About Autohypnosis

The practice of autohypnosis is used to treat everything from anxieties to addictions. Through a combination of breathing, envisioning, relaxing and affirming, people achieve goals like quitting smoking, eating less, performing better and appearing relaxed and calm when speaking in public.

Purpose

Autohypnosis is a self-administered practice intended to increase relaxation and remedy addictive habits or thought patterns. A person who wants to stop smoking might hypnotize himself on a regular basis to decrease the urge to reach for a cigarette. A woman who wants to overcome overeating may use this to stop eating when full.

Process

Effective self-hypnosis requires learning relaxation and affirmation techniques. It is through a calm demeanor that the analytical mind relinquishes power to the subconscious. Subconscious beliefs are thought to be the cause of a large variety of behaviors. A person may want to stop smoking, but his subconscious urges may dictate otherwise.

Relaxation is achieved through deep breathing, focusing on the present moment and picturing relaxing environments. Suggestions are then made to the self. Statements about being calm, in control, courageous and confident are intended to create empowerment and behavioral changes.

Effectiveness

The power of autohypnosis is debatable. People with strong analytical tendencies may not respond. Persistent thoughts and constant analysis interfere with the process, making the practice ineffective. If techniques have been learned from a skilled hypnotherapist with a clinical background, chances for behavioral changes are greater. Using the right tone of voice and words is important, as is having enough belief in the process to achieve deep relaxation.