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Self Hypnosis To Improve Your Health- How It Works

�You are sleepy . . . very, very sleepy,� instructs some slick gentleman as his silver pocket watch slowly swings from left to right in front of your eyes. He then instructs this person that when he hears the word �couch� he�ll cluck like a chicken.

Hear the word hypnosis and your mind may very well imagine this scene. It�s classic stage hypnotism. It�s very entertaining. But it�s nothing like self hypnosis that is

becoming an increasingly popular method to help alleviate a variety of health concerns. Of course, it�s in no way a substitute for the care and supervision your personal health care practitioner provides for you problems. It can be a wonderful complementary approach to use in conjunction with other methods, though.

The process of hypnosis involves placing an individual in a trancelike state often described as resembling sleep. Many contend that you are not at all asleep, but vry much aware of your surroundings. Hypnosis does, though, place your mind in an altered, relaxed state. While in this state, your attention is much more focused than usual. You�re less critical and more open to suggestions.

And it�s this attribute that makes self hypnosis so effective in treating a variety of health problems. Self hypnosis naturally taps the inherent connection between mind and body.

Science still isn�t sure exactly how or even why hypnosis is so effective at helping some people kick the smoking habit or lose weight. Curiously, not everyone is capable of undergoing hypnosis. Even more curious is that this ability is not dependent on the talent of the hypnotist himself. Whether a person eventually succumbs to the suggested altered state of mind ultimately depends on the person undergoing the process.

Self hypnosis basically is a method that quiets and relaxes your body. It places you in an altered state, not unlike that of which is achieved in meditation. A vital aspect of this technique is mental imagery which helps you to focus inward.

The imagery may involve the descending a set of stairs or visualizing a quiet spot that like a deserted beach. Some individuals visualize walking barefoot through a forest with soft moss gently caressing their feet, a relaxing brook bubbling in the background and even the smell of the damp earthiness of the forest floor surrounding them.

This heightened relaxation is called an alpha state, after the type of brain waves produced under these circumstances. Then you begin to recite positive affirmations, like, �I am fit, healthy and exercise daily.� After you�re done, you come out of the alpha state by going up the imagined set of stairs that you descended originally or by slowly walking out of the visualized surroundings.

Looking for free self hypnosis? By its very nature you get your wish with this one. You can obtain self hypnosis tapes via the internet as well.

Self hypnosis to improve your health: how it works

Self hypnosis is one of the least understood health-related therapies used today. Some experts believe that self hypnosis causes the brain to release natural substances which affect your perception of pain as well as other symptoms of your health problems. Another theory proposes that this method allows you to actually control the reactions of your body through your unconscious mind.

While there are many similarities between hypnosis and self hypnosis, there are some differentiating factors. In self hypnosis you are completely in charge. You choose your own time limits that you stay in your alpha state, you choose what health concerns you emphasize and you choose when you do this. With this freedom, you can adjust your self-hypnosis schedules to fit your lifestyle as well as to discover the most effective time and length of session to be beneficial.

When you use self hypnosis, you�re in good company. Many sports champions, like Tiger Words and Evander Holyfield, use this technique to help achieve their goals and improve their performance.

This technique can be used for just about any health concern that you have � from simple relaxation to the pain management of childbirth. It is not, however, intended to actually cure you of any disease. Many people use it quite successfully, however, to alleviate the symptoms of many health problems.

Self hypnosis is also a wonderful tool to treat stress � which in itself is the underlying cause of many chronic health conditions. Not only that, but stress can exasperate any health problem. Even if all self hypnosis does for you is to help you manage the many stressors that are lurking everywhere with today�s busy lifestyle, it�s performed a valuable function.

But self hypnosis can also help you achieve many healthy lifestyle changes in your life as well. You can go into your alpha state to reinforce your desire to follow an exercise program regularly. But it can also be a boost to helping you get rid of unhealthy habits as well. That�s why so many people use hypnosis to lose weight and quit smoking.

Self hypnosis is not a technique that everyone can use easily, though. Some individuals find that as much as they try they can�t overcome their initial prejudices and preconceived ideas about the stereotypical aspects of hypnosis. Others find that they can�t produce that relaxed alpha state required for the hypnotic suggestions to become fully embedded in their subconscious.

It�s true that self hypnosis requires more focus and more practice than some alternative health methods, like exercise. But having said that, self hypnosis may also be a great choice for an individual who cannot fully participate in many exercises.

Note: Some statements in this article may not be approved by the FDA. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional medical advice.

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