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What Is Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is many things, usually not what people would expect. Hypnosis is a natural state of mind experienced by everybody as part of their normal waking day. When youﾒre totally focused on an activity to the exclusion of all else, when time seems to disappear, thatﾒs hypnosis. Itﾒs very much like meditation and can be self-induced or induced by another. We all pass through this state on our way to and from sleep! Itﾒs a state where both the conscious and sub-conscious parts of the mind are brought into focus, to work together on a single task. It is not sleep, and although the word ﾓtranceﾔ is used frequently, itﾒs really more like a guided meditation.
Are there any risks?
None. You cannot get ﾑstuckﾒ in hypnosis! Regardless of what you may have seen in the movies...itﾒs a totally natural state during which you are aware of all thatﾒs going on around you. In fact, your senses could even be heightened during hypnosis. Thereﾒs no ﾑmind controlﾒ either, and you cannot be made to do anything you donﾒt want to do. All hypnosis is self hypnosis, and the control remains entirely with you! The hypnotist will use his or her experience to guide the process.
Can anyone be hypnotized?
Yes, with the exception of those persons under the influence of alcohol or drugs and those with acute mental disorders. Though almost anyone could prevent themselves from being hypnotized, the depth of hypnosis will vary from one person to the next. Some will achieve a deep state immediately while others only the lightest state after a prolonged induction.
What about those stage hypnotists?
What you see on the stage is hypnosis, although the stage hypnotist is very competent when it comes to ﾑ selectingﾒ volunteers! Some people are very suggestible and easily comply with suggestions from the stage hypnotist to ﾑactﾒ in a certain way. Plus, they actually want to be in a show and, at some level, are very open to the possibility of ﾑacting sillyﾒ up there on the stage!
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