The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hypnosis

420 Pages·1999·32.262 MB·English

by  Roberta Temes Ph.D.

alpha
“Want to kick a habit
books
or kick a field goal?
Hypnosis works! I have
used it on NFL players,
Olympic athletes, and
amateurs of all ages for
performance enhance¬
ment, pain manage¬
ment, and accelerated
healing. It’s safe, it’s
easy, and it’s fun! The
secrets in this book
will improve your
game—and your life.”
—Bob Reese, former
head trainer, New York Jets;
Peak Performance Specialist,
Train Your Brain, Inc.,
Northport, NY
♦ Quick and easy ways to use
hypnotherapy to alleviate stress,
headaches, and insomnia
♦ Idiot-proof steps to accomplishing
your goals and staying focused
♦ Down-to-earth advice on how
hypnosis can help you lose weight
and quit smoking
Roberta Temes, Ph.D.
Foreword by Elvira Lang, M.D., Associate Professor of Radiology and Medicine, Harvard Medical School
m
Dear Reader:
You're invited to peek inside my office and observe some hypnosis ses¬
sions. Hypnosis is the original mind/body medicine.
Hypnosis is a marvelous technique, yet for all its advantages, it's terribly
underused. I wrote this book so you'd know what hypnosis is all about,
and that it's not necessarily what you see on television or in the movies.
I wrote this book so you can use hypnosis to have a better life.
Did you ever blush after someone said something that embarrassed
you? Have you ever trembled after hearing shocking news? What hap¬
pens to your body when you think about someone you're very attracted
to? Yes, your body changes—turns red, shakes, perspires—without your
permission, without your even wanting it to respond. Your body reacts
to words and to thoughts.
The right words, spoken at the right time, help your mind control your
body. Hypnosis uses the power of words to create a change. You can
change a habit, change an attitude, change a physical symptom.
Throughout the hypnotic experience you are in control of yourself; you
are in charge of yourself.
This book explains hypnosis to you and prepares you to be an informed
consumer of hypnosis services. I tell you how to choose a reliable hyp¬
notist and how to spot a phony.
Reach your goals with hypnosis—it's safe, it's easy, and it works!
Roberta Temes
Hypnosis
by Roberta Terries, Ph.D.
alpha
books
Copyright © 2000 by Roberta Temes, Ph. D.
All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced, stored in a retrieval sys¬
tem, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording,
or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. No patent liability is
assumed with respect to the use of the information contained herein. Although every
precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and author
assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability assumed for
damages resulting from the use of information contained herein. For information,
address Alpha Books, 201 West 103rd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46290.
THE COMPLETE IDIOT'S GUIDE TO & Design are registered trademarks of Penguin
Group (USA) Inc.
International Standard Book Number: 0-02-863660-0
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: Available upon request.
05 04 03 10 9 8 7
Interpretation of the printing code: the rightmost number of the first series of num¬
bers is the year of the book's printing; the rightmost number of the second series of
numbers is the number of the book's printing. For example, a printing code of 00-1
shows that the first printing occurred in 2000.
Printed in the United States of America
Note: This publication contains the opinions and ideas of its author. It is intended to
provide helpful and informative material on the subject matter covered. It is sold with
the understanding that the author and publisher are not engaged in rendering profes¬
sional services in the book. If the reader requires personal assistance or advice, a com¬
petent professional should be consulted.
The author and publisher specifically disclaim any responsibility for any liability, loss
or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indi¬
rectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this book.
Alpha Development Team
Publisher
Marie Butler-Knight
Editorial Director
Gary M. Krebs
Associate Managing Editor
Cari Shaw Fischer
Acquisitions Editor
Jessica Faust
Development Editors
Phil Kitchel
Amy Zavatto
Assistant Editor
Georgette Blau
Production Team
Development Editor
Doris Cross
Production Editors
Robyn Burnett
Michael Thomas
Copy Editor
Susan Aufheimer
Cover Designer
Mike Freeland
Photo Editor
Richard H. Fox
Illustrator
Jody P. Schaeffer
Book Designers
Scott Cook and Amy Adams of DesignLab
Indexer
Chris Wilcox
Layout/Proofreading
John Etchison
Gloria Schurick
Contents at a Glance
Part 1: What Is Hypnosis? 1
1 Mind over Matter 3
,
What hypnosis can do for you and how to tell if you've
already experienced hypnosis without knowing it.
2 You Are in a Trance 17
Everything you always wanted to know about hypnosis
but were too mesmerized to ask.
3 Look into My Eyes 27
A complete hypnotic session from beginning to end.
4 Strange Things Are Happening 41
Interesting experiences you can have while in a hypnotic
trance.
5 Magnetism and Mesmerism 53
The history of hypnosis from ancient times until today.
Part 2: The Healthy You 67
6 You Are Feeling Sleepy 69
,
How to use hypnosis to fall asleep stay asleep, and
awaken replenished at just the right time.
1 You Don't Want Dessert 83
Hypnosis to control your food intake and change your eat¬
ing habits once and for all.
8 A Trance a Day Keeps Cigarettes Away 97
,
How to finally quit smoking for good and how a hypno¬
tist can tell if you're using nicotine as medicine.
9 Hypnosis to Stop Drinking and Drugging 111
Using hypnosis to overcome addictions to drugs and
alcohol.
10 Nail-Biting and Other Nasty Habits 127
How hypnosis can help you get rid of bad habits and
develop good new habits.
Part 3: The New You 143
11 Learning to Spell While Under the Spell 145
How to identify your learning style and how to use hypno¬
,
sis to master new subjects stay calm before and during
tests, and talk to teachers.
12 Wide-Eyed at Work 159
How to use hypnosis to smooth out the rough spots in
your workplace, and how ad agencies use hypnosis.
13 Having Fun Automatically 173
How to improve your social life and determine if your
shyness needs medical attention or can be eased with
hypnosis.
14 Becoming Game at Your Game 187
Improving athletic performance with hypnosis, and an
interview with football great Jim Taylor.
15 Throw Out the Viagra 199
Using hypnosis to have more fun in bed, and an interview
with sex educator Dr. Beverly Whipple.
16 Children and Hypnosis 211
Hypnotic techniques that are perfect for helping your child
face the challenges of growing up.
Part 4: Get Well Soon 225
17 Hypnosis and Patient Care 227
How to make hypnosis your ally in the doctor's office and
in the hospital.
18 Pregnancy and Childbirth 241
How hypnosis can help you from conception through your
first days home from the hospital with your baby, plus a
detailed script to use during delivery.
19 In the Operating Room 255
How to relax before surgery, begin healing during your
operation, and have a rapid, pain-free recovery.
20 Open Wide 267
Using hypnosis for dental work, including the treatment of
tooth grinding and clenching.
21 Hypnosis and Pain Control 281
Hypnotic methods of reducing and eliminating pain.
Part 5: Another Side of Hypnosis 295
22 Quack Like a Duck 297
Hypnosis as entertainment in nightclubs and on televi¬
sion, and hypnosis as depicted in the movies.

23 You Once Were a Duck 311
The dangers of using hypnosis to recover your hidden
memories and to look for your past lives; also, the true
story of an innocent man behind bars.
Part 6: You're on Your Own 325
24 Do-It-Yourself Inductions 327
Step-by-step instructions to put yourself into a hypnotic
trance.
25 Do-It-Yourself Scripts 341
What to say to yourself when you're in a trance.
26 Locating a Trustworthy Hypnotist 357
,
Where to look for a hypnotist and what to look for when
you find one.
Appendixes
A Your Prescription for a Stress-Free Day 369
B Hypnosis on the Web 371
C Further Reading 373
D Finding a Hypnotist 375
E Glossary 379
Index 383
Contents
Parti: What Is Hypnosis? 1
1 Mind over Matter 3
Why Would I Want to Be Hypnotized? .4
What Exactly Is Hypnosis, Anyway?.5
Hypnosis Is Not Meditation .5
Hypnosis Is Not Psychotherapy.6
Hypnosis Is Not Relaxation .6
Hypnosis Is Not Sleep.6
Hypnosis Is a Tool.7
Can I Be Hypnotized?.7
Still Unsure If You Can Be Hypnotized?.9
Who Cares How Hypnotizable I Am?.10
How Does Hypnosis Work?.11
Reframing: Making Old Pictures New.12
Take This Quiz.13
2 You Are in a Trance 17
What Does It Feel Like to Be Hypnotized?.17
Vanity, Vanity .19
What Will I Look Like While I'm "Under"?.20
What Will I Say While I'm "Under"?.20
What Will I Do While I'm "Under"?.21
What If I Get Stuck in a Trance?.22
How Long Do Suggestions Last?.22
How Often Will I Be Tempted to Resume This Behavior? ....23
How Often Will Others Tempt Me to Resume
This Behavior?..23
Is Your Hypnotist a Good Communicator? .23
Is Your Hypnotist Using the Right Technique
for You? .24
How Will I Know If It Took?.25
3 Look into My Eyes 27
Welcome to Hypnosis.27
You Are Going Under . 28
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hypnosis
Staying Under .30
Coming Out of It.31
The Hypnosis Session .32
Interview.32
Writing the Script.33
Induction.33
Deepening.35
Hallucinations.35
Reading the Script .37
Familiar Words .38
Forced Choice.39
Posthypnotic Suggestions.39
Reawakening .40
4 Strange Things Are Happening 41
Seeing the Future.41
Examining the Past.44
Undoing Trauma.45
Remembering Forgotten Feelings.46
Crossing the Affect Bridge.48
Here and There .48
Hallucinations.49
It's What Time?.50
Freeze! .50
Finger Talking . 51
No Feelings .52
5 Magnetism and Mesmerism 53
Long Ago.53
Touch .54
Magnets.54
Heavenly Bodies.55
Father Johann Joseph Gassner .55
Franz Mesmer.56
Mesmer's Ideas.56
Mesmer Moves to Paris.57
Franz Mesmer's Legacy.58
Hypnosis in France in the Early 1800s.59
Hypnosis in England in the 1800s .60
Vlll