Some questions about hypnosis?

[CplDustov]

During the first week of university they had a show and invitied a hypnotist. Two of the volunteers were asked, even though they didn't speak Russian, to speak whatever they thought it would go like. On that particular evening it didn't work but during the break they were asked to go around like spies trying to get information from people but they couldn't speak English. They just walked around silently. I'm sure at other shows this worked but could the people communicate both using fake languages? So much of communication is non-verbal I wonder if being on that subconcious level would facilitate that, hey maybe a new language could even be created? I have no idea but as a linguist the thought is interesting

 

[bruggs]

To what extent can you hypnotise yourself? And do you do it to yourself, perhaps as part of a daily routine or when under stress?

 

[Smooth Operator]

Yes, it's very possible. And as far as they're willing to let it go.
In terms of the 'I'm afraid of girls' issue, hypnosis can help improve peoples' confidence and their self-esteem massively.
At the moment, I'm not a qualified hypnotherapist, so it would be illegal for me to charge you. Sort of...Anyway, when I am qualified, helping people with self-esteem and confidence are things I was actually thinking of specialising in.

So I guess you will be needing some test subjects?
Well guys, time to sign up!

Don't worry, nothing could possibly go wrong... things can't go wrong right?

 

[Cryptotom]

During the first week of university they had a show and invitied a hypnotist. Two of the volunteers were asked, even though they didn't speak Russian, to speak whatever they thought it would go like. On that particular evening it didn't work but during the break they were asked to go around like spies trying to get information from people but they couldn't speak English. They just walked around silently. I'm sure at other shows this worked but could the people communicate both using fake languages? So much of communication is non-verbal I wonder if being on that subconcious level would facilitate that, hey maybe a new language could even be created? I have no idea but as a linguist the thought is interesting

Honestly, I'm not sure. It might be possible, and I agree, it could be interesting.

To what extent can you hypnotise yourself? And do you do it to yourself, perhaps as part of a daily routine or when under stress?

Personally, I'm still learning self-hypnosis and don't have that much experience yet. But in broad terms, people indeed use it to enrich their lives, and it is very useful to alleviate stress or help with motivation.

 

[Cryptotom]

Yes, it's very possible. And as far as they're willing to let it go.
In terms of the 'I'm afraid of girls' issue, hypnosis can help improve peoples' confidence and their self-esteem massively.
At the moment, I'm not a qualified hypnotherapist, so it would be illegal for me to charge you. Sort of...Anyway, when I am qualified, helping people with self-esteem and confidence are things I was actually thinking of specialising in.

So I guess you will be needing some test subjects?
Well guys, time to sign up!

Don't worry, nothing could possibly go wrong... things can't go wrong right?

Well, I never complain about an opportunity to hypnotize people
Although unless you're in the UK I couldn't do much.
Actually I could maybe do some youtube videos to help people with self-esteem and confidence if enough people showed an interest...They could at least do something...

I'm very careful and, in all honestly, really quite good. So no, nothing would go wrong. And as I said above, your subconscious wouldn't allow anything detrimental to remain, so the worst case scenario would be that you came out of hypnosis the same as you went in, as it were.

 

[Rhaff]

In a way, yes. But you wouldn't be able to put them into what's commonly called a trance. Using covert and conversational hypnosis (basically the same thing) you could bring a person, completely unaware, into a ligh state of hypnosis, which could then help to put them deeper into full hypnosis.

By the mentalist do you mean the TV show? Because I haven't seen it.

No, not the show, although it gives a rather good impression of what they do. A mentalist is someone who is able, through suggestion mostly, to influence people into doing what he wants them to do, believe what he wants them to believe. Basically any TV psychic out there.

 

[Cryptotom]

In a way, yes. But you wouldn't be able to put them into what's commonly called a trance. Using covert and conversational hypnosis (basically the same thing) you could bring a person, completely unaware, into a light state of hypnosis, which could then help to put them deeper into full hypnosis.

By the mentalist do you mean the TV show? Because I haven't seen it.

No, not the show, although it gives a rather good impression of what they do. A mentalist is someone who is able, through suggestion mostly, to influence people into doing what he wants them to do, believe what he wants them to believe. Basically any TV psychic out there.

I suppose there would be similarities, and hypnosis does contain similar aspects. But in general, hypnosis wouldn't be used in that way.

 

[Rhaff]

In a way, yes. But you wouldn't be able to put them into what's commonly called a trance. Using covert and conversational hypnosis (basically the same thing) you could bring a person, completely unaware, into a light state of hypnosis, which could then help to put them deeper into full hypnosis.

By the mentalist do you mean the TV show? Because I haven't seen it.

No, not the show, although it gives a rather good impression of what they do. A mentalist is someone who is able, through suggestion mostly, to influence people into doing what he wants them to do, believe what he wants them to believe. Basically any TV psychic out there.

I suppose there would be similarities, and hypnosis does contain similar aspects. But in general, hypnosis wouldn't be used in that way.

Well my description is kinda lacking, but for a good picture of a mentalist you don't have to look further than John Edward
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Edward

 

[Maxtro]

How does hypno-threapy work and does it actually work?

I would love to be more confident and not be afraid of getting rejected by women. Though I wouldn't want to be annoyingly cocky.

 

[Cryptotom]

How does hypno-threapy work and does it actually work?

I would love to be more confident and not be afraid of getting rejected by women. Though I wouldn't want to be annoyingly cocky.

I think I've explained all of this above and on the previous page. But in short, hypnosis cn be used to speak directly to a person's subconscious and change thier behaviour, attitudes etc. as well as a host of other things. It's very effective and could definitely help you with confidence issues, without making you over-confident.

 

[Maxtro]

Cool, sounds like something I should try. I've been through enough talk therapy and found it completely worthless.

Now I just have to find a place that does it, and not for too much money.

 

[Cryptotom]

Cool, sounds like something I should try. I've been through enough talk therapy and found it completely worthless.

Now I just have to find a place that does it, and not for too much money.

A lot of hypnotherapists specialise in a few areas, so try and find one that does, if possible.

And remember something important, if it doesn't seem to work, keep trying. A hypnotist will have a thousand ways of getting the desired result.

 

[The_Critic]

He tells us to ask questions and we ask questions... I think we are hypnotized. I see what you did there.

 

[Cryptotom]

He tells us to ask questions and we ask questions... I think we are hypnotized. I see what you did there.

Darn...Rumbled

Just kidding.

 

[Nickolai77]

I think i might share a few hypnosis-related experiences of mine:

1)One was back when i was studying A-Level Psychology, and at one point our teacher "hypnotised" the class. Basically she got us all to close our eyes and relax, and she had us have our arms out in front off us, and she talked us through how our arms were getting lighter, using lots of similes and imagery, to get our arms drift upwards. I went along with it, and yes i think my arms did feel lighter and they did go up. Thing was i was very concious of the fact i was moving my arms up, so it didn't really feel like proper hypnosis, but i think she made a point in that my arms did feel lighter, in my mind at least.

Heck, if psychology as a subject wasn't so obsessed with looking at studies i would have properly considered doing it to degree level, human mind's a fascinating thing, just a shame psychology all about studies and not the results of those studies.

2) One thing my ex-girlfriend liked me to do was comb her hair, she found the sensation very relaxing. At one point, round about the same time as the experiences described above, i had her lying flat on her bed, and i was basically massaging the top of her neck with the comb. When i realised that she was really really, really relaxed, just like in hypnosis. Wanting to experiment but not being sure how, i ended up asking her some abstract questions such as "how do you imagine beauty?". After talking with her through her answer, she verbally painted an image of some girl, Scottish, with long flowing red hair, and this was the image of beauty to my ex. I thought that was pretty interesting, and wondered this was a mental image produced from her subconscious mind.

(Wouldn't have minded delving the pits of her subconcious mind some more, she was an "interesting" girl to say the least)


3) I'm a bit of a hypochondriac, and part of the reason for this is that my heart sometimes flutters at random moments, or sometimes (but rarely) the pitch of the beat changes quite radically, it's kinda weird. This can freak me out, and after i had a major heart flutter i confided with a friend about it, and rather tactlessly we got talking about heart attacks and stuff like that, and i remember him telling me that people, before having heart attacks get a numbing, tingling sensation in their fingers. What do i develop? Tingling in my fingers. In the end, i went to my GP about it, he seemed interested when i told him about the tingling in my fingers and i had an ECG scan, found nothing out of the ordinary, and the tingling in my fingers went.

While there's probably something physical with my heart flutter, the tingling sensation was purely mental, created out of my own subconscious fear.

I think these three life experiences explain why i'm interested in hypnosis, and love the shows done by Darren Brown. If my hypochondria did get pretty bad, i would consider hypnosis as a useful cure for my heart-related anxieties, and perhaps also get rid of any guilt relating to my experiences with my ex, going out with her mentally screwed me, plus on top may as well get a confidence booster to help me establish new relationships with women. Problem is that all costs money, so i've never seriously considered it.

 

[docSpitfire]

Ok pretend we were playing D&D 3.5 What skill check or checks would you think hypnosis would be in game? Or would you perhaps make it just a straight charisma check? Is there any situation in which you'd have an oppose check? (perhaps a character using the covert method you mentioned earlier) Or as a DM would you just make me play a spell casting class and use the spell suggestion so you don't need to deal with pointless house rules? I have some guesses if you don't play...

 

[Cryptotom]

I think i might share a few hypnosis-related experiences of mine:

1)One was back when i was studying A-Level Psychology, and at one point our teacher "hypnotised" the class. Basically she got us all to close our eyes and relax, and she had us have our arms out in front off us, and she talked us through how our arms were getting lighter, using lots of similes and imagery, to get our arms drift upwards. I went along with it, and yes i think my arms did feel lighter and they did go up. Thing was i was very concious of the fact i was moving my arms up, so it didn't really feel like proper hypnosis, but i think she made a point in that my arms did feel lighter, in my mind at least.

Heck, if psychology as a subject wasn't so obsessed with looking at studies i would have properly considered doing it to degree level, human mind's a fascinating thing, just a shame psychology all about studies and not the results of those studies.

2) One thing my ex-girlfriend liked me to do was comb her hair, she found the sensation very relaxing. At one point, round about the same time as the experiences described above, i had her lying flat on her bed, and i was basically massaging the top of her neck with the comb. When i realised that she was really really, really relaxed, just like in hypnosis. Wanting to experiment but not being sure how, i ended up asking her some abstract questions such as "how do you imagine beauty?". After talking with her through her answer, she verbally painted an image of some girl, Scottish, with long flowing red hair, and this was the image of beauty to my ex. I thought that was pretty interesting, and wondered this was a mental image produced from her subconscious mind.

(Wouldn't have minded delving the pits of her subconcious mind some more, she was an "interesting" girl to say the least)


3) I'm a bit of a hypochondriac, and part of the reason for this is that my heart sometimes flutters at random moments, or sometimes (but rarely) the pitch of the beat changes quite radically, it's kinda weird. This can freak me out, and after i had a major heart flutter i confided with a friend about it, and rather tactlessly we got talking about heart attacks and stuff like that, and i remember him telling me that people, before having heart attacks get a numbing, tingling sensation in their fingers. What do i develop? Tingling in my fingers. In the end, i went to my GP about it, he seemed interested when i told him about the tingling in my fingers and i had an ECG scan, found nothing out of the ordinary, and the tingling in my fingers went.

While there's probably something physical with my heart flutter, the tingling sensation was purely mental, created out of my own subconscious fear.

I think these three life experiences explain why i'm interested in hypnosis, and love the shows done by Darren Brown. If my hypochondria did get pretty bad, i would consider hypnosis as a useful cure for my heart-related anxieties, and perhaps also get rid of any guilt relating to my experiences with my ex, going out with her mentally screwed me, plus on top may as well get a confidence booster to help me establish new relationships with women. Problem is that all costs money, so i've never seriously considered it.

Those are some interesting atories, thank you for sharing. I will say this, hypnosis can be a bit pricey depending on where you ae (I've seen it range from £70 to £390 for the same treatment) But if you can find an opportunity that you think is a reasonable price, I would recommend taking it, because it really could help you.

Ok pretend we were playing D&D 3.5 What skill check or checks would you think hypnosis would be in game? Or would you perhaps make it just a straight charisma check? Is there any situation in which you'd have an oppose check? (perhaps a character using the covert method you mentioned earlier) Or as a DM would you just make me play a spell casting class and use the spell suggestion so you don't need to deal with pointless house rules? I have some guesses if you don't play...

Although Ive been gaming for most of my life I've never played D&D. Well, I had a Baldur's Gate game on the gamecube, but that doesn't really count. Plus it's been years since I played it.

 

[docSpitfire]

Ok pretend we were playing D&D 3.5 What skill check or checks would you think hypnosis would be in game? Or would you perhaps make it just a straight charisma check? Is there any situation in which you'd have an oppose check? (perhaps a character using the covert method you mentioned earlier) Or as a DM would you just make me play a spell casting class and use the spell suggestion so you don't need to deal with pointless house rules? I have some guesses if you don't play...

Although Ive been gaming for most of my life I've never played D&D. Well, I had a Baldur's Gate game on the gamecube, but that doesn't really count. Plus it's been years since I played it.

Darn... I read a book on hypnosis once, and have always been curious, but not quite curious enough to keep researching. So both you, and the book have made it clear that you can't make someone do something they're "morally opposed to" (as the book put it) at the same time I was learning about this, there was a (terrible) show on TV called Moral court which allowed people to take non-legal claims into a fake TV court room and have a guy who called himself a judge dispense judgements based on who he felt was in the right. The only episode I ever saw (home sick with the flu... day time TV) was an episode in which a friend had hypnotized a buddy at a party and someone had asked him if he could make the buddy pee his pants, not knowing the answer he gave it a try and lo and behold... wet pants, case goes to fake court. So anyway, that got me curious and I've never had the opportunity to find out.

I've always been curious as to what the limitations of this are because it seems that it could cause a significant degree of embarrassment for someone who's placed their trust in the wrong hands.

Would it be akin to asking a drunk person to do stuff? (diminished inhibitions and all)
Or is the brain aware enough that it would avoid significant personal embarrassment?
What about personal hang-ups?

Basically, if you (or if this is a skill related issue, someone with more experience) were to hypnotize me, would you be able to get me to sing aloud more than 2 lines of a song?

 

[HellRaid]

How effective is hypnosis at breaking long-term bad habits? For example, if you had been chain smoking, nail biting or been an alcoholic almost non-stop for 20-odd years?

 

[spartan231490]

Would you kindly tell me whether or not a person can command others through the use of a word or phrase.

No, you can't be convinced to do something through hypnosis that you don't want to do, at least a little.

OT: How hard is it to do? are any people just immune?