Did you know...
Hypnosis as a Recognized Modality for Healing
Hypnosis
was recognized as a complimentary healing modality by the British
Medical Association in 1955, by the American Medical Association in 1958
(there are "definite and proper uses of hypnosis in medical and dental
practice"), and by the American Psychiatric Association in 1961.
For many
people, the first thing that comes to mind when they think hypnosis is an image of the stage hypnosis shows they've seen
where people seem to be unable to control themselves, act goofy and
provide entertainment for the audience.
In
reality it is a state of focused concentration where the body and mind
relax together. Hypnosis is very simply: a natural state of mind in
which the body and mind are extremely relaxed and yet the mind is also
highly aware and focused. As you will read below, we are all in states
of hypnosis many times a day automatically, so hypnosis is a very
normal state of being that along with it's ability to provide emotional
and physical healing, has been widely and successfully used within the
medical community for pain relief and hypno-anesthesia.
Your Amazing and Wonderful Mind!
The Conscious
part of your mind is what you are reading this with, and when you are
awake, it is aware of all that goes on in and around yourself, what you
are feeling, thinking and experiencing, allowing you to know what you
are doing and why.
Think of your Subconscious mind
as an internal computer that houses thousands of computer programs on
which everything you have ever seen, heard, experienced, thought or
believed are stored. The belief systems housed here are what will
actually create your reality when it comes to reprogramming for
childbirth. You are not consciously aware of these subconscious
processes, but they influence how you feel and think based on what you
believe. It is here, in the inner mind, where positive change takes place.
These two parts of the mind actually mesh together nicely when we are
children, up to about the age of 6-8 years of age, without any
interference. That is why children are so suggestible; so easily
influenced. They are literally in a state of hypnosis all of the time,
open to suggestion.
After about 6 - 8 years of age we develop a division between the
conscious and subconscious parts of the mind, called the Critical Faculty.
If you think of your conscious mind
as the outer circle in the diagram and your subconscious as the
solid, inner circle, the Critical Faculty is the guardian that filters
millions of pieces of information coming into the subconscious
at all times. It only allows a few pieces of information to pass
through at any one time, so getting to the subconscious mind is a
process of distracting the "guardian", so that we can create positive
change.
In Hypnobabies, our goal is to make the guardian "rest" so that we can
access the inner mind and give it new concepts! The fastest and easiest
way is by using hypnosis.
When you relax your body and then your mind, a state of hypnosis is
achieved in which the Critical Faculty can get a rest and you can
access and re-program your subconscious computer for your own good.
You are not taking anything out;
you are simply giving yourself new belief systems that will help you to
have an easy and comfortable birth. Think of yourself now as a computer re-programmer.
Using hypnosis, as these new concepts become a part of your inner mind
and belief system, your subconscious mind is like a child and will take
everything literally, accepting them with ease as long as they continue
coming on a daily basis. It is also kind of lazy and would like to just
go back to thinking the way it always has, so you must constantly
reinforce your hypnotic suggestions or it will only work partially for
you. As much effort as you put in, that's how much compensation you will reap. An interesting fact about hypnosis is that the more you practice it, the easier it gets. Each time you allow yourself to enter hypnosis, you will go in easier, faster and deeper. This is simply exercising your mind, very much like physical exercise works on the body, and it will get stronger and more effective with each session.
All Hypnosis is Self-Hypnosis!
You are always in control of your mind and your body while in hypnosis.
You choose to enter hypnosis, stay in hypnosis, accept the suggestions, and emerge from hypnosis at all times.
Hypnosis is a state of relaxation in which you are;
1. In total control and,
2. Can accept or reject any suggestions you hear
Hypnosis is not;
1. Being controlled by someone else
2. A loss of self control
3. A state of unconsciousness
4. A state of sleep
Examples of everyday hypnotic states which you have already experienced
naturally:
1. Driving the car
2. Riding the elevator
3. Watching TV, movies, computer screens or video
4. Being bored by another person
5. Waking up and going to sleep
6. Daydreaming
So hypnosis is a very natural state of being that we all experience
many times a day already.. to regenerate and renew..., and we are
simply helping the process along during hypnosis sessions, just like
programming a computer to produce a document, project or program that
will produce positive results!
