Bill Urell asked:


If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself goes the age old expression. When it comes to the subject of hypnosis, however, many people do not feel the do it yourself model applies. In reality, the art of self hypnosis is something that with a little bit of effort, anyone could learn.

While, of course, it would be beneficial to have a qualified expert in hypnosis put you under his spell, it may not always be practical or affordable. When one considers the fact that people are interested in having hypnosis performed on them in order to correct a problem that they might be facing. Perhaps they are having an incredible amount of difficulty trying to quit smoking. What if they are struggling with repressed memories? How about individuals losing the battle with overeating and need an atypical solution to their own problems? What about those souls who must quit smoking in order to eliminate hazards to their health? In other words, there are an unlimited number of reasons why self hypnosis would definitely provide a solution to a problem that a person might be having.

There are quite a number of books, CDs and audiotapes on the market covering the basics of self hypnosis. While no one will become an expert on the subject overnight, if a person is serious about learning self hypnosis and dedicates the necessary amount of time in order to develop a functional working knowledge then they will be able to reap the rewards of such efforts.

For those who may not grasp the skills needed for learning self hypnosis, there are a number of workshops that are offered that provide some basic instruction in the art of self hypnosis. Many times, experts in the field will travel from city to city offering a touring road show version of their teaching skills. Of course, these type of workshops are definitely profit driven so the ticket prices for the events just might be way up there. However, for the amount of money that a ticket might cost the benefits that are provided will be well worth it, particularly if the attendees walk away understanding how to properly conduct self hypnosis.

For those who may not have an expert coming to their town or might not be able to afford a high priced workshop, then it might be prudent to check out what the local community centers in the area have to offer in terms of learning hypnosis. Also, one could check and see if the subject is offered in a continuing education program at a local college or university. Most continuing education programs are quite affordable so price may not be an issue in this venue.

Milos asked:


We all know that self hypnosis comes about through a self-induced hypnotic state, which achieves contact with the subconscious mind by means of self suggestion. The need to attain this state is of utmost importance, since through it many psychological problems can be tapped and corrected. The self-hypnotic induction of positive suggestions to the subconscious mind washes away the frustrations that are centered there, and replaces them with vibrant feelings of self-confidence, courage and self-mastery.

Self hypnosis, through the medium of self suggestion, can relieve the pains and fears of childbirth. It is also useful in many other areas, such as relieving people of such unpleasant habits such as nail biting and smoking, not to mention more major annoyances like insomnia or alcoholism, that, unfortunately, plague such a high percentage of our population today.

Ideas are important, positive ideas or suggestions are more important, but positive suggestions, transferred to the subconscious mind during the self hypnotic state, are most important, since they can sure ills that, otherwise, could neither be solved nor approached without subtle influences of self hypnosis.

There has, up to now, been very little written on the subject of self hypnosis. In fact, it is only in the last ten years or so that it has gained popularity. In the early days of hypnosis, the therapists sought to achieve directly the deep somnambulistic state. Starting with Dr. H. Bernheim (1840-1919), the founder of Nancy School of Hypnotism, who was the preceptor of Sigmund Freud, an exciting new technique was developed. He sought first to arrive at the more superficial layers of cataleptic states before attempting to achieve the ultimate state of hypnosis. Through this process, results were achieved more deliberately, and more effectively than ever before, since, through this procedure, the hypnosis achieved was of deeper quality than known before.

It was from Dr. Bernheim’s experiments that now famous Dr. Emile Coue developed the practice of auto suggestion. His famous words, “Day by day, in every way, I am getting better and better”, have made his name a household word throughout the whole world.

At this point, I think it is necessary to differentiate between self hypnosis and auto suggestion, because they are not at all the same. In self hypnosis, the subjects contacts the subconscious mind, while in auto suggestion, he does not reach the subconscious mind at all. The superiority of self hypnosis to auto suggestion now becomes obvious. The levels of their effect differ considerably; one is superficial, the other is deep.

An average person uses positive language on a daily basis not realizing how closely this is allied to the practice of hypnosis. It is also true that we use auto suggestion in our daily affairs, without being aware of it.