How and Why we use Hypnosis.
In considering why we use hypnosis, we have to think about the structure of the brain. Consider the brain as having two areas, a logical thinking process and an automatic feelings processing system. The latter deals with feelings reactions and habits, and the former deals with all logical processing.
However, problems arise when we attempt to use the logical thinking process to change automatic feelings processing systems, in so far as the harder we try, the more they work against us. We know from experience that if we relax the thinking processes the feelings processes also relax and thus creates a bridge between the logical thinking processes and automatic feelings processing systems. To achieve this bridge we need to use a tool, which we call hypnosis.
What is Hypnosis?
Some people are under the misapprehension that in a state of hypnosis a person is zonked out, asleep or unconscious. This is a myth.
It is perhaps better to consider the description of this process as
"a passive state of awareness." In such a state, you would
be aware of everything that was going on around you but wouldn't want
to do much about it.
This is similar to what people who have a normal sleep pattern experience twice in every twenty-four hours. It's that point when you are going off to sleep or on the point of waking up.
In that state, you are very susceptible to suggestion, so if you hear
a taping on the window as you are going off to sleep and you start thinking
about someone breaking in, then you can get yourself into a panicky
state very quickly.
Alternatively, if you are thinking about something pleasant that has
happened to you during the day, you may find that you are overcome by
pleasant feelings.
The job of the therapist is to bring about that change
and then guide you through useful suggestions that help make changes
in the part of your brain, which governs feelings, reactions or habits.