead of telling yourself, “I am never going to eat chocolate chip cookies again,” you should instead phrase it, “As I begin to make healthier choices and choose more nutritious foods, I will begin to feel lighter and more at peace with myself.”
There are several common mistakes people make when trying to hypnotize themselves. You might find that you are trying to force yourself to imagine something that doesn’t come naturally or are over-analyzing the process. Instead, you will want to be sure you are completely relaxed first, before you allow your mind to wander. Start by counting backwards while breathing deeply, as this is a classic trick to deepen relaxation. With each count, you are going deeper and deeper, and before you know it, you’ll be in a state of trance! Now that you are in a suggestible, emotional state, you can begin using “I” phrases to affirm what you wish to learn. Some people prefer to spend this time imagining themselves achieving their goals instead. Others still might want to play a tape with someone else’s voice guiding their positive thinking here. To awaken from your trance, tell yourself you will feel refreshed and fully awake at the count of three.
To begin your journey into self hypnosis, you may want to visit www.free-hypnosisdownloads.com, where you can find a number of free hypnosis meditation downloads. Once you get a feel for the type of language and imagery used, you will have an easier time hypnotizing yourself at will. The reason you will want to learn to hypnotize yourself is that it can be a powerful motivational technique, as well as an effective stress-reliever. When you begin to feel your blood boil, you can use hypnotic suggestion to bring your heart rate down and find peace.
