Self-Hypnosis For Dummies [NOOK Book]

Learn To Enhance Your Life Using The Tools Of Self-Hypnosis

Hypnosis is a powerful and effective tool in encouraging behavioral change, whether used to help one with physical issues such as weight loss or quitting smoking or used in changing personality traits such as becoming more outgoing or confident. Often, the counsel of a professional hypnotherapist and several hypnotherapy sessions are necessary to invoke change. However, the value in hypnosis is also achieved through the practice of self-hypnosis, the subject of Self-Hypnosis for Dummies by Mike Bryant and Peter Mabbutt.

As is generally the case with the For Dummies series of books, Self-Hypnosis For Dummies is a compendium of valuable, professional information. The book opens with a history of the practice of hypnosis and explains the concept of self-hypnosis whereby an individual induces a hypnotic trance and self-delivers suggestions or affirmations to invoke a desired behavioral or personality change. The authors deserve praise for their holistic approach to chartering change. While they promote self-hypnosis, they strongly encourage the use of hypnosis in conjunction with traditional medical care and psychological counseling when appropriate.

Goal-setting is fundamental in determining what one truly wants out of life. Only after establishing your life goals can you decide how best to incorporate hypnosis to effect change. The authors suggest and explain using the concept of SMART goals (often advised in the corporate environment) in setting personal goals. They discuss the many challenges one might face along life's path and even comment on the "inner critic," that little voice in one's subconscious suggesting that success is impossible or undeserved.

The authors explain several ways to achieve a trance state and dispel some of the rumors and concerns individuals may have over the safety of hypnosis. They explain how to direct the subconscious to achieve desired results through the use of self-hypnosis scripts and affirmations. Specific issues targeted in the book include anxiety, fear, self-esteem, minimizing pain, controlling anger, insomnia, smoking, drinking, weight management, and developing good relationships. The accompanying CD of relaxation and trance-induction techniques and scripts is an excellent companion and clearly demonstrates the techniques described in the book.

A few quick notes on the writing style: The authors both reside in the UK, and the book was written using some slang and verbiage that may be unfamiliar to American audiences. Additionally, units of measure in the chapter on weight management are referred to in grams or stones, not pounds. The authors also intentionally create a casual writing style, often removing the word "is" and replacing it with its contraction. For example, the sentence that opens the chapter on drinking states, "Drinking's a huge part of western society, but alcohol consumption's a slippery subject." This excessive use of apostrophe-s can be annoying, as if the authors did a search for the word "is" only to remove it.

Keep Self-Hypnosis For Dummies on your resource shelf and use its suggestions and techniques for the enhancement of your own life and to effect powerful behavioral and psychological changes.

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