Hypnosis is a wonderful tool for many things, including managing stress. Many people don’t often think of hypnosis as a therapeutic tool for de-stressing, but it is one of the best tools for stress management.
Using hypnosis, you can quickly ease your mind into a relaxed state as hypnosis is a highly focused state of deep relaxation.
Self-hypnosis is a process that uses the mind-body connection to influence the subconscious mind. It is a heightened state of consciousness and increased awareness.
As no one can be hypnotized without their consent, all hypnosis is essentially self-hypnosis.
With a little practice, you can learn how to bring your own mind into that same state of focused relaxation to help you better manage stress.
You can also use self-hypnosis techniques to achieve goals and promote healing. Self-hypnosis is a wonderful way to keep the good work going as part of your follow-up program after seeing a professional hypnotherapist.
If you don’t make time for relaxation, the stress builds up and stress can have a detrimental effect on your health.
Hypnosis helps you tap into the Alpha brainwave state, which operates at about 8 to 12 Hz. The alpha brainwave state is the state of mind most often associated with a relaxed state of mind and the state most often accessed during hypnotic trance.
Hypnosis really only requires three things to be successful:
- Motivation
- Relaxation
- Positive suggestions
Taking yourself to a peaceful place
One of the best ways to use self-hypnosis for stress relief is to take yourself to a peaceful, relaxing place. You can do this by breathing deeply, or simply counting yourself down a flight of stairs.
Once you do the basic countdown, you can then take yourself somewhere peaceful and easy.
This might involve walking down a lovely garden path, a series of wooden steps, walking along a beautiful beach or walking down a hill.
Self-hypnosis also involves visualization. When you close your eyes, and start seeing images in your mind, you are visualizing.
When you visualize you use all of your senses. For example, you may hear the sound of birds or the sound of water, you may smell the sea air or use the sensation of touch to feel the course sand.
Everyone uses different senses to visualize, so don’t restrict yourself to one mode versus another just see where your mind takes you.
Visualization is a gentle but powerful technique that focuses and directs the imagination. The only requirement to make visualization work for you is the use of your imagination.
The beach visualization is one of the simplest ones to do.
The beach visualization
Find a quiet place to sit or lie down. Start some deep breathing or do a progressive relaxation technique by tensing and releasing your muscles. You can do a simple progressive relaxation technique by working your way up from your feet to your shoulders tensing and releasing all those large muscles.
Let all your thoughts go by acknowledging them and then releasing them.
Count backward from 10 to 1 and imagine yourself walking down a flight of stairs or walking along some kind of pathway.
Once you get to the bottom or finish counting, you can then start visualizing.
Imagine the most beautiful beach you can picture. This could be a beach you have been to before, or one you create in your mind.
Walk along this beach and feel the warm sand between your toes. Listen for the sound of birds or seagulls.
Hear the sound of the waves crashing onto the shore. Smell the salt in the air. Notice how blue the sky is.
Look out over the water see the different colors.
You can imagine anything. Use all of your senses and see, feel and be there in your mind.
Allow it to look like and feel like just the way you want it to, and if it doesn’t happen- just make it up. Whatever you imagine, do so with all your senses.
Notice how warm or cool the breeze is. Notice what the air smells like. Notice how the sand feels to your touch. Feel the warmth of the sunshine on your face. Listen for any other sounds.
Spend some time here soaking up the ambience. Let all other thoughts float away.
Before you go, repeat some simple affirmations:
- I can feel peaceful whenever I want.
- It’s OK to take the time to slow down.
- Everything is working out beautifully today.
- I am calm and peaceful.
- I deserve to feel good.
- I enjoy taking good care of myself.
- Happiness is a state of mind.
- I can feel happy now.
- I can tune into this state of peace anytime I want.
And when you’re ready, either count up from 1 to 5 or simply open your eyes.
Each of us needs to make time to relax because relaxation can ease away stress and help your body heal. Without it, stress builds up and stress can have a detrimental effect on your health.
Hypnosis is the perfect stress reduction tool because it is easy and effortless to perform and it has no side effects. Taking time out of each and every day to give yourself a mental break will help you better manage your stress which will help you maintain better health.
Just as hypnosis is an absolutely incredible tool that can be used to improve any area of life, it’s also a wonderful way to relax and unwind.
We are all on information overload much of the time and many of us find it difficult if not impossible to relax, so hypnosis can be a wonderful tool for de-stressing.