When Sleep Eludes

INSOMNIA comes in many forms and has many causes - from side effects of prescription medication, alcohol, coffee, vanilla [yes, it’s a stimulant], physical illness, depression or anxiety, negative emotions like guilt or anger, to excitement, diet, disturbance of usual sleep patterns, physical discomfort, allergies [e.g. to invisible pollens], or concrete disturbances like noise.  Add a long et cetera to the list!

Forms of Insomnia:  Difficulty falling asleep, Disturbed sleep, Nightmares or night terrors, Inability to access Deep Sleep, Too deep and too long sleep periods, Interruption of [+- 90 minutes] sleep cycles, Medical problems like Sleep Apnea;  Early Waking.

The pattern of someone’s particular sleep disturbance can often suggest the cause/s and thus the best solutions.  Unfortunately too many people become dependant on drugs [prescription, alcohol, other drugs or even starchy foods] in order to get enough rest while sleeping.  Except during times of trauma [physical, emotional, societal] it should not be necessary to use chemicals in order to get a great night’s sleep. 

Ironically, the same “rules” for having good sleep experiences generally have applied over many centuries and in different cultures, despite great changes in environmental or social circumstances or demands.  For instance, if you wouldn’t have felt restful if a troupe of actors came to perform Macbeth in your bedroom in 1620, you also will be unlikely to sleep well if you watch television in the bedroom in the 21^st century! 

Most cases of insomnia can be easily cured by simple changes in our lifestyle or thinking habits!

That would of course imply that we have to give up the immediate gratification type of comfort or stimulation for the longer-term benefits of great sleep.

If you believe you have sleeping problems or a sleeping disorder, it is a useful first step to note patterns of disturbance and possible correlation to patterns of behaviour or state of mental or physical well-being or discomfort.  Many times you will then be able to correct the problem appropriately [and without drugs!] but sometimes it may be necessary to consult a health professional like a Clinical Psychologist or a Doctor, or even to be assessed at a Sleep Laboratory, to find the best solution for the problem. 

Specialised techniques like Hypnosis or relaxation exercises are very useful adjuncts to any other methods to alleviate or manage sleep disturbance. 

More about types/forms of sleep disturbance and their causes:

First, unless you are quite sure that the cause is purely psychological or in your life style, it is always wise to rule out possible medical causes, then rule out possible substance causes [including prescribed medication], as sleep disturbances could be an early warning system that there is a physical problem that needs attention.

We can test for lifestyle causes by changing the things we are doing according to the list later in this article for at least 10 days, consistently:  If our sleep improves significantly, then we no longer have a problem!  If not, consult a physician who may also require some blood tests, if medical conditions [like thyroid malfunction or hormonal problems] are suspected.  Please note that while conditions like Sleep Apnea may have lifestyle causes [like being overweight and/or using too much alcohol] they can be life threatening conditions that need medical intervention until the lifestyle changes have positive results over time;  some conditions require medical management for life.

Medical conditions that may be misdiagnosed on initial inspection as Psychological, include Thyroid malfunction, Hormonal imbalance [in men also, not just the stereotyped women’s states of PMS, pregnancy or menopause! – for instance, low testosterone could contribute to high anxiety and sleeplessness in men].  It is important to treat the medical condition rather than its “psychological” symptoms only.

Conditions like diabetes, high or low blood pressure, kidney malfunction, sinusitis, digestive system problems, etc, etc, may also cause or contribute significantly to sleep disturbances.  The medication used to treat these and other disorders [like cancer, or allergies] can frequently be a cause of sleep disturbance, for instance, many medications used for high blood pressure can cause “restless legs” [also found in diabetes] that interferes with sleep.  Spinal injuries, especially if high in the spine, can cause interference with sleep due to conditions like spasticity of the limbs or “high tonus” [tension state] of skeletal muscles generally.  Acute and chronic pain can interfere with sleep.

Patterns of Sleep Disturbance and emotional arousal:  Generally difficulty falling asleep, or frequent waking [once medical causes are ruled out] appear to be related to stimulant/excitement chemical states of the brain [like anxiety or excitement], and early waking with inability to resume sleep appears to be associated with depressed chemical states of the brain [like depression or grief].

Lifestyle causes of sleep disturbances:

Diet:  Eating a heavy meal  or meat late at night;  eating too much meat at supper, eating dairy products at/after supper if you are sensitive to them;  garlic, onions, vanilla, alcohol, caffeine [including in chocolate, tea, soft drinks, some food energy supplements], acidic fruits, MSGs [Monosodium Glutamate found as taste enhancer in many “fast” foods like potato crisps, pizza, sauces, Chinese food and most soya sauces, fish or chicken batter at fast food vendors, gravy or basting at many steak houses, some commercial salad dressings];  too low or too high blood sugar, etc.

Distraction/Stimulation: 
1] Every authority on sleep disturbances states that “The bedroom should be used for sleep, rest and sex only”.  Add to that meditative exercises or spiritual rituals like praying.
2] Do not read in bed.  Read on a chair, seated [not slumped/lying down], under good light somewhere else in or out of the bedroom.
3] Except if you are bed-ridden no one should have a TV or PC in the bedroom;  if you are renting a single room, then do not watch or work from your bed.  Lying down should be associated with rest, sleep, and sex/comfortable togetherness only.  We form “habit” brain pathways with repeated action and the brain gets confused when it has opposing pathways associated with the same situation [e.g. being in bed] – it does not know whether to sleep or not, which leads to sleep disturbance.
4] Some forms of meditation can actually stimulate the brain:  we need alpha states to rest:  do not play eg Beta state generator CDs/MP3s etc late at night.  Do not play arousing music or engage in arousing reading/Tv etc [eg thrillers] before going to bed/sleep.
5] As far as possible, keep regular times to fall asleep or wake up.  The Reptilian centre of our brain becomes anxious when patterns are interrupted frequently, and will assume a watchful-wakeful state.
6] Do not over-sleep or sleep late to “make up” for sleep lost through late night activities.  This affects your sleep-waking cycle.  Rather “catch up” with shorter rest or sleep sessions [“siesta” or “forty winks” are sufficient to replenish energy till the next “normal” sleep time.]
6] Do not exercise vigorously within 2-3 hours before bed time [certain yoga or gentle stretching exercises may be acceptable – always test to see if it makes a difference].
7] Create a “settling down” period of at least 30 minutes before attempting sleep.  This can include calm music, rubbing on body lotion, prayer/visualisation, affirmations of peaceful, positive thoughts, etc.
8] Use self-hypnosis/relaxation/autogenic training exercises if you feel alert/ anxious/ depressed/ irritable/ aroused at bed time, or if you are in physical discomfort like pain.

Hypnosis recordings can be extremely helpful in combating both sleep disorders and their causes, whether physical like pain or illness, or psychological like anxiety or depression.  A properly qualified Clinical Hypnotherapist [i.e. someone like a psychologist/psychiatrist who is qualified not only in hypnosis but also in the neurology and physiology affecting sleep] is recommended although there are also very good commercial sleep-hypnosis products available on the internet. PLEASE READ THE ARTICLES ON HYPNOSIS ON THIS SITE before you buy a product or see a hypnotist as here could be dangers if the hypnotist is not adequately trained or experienced.  Always ask for credentials before submitting to any form of treatment!

Disruptive Emotions or Thinking:

There is by now overwhelming evidence, especially since research by Cogitive-Behavioral and Brain scientists in the last half of the 20^th century and later, that any form of mental or physical distress can be exacerbated and often even caused by incorrect/dysfunctional habits of thinking or behaving.

Many people frequently sleep very little when they’re involved with something fun or stimulating, and feel fine [though I would recommend that this practice is limited to “occasional” sleep deprivation!].  Suddenly if we can’t sleep due to physical or mental discomfort, we tend to “catastrophise” [i.e. give it more power to disrupt us than necessary or real]…  People say “I had ONLY 5 hours’ sleep last night;  I MUST be tired and today therefore WILL be terrible!”  [So many thinking errors in one statement!] Rather say “I’m so happy and excited that I had a FULL five hours’ sleep and am looking forward to a wonderful day, full of positive energy, and a great night’s sleep thereafter!”

Use phrases like “I’m looking forward to a wonderful night’s rest, and a positive, glorious day tomorrow!” or “I’m welcoming this being awake and am grateful for the wonderful, restorative sleep I will soon enter…” etc, to plant seeds for good outcome in your mind.

Dr Wayne Dyer recommends that we use two verbal techniques to help us be at peace:
- Repeat words like Serenity, Calm, Peace, Joy, Tranquillity, Abundance [etc] until you feel good
- Say “I want to feel good!”, followed by “I intend to feel good!”

Remember, your words [and thoughts] create your reality!

To learn more about this, read books on positive thinking, or watch the commercially available DVD of The Secret.

There are also many “releasing” techniques:  Find a therapist or life coach who is trained and experienced to help you to release whatever habits or experiences are interfering with good sleep.  Most of us really do not need medication in order to have fantastic sleep!  If insomnia is interfering with your ability to be happy and successful, it’s certainly worth the investment to see someone competent who can help you professionally.  When people prioritise health, all other aspects of their lives tend to improve dramatically also, at little or no further cost.

This technique was Presented by Reinette Steyn to the Psychology (PsySSA)Conference in Cape Town on 13 Aug 2009.

Whether big or small, Trauma has always implied disruption of our sense of being “OK”.

The German word Traum means Dream, suggesting an experience in Dream State, or Nightmare, if you will.  Traumatic experiences generally have dream state power: symbolism, irrationality, unpredictability, polarised effects, and 2-dimensional characters – good or bad, victim or perpetrator.

Psychoanalyst Melanie Klein held that the Imagoes or mental representations we create of people who have in some way damaged us, are far fiercer and more relentless than the real life people on whom they are based; they are indifferent to all others’ pain or even delight in it.

I believe the same holds true for damaging or threatening events or experiences in general. 

They seem one-sided and overpower us with their unmittigating attack – Nightmare stuff.

The counter-balance for a nightmare, with all its vivid imagery, movement, unpredictability, and frenetic action, can’t be just a calm dream.  We need a similar strong arousal level as that of the trauma or nightmare experience, one that would stimulate the release of large quantities of positive neurochemicals to neutralise or displace the negative ones.

We need colour, movement, rush of action, stimulation of all senses, and exuberant energy in our healing imagery.  Let’s call it a Brightmare!  A wonderful, bright, positive dream state experience, with imagoes as impossibly real and incongruous to everyday experience, as those of negative trauma states.

The changing of the brain state to a positive but aroused state is an important intervention since we know that our brain functioning is so-called “State-Dependent”:  It is very difficult for us to access positive memories or habits if we’re feeling depressed, or calm memories or experiences if we’re feeling anxious, or powerful feelings when we’re in a trauma-induced powerless state.  And since the brain appears to prioritise highly aroused states as mode of ensuring survival, we need to create a similar level of arousal priority for the brain to change to a more positive and powerful state of functioning.

Different de-briefing therapies appear to have 3 common elements in their various protocols:
1]  Re-visit the traumatic experience in minute details, accessing all 7 senses, and replay with different perspective and speeds.
2]  Re-frame aspects of the experience so that they are more empowering & validating.
3]  Generate a containment / safe space experience.

In EMDR the protocol typically ends with 3 containment steps:
a]  De-potentiate the threatening negative imagoes, for instance by putting them into a Perspex bubble, or a composting tank, or shark cage.
b]  Anchor a feeling of being protected through a suitable image – blue light, angels, huge dog, etc.
c]  Help client to create or access a Conflict-Free Image [CFI].  Examples from patients include floating in a dam, playing with their dog as a child, flying overseas on holiday, throwing clay at opponents across a stream, giving birth, a secret place in a garden, etc.

Making light of actual traumatic events [big or small] is likely to be harmful, invalidating the painful experience, causing repression of the negative impact, and hugely annoying the defensive or protective ego-states, which may have disruptive and damaging consequences…

But we can speed up the process of re-empowerment and stabilisation of the self by enlivening the safe space imagery to create an effective counter-balancing “Brightmare” to the trauma-bad dream experience.  We do this through adding incongruous, laughter-evoking imagery to the client’s CFT or safe space.

Example:  To a young rape victim’s Safe image of eating ice-cream on the beach, one ciould suggest that the “ice-cream baby” had a big protector ice-goose that would nozzle her neck with its flat orange beak, and tuck her under its belly to keep her safe, till she sneezed so hard that it somersaulted backwards and looked very funny trying to regain composure.  Experience shows that clients, old or young, keep remembering the incongruous image and e laughter thus evoked seems to speed up the creation of efficacy and normalcy neuronal pathways.

We can thus play the role of movie or dream state director, generating strong and vivid positive states, to create an exciting Brightmare through suggesting additions to patient imagery, using the following tools:

- Add colour, brightness, temperature, physical comfort – or even slight discomfort such a tickling, texture, smell, taste, sounds.
- Enlarge the protagonist/s [including the Self] to absurdly huge size in relation to other elements or characters.
- Add incongruous characters, actions, occurrences, and situations.  It should end up being “silly” and laughter-provoking, while remaining reassuring and protective.
- Add fast movement, unexpected behaviours or events, dramatic, positive action, and make sure the client is part of the action in a powerful way.

Benefits are numerous, for instance:

- Neuro-chemicals evoked by laughter and energetic imagery create a brain state in which it is easier to recall victory and positive experiences, in contrast to the disempowering state created by traumatic experiences;
- Re-association to three-dimensionality of one’s life and reintegration of positive life experiences into the life narrative can occur readily;
- Through the balancing of Nightmare Dream States with Brightmare Dream States, normalcy is validated and permission is given to the self to laugh and experience happy feelings “in spite of” negative experience, etc.

The possibility for selection of possible characters and events is endless:  Why can’t the Elvis impersonator surfing on a Harley Davidson bike near the person’s safe place not have a mouse with long green eye-lashes playing ego-strengthening songs on the red lacquered guitar across his back, while the foam that shoots up from the Hog comfortingly tickles the client’s cheecks?

As long as the characters and events maintain the client’s sense of safety and security, and integrity of self, and add humour and some form of reconnection to happier or more ppowrful experiences, anything is possible.

What constitutes Hypnosis?

Hypnosis generally occurs when there is a heightened state of suggestibility during a state of trance. Trance is one of many states of consciousness, from coma to extreme focus. Supposedly one’s brain is lead to “an altered state of consciousness” from a ‘normal’ waking state, through certain verbal and non-verbal behaviours by the person [who can be the self, in self-hypnosis] leading one to a trance state.

The term Hypnosis is used when one is using a trance state consciously to bring about change [hopefully for the better!] in the person who is being hypnotised.

There are many forms of trance states / altered states of consciousness: Some forms of trance, like certain types of (Eastern) meditation, do not rely on suggestions, and would probably not be classified as hypnosis, but most trance states are: prayer, group prayer or praise, meditation on a text or image (such a the Stations of the Cross in the Catholic religion), “subliminal” programming, neurolinguistic programming [NLP], tribal dance and the many forms of ritual dance with non-verbal symbolism, “hearing” TV, music or radio broadcasts while drifting in and out of sleep, or while focussing attention on one event/stimulus [like winning a race], etc.

Researchers believe we drift in and out of “hypnosis” about one hundred times each day! So whether you’re focussing exclusively on negative thoughts like “I can’t make it” or positive ones like “This is an exciting challenge”, the outcome is likely to support the thought, because the trance state promotes suggestibility.

The Unconscious [ucs] vs the Conscious [cs]

Consciousness seems to be integrated with some form of language functioning. When we name, address, interpret our inner or outer world, that is cs. When we are unaware of it (for instance how you just took that breath), it is not conscious, or ucs. Neuroscientists believe that 99% of our actions (incl thinking) and motivation to act, is unconscious!

The main difference is that the ucs appears to function at a primitive level:

[1] it interprets suggestion and information literally, compared to the cs mind that can acquire some ability to think and understand abstractions. If I tell you in waking state “you are a duck” [in a play], you may choose to quack and walk like a duck, but know you are a human being, acting duck-like; if you are told in trance “you are a duck” you may believe you are a duck.

[2] The ucs tends to accept indiscriminately/un-critically suggestions and act according to those “beliefs”, whether positive or negative: Thus, repeating to yourself “I’m too busy”, “I’m a lousy cook” or ”I’m God’s gift to womankind” can and will dramatically alter your behaviour accordingly over time, because you will often be in trance during such statements “in the back” of your mind! This acceptance is so indiscriminate - similar to during dreaming - that we even create a special trance logic to accommodate illogical statements or images. So, we can believe we are “floating gently down a stream” when in fact we are sitting in a chair in an office!

Conversely, when we imagine [note that means 'to create an image'!] that we are going to be in trouble in a relationship or at work, we will probably behave subtly in ways to support the suggested situation, and people will react unpleasantly towards us… And then we repeat the trauma by suggesting to ourselves things like “I am unlovable” or “I can never get it right” etc.!

[3] The ucs is “unlimited” in its power (Robbins); whereas the cs is limited by “reality” that it is continually evaluating. The ucs has memory where it is directed and can be controlled to “forget” episodes as well as surrounding stimuli, whereas the cs appears to assess and incorporate what it interprets as pertinent or real into its reality assessment and judgement calls.

There are also theories about a Preconscious [pcs], but the term tends to be used to refer to the imminent recovery of specific memory that has been too scary for the cs and thus “repressed”.

Is hypnosis dangerous?

It can be. That’s why practitioners of hypnosis have to be licensed. Even stage hypnotists are very carefully trained, and have to limit their activities to those approved by the licensing board. [That's why you never get to hear the actual full induction patters on television hypnosis shows… If a problem occurred in an auditorium - and I've witnessed this happen - the hypnotist can move into the audience and correct the situation, but on TV you can't know how individuals may react, e.g. 2 years later, in another country.]

Benefits of hypnosis

As an adjunct to other forms of psychotherapy, hypnosis can help us to achieve immense, lasting and positive changes to our state of mental and physical well-being. Early in the 20th-century already it was found that, for instance, terminally ill patients in a clinic setting would experience vast benefits, ranging from a marked decrease in pain, absence of pain, decrease in side-effects of treatment like chemotherapy, increased cell repair and immune functioning, peacefulness, and often complete remission from the illness, as well as essential psychological effects for healing, like the removal of negative beliefs, such as helplessness & hopelessness. The conclusion still is that both life expectancy and quality of life are greatly improved by the regular practice of hypnosis and other forms of trance.

There are many terms that various people use to describe the state of hypnosis: visualisation, right brain visualisation, autogenic training, imaging, directed day dreaming, trance journeys, focus exercises, etc.

As we know from the field of Sports Psychology, changing one’s self talk that occurs repeatedly in one’s waking hours, from negative suggestions such as “I can’t do this” to positive suggestions such as “I’m a champion” is the difference between winning or losing at local or international level. When we add the positive suggestions during hypnotic trance, the influence on the mind and body is phenomenal.

In medical and psychological terms therefore, Hypnosis implies a state of relaxation of the body and parts of the mind that allows the brain to focus on single areas of awareness suggested by the hypnotist (or by the person self in self hypnosis). In this state, it seems as if our critical, conscious, analytical abilities (associated with the neo-cortex of sophisticated developmental stages) are suspended, while our primitive, unconscious mind responds in a very concrete manner to the suggestions. For example, if I told you in a waking state that your right arm is in a bucket of ice and is going numb so that it can feel no pain, you might try as hard as you can to achieve this numbness but it is unlikely that you will succeed. If however, you are in trance and experience that same suggestion, it is likely that your arm will become numb and you will feel no pain if I, for instance, prick your arm with a pin.

Some people in fact, respond so well to hypnotic suggestion, that they can undergo surgery without anaesthetic other than the hypnotic suggestions. This facility is often used, for instance for Caesarian birth deliveries… provided, of course, that the hypnotist does not faint when s/he sees the mother’s belly being cut open!

The same powerful effects can be noticed when hypnosis is applied to psychological healing. Most forms of even severe mental illness, such as severe depression, can be improved dramatically when hypnosis is added to the treatment. That is why I often use the term “acceleration technique” to describe psychotherapy techniques like Hypnosis or Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR).

Types of hypnosis

In South Africa four types of hypnosis are specified by SASCH (the South African Society for Clinical Hypnosis):

Traditional Hypnosis comprises many of hypnotic techniques we can observe in movies or in stage hypnosis. It forms the basis for other types of hypnosis. It is directive and suggestions are generally uncamouflaged and direct, for instance, when the client is told, “The next time you light a cigarette, you will experience the most horrible foul taste in your mouth, the worst taste you have ever experienced in your life…”

Medical Hypno-Analysis is often used for the process known as Regression. This means that the client is taken back in time to earlier stages in his/her life during hypnosis, so that incidents in the past that have affected the client’s well-being, can be revisited and re-processed so that they no longer have a negative influence on him/her. It is common to regress the client even to pre-birth and allow him/her to re-experience the birth process in a more positive manner (called re-birthing). Commonly used protective techniques to access the unconscious mind in order to become aware of what has happened in the past or what we are really thinking, like a Sentence-Completion Test, have been streamlined to make access to the unconscious more effective in hypnosis.

Ericksonian Hypnosis is based on the work of Milton Erickson (the basis for the development later of a specific school of influence techniques called NLP, Neuro-Linguistic Programming) and the hypnotist will use permissive language, metaphors, stories, confusional techniques, and elements of language (like rhyme, assonance, etc.), rather than direct suggestions, to induce trance and create change.

Dramatic changes in personal, marital, work, social, and situational functioning can be achieved in a very short time. Without a client even closing his/her eyes or explicitly going “into hypnosis”, he or she can experience profound improvement of states of depression, anxiety, fear, anger, and even physical health.

Ego State Hypnosis conceptualises the personality of comprising various Ego States that are formed at different times in our lives, for instance when we acquire a new skill, or experience trauma, or start behaving in a similar manner as someone who has a lot of influence on our lives. In Ego State hypnosis the various ego states in a personality are invited to communicate with the therapist and with each other in order to achieve better unity of the personality and to change negative or destructive habits. For instance, if someone has a headache, one possible technique is to ask the part of the personality that needs a headache to be there, why this is so, what it needs to change, and request that it will change so that the headache lifts immediately.

Many hypnotherapists use more than one type of hypnosis and often integrate hypnosis with other forms of psychotherapy such as Gestalt, cognitive-behavioral, or even psychoanalytic therapy. Similarly, psychotherapists working predominantly in other types of psychotherapy may use hypnosis from time to time to achieve specific results.

Applications of hypnosis in medicine and in psychotherapy

Because our capacity to tell stories and create new ideas is unlimited, because our ability these days to access information about which techniques have been designed and have worked in all the other parts of the world, the application of hypnosis is virtually unlimited.

When a new client asks me, “Can hypnosis help for X?” my answer usually is “Yes, of course” - although I may further qualify that by describing the length of time it might take, or by suggesting another method (like EMDR) to be used as well.

Typical uses of hypnosis in dentistry include pain control, anaesthesia (so that you don’t need injections or gas), increased healing, for instance of infections, decreased fear of procedures or visits, decreased bleeding, de-briefing of previous traumatic visits and consequent removal of phobias, etc… Some dentists are specifically trained in hypnosis to facilitate these effects: if you can imagine the relief this brings to adult patients, just think how wonderful it is when your child can go to the dentist without fear or pain!

Typical uses of hypnosis in medicine and psychiatry include pain control (even for severe pain such as experienced in burns or cancer), improved immune functioning, correction of hormonal states (for instance in regulation of periods, or improved ability to conceive a child, or mood swings due to for instance impaired thyroid functioning), increased healing of tissue after surgery, healing of skin problems like rashes or eczema, decreased cough response during infections, decreased symptoms of treatment such as chemotherapy, anaesthesia, improved sleep functioning, decrease of tension with resultant decrease of stress symptoms like back pain or neck pain, control of tics and compulsions, balancing of neurochemical states with resultant improvement in disorders like Bipolar Disorder or chronic depression, removal of various kinds of “psychological” pain or impairment, etc..

Typical uses of hypnosis in psychotherapy include improved general well-being and motivation; decrease of depression, anxiety, panic, phobias, impulse control problems, compulsions, addictions, mood swings, habits like self-pity or self-deprication, fears, insomnia; increased energy, ability to focus, ability to lead a balanced life, ability to recover from loss and rejection, self-confidence, self esteem, joy, happiness, resourcefulness, problem-solving, creativity, communication skills, etc.!

In South Africa, clinical training in hypnosis is offered through organisations like SASCH (the South African Society for Clinical Hypnosis) or MEISA (Milton Erickson Institute of South Africa) and candidates for such training have to be pre-registered with organisations such as the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). You have the right to ask anyone who claims to be a hypnotist who can solve your psychological or medical problems for his/her credentials or registration number.

Who can be hypnotised?

Virtually every one can be hypnotised (unless for instance, there is severe brain damage). We all drift in and out of hypnotic trance many times a day. It is the task of the hypnotist to access the best path to contact and utilise this ability for specific goals that the client has. Most people respond well to variety of standard techniques but some people may have resistance to these techniques or to being hypnotised — even if their conscious mind appears to want to go into hypnosis; but even they can be hypnotised: it might just take a little bit longer to find the right technique.

Unless you are brain-damaged, it is probably incorrect to say “I can’t be hypnotised”: The fact is that we actually put ourselves in hypnosis, so you can hypnotise yourself with the help of an informed and knowledgeable hypnotist! You probably have been hypnotised, but you may not have realised it, because you may have an incorrect idea of what hypnosis should be like: read the next section to correct this.

Milton Erickson, for instance, was famous for being able to induce hypnosis to a deep trance level in so-called resistant clients who had seen many other hypnotists before. The developers of NLP used Erickson’s techniques effectively in the commercial world to train, for instance, salesmen to exert hypnotic influence on clients without the clients knowing the extent of the influence.

What is it like to be hypnotised?

While experiences in hypnosis differ, the best answer is similar to what stage hypnotist Max Caan says at the beginning of each of his television shows (called Nowhereland): At no time will you feel any different to what you of feeling right now; you will just feel “a pleasant sensation of deep relaxation”. Of course, after this state of relaxation, or hypnosis, is induced, you can be lead to feel many different emotions and sensations or alterations of sensations, alterations of beliefs and convictions, etc.. But people in hypnosis generally do not feel that they are hypnotised, rather that they are fully in the moment that they are busy accessing. Usually, memories are thus re-lived rather than re-called.

Hypnotists generally describe different levels of trance. The lay person often assumes that you have to be un-conscious during the process of hypnosis, un-aware of what is happening and completely under the control of the hypnotist. Sometimes this is a fantasy of clients who ask to be hypnotised so that they won’t be aware of anything while the hypnotist changes their state or instantly removes their symptoms without their input or awareness. It is generally thought that only one of ten people can access a so-called somnambulistic (or sleep-walking trance); while I believe this is an under-estimation, the fact is that a somnambulistic trance is not essential for virtually all medical psychological work to be done in hypnosis. All you need to access, is a light to medium trance for profound work to be done.

Personal experience

I’ve experienced many kinds of psychotherapy and the most wonderful ego-strengthening and mood-stabilising effects have come from hypnosis sessions. This kind of hypnosis is really a wonderful and strengthening experience that clients tend to look forward to. So are the sessions in which one helps the client to access a state of relief and recovery similar to that achieved by being on a relaxing holiday.

However, sessions of hypnosis can also be very disrupting and upsetting when the client is invited to access traumatic memories or events from the past. The good news is that in hypnosis - as in EMDR - the distressed feelings can also quickly be dampened and stabilised so that the client does not have to live and function in a highly distressed state for too long.

What does it cost?

Sessions in acceleration techniques like hypnosis are often not limited to the so-called 50 minute hour of other types of psychotherapy. I prefer to book a longer session for the first and sometimes subsequent sessions of hypnosis, so that adequate work and sufficient stabilisation of the emotional state can occur before the client leaves. Medical aids these days cover the cost of double sessions. I also ask clients to buy and bring along an audio cassette tape or any other recording device, such as a Digital Voice Recorder as I record all sessions so that the clients can re-listen to the tape or practise techniques that worked in the session.

Depending on the problem a client might have to commit to shorter or longer term hypnotherapy. To stop smoking might take four to six sessions whereas to correct a serious eating disorder might take years.

Some clients can achieve remarkable results in a single session whereas others may take longer to find similar relief or change. Some therapists offer discounts for cash payment or for regular visits: Fees need to be negotiated with the specific therapist you wish to consult.

AUTOGENIC TRAINING

[A fancy term for self-hypnosis…which should only be attempted after a professional hypnotist has given you Priming and Protective suggestions in trance!]

Typical exercises:

1] Five senses focus; Three senses focus…
2] Going into a warm pool of water
3] Healing light or other symbol infusion
4] Stories {e.g. Chicken Soup selections or some fairy tales)
5] Garden / forest journeys
6] Third eye infusion

There are many books on Autogenic Training, Relaxation Exercises, Right-Brain Visualisation, Meditations, etc, that have many suggestions of useful images we can use to heal/grow/integrte/motivate/stabilise [etc] ourselves.  It is strongly recommende though first to visit a properly trained and licenced Hypnotist who can guide you through pitfalls, give you necessary protective suggestions, and answer any questions you may have.