FAQ: The Mind, the Subconscious, Hypnosis… What’s it Basically All About?
 

One of the tools that we use at Grey Matter Network with the greatest positive outcome is also one of the tools that is most misunderstood.

Hypnosis.

Hypnosis is for almost anyone. Using modern hypnotic techniques, anyone who is of normal or higher intelligence and can follow instructions can experience the benefits of hypnosis.

Hypnotherapy is suitable for anyone who wants to make a positive change in his or her life.
 
Hypnosis is a naturally occurring state of mind. You have already experienced it many times. Hypnosis happens spontaneously when we find ourselves daydreaming.

Another common example is what is called highway hypnosis. This occurs when you find that you have been driving for a while and you almost miss your turn off. You have been concentrating your focus on some other idea so that your driving goes into ‘automatic pilot’ (but your attention would naturally return if someone pulled into your lane).
 
A hypnotherapist simply helps you to use these natural human abilities to make the kind of changes that you want to make, like losing weight, breaking habits, improving how you feel, or working with your physician to manage things such as pain.

The Mind – a backgrounder
 
A bit of background first, about the mind, and how hypnosis works for effective change.
 
Take a moment to think about your mind. To a hypnotherapist there are three parts – the conscious, subconscious and unconscious mind.
 
The conscious mind, which is the logical and analytical part, is the one that gives you that “Let’s do it” urge – as in, for example, “I’m going to lose that weight, and I’ll be healthier, sexier, live longer – great!” But unfortunately, it is only a temporary point of focus which, for the most part, can’t take that initial push through to make long-term change.

This is due to its connection to the critical function, a part of your brain this is like a club’s “bouncer” that says, “No, you’ll never do it – you tried last year and failed, that health-food kick lasted about three hours… You can’t do it!” Change against these odds is difficult.
 
So, where is change possible? The subconscious mind is the place where habits, behaviours and beliefs are stored. It is like a warehouse or the hard drive of a computer, where all of your past experiences accumulate.

Sometimes, like computers, people pick up “viruses”, in the form of misperceptions or erroneous beliefs – for example, that they aren’t able to be the best person they could be or experience the success they desire – they can’t lose those last pounds, or will always be a sucker for ice cream. Whether it was something from the past or picked up recently, a perfectly “good” person might not perform at their peak.
 
By working at a subconscious level, these fears and misperceptions can be removed so that you can increase your chances at successful change – removing old blockages and programs, improving your own personal perceptions, so there is no longer a need to limit yourself or not succeed at what you want to do.

The top five myths about hypnosis:

1. I can’t be hypnotized (because I’m too smart, stubborn, in control) – Not too long ago, studies believed that only 5 to 20% of the population could be hypnotised. They later found that with information the numbers went way, way up. Anyone of normal or higher intelligence can be hypnotized, anyone who is willing and able to follow instructions. Each person reading this article has been hypnotized before – daydreaming? Hypnotized (hypnosis is focused concentration – you were focused on your own little world). Watched a movie and wanted the leads to get together? Hypnotized (they are just actors and actresses). It happens naturally throughout the day for each one of us. As for “strong willed” individuals, hypnosis isn’t a matter of being weak willed – once “Type A” personalities realize that they will benefit by this therapy and commit to it, they are some of the best clients.
2. I might get ‘stuck’ in hypnosis – the person in hypnosis is in control at all times. All hypnosis is actually self-hypnosis; the hypnotist or hypnotherapist is merely a guide. It is something that you have complete control over and choose to do. If you choose not to be in hypnosis any more you will emerge (“wake up”) or fall asleep.
3. I’ll have to go back in time (to another life) to fix my problems – whether we like it or not, most problems or issues have probably established themselves in this lifetime. If you think of the subconscious mind as a warehouse, library or hard drive, there are lots of things in these places that we don’t know about – can you consciously remember all the files in your computer? – Many sources of issues that are happening in our life now, we may have forgotten about consciously, or weren’t aware of their significance at the time.
4. You are (not) getting sleepy – Hypnosis is “attentive and focused concentration”, not sleep. If you sleep during a hypnosis session, you’ll miss a big part of it! While you are in hypnosis, your conscious, subconscious and unconscious levels of your mind are all working – you might not even think that you are in hypnosis at all.
5. Hypnosis is(n’t) mind control – Say no to “yes Master” – The hypnotic client is completely in control. A hypnotherapist is only a trained guide (like an elite athlete’s coach). You will reject anything that you find immoral or wrong on any level of your mind. You can’t be made to do anything you don’t want to do. While stage hypnotists do things for entertainment, most people who attend are expecting this entertainment and may be open to suggestions of ‘letting go’. However, if your mind ever thought you would be in danger, it would reject all suggestions immediately. Hypnotherapists have a stringent code of ethics and follow it in all sessions. The changes you are “made” to do are changes that you choose to do – the therapist and client work together towards the same goal.
    
   If you have more questions, please send them to us and we’ll add them to this page. Thanks for your interest – our aim is to provide more information about our gentle and effective therapy methods.