Self Hypnosis for Health
The idea of using self hypnosis to help manage your health issues may seem a little awkward to you. But once you learn a little more about the procedure and get used to the idea, you may surprise yourself and become an avid fan. Perhaps, you?re puzzled by the term itself, ?hypnosis?. Many of us associate a ?hypnotic state with a ?sleeplike state? in which we become the pawn of some evil person thanks to television shows. That though really does the concept a huge injustice.
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A more accurate description of a hypnotic state goes something like this: the deliberate use of imagine, paralleled with strong focus. Once you become accomplished in this method, you?ll discover that self hypnosis can work in much the same way your dreams do. In fact, recent scientific research shows a strong link between hypnosis and the REM stage ? rapid eye movement ? of sleep. This is the phase of sleep in which we dream. Don?t expect just to jump into self hypnosis and have it work flawlessly the first time you attempt it. In fact, it?s a technique that needs to be performed with regularity ? much like meditation ? before you begin to notice any changes in your health condition or your stress levels. Start slowly, by building an inner focus or a vivid picture in your mind. The idea is to think of ? and imagine ? one of the times you were most relaxed, or even a location that you could dream of being very comfortable and relaxed in. How will you know when you?ve reached the self hypnotic dreamlike state? There are several indicators. First, the most overt symptom will be the total relaxation of your muscles. You?ll recognize this ? even if you?re never felt it before ? by their total stillness. Those in a self hypnotic state can be in this for long periods of time with little or no movement. This same experience occurs during our REM sleep. When we?re sleeping scientists call it sleeps paralysis. You may even find that you experience two other symptoms that are common in REM sleep ? the fluttering of the eyelids and the rapid movement of the eyes themselves. You?ll find this to be true if you?re doing a lot of visualization. You may also discover that you?ll be so focused on an idea that you?ll forget where you are occasionally. Someone once called this ?what happens when the room disappears.? It means that you are so totally focused and concentrated on your goals, that you are absorbed in a near day-dream state. And being focused is what self hypnosis is all about.
