I Have Been Hypnotized
Does Hypnosis Really work?
In my experience, yes and no.
Does it temporarily change the way you feel, slow down racing thoughts, deeply relax you, and encourage deeper contemplation? Yes, it does.
Does it mentally transform you into a chicken, take away or give you physical abilities, "brainwash you," or take away or create memories? No, not at all. It is also not a way to control someone.
I have been hypnotized by my former therapist on several occasions, and I have even been hypnotizing myself since I was a kid (without knowing it at the time, though.) In fact, most people have been "hypnotized" at one time or another. A common example is while reading a really engrossing book. Many people get so into the story that they lose track of time, become less aware of their surroundings, and sort of mentally "go into" the story. There is nothing magical or sinister about this, it is simply a normal variation of human consciousness.
Some people are more hypnotizable than others, however. This does not mean that the highly hypnotizable among us are gullible or naive. Quite the opposite is true, actually. Many people who are easily hypnotized have deep imaginations and greater mental flexibility than those who are not easily hypnotized.
I can easily get lost in daydreams and fantasies even to this day. Another, (for me) more recently-discovered avenue to hypnosis is ASMR videos, available free to listen to on YouTube. ASMR stands for "autonomous sensory meridian response", and basically what it typically manifests as is a pleasurable tingling sensation usually felt in the scalp, neck or upper back- kind of like the chills that accompany a sneeze- followed by a deep, mildly-spacey feeling of relaxation and hyper-focus. These feelings are often followed by intense drowsiness and sleep. This has been my experience, at least, and from what I have read in YouTube comments and on ASMR-related forums, my experience is fairly typical. There is very little scientific evidence for what ASMR is or what causes it on a neurological level, but to me it feels very similar to being hypnotized.
I have always had a tendency to suffer from anxiety and racing thoughts at bedtime, but since I discovered ASMR and its link to the hypnosis-like state, I rarely have a sleepless night. I also still hypnotize myself, but this takes a lot more effort and I have to already be somewhat relaxed and in the right mindset for hypnosis, and if I am stressed or restless that is just not going to happen. Since I live alone at this time, I don't have anyone else handy to hypnotize me (and that would be an odd request, admittedly.) But YouTube has its ASMR and meditation videos, which are the next best thing.
I have had a few close friends who are very religious (Protestant) opine that hypnosis might be dangerous from a spiritual standpoint. While well-meaning, I believe that their fears are misguided. Hypnosis is not a likely route into the mind for demononic activity, unless one is being fed evil suggestions by the hypnotizer or oneself, or frequently meditating on such things. While I believe that playing with a Ouija board or holding a seance are not good ideas, I don't consider hypnosis to be dangerous or an avenue of spiritual attack. (I am a Christian, by the way, but I am very open-minded and non-judgmental.)
So I have been hypnotized by myself, a professional licensed case worker (aka therapist,) and ASMRtists on YouTube. And I highly recommend it to anyone interested for relaxation and stress relief.
In my experience, yes and no.
Does it temporarily change the way you feel, slow down racing thoughts, deeply relax you, and encourage deeper contemplation? Yes, it does.
Does it mentally transform you into a chicken, take away or give you physical abilities, "brainwash you," or take away or create memories? No, not at all. It is also not a way to control someone.
I have been hypnotized by my former therapist on several occasions, and I have even been hypnotizing myself since I was a kid (without knowing it at the time, though.) In fact, most people have been "hypnotized" at one time or another. A common example is while reading a really engrossing book. Many people get so into the story that they lose track of time, become less aware of their surroundings, and sort of mentally "go into" the story. There is nothing magical or sinister about this, it is simply a normal variation of human consciousness.
Some people are more hypnotizable than others, however. This does not mean that the highly hypnotizable among us are gullible or naive. Quite the opposite is true, actually. Many people who are easily hypnotized have deep imaginations and greater mental flexibility than those who are not easily hypnotized.
I can easily get lost in daydreams and fantasies even to this day. Another, (for me) more recently-discovered avenue to hypnosis is ASMR videos, available free to listen to on YouTube. ASMR stands for "autonomous sensory meridian response", and basically what it typically manifests as is a pleasurable tingling sensation usually felt in the scalp, neck or upper back- kind of like the chills that accompany a sneeze- followed by a deep, mildly-spacey feeling of relaxation and hyper-focus. These feelings are often followed by intense drowsiness and sleep. This has been my experience, at least, and from what I have read in YouTube comments and on ASMR-related forums, my experience is fairly typical. There is very little scientific evidence for what ASMR is or what causes it on a neurological level, but to me it feels very similar to being hypnotized.
I have always had a tendency to suffer from anxiety and racing thoughts at bedtime, but since I discovered ASMR and its link to the hypnosis-like state, I rarely have a sleepless night. I also still hypnotize myself, but this takes a lot more effort and I have to already be somewhat relaxed and in the right mindset for hypnosis, and if I am stressed or restless that is just not going to happen. Since I live alone at this time, I don't have anyone else handy to hypnotize me (and that would be an odd request, admittedly.) But YouTube has its ASMR and meditation videos, which are the next best thing.
I have had a few close friends who are very religious (Protestant) opine that hypnosis might be dangerous from a spiritual standpoint. While well-meaning, I believe that their fears are misguided. Hypnosis is not a likely route into the mind for demononic activity, unless one is being fed evil suggestions by the hypnotizer or oneself, or frequently meditating on such things. While I believe that playing with a Ouija board or holding a seance are not good ideas, I don't consider hypnosis to be dangerous or an avenue of spiritual attack. (I am a Christian, by the way, but I am very open-minded and non-judgmental.)
So I have been hypnotized by myself, a professional licensed case worker (aka therapist,) and ASMRtists on YouTube. And I highly recommend it to anyone interested for relaxation and stress relief.
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