Newbie and self-hypnosis

[sheet]

Hello everyone,
I'm a 19years old newbie in the magic world of hypnosis. I read lots of articles and two books of M.Erickson. As I am interested in it, finally I decided to try with self-hypnosis. I know I should go to a trained hypnotherapist to learn it, but there aren't near me.
So, I tried...I begin to relax myself with some autogenic training exercices...I feel very relaxed and continued with a countdown deepening. After I gave me the suggestions I wanted (simply phrases, using future and without negative forms) I would try another suggestion: the levitation of an arm (silly thing, I think, but I'm too curious to try :)... ). I tried in two different sessions: in the first I succeeded, in the second I felt my arm too heavy and relaxed to be able to raise it.
Now, also if I'm only at the beginning, I would ask:
1) is it possible to obtain effects such as levitations/blocks in self-hypnosis, too, or I must think I'm a stupid?
2) how can I know I'm in a hypnotic state and not only very relaxed?

I hope I'm not disturbing and, please, excuse me if you find some grammar errors.

[Terry]

Well, first of all, I wouldn't call you "stupid", as you suggest, but your first paragraph disclosed an igorance of what hypnosis is, regardless of reading about it. Imagine aproaching a doctor and asking him or her to show you how to do self surgery? Sounds silly doesn't it, and if you explained to them that the only reason you are asking this is because there is no training facility available to you locally, what do you think their reply would be?
If you had bothered to read the introduction before posting, you would know that we do not offer training of any kind online, simply because it is not a proper venue from which to offer something so important to a good start as a therapist, even if the desire is only for self therapy.
Incidentally, a doctor can make a great deal of money attending to the body, but some of the therapists here are getting an average of $500.00 per hour, and are worth every penny. The mind is much more important, and also much more fragile.. Mess with it at your peril!

[Poodle]

WOW! You certainly believe in starting at the top, don't you? Ericksonian is definitely the most elegant style of hypnosis and also the most difficult. It takes a lot of study.

You are 19 years old which definitely means you are able to hold down a job. Save that money and go to a good training. You just may wish to add NLP to that list too. Good NLPers on the Coasts are making about $2000 per session and NLP is really quick as a session could last 5 minutes or less. There may be no trainings right near you but you can get on a plane and fly. How absolutely wonderful to start this at your age. In the meantime it would be a good idea to leave your mind alone. You could do possible damage and we certainly don't want that! You will find good reading lists posted in the back pages of the Forum. Have a good time reading and saving that money for an in-person training with lots of practice on other students.

Please feel free to look through all the posts and possible nuggets of information. Pood :)

[Don]

As far as I know, Erickson (or the people who write about Erickson) never focused on self-hypnosis. I think you might have better luck if you study a book specifically on self-hypnosis such as Self-Hypnosis by Brian M. Alman and Peter T. Lambrou, Healing Yourself with Self-Hypnosis by Frank Caprio and Joseph Berger, or Self Hypnosis and Other Mind Expanding Techniques by Charles Tebbetts.

Even so, as has been pointed out, hypnosis is an experience. Reading about it is sort of like reading about skiing. The reality may be something quite different than you get from reading, and the only real way to learn is through experience and with training.

Your questions are good ones and show that you are definitely not stupid! I don't know what area you are in, but I think if you do a bit of websurfing you'll be able to find inexpensive basic training not too far from where you are. Once you get the basics, the books can really help you expand.

Good luck!

[sheet]

Imagine aproaching a doctor and asking him or her to show you how to do self surgery? Sounds silly doesn't it, and if you explained to them that the only reason you are asking this is because there is no training facility available to you locally, what do you think their reply would be?

Obviously it sounds silly, I know...but I am very interested in the topic and, until I can move from home, I don't know who I can ask to. I want to have a training as early I can, but when you live in a small village in Italy it becomes a bit hard to do. :(
I don't want to abuse of your knowledge and understand you cannot give me medical advices. Often my need to knowledge lead me to ask something wrong...please, believe me it was not my intention!

[sheet]

I would only say that my interest is given by the hidden power of the human mind. I don't think hypnosis is "cool": I'm sure there is a large amount of resources we don't use, and reading Erickson or, as I'm doing in these days, "The structure of magic" by Bandler/Grinder I am surprised by the structure of the mind! However, my studies will be in the technical/scientific direction and not in the medical/scientific one. I think mind is a tool, a powerful tool, and, as you suggest me, it's important to know how it works and how we have to work with it. I'll never become a hypnotherapist, however I like learning about psychology and hypnosis. And autohypnosis seems to be a tool to increase consciousness about myself and my mind.
Anyway, the first time I'll can I'll get a training. :)

[Terry]

Sheet, you will note that I corrected you for calling yourself stupid, so I certainly don't consider you to be so. However, there is good reason why we don't train online, and it is not primarily to do with money, but rather ethics. If I tell you something and you do it, but improperly, or if you happen to suffer from some condition I know nothing about, and harm results, I am at fault because I am the skilled person, and you are only following my instructions. Obviously, you have some perceptions of hypnosis which are incorrect, and therefore believe there is no harm in trying to jump the gun by experimenting before you know enough to do it safely. If you choose to follow that, it is up to you, but we are responsible for what we diseminate to the public, so we take precautions for our own sake.
As for being isolated in a little village, what what would you do it you wanted to go to University? Become a doctor? Become a physio therapist? Become a psychiatrist?

Hypnosis is NOT magic, it is therapy, just as are some of the above. Therapy required skills aquired over several trainings, and experience gained over time, that included self therapy.

[Poodle]

A small village in Italy? Wonderful. You have two very excellent NLP Trainers in Italy and Dr. Bandler, himself, goes to northern Italy once a year. In NLP we have The Milton Model and most of us teach hypnosis together with NLP. One of the trainers is young and very good looking - obviously Italian. There is also a lovely young lady from Quito that trains in Rome and London. You will leave home as soon as you decide to leave home; however, since you are at home, get a job NOW, save your money and then go for it.

[sheet]

I'm sorry. As I said, I obviously understand and agree with your decisions, but probably I cannot express it very well (language restriction :o ).

Well, I've just gained a diploma, and I'm looking for University. It's much nearer than Rome or Milan, where there are more possibilities, however the fault is only mine:
also if I'm very interested in psychology, I'm going to attend a scientific Faculty. The problem is that both topics are very exciting and I can choose only one (and I love them because both, also if in very different ways, concern and use mind). You haven't to justify me for this (in fact, my chooses are under my responsability, surely not under yours) but...well...it has a little bitter taste...

About NLP training...thanks Poodle, it's useful to know! :) And...I've already got a little job and trying to save money...well, while there's life, there's hope! :D

Thanks for all!

[Merlin]

If you are conscious enough to give yourself suggestions, you're not in hypnosis.

[pmdigi]

My hypnotherapist taught me self-hypnosis but she never mentioned not being able to give myself suggestions, in fact she told me to give myself "some positive suggestions". Otherwise, why even bother with self-hypnosis?

[Poodle]

There are levels of trance -- apparently you are in light trance. I believe Merlin usually works in somnambulism. As long as the CF is by-passed, you are okay. I'm a "weenie". I put mine on tape. Give yourself a test that your eyes are just sooo relaxed you cannot open your eyes. They are glued shut and just melted down into your cheeks. If the eyes open, you are not in trance. That is the first stage of trance (eye catalepsy). Also one fantastic stress buster. :)

[Merlin]

You can give yourself suggestions before the hypnosis, or by recording 'tape/cd/mp3/etc.
But if your thinking about suggestions, you're likely not in hypnosis.