Achieving hypnosis is a matter of directing the suggestibility that we all possess into the channels which will eventually produce the hypnotic state. It can be much more complicated than this explanation in several cases, but let us use this as a working premise.
Everybody can be hypnotized. The time needed for achieving hypnosis will differ from subject to subject. We’re going to discuss some of the explanations for this in a subsequent chapter , but for our conversation at this time we want to understand this point. I have run into countless people who were highly disappointed because they did not respond to hypnosis immediately or after several attempts. They needed to know “what was wrong.” An explanation that nothing was wrong somehow didn’t satisfy these people. “After all,” they argued, “did not I’m going to a hypnotist especially to be hypnotized?” Some insinuated that maybe the hypnotist was not particularly good.
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may I explain that most subjects need to be conditioned for hypnosis, and this conditioning is helped when the [14] subject practices certain conditioning exercises that I shall talk about in detail in chapter six, titled “How To Attain Self-Hypnosis.” In my teaching, I’ve found that about one out of 10 subjects reacts to the 1st attempt at hypnosis. One can’t make a definite statement regarding the length of time critical to learn self-hypnosis, but it’s my experience this usually takes about one month. I have had subjects learn self-hypnosis in about half an hour, but I must also relate that I have worked with subjects for one year before they achieved it.
For the main part, the laws of learning apply to self-hypnosis as with anything else that one would wish to learn. It can be a comparatively straightforward process, or it can be very bewildering. The answer lies not so much with the hypnotist as with the topic.
One question that turns up is : “if I am under hypnosis, how can I give myself suggestions?” in the hypnotic state, it’s got to be remembered, the subject is always mindful of what is happening. He hears what’s said, follows directions and cancels the state when instructed to do so. In the self-hypnotic state, the topic is in full control. he can think, reason, act, criticise, suggest or do whatever he needs. He’ll audibly give himself recommendations, or he will be able to psychologically give himself ideas. In both cases, he doesn’t wake from the hypnotic state till he gives himself explicit suggestions to do so. Many feel if they audibly give themselves recommendations, they will “awaken.” In hypno-analysis, the topic answers questions during the hypnotic state. Having the subject talk doesn’t end the state. You can keep the chatty subject under hypnosis as long as you would like. Similarly, the topic can be sitting erect with his eyes open and still be under hypnosis. Carrying this further, the topic may not even be advised that he’s [15] under hypnosis. He will be given a cue not to recollect when the consultant makes a certain motion or announces a certain word that he’ll go into the hypnotic state but still keep his eyes open. Only a professional hypnotist could perceive the change.
Another frequent question is : “How do I awaken myself from the self-hypnotic state?” You just say to yourself that upon counting to 5 you’ll open your eyes and wake up feeling fine. Many times the subject drops off while giving himself posthypnotic recommendations. This isn’t undesirable since the suggestions will spill over into the subconscious as he goes from consciousness to unconsciousness.
A popular opinion of hypnosis is that the subject surrenders his will to the hypnotist in the process of being hypnotized. Additionally, many think that once the subject is hypnotised, the hypnotist has total control of the subject and the subject is powerless to resist suggestion. Both convictions are erroneous. I think the first myth comes from seeing methods where the hypnotist requests the subject to have a look into his eyes. The hypnotist endorses to the topic that as he continues to take a look at his eyes he is going to fall into a deep hypnotic state. This, then, becomes a matter of who can outstare whom. The topic usually begins to blink his eyes and the hypnotist follows this up with fast recommendations the subject’s eyes are becoming watery and heavy and that the subject will fall into a deep hypnotic sleep just as fast as he ( the subject ) closes his eyes. This process gives the impression to the observer the subject is “willed” to go under hypnosis. It would appear that once the hypnotist concentrates or wills sufficiently, the topic succumbs. Actually , the hypnotist in this technique is not looking into the eyes of the subject. [16] He fixes his attention on the bridge of the nose of the topic.