How Do You Know It Worked?

[Cindy]

I recently had a hypnotherapist hypnotize a friend and me. I had just read a couple of Brian Weiss books, and I was completely fascinated and hopeful about hypnosis helping me. But, I am uncertain about whether it worked or not. (As is my friend, whose experiences were very similar to mine.) I felt completely aware the entire time. A few times, I wanted to say "Hey, this is not working." I didn't, because I was hopeful that any minute it would start working.

He kept asking me what I was seeing, and I pretty much said "nothing." He would ask me for more details about a particular image I was seeing and I kept telling him that there were no more details. Each image I recalled were images that I would have recalled on any particular day. Nothing new was brought up through the hypnosis.

I chose to get hypnotized for a variety of reasons - I wanted to resolve some issues with my dad's death and I wanted to resolve some serious fears about my X husband. I felt that hypnotism and possibly past life regression would assist me in figuring out why I cannot resolve these issues.....

So, I guess my questions are - How do you know whether you are hypnotized or not? Shouldn't the therapist have some way of knowing whether you are or are not? From my posting, would you say that I probably was not hypnotized? How often are people not able to be hypnotized? Is it because I didn't have some concrete difinitive reasons for being hypnotized that it did not work?

I would appreciate any help.

[Obi Wan]

I would say that you were most likely hypnotized.

I would also say that the hypnotherapist that you went in saw didn't pre-frame your experience well enough. Hypnosis sometimes feels nothing more than a sense of relaxation. Hypnosis is trance, we experience trance everyday. Have you ever been driving down the road and realize that you don't know where you are? You were in trance.

I would also guess that the hypnotherpist didn't use some type of convincer during your session. This would be something like arm levitation or eye closure.

I would suggest that you talk to the hypnotherapist, tell them that you didn't think you were hypnotized. In my opinion any Hypnotherapist worth a lick of salt will answer these questions and help you figure out whether you were truly hypnotized or not.

[Annie]

Hi Cindy,

Many people writing in an " authoritative "- fashion, describing in this case what " hypnosis " is, vs. is not, end up misleading people such as yourself, and that is unfortunate. For instance, people including here in this group will post things like : " when I count you Up, you will Awaken ", or " when I was Under ", things on this order : giving many people a false impression that " hypnosis is similar to sleep " when that is not at all the case.

In a *truly beautiful state of hypnosis* you are far more aware/perceptive of what is going on in your environment, than you are in your " normal/non-hypnotised " state of awareness. Your own wonderful sub-conscious mind has abilities of which you are currently not consciously aware, but you can be taught how to access these *your own, resources* : now, how wonderful is that ? :)

Further, since Hypnosis is both -
1. the By-passing of the conscious/critical factor, and
2. the establishment of selected/Positive thinking :
can you understand, better now, how your experience you have described indicates that you were most likely not hypnotized ? And in case you ask, you said : " A few times, I wanted to say "Hey, this is not working." I didn't, because I was hopeful that any minute it would start working. " ... So, anytime you are " thinking ", you are still engaging your " conscious/critical factor "; and that, by definition, is Not " hypnosis ". make sense ?

Also, it seems whoever this man was, he was asking you to " visually hallucinate " ; and from your responses, I would ask : Are you not, normally, practiced in so doing ? : it is a very easy skill to learn how to do, especially *positive peaceful :)hallucinations*, Cindy .

I encourage you to ask this man to help you have these kinds of experiences instead, while in his presence; as well as to teach you how to entertain such states, anytime you choose on your own .


Annie

[Annie]

Hi Cindy,

Forgive me for adding a 2nd. post to my 1st. one : only a few people here in this group are allowed *self-editing*; the rest of us just keep writing additional posts :)

Anyway, you mentioned wanting to " resolve issues surrounding my dad's death and some serious fears about my X husband " : Know, Cindy, that you can come to *live-at-peace about any relationship(s) you may have*. Once you did know how; and you can, once again, live like this. Trust that you can; and you will ! And I hope that you will find a teacher who can show you the way, quickly and easily :)
~

You asked :
So, I guess my questions are - How do you know whether you are hypnotized or not? Shouldn't the therapist have some way of knowing whether you are or are not?

You are quite correct Cindy - yes, any person who hypnotizes you should know the varying Levels of hypnosis, what each is Useful/Helpful for, and how to tell which level you have reached. These are preliminary skills for any Hypnotist, altho so very few hypnotherapists bother to learn them, how sad.
so, I invite you to Ask your hypnotherapist what Training he has availed himself of in this regard; so - he may truely help you in achieving your goals.

You asked : How often are people not able to be hypnotized? Is it because I didn't have some concrete difinitive reasons for being hypnotized that it did not work? I would appreciate any help.

Cindy, I assure you that once having your questions, fears, hesitations answered & laid to rest adequately, you will be easily and quickly hypnotized. So again, it's just a matter of you being in a conducive, helpful atmosphere with a teacher who can help you *re-experience* what it feels like being "hypnotized". You see, as a tiny baby you lived most of your days in this "state". So, it is not at all foreign, and new, to you. You have simply forgotten.

Hypnosis is such a wonderful state to live immersed in, Cindy - that I hope you will, once again, avail yourself of this opportunity very soon :)


Annie

[Simple Guy]

Hi Cindy,

Trance isn't always recognized by the trancee (to coin a word). Hypnotherapy,
is results oriented. So, clients should state their goals and identify just how it
is that they'd know that the goals have been obtained. Effective hypnotherapy
is results oriented and the determination of whether the goals have been met,
very tangible.

It's not always necessary, nor helpful, that clients be convinced that trance has
taken place. The real determinant of whether trance has occurred (a prerequisite
for change), is when goals are reached. Were you in trance? I don't know.

[Cindy]

Thanks for all your kind answers.
What I was thinking was - - if I was truly in a state of hypnosis, I would have remembered, thought or felt something that I would not have felt in my normal, walking around state, or at least that the memories would be more vivid. Because all my memories were those that I can always remember I figured that I was relaxed, but not in a state of hypnosis.

I also believed that a hypnotist would test out the process somehow (?) during the process to make sure that the patient was actually in a state of hypnosis....like asking me to bark like a dog:)

I did read one suggestion about how to become more hypnotizable. Does anybody have another suggestion? Would being really nervous hinder the ability? I thought believing would be enough! How often, in your experiences, does it just NOT WORK???

The beginning part of the hypnosis was the thing where you invision all your body parts becoming relaxed and loose. It is the same thing that my yoga instructor does at the end of yoga. It doesn't work very well for me in there. Relaxation does not come easy for me. I am also looking for some meditation classes, to help me to learn to relax, because I really want to work on these issues through hypnosis. Is it ever necessary to use medication (like xanax or valium, etc.) to make the patience more receptive to the suggestions?

Should I come up with a signal to tell the hypnotist, if I feel that it is not working?

Thanks.

[Merlin]

>So, I guess my questions are - How do you know whether you are hypnotized or not?

You know by the results you get

>Shouldn't the therapist have some way of knowing whether you are or are not?

Yes

>From my posting, would you say that I probably was not hypnotized?

Hard to say, but it does sound like the hypnotist is not well skilled.

>How often are people not able to be hypnotized?

That depends on the hypnotist. For good/skilled hypnotists, 100% are hypnotisable.
But for poorly skilled ones, well...

>Is it because I didn't have some concrete difinitive reasons for being hypnotized that it did not
work?

No

>What I was thinking was - - if I was truly in a state of hypnosis, I would have remembered

Sub-consciously yes. Consciously, maybe not.

>I also believed that a hypnotist would test out the process somehow

Many are afraid of the possible failure.

>like asking me to bark like a dog

only at a stage show :)

>I did read one suggestion about how to become more hypnotizable. Does anybody have another
suggestion?

Finding a qualified hypnotist works best. ;)

>How often, in your experiences, does it just NOT WORK???

0.00%

Relaxation is irrelavent to hypnosis.

>Is it ever necessary to use medication (like xanax or valium, etc.)

Never!

>Should I come up with a signal to tell the hypnotist, if I feel that it is not working?

No

[Annie]

Hi Cindy -

Alot of people, and " therapists " so trained, have come to believe that just getting yourself shifting into *any strong positive trance*, is hypnosis. But hypnosis is a more *specific* kind of trance. So, if a Therapist hasn't yet learned what each/they are - they are not going to want to Test for them, for fear of failure.

That is why so many will resort to " gadgets " (or worse : Drugs, or ECT) to shift people out of bad trances they don't want to experience, anymore. How, truely, Tragic that is !

Hypnosis is very easy and fast, when you know how; and yes, you can be taught how to enter this state quickly & easily.

Also, your sub-conscious mind *will protect you*; so - sometimes, you may remember Consciously what went on, yet other times, it may choose blocking your conscious awareness; and that is ok, also.

You will know that " hypnosis " has worked, when you realize the Results :)you are after ...

Happy learnings !


Annie