What Is Self-Hypnosis?

Self-hypnosis is similar to a deep form of meditation. You prepare yourself for the journey and control your own mental and physical state. It does take some practice to be able to smoothly conduct a self-hypnosis session, but if you are focused, you can do it.

The main uses for self-hypnosis are stress management and relaxation. There are a few requirements for the technique to have a chance to work:

* Quiet surroundings
* Close your eyes to focus
* Sit up or lay down

Pre-session Planning

Before you begin your session, decide how you will achieve the state of deep relaxation. You can use affirmations. Positive affirmation is also a part of cognitive behavioral therapy. Using positive feedback helps you to deal with everyday stresses in a more constructive way.

In self-hypnotic therapy, your affirmations are related to what you want to achieve in the session. Prepare and rehearse your affirmations ahead of time so you can concentrate on maintaining your state of relaxation.

The Session

Find a quiet place to conduct your sessions. Close your eyes. In a regular two-person session, the hypnotist will speak softly to you and say things like, “You are relaxing” or “You are getting sleepy.” You can repeat the same types of phrases to yourself. To aid in the process, use imagery.

Imagine that you are relaxing in stages, starting with your head and progressing to your toes. As each part of you succumbs, slow yourself down with deep breathing techniques. When you are sufficiently comfortable, you can begin with the affirmations. The session can last as long as you need but typically last no longer than half an hour.

If you are just striving for several moments of peace and quiet, you can do away with the affirmations. Focusing on your breathing and your imagery will help you focus and stay away from thinking negative thoughts that can ruin your session.

If you are ever too tired to conduct a session using your own voice, you can use self-hypnosis techniques pre-recorded on DVDs. They can help you reach your state of deep relaxation and also provide affirmations for you during your session.

Self-hypnotism can be a useful tool to help you cope with stressors in your life. Instead of letting it get the better of you, try the techniques above to learn to manage all areas of your life. It may be slow going at first until you get the hang of the process and learn how to help your body respond to your suggestions.