Total Mind Therapy &#187; Hypnosis

Your Subconscious Mind

If you are interested in learning more about your subconscious mind then down the report “Discover the Secrets of your subconscious mind.” This report is normally sold for $29.97 but can be yours free simply by following this link. But don’t wait. This free offer won’t last!

About the Author

Wil Dieck is the founder of Total Mind Therapy the fusion of hypnosis and NLP into one powerful system that has helped hundreds of people, just like you, make quick and lasting behavioral shifts. He is also the author of the report “Secrets of Your Subconscious Mind” that you can download at his website. If you are interested in learning more about how Total Mind Therapy can be beneficial to you call (619) 752-0530. You will be scheduled for a risk free, no obligation phone assessment that will help you determine how you can find the success you desire.

The Most Frequently Asked Questions about Hypnosis

Wil Dieck — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 20:17:09 +0000

“In [hypnosis], you can attain significant psycho-physiologic changes.” Dr. Daniel Handel, National Institute of Health, New York Times, June 2002

Because most people have a limited exposure to hypnosis they also have a limited understanding about how hypnosis works. Over the years I have helped hundreds of people using hypnosis and NLP make quick and lasting shifts in behavior in mySan Diegooffice. During that same time I have kept track of the most commonly asked questions I get about both hypnosis and NLP. In this article I’ll explore the most frequently asked questions I get about hypnosis.

The 7 most frequently asked questions I get about hypnosis:

Question 1: I tried to be hypnotized at a hypnosis show and it didn’t work. What if you can’t hypnotize me?

Almost every normal person in the word is hypnotizable As long as you have at least an IQ of 70 and no severe mental disorders this should include you. In all my hypnosis sessions in my San Diego office and my travels around the country, every person I have attempted to hypnotize has been hypnotized. That being said all of these people wanted to be hypnotized. The same goes for those people in a hypnosis “show”. They were hypnotized because they wanted to be. I have never hypnotized nor seen anyone hypnotized who didn’t want to be hypnotized.

Statistical note: People have a wide variety of hypnotic susceptibility and, like most things the ability to be hypnotized is normally distributed. In layperson’s terms this means about seventy percent of all people are moderately susceptible and five to ten percent are either highly susceptible or not susceptible at all.

Question 2: What does it feel like when I am hypnotized? How will I know that I have been hypnotized?

I know, this is actually two questions but it really covers the same thing. The fact is most people can’t tell the difference between being in the state of hypnosis and a normal waking state. While experiencing a hypnotic state you do not get ‘knocked out” or “fall asleep”. If hypnosis “feels” like anything it feels more like daydreaming or that not quite asleep, not quite awake state you feel right before you wake up or fall asleep. While ‘in hypnosis’ you are at all times conscious and aware and in control of what is happening to you. Some people report feeling relaxed and lethargic, while others report feeling light. There is no one way that people experience a hypnotic state. One thing most people have in common is a seemingly explicable positive change in their behaviors.

Question 3: Is hypnosis really safe?

According to an August 2004 article in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, “Hypnosis and guided imagery have no adverse side effects”. While movies and television shows continue to spread the myth that hypnosis can be harmful, there is no evidence that hypnosis has ever harmed anyone. The reason for this is while you are in a hypnotic sate you are not under anyone’s control but your own (see below).

The bottom line is this; hypnosis is a safe, relaxing and enjoyable experience.

Question 4: What is the science behind hypnosis? How does hypnosis work?

According to Dr. David Spiegel, psychiatry professor and medical director of the Complementary Medicine Clinic atStanfordUniversity, hypnosis works “because the patients are in an altered state, solely focused on the message, soaking it up, rather than in a psychological mode in which they can trivialize or ignore it.”

You mind works on two levels, the conscious and the subconscious. You make decisions, think, and act with your conscious mind. Your subconscious mind controls your habits, the things you do automatically every day, like brushing your teeth or putting on your clothes. Usually the subconscious learns over a period of time, through repetition. Hypnosis relaxes your conscious mind. In this relaxed state you can communicate directly with your subconscious. This is why you can use hypnosis to make quick and easy shifts in lifelong behaviors.

Question 5: What kind of things can hypnosis help me do?

In a February 2004 article, Better Homes and Gardens reported, “Today, hypnosis–or hypnotherapy–is becoming a respected alternative for an array of conditions. It has long been used to help people quit smoking and overcome fears, such as the fear of public speaking, but now the practice is branching out into new areas.”

How can hypnosis do this? It’s because all your habits are controlled by your subconscious mind. Since both hypnosis and NLP work directly with your subconscious mind they can help you make behavioral shifts more quickly and easily that just about any other method.

Question 6: Can the hypnotherapist control me?

While in a hypnotic state you are aware of yourself and everything around you. You are completely in control. You can terminate the session at any time. Hypnosis is not sleep, nor can you get stuck in a state of hypnosis. If you are in a hypnotic trance and the hypnotist dropped dead after inducing the trance you would either come out of hypnosis by yourself or drift off to sleep and then wake up later. You can’t be made to do something against your will! People who are hypnotized are not mindless robots that can be totally manipulated by the hypnotist. You maintain control over your behavior and can refuse to comply with any suggestions given to you that are in direct moral conflict with them.

Question 7: Why do some people think that you go to sleep in hypnosis?

Hypnosis has been confused for sleep because of its superficial features. It has been shown in laboratory a brain wave pattern studies that, in reality, hypnosis does not resemble sleep. In an April 2004 article, Dr. L. Dean Hoover, a psychiatrist said, “The word hypnosis comes from the Greek word for sleep, but actually, you are not asleep, you are focused and have more self-control. Researchers have done EEGs of persons in trances that showed their brains were highly alert and focused.” A person in a hypnotic state is usually quite relaxed but is also quite alert, and focused.

There you have it; the answers to the most commonly asked questions I get about hypnosis. If you have other questions just put your comments on this page.

What are the benefits of hypnosis and NLP?

About the author

After studying about hypnosis while attending the University of San Diego,Wil Dieck became very interested in its benefits not only for himself but also for his martial arts students. He found that using techniques from hypnosis and NLP he could help his students achieve faster and at higher levels. He is the found of Total Mind Therapy, a system that fuses hypnosis and NLP and is the author of “Discover the Secrets of Your Subconscious Mind”. If you would like a complimentary copy of this $29.97 report follow this link…

Some (very) Common Misconceptions about Hypnosis

Wil Dieck — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 23:51:36 +0000

Hypnosis can help …a growing body of research supports the ancient practice as an effective tool in the treatment of a variety of problems, from anxiety to chronic pain.” -Newsweek, September 2004

Although hypnosis or hypnotherapy has been used successfully in medicine, sports, dentistry, personal development, education and many other areas, there continue to be a number of common misconceptions about what hypnosis is and what it can and can’t do. As a hypnotherapist that uses both hypnosis and Neuro Linguistic Programming or NLP to help my clients make quick and permanent shifts in their behaviors, I get many people who come into my San Diego office with some very interesting ideas about what hypnosis can and cannot do. In this article I’d like to explore some of the most common misconceptions and give you the answers about them based on what my experience has taught me.

Let’s look at the most common misconceptions about hypnosis:

1) The hypnotist can make you do things you don’t want to do.

This common misconception about hypnosis is a result of the entertainment industry. Most people that come into my San Diego office with this misconception have this idea as a result of either watching a hypnosis show in person or seeing a television show where people seem to be ‘controlled’ by the hypnotist.

While these hypnotists make it seem that they have these people under their control if a hypnotist could actually control other people I imagine that we would hear of more cases where a not-so-good hypnotist was found trying to rob a bank using hypnosis or taking other types of advantage of people. This simply can’t happen. The facts are even though hypnosis can be used to allow people to let down some of their conscious defenses and act childlike on a stage, your subconscious mind will not respond to suggestions that are against your most deeply held moral beliefs. Any attempt to force you to do something against your strongly held beliefs would cause you to immediately come out of the hypnotic state.

For example, if a hypnotist would try to suggest that you do something that your subconscious mind felt was inappropriate, such as taking off all your clothes and running around naked on stage and you, like most people, felt that this was inappropriate behavior, your subconscious mind would immediately allow your conscious mind to take back control. You would then come out of the hypnotic state and slap the hypnotist for making such an inappropriate suggestion.

Here’s the long and short of it, under hypnosis you will not do anything that you normally wouldn’t do in your normal conscious state.

2) Hypnosis Knocks You Out and Makes You Become Unconscious

Here is another misconception about hypnosis that I hear all the time. I hear hypnosis knocks you out and makes you fall asleep. Again this is caused by the entertainment industry, especially the movies where you hear the hypnotist say things like “You are getting sleepy” or “You are falling into a deep, deep sleep”.

This simply is not the case. You do not get ‘knocked out” or “fall asleep”. If you were to compare hypnosis to anything it is more like daydreaming or when you are reading a book or watching a television show and someone comes into the room and asks you a question and you either don’t hear or don’t want to hear them. This is known as an altered state of mind but you are definitely not unconscious, asleep or knocked out. While ‘in hypnosis’ you are at all times conscious and aware and in control of what is happening to you. You can also come out of the hypnotic state anytime that you choose. That leads us to number 3…

3) You can get stuck in hypnosis

Many people believe this to be true. In fact, this is the premise of the movie ‘Office Space’. For the few of you that haven’t seen this movie, the premise goes like this; Peter hates his job and his abusive boss. His girlfriend, who is cheating on him, convinces him to visit a hypnotherapist. The hypnotherapist hypnotizes him causing him to go into a state of ecstasy. However, the hypnotherapist dies immediately after giving the hypnotic suggestion to Peter and he remains in this state of ecstasy traveling though his life in this new, ecstatic state.

Now while this makes a great storyline this scenario is impossible. You cannot be ‘stuck’ in hypnosis. If you are in a hypnotic trance and the hypnotist dropped dead after inducing the trance you would either come out of hypnosis by yourself or drift off to sleep and then wake up later. By the way, you would be shocked to find a dead hypnotherapist in front of you. As a rule, we don’t die in front of our clients. It’s just not good for business.

4) If you can be hypnotized you have a weak mind

Since some people believe that the hypnotherapist “takes over your mind” they also believe that only a weak minded person could allow this to happen. Again, purse science fiction. First, as you read above, no one “takes over your mind” in hypnosis. Second, it’s actually the opposite. If a person trusts the hypnotherapist the more intelligent they are the easier they are to hypnotize. The theory behind this is because hypnosis is the use of visualization and visualization is the use of the imagination. Since more intelligent people have better imaginations they are slightly easier to hypnotize. That’s it.

5) Hypnosis acts like a truth serum and can make you tell the hypnotherapist anything they want to know

Since you are not really unconscious and for the reasons above, hypnosis can’t make you do or reveal anything. During your hypnosis session you are aware of what is happening at all times and can not be forced to do things against your will. You cannot be made to divulge embarrassing secrets, humiliate yourself in any way or disclose where the gold bullion is hidden in your back yard (but you can tell me, I promise not to tell anyone else).

6) If you are hearing the hypnotist you aren’t in a hypnotic state

As you read before, you are not knocked out, asleep or made unconscious while in a hypnotic state. Although people do experience hypnosis in different ways, and some people may not remember what is said to them, in most cases people remember at least part of what the hypnotherapist tells them. This is completely natural, because hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness, not unconsciousness. Although you may not have ‘felt’ (whatever that feeling might be) hypnotized, the hypnotherapist can usually see physical changes, and of course your new, modified behavior is your ultimate proof.

Hypnosis is safe and can help

As the Scientific American magazine reported in its July of 2001 issue, “Though often denigrated as fakery or wishful thinking, hypnosis has been shown to be a real phenomenon with a variety of therapeutic uses.” So if you are looking to make quick and lasting behavioral shifts, hypnosis can help you too. It is a very safe way to help you achieve your goals and live the life of your dreams.

The Most Frequently Asked Questions About Hypnosis

About the Author

Wil Dieck is a hypnotherapist who helps people make quick and lasting behavior shifts using advanced hypnosis and Neuro Linguistic Programming or NLP inSan Diego,CA. He is the founder of Total Mind Therapy, a system that fuses these two very powerful therapies and is the author of the report “Discover the Secrets of Your Subconscious Mind”. If you would like a complimentary copy of “Discover the Secrets of Your Subconscious Mind” (usually $29.97) then follow this link…

If you would like more information about how Total Mind Therapy can help you make quick and lasting behavioral shifts call (619) 293-3255 for a complimentary, risk free phone assessment that will answer all your questions.

The Contemporary History of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy

Wil Dieck — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 01:11:48 +0000

As I mention in my article about ancient hypnosis, the practice of hypnotherapy went into hibernation in the middle ages. Hypnosis as it is thought of today began in the 18th Century with Anton Mesmer.

Mesmerism

Anton Mesmer was an Austrian who led the way in the usage of trace. This eventually earned him the nickname, “Father of Hypnosis.” His name is also the root for the term “mesmerism.”

Mesmer became interested in magnetism after studying as a Jesuit priest. Mesmer was encouraged by his friend Mozart to purchase a space where he could perform magical “cures” on people. Soon Mesmerism or animal magnetism became popular with the French nobility. Mesmer believed all living things contained a kind of magnetic ‘fluid’ and if a person had enough of this fluid, they would be healthy. The theory behind Mesmerism was that man could influence his magnetic fluid to bring about healing. In his salons Mesmer placed magnets on the afflicted parts of his patient’s bodies and soon he becameEurope’s foremost expert at magnetic healing. His practice grew quickly and he became very famous. One day after forgetting his magnets he just made passes over a patient with his hands and was surprised to find that he got better. From there on, he thought he had sufficient magnetic fluid in himself to affect the cures.

Although Mesmer did receive much praise for his healing powers many dismissed his results as a pure imagination, probably as a result of his use of lights and other gimmicks. One of his most notable critics was Benjamin Franklin.

The Split of the Hypnotic World

In 1784 Louis XVI set up a commission of investigation. The commission, which included Benjamin Franklin, M. La Guillotin, and La Voisier, concluded that magnetism with imagination had some effect, but Mesmer’s theories of magnetism were discredited. His Society of Harmonies continued and a member of the Society, Le Marquis de Puysegur, believed that the magnetic power was produced in his own mind and was transferred to the patient through his fingertips. He found that he could produce a sleep in which the patient would follow his commands and introduced the terms, perfect crisis and profound sleep.

InFrance, Abbe Castodi de Faria scientifically investigated hypnosis as it related to trances and willing participants. The “fixed-gaze method,” which is still used in stage hypnotism shows is credited to Faria.

Also during this time John Elliotson ofEnglandused magnetism and hypnosis to ease the pain of surgery.

The Origin of the Word Hypnosis

In 1843 a Scottish surgeon working inManchesterby the name of James Braid coined the terms ‘hypnotism’ and ‘hypnosis. The word hypnosis was derived from the Greek hypnos, which meant sleep. Later, believing the word to be misleading, Braid tried to change the word hypnosis but it had already gained wide acceptance so it stuck.

Dr. James Braid

James Braid had become interested in mesmerism while watching a demonstration that was part of a carnival show. At first he was convinced that it was a fraud and a swindle and was determined to discredit hypnosis once and for all. Instead, he became thoroughly convinced of its value. Using vocal suggestion, he was able to explore the influence that hypnotists had on their subjects. Braid is also honored for discovering “waking hypnosis.”

Braid concluded that eye fatigue was necessary to induce the state and found that some people could go into a trance if there eyes where fixated on a bright object. Using his shiny bright lancet case he induced his patients to enter a deep hypnotic sleep where he found that they would accept his healing suggestions. He was convinced that a neurological process was involved and that the process could be very useful when no organic origin could be found for a person disorder. He coined the word Neurypnology, which literally means nervous sleep.

Dr. James Esdaile

A Scottish surgeon working inIndia, Dr. James Esdaile, was a personal friend and professional colleague of Braid. Esdaile performed several hundred operations painlessly using only hypnosis as an anesthetic. He would use eye fixation to prepare a patient for surgery and would produce something like suspended animation, now known as theEsdaileState, by stroking the body of the patient for several hours.

Esdaile’s logs indicated that fatal surgical shock or post operative infection occurred in only five percent of cases compared with the then norm of fifty percent but when Esdaile presented his findings in a paper to the British Medical Society, he was scorned. This was largely due to the fact that the Church taught that suffering was a noble part of the human condition, that enduring pain established integrity. Interestingly, when chemical anesthesia was discovered in the mid-1800s the physicians changed their attitudes about pain.

James Braid and James Esdaile were the first researches who studied hypnosis scientifically. Their work helped to remove hypnosis from the realms of mysticism and began the work to discover what could really be done with it to help people.

Emile Coue

In the early 1900s, a French pharmacist named Emile Coue made a great discovery which he called waking suggestions, now know as autosuggestions. Coue contended that all hypnosis was influenced by self-hypnotic techniques.

Coue’s famous autosuggestion formula was, “Every day, in every way, I am getting better and better”. Coue discovered that hypnosis only works when the suggestion is accepted by the mind of the subject and stated that all hypnosis is self hypnosis. He later developed the Laws of Suggestion. These Laws are set forth in a system developed by one of Coue’s students, Charles Baudouin, who explained that everything occurs through suggestion.

Although Coue enjoyed immense popularity in his homeland, his popularity changed when he brought his theories of autosuggestion to theUnited Statesand put himself in the hands of a promoter. The promoter exploited this new wonder cure to the point of ridicule, and his original formula became the subject of jokes and jingles.

Recent Hypnosis History

When exploring the history of hypnosis, you will run into a wide variety of personalities who have shaped the way people viewed and accepted the field. Some pioneers include, Liebeault, Bernheim, Brewer and Freud. Freud became interested in hypnosis in the late 1800s, but only for a short while and was probably responsible for hypnotherapy being shelved for many years when he abandoned it completely in favor of psychoanalysis. Other personalities that showed interest in hypnosis were Winston Churchill and Albert Einstein.

History of Hypnosis in World War I

Hypnosis was used in World War I by the Germans for pain control when they ran out of chemical anesthetics. It was also used for treatment of shell shock during and after the War. Following World War II and the Korean War, hypnosis was again used for pain control and to aid those who were “mentally disabled” by the war. This is now known as post traumatic shock syndrome.

History of Hypnosis in America

In 1958 Milton Erickson brought about the approval of hypnosis for therapeutic use by the American Medical Association. Dr. Erickson was a psychiatrist and hypnotherapist with outstanding professional credentials and theorized that hypnosis is a state of mind that all of us are normally entering spontaneously and frequently. On the heels of Erickson’s work, hypnosis evolved into a well respected practice, used by doctors, psychologists, business and law enforcement. Today it is widely used for self help, and self improvement.

Related Articles

The Most Frequently Asked Questions about Hypnosis

About the author

Wil Dieck is a hypnotherapist and NLP practitioner located in San Diego,CA. He is the founder of Total Mind Therapy, a method that blends hypnosis and Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) to help people make quick shifts in their thinking and their behaviors. If you are interested in learning more about how Total Mind Therapy can help you then call (619) 293-3255. You’ll be scheduled for a risk free phone evaluation to determine how Total Mind Therapy can benefit you.

The History of Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy in the Ancient World

Wil Dieck — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 00:10:34 +0000

Many people want to understand hypnosis but to truly understand hypnosis you need to take a look at its use in ancient civilizations throughout history. As you study history you find that hypnosis has probably been used as a therapeutic tool throughout the history of mankind.

The Hypnotic World

A quick look around today can tell us a lot about our hypnotic world. Modern anthropologists have determined that the healing brought about by the village witchdoctor, shaman or wise woman, can often be attributed to a strong belief in the one being healed. The chanting and singing that is part of these cures often takes the form of what we n the western world would call suggestion. Just as science is beginning to tell us today, these natural healers have believed for centuries that the body, thoughts and emotions influence each other. As a result they have found that it is possible to influence a physical sickness by changing someone’s thoughts, emotions and behavioral patterns.

Hypnosis and Religion

Modern scholars tell us that hypnosis was practiced during numerous medicinal practices and rituals in the ancient world. Celtic druids and Chinese religious leaders used hypnotism. There also seem to be some evidence of its use in the pages of the Jewish Scriptures and the Hindu Vedas. There are also historical records of its practice in Persia as well as South America.

The First Written Accounts of Hypnosis in History

While there is a great deal of evidence showing hypnosis rituals during pre-historic times, one of the first written accounts was through hieroglyphics decorating Egyptian tombs dated around 3000 BC. These hieroglyphics show ancient Egyptians using hypnosis in the Egyptian sleep temples. It seems that these temples were places where worshippers were put to sleep and priests suggested cures for differing types of illnesses. The procedure for formal hypnotic induction as it is known and used today actually came from these priests.

The success of the Egyptian sleep temples led to their introduction into Greek culture in 4th Century BC. 100 years after that it was introduced in Rome. The temples remained popular and functioning during the flourishing period of the Roman Empire.

European Hypnosis History

It is hard to say when the suggestion and sleep cure concept was first introduced in Europe. Both the new and old testaments of the Bible seem to speak of what could be called hypnosis. The practice of lying on of hands was introduced in the first century and its therapeutic value was reinforced by the English monarchy, particularly Edward the Confessor (1042-1066 AD). This was recognized by the Church of England and rituals were put into place with appropriate healing hymns and chants to facilitate cures. Eventually royalty lost interest and as a result, so did the people. Afterwards suggestion healing fell into disrepute and was considered a practice of black magicians and sorcerers. During the middle ages it came to be considered more evil than beneficial and it was during this time period that many of the misconceptions that exist to this day were formed.

Interested in Positive Changes? Have You Tried Hypnosis?

Wil Dieck — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:44:57 +0000

I have been a professional hypnotherapist practicing inSan Diego for nearly a decade. Now I’ve been practicing hypnotherapy for a lot longer than that, in fact when I owned and operated my martial arts schools I helped the students who trained with me excel using visualization techniques I’d learned from hypnosis.

I started learning about hypnosis when I was studying Psychology at the University of San Diego back in the early 80’s. Since then I’ve come to understand that hypnosis is one of the most effective catalysts for positive changes anyone can use.

The Positive Changes You Can Expect

Some of the positive changes you can experience using hypnosis involve changing habits. For example, you can, like many people, use hypnotherapy to help you lose weight permanently. In fact, hypnotherapy has been shown to be one of the most beneficial methods for reinforcing new exercise and dieting habits that need to be created for weight loss.

Millions of people have quit smoking using hypnosis. Over the past half dozen years or so I have helped hundreds of people quit smoking using hypnosis here in my office in San Diego. While it doesn’t work for everyone it is a very powerful way of helping smokers quit. Scientific studies have shown hypnosis to be one of the best ways to quit smoking.

If you bite your fingernails or drink too much alcohol hypnosis can be a great way to help you replace your old, non empowering habits with new, more empowering ones. You can also use it for emotional healing as a result of loss from a death or divorce or becoming more confident in meeting more of the type of people you are attracted to.

What I’ve found is that hypnosis can be used for hundreds of positive inner changes, nearly anything you can imagine. Hypnosis is a very powerful tool for helping you move from where you are to where you would like to be. Sooner or later almost everyone who is looking to make positive significant shifts and changes in their lives explores using hypnosis to some degree or another.

How to Get Started With Hypnotherapy

I don’t know about other hypnotists but I almost never see anyone without talking with them first. The reason is that I want to make sure that they are a good match for my system. This means almost everyone makes a complimentary phone appointment with me first. During their complimentary consultation, they often ask end by asking, “How do I start? Then they ask “How much does it cost?”

The answer to how do I start is easy, you merely make an appointment. The answer to how much does it cost depends on what you want to work on. If you live near or around San Diego call me at (800) 989-6570 to set up your complimentary, risk free session.

If I think you are a good match for what I do then we can schedule a session to help you on your journey. If I don’t think we are a match I know many local hypnotists and will gladly lead you toward one that might be more suitable for your particular issue or personality.

How Do I find a Hypnotherapist if I’m Not in San Diego?

People who are looking for a hypnotherapist but do not live in San Diegooften ask, “How do I find a good hypnotist?”

First, although I believe that one-on-one in-person sessions are the most powerful way to make a shift, you don’t have to be in the same room to have it work for you. I often have sessions with clients over the phone.

If you don’t live here and would like to experience one-on-one in-person sessions you can start by looking for practitioners in local spiritual directories. You might try checking out massage schools in your area. They often have a program for hypnosis or know of people who practice. If you do not find any leads there, I would suggest turning to the Internet.

How to Hypnotize Yourself

Another question I often receive is “How about self hypnosis recordings, are they effective?” My answer is if you want to learn how to hypnotize yourself self hypnosis recordings can be very helpful.

So how does self-hypnosis work? It really works in the same manner as using hypnotherapy you just do it yourself rather than using a hypnotist. Although there are many great books on self hypnosis I’ll give you some basics here.

Self Hypnosis Made Easy

First, relax and quiet your mind. One method I often recommend is using progressive relaxation techniques. This is when you relax one part of your body at a time. Once your body is relaxed you need to relax your mind. You can do this by counting down from 50 to zero while taking a breath or while thinking about what it is you want to change. It is when your mind is relaxed that your own hypnotic suggestion can travel through.

Before you go through the relaxation stage you need to pick a positive suggestion that is simple and gives you the changes you are looking for. Although hypnosis is powerful, vague statements are not so telling yourself, “I am now rich” won’t work because it is too broad and may be too difficult for you to accept at first. Using the suggestion, “I am increasing my income monthly by $1,000″ is more specific and may make more sense and meet with less resistance.

Repeat your suggestion quietly to yourself, over and over. Make the suggestion in the present tense, not the past or future. You cannot make anything happen at any other time.

Positive Changes Are Within Your Reach

Hypnosis is a very powerful tool to help you make significant shifts in your thinking. This can help you transform your future and your life. If you are interested in these types of shifts then why not give hypnotherapy a try? It has worked for hundreds of people just like you and it can work for you too.

If you are interested in learning more about how hypnosis and NLP can help you make these shifts, or are just interested in how your subconscious mind works then download the complimentary report “Discover the Secrets of Your Subconscious Mind”. Click here to download your complimentary report.

Wil Dieck is the founder of Total Mind Therapy, a transformation method that uses hypnosis and NLP to help you make the changes you desire. If you are interested in making positive changes of some sort then call (619) 293-3255 for a risk free, complimentary evaluative consultation. It costs you nothing and can help you make the changes you desire, quickly and easily.

Hypnotherapy what is it and how does it work?

Wil Dieck — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 00:47:27 +0000

Hypnotherapy what is it, where does it come from? How does hypnosis work? These are some of the questions I asked when I first started learning about hypnosis as I was studying psychology at University of San Diego. I had heard that hypnotherapy was an excellent method of making positive changes, quick and significant shifts in thinking that were long-lasting. I had hear that a classmate of mine was a hypnotist and asked if she would work with me. Being a professional hypnotist she agreed. Not only that, she recommended books to me about hypnosis that started me on my path to become a professional hypnotist.

What is Hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is actually the use of hypnosis in a clinical setting. The word “hypnos” comes from the ancient Greek Hypnos who was the god of sleep. But hypnosis isn’t a form of sleep. It’s actually a mental state where you can easily absorb new ideas into your subconscious mind.

I have read definitions of hypnosis that defines hypnosis as “a condition of artificially induced sleep.” But this isn’t true because when a person is asleep they are oblivious to everything that’s going around them. For example, if you spoke to someone quietly while they were asleep the chances are they would not hear you nor would they remember anything you said. Hypnosis just isn’t like that. While in hypnosis you are aware and can hear everything that’s going around you. Hypnosis actually invokes the state of mind where you are highly focused but open to new ideas.

Levels of Hypnosis

There are varying degrees of hypnosis. Becoming engrossed in a good book or movie is a type of natural hypnosis. You tend to tune out everything and become mesmerized by the story.

Hypnosis works so well in tuning out external stimuli that it’s now an accepted method of anesthesia in some types of surgeries, blocking out the pain.

Science and Hypnosis

The use of hypnotherapy has been studied in the Western world for over 200 years. Sigmund Freud actually used hypnosis in the early part of his career. He advanced the theory that hypnosis gives accesses to a less sophisticated part of the mind, what we now call the subconscious mind.

Innovations in science have been instrumental in helping us determine what happens in our brains during hypnosis.

Your brain puts out different electrical signals for different mental states, whether it’s agitated, alert, in varying stages of relaxation, or asleep. Research in the U.S. in the 1970s sought to measure the electrical changes that occur in the brain during the hypnotic state. It was found that hypnosis did alter the brain wave patterns and also the chemistry of the nervous system. This research allowed the researchers to determine which areas of the brain control which functions and determine which parts of the brain became more active while in a hypnotic state.

Research carried out in the former Soviet Union also established a link between the state of hypnosis and changes in a person’s physical and psychological state. They also used electronic equipment to measure the brain’s electrical waves and through this research concluded that hypnosis was a different “state” then sleep.

Recent scientific investigation has shown definite physiological changes take place while a person is in a hypnotic state. While in hypnosis the parasympathetic nervous system is switched on which slows breathing, heartbeat and causes the muscles of the body to become very relaxed. It’s in this relaxed state that hypnotherapy becomes useful.

These tests corroborate with scientific methods that during hypnosis we can virtually bypass the limiting beliefs of our conscious mind to relay our desired ideas and behaviors directly to our subconscious.

Once our subconscious accepts these new ideas, it can then direct our thoughts and actions to conform to the new data, attitudes, or beliefs.

Measuring Brain Waves

What is this electrical activity we’re talking about? It is the electrical impulses, measured in cycles that your brain puts out as it does the tasks you ask of it. For example, as you use your conscious mind the electrical waves your brain puts out are somewhere in the range of 15-40 cycles per second. This range is known as your normal waking state. You experience this when you are reading, writing, speaking, calculating, using a computer or phone, analyzing, editing or planning. This is the state you are in most or all of your waking day.

When you are in what are known as trance states you are using your sub-conscious mind. This is when your brain wave pattern is in the range of 4-14 cycles per second. Trance states occur naturally as you begin to fall asleep or wake up. They occur when you are intensely focused or when you are distracted or daydreaming. Trace states also occur when you are lost in music, a good book, meditating or practicing martial arts or yoga.

A hypnotic state also occurs in the 4-14 cycles per second range. It merely uses this natural pleasant state of sub-conscious activity to cause positive changes in your habitual thinking that help you make quick and lasting behavioral shifts.

How Does Hypnotherapy Work?

Over your life you have learned certain beliefs and behaviors. These behaviors are also known as habits. While habits like brushing your teeth are good for you and the people you talk with regularly, habits like picking your nose may not be as well received. The key point here is these habits, like much of your behavior, is learned, and if one behavior can be learned another can be learned to replace it. That’s where hypnosis comes in. Hypnosis helps you learn new empowering behaviors. That’s the secret. Hypnosis helps you learn new and empowering behavior. It helps you program your mind for success.

In a hypnotherapy session the hypnotist helps you relax your mind and body. The reason for this is in this state the limiting beliefs of your conscious mind are subdued. At the same time the imagination and creativity of your subconscious mind are enhanced. You tune out all distractions and focus sharply on the thoughts and ideas you are working on. This process allows your subconscious mind to be highly accepting of new, positive ideas. This can help you experience change in your thinking that can causes quick and lasting shifts in your behavior.

If you would like more information on hypnosis or on your subconscious mind you can receive a complimentary 29 page report titled “Discover the Secrets of Your Subconscious Mind” at absolutely no charge. Just click here to download your copy of “Discover the Secrets of Your Subconscious Mind” today.

Wil Dieck is the founder of Total Mind Therapy. He is a NLP practitioner and professional hypnotist. His office is located in San Diego,California. He is a leading authority on using hypnosis and NLP to help people make quick and lasting life transformations. If you interested in learning more about Total Mind Therapy or would like a risk free evaluation to determine how Total Mind Therapy could benefit you, call (619) 293-3255.

The Truth About Hypnotism and Hypnosis

Wil Dieck — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:01:21 +0000

In the movies it can be the scene where the weird-looking man holding a pocket watch determinedly swings it in front of a vulnerable, lost-looking young woman. He slowly and deeply repeatedly utters the phrase, “You are getting sleepy… You’re getting sleepy…” as the girl stares blankly at the clock. You can see the world spinning around her, circling and spiraling. After a while she begins to act like a zombie, or sleepwalker. She has been hypnotized.

This is how most people experience hypnosis, they see a show or watch a movie that makes it appear as if the hypnotist is taking control and making a person do things they don’t want to do. If you’re like most people, what you’ve heard about hypnosis is actually based on myths, fantasy, and fiction. Thanks to our popular culture, hypnotism has achieved an eerie, mystical, otherworldly and sometimes evil reputation.

While there may be a shred of truth to the scenario above, because hypnosis does use verbal suggestions to help people believe and therefore act as a differently, it certainly can’t do what the movies depict or we would have people lined up for miles to learn the secrets of hypnosis and “take over the world”. There is certainly more about hypnotism than those campy films.

The usefulness of hypnotism, or what we commonly call hypnosis, continues to be studied, analyzed, and interpreted. From medicine, psychology, new age, self-help, religion, history, media and popular culture, hypnotism has been given many different interpretations along with uses. From the ability of a smoker to quit smoking with hypnotherapy to helping people lose weight, reduce stress or just hit a golf ball straighter, hypnosis has been adapted by people across the spectrum to transform their lives.

But what about all those hypnosis myths, are they real? Well let’s take a look at 4 of the most popular ones.

1. Hypnosis is magic – False

If you are looking for a hypnotist to help you change like Harry Potter, touching you on the head with a magic wand then you’re going to be very disappointed. Simply put hypnosis is not magic. There is no type of hypnotism that involves the use of any type of magic or spells. It works naturally with the way your body and your brain already operate.

2. Hypnosis puts you to sleep – False

This myth comes about because hypnosis comes from the Greek term “hypnos” or to sleep. But you do not go into a sleep state when you are hypnotized. The truth about hypnotism is when you are hypnotized you’re fully awake and conscious. Yes, your brain is in a very relaxed state, but, rather than being asleep, you’re actually extremely focused.

3. You can be hypnotize against your will – False

The truth about hypnotism is you have to want to be hypnotized or you will not be. Another fact about hypnotism is the only way you can be hypnotized is if you believe you can be. You must actively participate in a hypnosis session to make it happen. You do this by entering into a fully relaxed state.

4. The hypnotist can control you when they hypnotize you – False

Many people fear hypnosis because they think the hypnotist is going to control them. Although this is a very common misconception about hypnosis nothing could be further from the truth. The truth about hypnotism is that, although the effect of your limiting beliefs in your conscious mind is minimized, you’re still very much in control.

No one can make you do anything that you’re morally or ethically opposed to. For example, if a hypnotist tells you to rob a bank, you won’t do this if you believe that stealing is wrong. In fact, such a suggestion will bring you out of your hypnotic state.

What about the clucking chicken antics? In a hypnotic trance, some people will do such silly things because the learned inhibitions of their conscious mind relax enough to allow the creative forces of their subconscious to dominate.

Normally, the only things that keep you from acting like that are your learned social conventions, such as, “You look stupid when you do stuff like that.” This is a limiting belief that resides in your conscious mind.

Think about it this way. When you were a small child, you weren’t embarrassed to be creative and pretend you were all sorts of things. In fact, it was often encouraged. But as you got older, you learned that it’s not such a good idea for adults to behave that way simply because of what others might think.

So when you’re hypnotized, suggestions for doing things that simply make you look silly might work with you. On the other hand, if you’re diametrically opposed to it, such a suggestion might just bring you out of your trance instead.

There is nothing about hypnotism to be afraid of

These answers are the truth about hypnosis. Hypnosis isn’t magic. It doesn’t put you to sleep and you can not be hypnotized against your will. Finally, a hypnotist cannot make you do even one thing you really don’t want to do. So if you have wanted to try hypnosis, but were a little afraid because of one of these myths, go ahead and give it a try. The truth about hypnosis is that it has helped millions of people transform their lives. It can do the same for you.

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If you are interested in learning more about hypnosis and the power of your subconscious mind then download the complimentary report, “Discover the Secrets of Your Subconscious Mind” at absolutely no charge. Just click here to download your copy of “Discover the Secrets of Your Subconscious Mind” today.

Wil Dieck is the founder and the leading authority on the use of Total Mind Therapy in helping people rewire their minds for success. If you are interested in learning more about hypnotism, NLP or Total Mind Therapy give Wil a call at (619) 293-3255 today.

Transform Your Life by Banishing Negative Self Talk

Wil Dieck — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:02:08 +0000

“The more man meditates upon good thoughts the better will be his world and the world at large.” – Confucius

Confucius hit the nail on the head. If you continually think positive thoughts your world gets better. On the other hand if you are constantly thinking negative thoughts your life gets worse. This is because your thinking controls your focus. So instead of developing the world of your dreams, a negative focus actually attracts the things you don’t want into your life.

There are a number of different methods to help you change your focus. By drawing on techniques used in hypnosis and NLP, you can transform your thinking and your life. Instead of merely getting by, you’ll find that your life can truly be exceptional. By using positive thinking, you will teach your mind to focus on positive solutions rather than your challenges.

The problem with negative self talk and thinking

Negative self talk and thinking usually manifests themselves as worrying. Most people think that worrying is natural and somehow a good thing. In fact, if you are like most people you probably think that worrying about your situation helps in some way or another. You might think that since what you are worried about is on your mind you should be able to come up with a solution. The problem is that worrying doesn’t help you think clearly at all. In fact, it actually causes you to become more stressed and anxious and your mind to shut down.

How to develop positive thinking and self talk

One of the easiest methods of developing a positive outlook on life is to replace negative thinking with positive thinking. You can do this by changing your self talk, what you say to yourself on a regular basis. If you use the following strategy for a minimum of 3 weeks you’ll change the way you look at life.

1. Keep track of your thoughts

As you go through your day keep track of any negative self talk or thinking that pops into your head. As soon as you recognize any negative thoughts stop and immediately go to step 2.

2. Cancel your negative thinking

Once you recognize negative thinking or self talk cut it off in the moment by saying “cancel, cancel” out loud to yourself. You can reinforce this by adding some kind of physical movement such as rubbing your hands together as if you were wiping something off them, representing wiping your brain clear of those negative thoughts.

3. Decide to focus on solutions.

Once you’ve gone through step 2 think about possible solutions. When you’re faced with a negative thought (and, if you are like most people there will be many of them), the best response is to think to yourself, “How can I solve or improve this challenge?” The point is to immediately begin focusing on solutions. Why? Because you get answers to the questions you ask. When you ask a good question, you receive good answers. After doing this for a few weeks you will find you have taught your mind to think of solutions to your challenges instead of focusing on them.

Develop habits that empower you

Developing habits is a matter of practice. The problem is that once you develop a habit, positive or negative, it occurs automatically, without any thinking at all. In NLP and hypnosis we recognize this and that’s why we work on helping clients develop positive habits they choose rather than some of the negative habits they’ll fallen in to.

Most experts tell us that a habit will take a minimum of 21 days to develop. Since this is the case, if you want to develop new, positive habits you need to make a conscious commitment to change your thinking and self talk for that period of time. Don’t worry if you find yourself struggling to stay positive at first. It’s common to have numerous slips as you change your thinking and self talk habits. Refrain from beating yourself up over it. Remember, you’re focusing on solutions.

If you continue the process after the 21 days are completed, you’ll develop a permanent habit that will only require a minimal amount of maintenance on your part.

How to turn negative thoughts into positive thinking and self talk

As mentioned before, the questions you ask yourself will direct your thinking. If, for example, you constantly ask yourself, “Why do I always make that same mistake?” your mind will come up with all types of reasons you make that same mistake. On the other hand if you ask yourself, “What did I learn from this?” your mind will start to come up with things you’ve learned, things you can use to avoid the next time a similar event happens.

Questions to change your thinking

The following are some specific questions you can use to change a negative perception into something positive and can help you to start thinking positively on a consistent basis:

• What did I learn from ______? (whatever the learning experience is)

• What is great about this?

• What do I like the most about this?

• Who could I ask to help me with this?

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to keep your mind focused on the positive things in your life:

• What am I happy about right now in my life?

Note: I understand that you might say “I don’t have anything to be happy about”. When I ask a client this question in a hypnosis and NLP session and they tell me “I don’t have anything to be happy about” I’ll ask, “If you did have something to be happy about what might it be?’” You can use the same technique, asking yourself, “What might I be _____ of with all of these questions.

• What am grateful for in my life right now?

• What am I most proud of right now in my life?

• What am I most looking forward to in my life?

By asking these questions you are filling your mind with positive thoughts. This doesn’t allow any room for the negative stuff. Since you can only consciously think about one thing at a time, making the most out of the thoughts you allow in your mind only makes sense.

Your 1 month challenge

Although this system seems easy you’ll probably be surprised by how difficult it can be to give up negatively and develop consistent positive thinking and self talk. The change can only come through a committed effort.

James Allen once said, “He who would be useful, strong, and happy must cease to be a passive receptacle for the negative, beggarly, and impure streams of thought; and as a wise householder commands his servants and invites his guests, so must he learn to command his desires and to say, with authority, what thoughts he shall admit into the mansion of his soul.”

If you really give this system a try it can change your life. Try it for 1 month. Work at it every day. I believe you’ll be so amazed at the results that you’ll never want to go back to the old way of worrying and dwelling on the challenges in your life again. Use these simple strategies to develop positive thinking and self talk. You can start making your life more positive today.

Are you interested in knowing more about the secrets of how you can re-program your subconscious mind using process like affirmations, meditation, hypnosis and even NLP? If you are, you can receive a 29 page report “Discover the Secrets of Your Subconscious Mind” at absolutely no charge. Just click here to download your copy of “Discover the Secrets of Your Subconscious Mind” today.

Wil Dieck is the founder of Total Mind Therapy^©, a system you can use to rewire your subconscious mind and create the future you desire. He is a is a leading authority on using NLP and hypnosis, as well as other natural processes, in making quick and lasting life transformations. You can reach Wil at (619) 293-3255.

Using Hypnosis

Wil Dieck — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:24:57 +0000

“Randomized controlled trials have provided good evidence that both hypnosis and relaxation techniques can reduce anxiety, and prevent panic disorders and insomnia.” – British Medical Journal, 1999

Are your bad habits becoming increasingly irksome? Wouldn’t you love to erase the mental blocks that are keeping you from achieving the success you desire?

You can. How? You can use hypnosis to rewire your subconscious thinking.

Hypnosis works because it allows you to tap into the part of the mind that controls 90% of your beliefs, attitudes, thoughts, and actions – your subconscious mind!

What is Hypnosis Used For?

Hypnosis has been around probably since the beginning of time in some manner or another. While most people experience hypnosis at a show as entertainment, people who have experienced hypnosis techniques in a clinical setting will tell you that the experience can be very beneficial. It gives them a more positive mental outlook about how they can manage the events and issues in their lives. It is this new attitude about their events and issues that create new ways of behaving.

Behaviors and Your Subconscious Mind

The behaviors you go through on a regular basis are called habits. Habits are neither good nor bad, they just are. From the number of times a day you brush your teeth to whether you smoke or drink excessively or overeat, the patterns, or habits, you have created, control your life.

You see, your habits are located in what psychologists call the subconscious mind. It’s called the subconscious mind because it runs underneath your conscious thinking.

What Is The Subconscious Mind?

“Our subconscious minds have no sense of humor, play no jokes and cannot tell the difference between reality and an imagined thought or image. What we continually think about eventually will manifest in our lives.” – Robert Collier

The “subconscious” is the part of your mind that operates below your normal level of waking consciousness. If you could look at your mind it would appear to be similar to an iceberg. The conscious mind is like the part of the iceberg, about 12 percent, that you can see above the surface. But the bulk of the mind, about 88 percent, is the subconscious mind and is below the surface where you can’t see it.

For example, take breathing. It’s something you don’t even think about, well at least not until I mentioned it. When you breathe, you don’t consciously direct every muscle that expands or contracts your lungs to pull in and push out the air. You just breathe.

How about walking? Do you consciously think about how walk? Of course not! When you walk, just let your feet guide you to your destination. You don’t consciously tell your muscles to pick up each foot and put it back down for every step. It would be too much work for your conscious mind. It’s your subconscious mind that handles all of that for you.

Habits and Your Subconscious Mind

Your subconscious mind is like an autopilot. It’s been set either biologically, or from years and years of training. Like you saw in the examples above, it runs nearly everything in your life, things you not even consciously aware of.

Your subconscious mind contains vast stores of information. These are stores of information that you’ve been acquiring your entire life. They are much more than your conscious mind could ever handle.

Your subconscious mind takes action based on that information. It even causes conscious thoughts and physical sensations based on that same data. Some of the actions it takes, like working hard or exercising, are empowering while others, life being shy or smoking cigarettes, are not.

Changing Your Habitual Thinking

As an adult you might think you can simply change your habitual thinking. But it’s not that easy. The reason is one of the most fundamental ways you give your experience meaning is through your beliefs. Your beliefs have been stored in your subconscious mind and act to reinforce your motivation to work hard and accomplish the goals you set for yourself or to sabotage you if it has been trained to think you are unable.

These beliefs are stored deep in your subconscious and affect how you habitually think and can also automatically block any attempt you make to change. The only time you actually become aware of this negative subliminal programming is when it limits your progress in creating a balanced, successful and productive life.

How Hypnosis Works

In order to communicate effectively with your subconscious mind you need to get it into a relaxed state. Hypnosis techniques have been used for this purpose for thousands of years. It allows you to bypass your conscious mind and talk directly with your subconscious.

What Would You Like to Change?

So what is it you’d like to change? From the nasty habit of cigarette smoking to nervous habit of fingernail biting, hypnosis has been found as one of fastest ways to achieve that change. If there are things about you that you’d like to change, why not give hypnosis a try?

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