THE SECRETS OF HYPNOSIS

What is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a mental state or a group of attitudes generated through a procedure called hypnotic induction. It usually consists of a series of

preliminary instructions and suggestions. Such suggestions can be generated by a hypnotist or can be self-administered (autosuggestion). The use

of hypnosis for therapeutic use is known as hypnotherapy.

We can define the hypnotic state as an altered state of consciousness and hypnosis as the technique that leads us to it. To achieve it, we must

have intense and focused attention on something, therefore, the hypnotized person gradually isolates himself from external stimuli and reaches a

certain sensory block. In summary, hypnosis is a neurophysiological state that is largely produced by the famous law: "the greater the excitation,

the greater the inhibition." We can see this in a situation of intense stress or panic... the stimulus or perception that the stressful situation

produces in us is so intense that our emotional, motor (movements), mental reactions, etc. are blocked. For example, a student who knows

everything perfectly when faced with an exam, but gets so nervous that when it comes to writing he remembers nothing or only partially. The

difference is that in hypnosis we make a programmed and progressive dosage of the stimulus to produce controlled inhibition and with the effects

we have planned.

At this point we must also distinguish between the difference between a hypnotist and a hypnologist. We can give the first name to any person

who manages to induce another to hypnosis. In the second case, a hypnologist is a professional with sufficient training who makes clinical use of

hypnosis with sufficient theoretical and practical knowledge of clinical hypnosis.

Definition of Hypnosis from the American Psycholgical Association (2004)

Typically, hypnosis involves an introduction to the procedure during which a subject is told that he or she will be presented with suggestions of

imaginative experiences.

The hypnotic induction is an extensive and broad suggestion to use one's own imagination, which is given at the beginning (initial), and which may

include greater details (elaborations) of the introduction. A hypnotic procedure is used to encourage and evaluate responses to suggestions. When

using hypnosis, one person (the subject) is guided by another (the hypnotist) to respond to suggestions of changes in subjective experience,

alterations in perception, sensation, emotion, thought or behavior. People can also learn self-hypnosis, which is the act of administering hypnotic

procedures to oneself. If the subject responds to hypnotic suggestions, it is generally inferred that hypnosis has been induced. Many believe that

hypnotic responses and experiences are characteristic of a hypnotic state. Although some think that it is not necessary to use the word "hypnosis"

as a part of hypnotic induction, others see it as essential.

The details of hypnotic procedures and suggestions will differ depending on the objectives of the practitioner, and the purposes of the clinical or

research task being attempted. Traditionally, procedures include suggestions for relaxation, although relaxation is not a necessary part of hypnosis,

and a wide variety of suggestions can be used, including alerting ones. In both clinical and research settings, suggestions can be used to evaluate

the extent of hypnosis by comparing responses with standardized scales. Although most subjects can respond to at least some suggestions, scale

scores typically range from high to low.

Traditionally, scores have been grouped into the categories of low, medium and high. As with other positively scaled measures of psychological
constructs, such as attention and awareness, the clarity of evidence of having achieved hypnosis increases with the individual's score.

British Psychological Society Definition of Hypnosis, 2001/02

The term "hypnosis" denotes an interaction that occurs between one person, the "hypnotist," and another person or persons, the "subject" or

"subjects."

In this interaction, the hypnotist attempts to influence the perception, feelings, thoughts and behaviors of the subjects, asking them to

concentrate on ideas and images that can evoke the effects that are intended to be achieved. The verbal communications that the hypnotist uses to

achieve these effects are called suggestions. Suggestions differ from the rest of the instructions of everyday life, in that they imply that the subject

experiences, with "success", a response characterized by a quality of involuntariness or by the lack of effort. Subjects can learn to perform hypnotic

procedures on their own, which is called "self-hypnosis."

MYTHS ABOUT HYPNOSIS

Myth 1 : Hypnosis does not belong to the field of scientific psychology. Those who practice it are usually charlatans, healers or showmen. People
who improve with it are gullible, ignorant and "dependent."

Myth 2 : Hypnosis can leave the person "hooked" in a trance, so that, unable to "come out of the hypnotic state", their volition would be
diminished or they would become insane.

Myth 3 : Hypnosis can explain or aggravate "latent" psychopathologies of the person. It can even develop psychological disorders in healthy
individuals. Individuals with psychopathological problems may worsen with hypnosis

Myth 4 : Hypnosis causes a "state" similar to that of sleep, in which the person shows special characteristics. If such characteristics are not
achieved, the person is not hypnotized. You can only be in that special situation if you have received a hypnotic induction method.

Myth 5 : Hypnosis eliminates and nullifies the person's voluntary control. This becomes an automaton in the hands of the hypnotist, so it can
commit criminal, antisocial, immoral acts or that lead to social ridicule.

Myth 6 : Hypnosis causes unusual, exceptional and quasi-magical reactions in people.

Myth 7: Hypnosis is an extremely useful, fast and effective therapy (hypnotherapy), which does not require any effort on the part of the client to
change behavior. Only very susceptible people, however, can benefit from it.

History of Hypnosis

Although there are already historical precedents for the use of techniques similar to hypnosis used by the

Egyptians in the so-called Dream Temples , it would not be until the middle of the 18th century when the

first systematic study of what was supposed to be a special psycho-physiological state that more It would

later be known as hypnosis. Franz Anton Mesmer , (1734-1815) with a doctorate in Medicine and

Philosophy at the age of 35 in Vienna, wrote his doctoral thesis entitled "De planetarium Influxu" , influenced

by Paracelsus' theories on the interrelation between celestial bodies and human beings. Mesmer formulated

the famous Theory of Animal Magnetism , which told us that every living being radiates a type of energy

similar or similar to the physical magnetism of other bodies and that it can be transmitted from one being to

another, eventually having a therapeutic application. The Austrian doctor settled in Paris and as time went

by, his influence was so great and his fame so widespread that he became the doctor of both the poor and

disinherited and the rich and powerful, even the king of France himself. . The matter would reach the French

Academy of Medicine, which determined that there was no type of magnetic influence or energy in mesmeric

healings.

For Mesmer, hypnosis occurs thanks to a fluid or etheric energy that interpenetrates everything and that

could be transmitted from one body to another. Through this fluid, subjects could be induced into a special
state called magnetic sleep . This state was reached by placing magnets on the subject or by passing the

hands around the body.

What really produced the healing?

It would be Mesmer's disciples and later researchers who would determine that the "miraculous" healings in hypnotic trances, called magnetic
dreams or mesmerism until then, were produced by a condition called suggestion. A Scottish surgeon named James Braid (1795-1860) was the
first to coin the term hypnosis, stating one of the ways that explained it: "the sustained fixation of the gaze paralyzes the nervous centers of the
eyes and their dependencies, altering the balance." of the nervous system, produces the phenomenon".

It is not surprising that this technique aroused so much passion or disdain from its first investigations. It would be the followers of Mesmer and
later other researchers who would unravel part of the mysteries of hypnosis and, therefore, of the human psyche. Thus, for example, a patient of
the Marquis of Puységur, named Víctor Rase, who was a peasant of humble condition and practically illiterate, when falling into magnetic trances,
spoke with an ease that he had never had before, manifesting knowledge about anatomy and medicine, even reaching to diagnose illnesses and
diseases with complete precision and to prescribe remedies for himself or others that were ultimately effective. Such events have been repeated in
different times and subjects throughout history.

Physiological mechanisms of Hypnosis

The main mechanism on which hypnosis is based is constant and repetitive suggestions such as: relax and let your muscles release tension... each
time you are feeling a deeper drowsiness... deeper... This achieves produce a progressive blockage of the cerebral cortex, which slows down its
activity. Simultaneously, the sub-cortex or areas of the middle and deep brain (also known as the archaic brain ) are activated more intensely,
which fundamentally intervene in all the subconscious processes of psychic activity.

It has been observed that some supposed hypnotic indicators and subjective changes can be achieved without relaxation or long induction, a fact
that increases the controversy and intense debates surrounding the topic arise. Some scientists have disputed its existence, while others insist on
both its reality and value. A source of controversy has been the wide variety of theories traditionally divided between 'state' and 'non-state' camps.
This controversy may subside because modern 'brain imaging' techniques offer hope for increased understanding of its nature and the value of
both perspectives is highly recognized.

In reality, it is the individual himself who is hypnotized, therefore we could affirm that only self-hypnosis exists. The only thing the hypnologist
does is mark the steps or guidelines so that his patient progressively enters the 4th trance. Another of the misunderstood ideas of hypnosis is that
in this state we cannot find out what is happening (loss of consciousness), that we lose control over our own behavior or that when we wake up we
will not remember anything; This is false and only occurs on certain occasions. Therefore any person in a state of acute attention can achieve
hypnosis, be aware and then remember everything that has happened.

Applications of Hypnosis

The applications in which it can be used vary widely. The subjects are eventually focused on, making it appear to the audience that they are awake
or, popularly known, as if they are in a trance. During the performance, they appear to obey the hypnotist's orders, even carrying out behaviors
that they would not normally do. On the other hand, hypnotic applications in the fields of health, psychology and medicine are often experienced
differently. Evidence supports its clinical use for pain management, weight management, treatment of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and as an adjunct
to cognitive behavior, in addition to other therapies. Hypnosis itself is not a therapy, but it is effectively used as an adjunct to other therapies.
Hypnotherapy is therefore less preferable than the use of hypnosis-related techniques as part of an integrated psychological package.

It is also worth highlighting the deep connection between hypnosis and the placebo effect observed in drug research, since changes are achieved
in the pathology or symptoms investigated, without the drug or treatment being investigated having been the agent of change.

Clinical hypnosis itself is based on a bonding modality of a two- or multi-personal relationship, and we must also see it as a form of
communication. A form of communication where the therapist communicates with his patient's world, through experiences that he provokes in him
through words. Taking as an elementary starting point the first communication of feelings of reaffirmation, security, care, consideration and
respect. In this way, through this communication relationship, it allows the patient to attenuate their waking defense mechanisms and allow
themselves to reach a state of intense physical and mental serenity, tranquility, a deep hypnotic state by turning in on themselves. From this
perspective, clinical hypnosis can be clearly seen as a Sui-generis , special specific communication phenomenon, which evokes the communication
of a protected being and a protector, totally devoid of magical elements or presumed possession of powers by the hypnotherapist There is no
possibility of possession of powers, because in the same way that a person reaches a trance state through the work of a skilled psychologist or
hypnologist, they can also reach that same profound state with the use of a sound player, and clearly it is It may be agreed that a reproductive
device, no matter how much electronics and technology it has, cannot possess magical powers of any nature.

Hypnosis, on the one hand, continues to be researched and applied in its classic form, but at the same time it has generated new disciplines and
lines of research. Among them, neurolinguistic programming or NLP has been developed, as well as, in turn a product of NLP, the EMDR technique.

Suggestion

Dr. James Braid coined the term hypnosis after realizing that no magnetic passes or mysterious fluids were needed to reach this state; Since it
was similar to physiological sleep, I called it by that name ( hypnos in Greek means sleep). Both he and others discovered that one of the
characteristics of this state was suggestibility, that is, the subject's will and capacity for discernment were significantly reduced and the orders and
suggestions (suggestions) that were given by the hypnologist were accepted. This gave rise, for example, to major surgical operations without any
type of chemical anesthesia, in which the subject was told that he would not feel any pain, which he did.

How to reach the hypnotic state

There are many and very numerous techniques used and we will only briefly mention a few. However, it is important to review the characteristics
common to any of them. To achieve hypnosis, an essential requirement must be met:

- The subject must be concentrated ; This attention can be placed on an external stimulus (a light source, a specific visual point, a pendulum,
an image, the repetitive sound of a metronome, music, etc.) or on an internal sensation (a pleasant mental recreation, the rhythm respiratory, a
numerical count backwards, state of rigidity of any of the entire body or some of its parts, etc.). The fact is that we are concentrated on a single
idea or stimulus, whether external or internal.

- In the case of instant hypnosis we can suddenly capture the subject's attention by giving him a little "scare" for example by tapping him
lightly on his forehead with the tips of his fingers and exclaiming energetically: sleep! ; If he is sufficiently suggestible, he will enter a hypnotic
trance.

- Once the first step has been achieved, we must delve deeper into hypnosis. To do this we will do it through oral suggestion with ideas such as:
"you will be more and more comfortable, you feel more asleep, you are going deeper and deeper into this state, more and more, more and
more..."

Hypnosis Methods

There are many induction methods. We can even invent appropriate variants or adapted to the subject who has to undergo the trance, as Dr.
Milton Erickson did on many occasions, who used metaphors, imaginary situations, stories, etc. in many of his "hypnotic dialogues." . We expose
here some very used ones.

Oral induction method

It may be long, but it is quite reliable when it comes to obtaining results. The subject can be sitting or lying down. In any case in a
comfortable position. Preferably with our eyes closed we will induce him with our voice, relaxing part by part of the body, starting with the feet
and ending with the head or vice versa. At the end of this progressive relaxation we introduce suggestions of passivity and sleep: "Now you
feel so comfortable that you will sleep... you feel like a pleasant dream is enveloping you..."

Gaze fixation methods

They are all those in which we tell a subject to focus on anything external, either fixed or moving. It can be a light bulb, an oscillating
pendulum, a hypnoid disk. Sooner or later, even without suggestions from the hypnologist, eye fatigue will occur that will make us drowsy. If
we introduce suggestions they will be of this type: "As you look at this object, your eyes feel a slight fatigue that becomes increasingly intense.
Little by little the eyelids become heavier and it is as if you want to close your eyes because you want to sleep or rest..."

Catalepsy method

We ask the subject to join his legs tightly and to squeeze his arms stretched towards the body, to make all the muscles of his body rigid, to
tighten his abdomen and, ultimately, to imagine that he is a kind of table or bronze statue. Then we will give it a slight rocking so that you
notice its rigidity. Once total rigidity is achieved, we can, with the help of other people, lie him down on the floor, on a couch or stretcher. We
will immediately tell you that you are very concentrated and that you will sleep or enter a deep and special state upon our indication. We can
give a little snap with our fingers or lightly touch his forehead with our fingers at the same time as we say: sleep! o That's it... you are in a
deep and special state! From there, we use suggestions to go deeper.

Arm stiffness method

The person is sitting... we stretch out his arm and place it at shoulder height. We suggest that he is fine and that his arm is becoming stiffer.
We make him feel this stiffness with light pressure on the hand so that the suggestion is fed back... once achieved we tell him that the arm will
begin to feel heavy, that it has become lead..." the arm becomes so heavy that it becomes weight becomes unsustainable and will continue to
fall. As the arm goes down, you will notice how a pleasant and intense dream will invade you... when the arm collapses completely, you will
sleep! . If the suggestion works, the subject will lower his arm until he completely releases it; At this moment we will give the order: sleep!

Expectation method

Especially when doing show hypnosis, this method is useful. Suppose there is a capacity where the hypnotist is expected with expectation...
therefore there is already an atmosphere suggestive enough to easily induce any attendee. The hypnotist must speak with a certain mystery
and persuasion. By approaching any spectator who has objections to your proximity for fear of being hypnotized, with a single touch or
command from the inducer, you will easily enter hypnosis.

"Deception" method

Especially for use with difficult subjects. We will place a person before us indicating that we are going to hypnotize them (we will have
 previously told them that in reality it will not be them who we will induce, but that they must simply pretend that they are sleeping); Next to
him we will put another person – whom we really want to induce – and we will explain to him that his mission is to observe with all the detail
and attention he can how the other person falls asleep. Preferably we can face each other and the inductor is placed in the middle. Well... at
this point we will pass a pendulum swinging in front of our buddy's eyes, for example, and he will begin to fake his sleepiness. We must be
attentive to our true victim, because when his attention is intense, we will immediately release the pendulum and without giving him time to
react, we will place our hand in front of his forehead or his eyes, closing them and telling him energetically: sleep!

A point to keep in mind is that many people are reluctant to use terms such as "hypnosis", "hypnotism" or "dream" because of the fear they raise
of losing their own consciousness. In that case we can replace them with words or expressions such as "special state", "trance", "dream",
"drowsiness", etc.

HYPNOTIC INDUCTIONS FOR RELAXATION

YO. RAPPORT

II. FOCUSING AND RESTRICTING ATTENTION, TO GET THE PERSON TO CLOSE THEIR EYES:

II.1. Physical reaction of ocular heaviness :

a) Look at a point of light, a point on the wall, at the eyes of the hypnotist, etc.
b) Counting (open and close your eyes).
c) Slight eye rolling (looking at a point on the ceiling without raising your head...).

II.2. Create confusion or surprise :

a) Quick hypnosis (falling backwards, handshakes, etc.).

b) Confusion.

III. FORMS OF HYPNOTIC "DEEPEN"

1. Relaxation instructions.
2. Count.
3. Increasing increase in the difficulty of the exercises.
4. Suggestions of falling or descent.
5. Vögt technique.
6. Goal-directed fantasies and metaphors.

INDUCING HYPNOSIS

a) Eliminate annoying objects.

b) Exit signal.
c) Indicate "hypnotic&" sensations: dizziness, tingling, heaviness, as in any relaxation.
d) Warn of possible physical contact with the hypnotized person.
e) Indicate how to counteract thoughts and distractions: paradoxical intention, letting them pass, etc.
f) Quick reinduction signal.

SELF-HYPNOSIS BY EYE ROLLING (Spiegel & Spiegel, 1987)

1- Raise your eyes WITHOUT RAISING YOUR HEAD (one thing).

2- Lower your eyelids, WITHOUT LOWERING YOUR EYES, and take in air, retaining it in your lungs (two things).
3- Release the air ROUGHLY, lower your eyes, and experience FLOATATION (three things). To experience floating we can use images such as: we
are floating in weightless space, like astronauts; or that we float on a mat above the sea on a calm summer day.
4- Focus on your hands, noticing how, especially one of them, they become LIGHTER AND LIGHTER AND LIGHTER. Little by little, one hand will
begin to rise (levitate), more or less slowly. To do this, we can help ourselves with images, such as that our arm is hollow and filled with a light gas
(helium), or that some pulleys pull it up, or that a balloon is inflated very strongly under our hand, and pushes it towards us. above.
When the hand has risen 10 cm. More or less, we give ourselves hypnotic self-suggestions, similar to the following: “For the next half hour I will be
calm and calm. I will be able to think clearly.”
5- To “come out” of self-hypnosis, you just have to OPEN YOUR EYES, look at your arm and let it fall.

RAPID SELF-HYPNOSIS (Capafons, 1998)

1. Find a comfortable position in the chair.

2. Separate about 10 cm. of the backrest.
3. Put your hands together and take a breath.
4. Release the air SLOWLY, while squeezing your hands a LITTLE.
5. Without loosening your hands, take a breath and release it SLOWLY, squeezing your hands a LITTLE MORE (repeat it three times).
6. When the air has been completely exhaled the last time, the hands are SURPRISEDLY dropped onto the legs, and the body is dropped onto the
back of the chair.
7. Notice the heaviness of your hands, and how they stick to your legs.
8. TELL YOURSELF THAT THE HAND IS SO STUCK that it cannot be separated. When it is achieved, our mind is already prepared to say to itself
“calm, tranquility”, etc.
9. Count to three, and move your hands to stop the hypnosis.
10. Practice three times in a row, three times a day for a week.
11. “DISOCIATE” the arm, to feel it heavy, stuck or, simply, as if it were not ours. At this time, the mind is ready to give itself calming instructions.

SOME THERAPEUTIC SUGGESTIONS

- Suggestions that the suggestions and techniques will be effective.

- Strengthening the self: security, capacity, strength, energy.
- Well-being: joy, satisfaction, relaxation.
- Distance: indifference, objectivity, calm, serenity.
- Desire/control.
- Anxiety, confusion, sadness, excessive worry.
- Disgust, repulsion, rejection.
- Satiety-appetite.
- Analgesia/anesthesia.
- Motor suggestions of immobility, slowing down, or acceleration of movements.
- Suggestions of dissociation, parts of oneself, from the environment. Amnesia, hallucinations of solutions, etc.
- Time warp suggestions: speeding up and slowing down.
- Suggestions for age regression to when the problem was not there: NOT TO RECALL MEMORIES OR MEMORIES!!
- Time progression suggestions when there is no problem.
- Suggestions of alteration of the psychophysiological experience of anxiety or similar.
- Suggestions for reinterpreting psychophysiological reactions and thoughts.
- Suggestions of paradoxical intention.

HYPNOTIC INDUCTIONS FROM A COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL PERSPECTIVE (Dr. Antonio Capafons)

A cognitive-behavioral presentation of hypnosis

Empirical evidence shows that the most important thing to predict therapeutic success in treatments that include hypnosis are attitudes and
expectations towards hypnosis. This depends in part on the client understanding that the therapist knows the field in depth, that he is going to
apply procedures that have been shown to be useful, and that he is going to be clear about hypnotic procedures and their uses. However, it is
common for there to still be doubts, misgivings, or simply reservations about accepting that hypnosis does not entail risks (except for very bad use
by the therapist). Therefore, it is important that the client experiences certain reactions for himself that help him understand what he can expect
from hypnosis. Depending on the theoretical orientation of each therapist, the explanations they will give about such exercises will mention
concepts such as trance, dissociation, alteration of consciousness, or not. From a cognitive-behavioral perspective, such concepts do not fit the
enormous amount of accumulated experimental results. Furthermore, it is assumed that such concepts tend to scare people (if not the therapists
themselves), and make it difficult to accept that hypnosis is not dangerous, or that different (or altered) states of consciousness are not so
dangerous. . Even though these states of consciousness, as indicated by some trance-based authors, are similar to what we call on a daily basis as
daydreaming, concentration, absorption, etc. (which remains to be proven), it remains difficult to understand other ways of using hypnosis, other
than hypnosis by focusing attention, concentration and closed eyes. Therefore, below we report a cognitive-behavioral way of presenting hypnosis
to a client, through an exercise with the Chevreul pendulum. This exercise can have different explanations. The one indicated below highlights
certain concepts that help emphasize the continuity of hypnotic behavior with non-hypnotic behavior, and thus emphasize the concept of self-
control. Thus, through this presentation we attempt to convey the following ideas:

a) Responses to suggestions are acts of the user, so they do not depend on any power of the therapist. This is only a help.

b) Such acts are automatic, but voluntary, since it depends on the client whether they are started or blocked.

c) What happens during hypnosis depends largely on the client putting certain resources into action. The resources that are put in place are similar
to many other acts of daily life, therefore,

d) Hypnosis involves reactions from everyday life, which are activated or deactivated at will at a specific moment.

e) From this point of view, hypnosis is a form of self-control, although it requires less conscious effort on the part of the person to regulate certain
behaviors.

f) Being hypnotized does not imply reaching a trance or altered state of consciousness, but rather having the mind prepared to activate the
resources that also in daily life lead us to activate responses that we perceive as automatic.

Such points are based, as indicated, on experimental research on hypnosis, from a cognitive-behavioral perspective, in which responses to
hypnotic suggestion are intentional but also automatic. Automatism means less volitional effort and less consumption of attentional resources. In
no case does it mean that the person does not emit any effort, or does not consume any attentional resources.

Ultimately, the person will evoke a response in a context that would not generally elicit such a response. In this sense, what happens under
hypnosis will be a controlled but automatic response. Finally, the presentation described below is also based on response expectancy and
dramaturgical theories, as well as the concept of self-deception and misattribution, and goal-directed and norm-regulated behavior.
 To perform the cognitive-behavioral presentation, the user is provided with a chain watch, or something that can function as a pendulum. The
therapist indicates that he is going to perform an exercise, explaining (and modeling) what it consists of: with the dominant arm stretched forward,
the pendulum is held. At that moment the watch is asked to make circular movements, or oscillations in different directions. When the therapist
has performed the exercise, he asks the client to do the same more or less in the following way:

Therapist (T): Now extend your arm, leaving the pendulum still. Very good. Ask the watch to do something, like circle, or swing from left to right,
or front to back. Ask him whatever you want, except for him to go up to the ceiling. That has never worked for me, and if it did, it would give me a
real scare. What are you going to ask him? (the client responds and the pendulum moves). Aha, great! I see you're skilled at this. Why do you
think the clock has moved?

Client (C): I don't know, he moved on his own. Is incredible! But maybe it was me, and I didn't realize it.

T: Yes, it's fun. Do it again, but now look closely at your hand (the clock moves). Do you observe anything?

C: I think I notice very small movements in my hand. But I don't do it on purpose!

T: Exactly! Do you know what this pendulum is...?

C: Sure!: a pendulum.

T: Okay, it's obvious. But in this case it works as an amplifier, so that the almost imperceptible movements of your hand are amplified at the end
of the pendulum, and that is why you observe the movements. If we shorten the chain that holds it a lot (the therapist holds the pendulum almost
by its base), it would not move practically at all, even if we asked it to do so (the therapist demonstrates it). Well, hypnosis is, in part, this. When
you hear my voice giving suggestions (or your own voice when you give them to yourself), your brain will send “commands” to the organs involved
in the responses you will experience, and you will do things to get yourself to experience those responses. But generally they will be so subtle that
you will not realize it, and you will experience them as if they were happening by themselves, as if they were happening to you. OK? But remember
that you are always the one who sets the things that happen to you in motion. You are also the one who stops them. Let's do another exercise.
Stretch your arm and ask the clock to move in a specific direction (the clock moves). Now think that what you are doing is really stupid, a
meaningless game, that you are making a fool of yourself... or just think about what you urgently have to do at home or work (the clock usually
stops)... Do you observe what happens? Without realizing it you stop moving your hand and the clock stops. We call this interference. Generally
the word interference has negative connotations: interference prevents us from watching TV, or prevents us from using our mobile phone. If
someone interferes, it means that they hinder us from achieving an objective. But for me, in this case, an interference is something positive: it
shows me that you are an active person and that you control what happens in hypnosis at all times. If you don't like something or don't think it's
appropriate, you can interfere and stop it. When someone is hypnotized they do not lose control. The reactions you experience are automatic (you
asked the watch to move, not your hand to move the watch. However, the brain understood the instruction and, on its own, activated the hand
movements), but voluntary, since you yourself initiated the response and stopped it (you agreed to ask the watch for something, and it stopped as
soon as you thought it was stupid, or you stopped being interested). As you see, this works like other things we usually do. For example, the mere
act of speaking is voluntary, since I can stop whenever I want (the therapist is silent for a few seconds), but I don't have to look for the words to
speak: they emerge without thinking about them. In this sense, speaking is automatic. If I were to speak to you in another language that is not as
familiar to me, I would have to think about many of the words; It would be voluntary, but not automatic. Hypnosis is something similar to when we
speak our language: you will experience voluntary but automatic reactions. Do you understand what I want to tell you?

C: Yes, I think so: it's like walking, which is voluntary but automatic at the same time, right?

T: Exactly! But let me do one more exercise: stretch out your arm and ask the clock to move; but ask for it as if your life depended on it, with
impatience, demand. Ask for it now! (the client does it, but the clock does not move). Note: this is another form of interference. If you intend to
experience something and you are very attentive, impatiently demanding that it happen, it is very likely that it will not happen. Do you remember
what I told you about the law of inverse effect? If you expect too much from hypnosis, believing that you don't have to do anything and that
everything happens without any effort, it is very likely that you will not experience anything. As I told you before, it's like when we want to
remember something that's on the tip of our tongue: the more we want to remember, the blanker our mind goes. Has something similar happened
to you before?

C: Yes, many times. I think I'm starting to understand what it means to be hypnotized.

T: Great! I told you a moment ago that interference is a positive thing for me. However, there are some interferences that would be inappropriate.
Do you know which ones they are?

C: No. I do not know what you mean.

T: I mean that you should remain silent and not tell me if, for whatever reason, you did not like or agree with some suggestions, or with the
things we do to overcome the problem you want to solve. And it is not positive, because it would imply that our communication has been
interrupted. In that case we would both be wasting our time. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?

C: Yes, I think so.

T: But I still want to ask you something else: if you wanted to interfere with the suggestions or the therapy, how do you think you would do it?

C: Well I don't know, I don't think I will.

T: Probably not, but make an effort and try to imagine what you would do.

C: I think thinking about something else, not following the instructions, or not contributing any ideas to find solutions.

T: I understand. I'm going to ask you a favor: if you find out that you are doing anything you just told me about, tell me right away. Otherwise
communication would break down, you would lose trust in me, and I wouldn't be able to help you. As I told you a moment ago, we would only be
wasting time. OK?

C: Okay, I'll try.

 T: Well, now I want to explain something else to you. I know that you have already understood what you can expect from hypnosis, but I would
still like us to agree on something else. I assure you that all the time we invest in this conversation will be saved later, as there are no
misunderstandings. I'll start by asking if you've seen any horror movies.

C: Yes.

T: Do these movies scare you? What do you notice?

C: Yes they scare me. I notice tension, fear...

T: Do you feel some tachycardia, sweat in your hands, a feeling of danger?

C: Yes, even sometimes, even if I like the movie, I stop watching the most terrifying scenes.

T: Correct. Now try to think that I am an alien, and that I am watching you while you watch the movie. Do you think I would think that you are
scared of something that you know is unreal, a fantasy, a lie? Don't you think he would think you were unintelligent?

C: Looked at like that (laughs), well yes, it's true.

T: But it's really not like that. Cinema is an art. You know that there is a director, actors, cameras, a scriptwriter, etc. And everything is like a
story, right?

C: Yes, of course (laughs).

T: In other words, you, voluntarily, try not to think that everything is a fantasy, and you get involved in the story that they are telling you. You
non-consciously "forget"; that there is a whole team that has shot the film, and that on the screen you only see the effect of lights reflecting
frames. Ultimately it is a great effort, since you must "forget"; something that is obvious.

C: Indeed, but it doesn't take any effort for me, unless the film is very poorly made.

T: Correct. The fact is that, when you watch a movie that interests you, you experience intense and automatic reactions, although enriching for
you. Even though you know that everything is false, you let yourself be carried away by what the director of the film proposes to you, and intense
emotions come over you. You even show behaviors such as startling, covering your eyes, crying, etc. Is that so?

C: In general, yes.

T: Well, basically, hypnosis works in a similar way: sometimes I will be the director of the movie (hypnotic suggestions) and other times you will
be the director of the movie (with self-hypnosis). I will propose that you experience certain things, which you will know are not true (such as that
you cannot raise your arm, or that you forget something). But if you let things happen (like in the movies), they will happen. These reactions can
sometimes be very intense, but they will always be under your control. In fact, what do you or other people do when you don't want to see certain
sequences in a horror movie?

C: I look away, or I leave my seat, sometimes I cover my face and look through my fingers. There are people who do the same as me. Sometimes
I think it's all a lie and I distance myself from the argument.

T: That's it. Don't you think that these behaviors are like interferences?

C: Well now that you mention it, yes.

T: Going to the movies is a voluntary act, like "forgetting"; that everything is fantasy and staying attentive to the screen. The reactions you
experience are automatic, such as the fear, joy or sorrow that the images generate in you. But all those reactions are under your control. You just
have to avoid going to the movies, or stop paying attention to what the director proposes to you. You can even leave the room. Well, hypnosis is
like a story, a movie. What happens in hypnosis is both voluntary and automatic: you can not initiate the processes to experience certain reactions,
or you can interfere with it. It depends on you. If you like the script that I propose, you will be able to experience intense, enriching sensations and
reactions that will help you solve the problem that you have posed to me. If you decide that the story is not of interest to you, just don't listen to
it, but don't forget to tell me, okay?

C: Yes. I had never thought that hypnosis worked this way. I think now I understand why, without losing control, I can feel that I do things as if I
didn't do them voluntarily.

T: Correct, if you wish, we can begin with some exercises that will give us information about your current level to respond to hypnotic suggestions.

C: Okay, I'm looking forward to experiencing what it's like to be hypnotized.

As can be seen, the presentation of hypnosis that has been reported links hypnosis to everyday life. Likewise, it demystifies beliefs that susceptible
people are ignorant, stupid or mentally ill; or that hypnosis is dangerous for the hypnotized, or that it causes an altered state of consciousness
different from those experienced throughout the day, in which the person could become trapped. Furthermore, this presentation conceptualizes
hypnosis as a form of self-control, which generally makes it difficult for the patient to become dependent on the therapist, or for the person to
remain afraid of losing control. In this sense, it is much more likely that the client will want to continue with the hypnotic susceptibility evaluation
process, without too much reluctance, and with more appropriate beliefs and expectations about hypnosis.

Hypnotic induction method by gaze fixation and relaxation

Once the subject has sat comfortably in an armchair, and has been warned of the phenomena to be expected during induction (dizziness, tingling,
drowsiness, heaviness, floating sensation, etc.), and has been instructed how to combat the thoughts and interfering images, you are asked to
extend your dominant arm at shoulder height. At that moment, you are given a pendulum, which you must hold with the hand of that arm, and
you are told more or less the following:
 "Now, focus on the pendulum. Observe its color, shape and roughness (if it has them). In a moment, your arm will feel heavier, and your eyes will
feel tired. I'm going to ask you not to lower your arm or close your eyes until I tell you to. When I ask you, you will drop your arm (don't worry
about the pendulum, I'll hold it) and close your eyes.

At that point you will already be in "light" hypnosis , that is, we will have already begun the process of activating your brain so that it works
quickly and effectively. Now notice how your eyes and arm get tired. Every time you notice them heavier and heavier..., heavy..., very heavy and
tired... It becomes more and more difficult for you to have your arm extended and your eyes open... You feel more and more like letting them fall,
fall..., that's it..., notice how your eyes close and your arm moves due to fatigue and heaviness, but don't put them down yet... (when there are
obvious signs of fatigue).

Now close your eyes and let your arm fall (if the subject does not do this, we interrupt the session, as they are interfering with the process). Now
focus on my voice, listen to me carefully, you can hear me and concentrate on what I'm telling you. Follow my instructions and you will see how
you can do some fun, interesting and enriching exercises for yourself.

Okay, relax your arms, that is... your shoulders... relax your head and face.... more and more relaxed... relax the chest, that is... the belly.... the
buttocks... very good... legs and feet... You are getting heavier and heavier..., relaxed..., sleepy..., hypnotized..., hypnotized..., very good...,
great... Now I will count from 20 to 0. As I get closer to 0, you will feel heavier and heavier, relaxed, hypnotized..., very heavy, relaxed and
hypnotized. (slowly) 20, 19, 18, relaxed..., heavy..., hypnotized..., 17, 16, 15, 14, 13, more and more hypnotized, drowsy, drowsy... hypnotized,
12 , 11, 10, 9, 8, deeply hypnotized and sleepy..., 7, 6, 5, 4, heavy and relaxed, very relaxed...3, 2, 1 and 0.

Now try to imagine what it suggests to you. You are floating lying on a mat above the calm sea on a summer afternoon. You are very heavy but
floating, heavy and floating. Now you fall gently into the water, but you are inside a weightless bubble of air. You begin to descend towards the
bottom of the sea... it is very pleasant.... you fall and fall..., very slowly you fall and fall..., you can see how the air bubbles rise towards the
surface, while you continue going down and down..., the surface is getting further and further away..., As you fall, you are more hypnotized, numb,
although your mind is active and receptive, active and receptive..., you continue falling while you observe how some algae and fish remain above
you, as you descend, you descend... , that is.

Now you are deeply hypnotized, relaxed. Your mind is very receptive. You know that now it works at high speed and with any request you make.
You know that under hypnosis we can get incredible reactions for you, very fun and enriching. For example, focus on your arm (the one you
extended at the beginning of the induction), and you will notice that, if you let things happen, as you have done until now, you will notice that it
becomes lighter and lighter, light, like a feather. ...that's right, notice how it tends to ascend, to levitate..., just let things happen, and they will
happen... (the arm begins to ascend), very well, it goes up and up, higher and higher , that is, without fatigue or tiredness, it just rises lightly, as if
propelled by a huge jet of air... (In case you need support with imagination: your arm is like a hollow..., filled with a very light gas , helium gas,
the one that makes children's balloons rise..., or perhaps some pulleys hold your wrist, stretch it upwards, raising your arm higher and higher...,
that is... watch how it rises...)".

After carrying out the exercises that we had planned for that session, we will give the instructions to abandon the hypnotic relationship, more or
less in the following way:

"Now I will count to three. As we get closer to three, you will be less hypnotized, sleepy and heavy. When we reach three, you will feel calm,
relaxed, but activated, and motivated; wanting to do things, clear and activated. Very good, 1, more active and clear; 2, relaxed and motivated...
clear-headed, coming out of hypnosis; 3, you are completely clear and activated, out of hypnosis... you can now open your eyes. How are you
feeling?"

Sometimes the person still shows signs of being very relaxed and says they have difficulty "coming out" of hypnosis. Sometimes the sensations he
has experienced are so pleasant for the patient that he refuses to abandon "hypnotic" relaxation.

If this is the case, leave it for another minute and then repeat the previous process. In the case of the person who does not want to be "relaxed"
for longer, but rather wants to "get rid" of the heaviness or drowsiness that he or she may still experience, the count is repeated to dehypnotize,
giving biological activation instructions through images such as the person is thirsty and must run to drink water, or takes a dip in very cold water,
etc.

At the moment when the person already feels "out of hypnosis", we must carry out an interview in which we evaluate the following aspects: what
sensations he could have experienced, what images helped him to experience them, what images he generated for himself, what suggestions he
received. worked and which didn't, which exercises were pleasant and which were annoying, and an assessment of their subjective experience of
hypnosis. That is, we must ask the subject if he felt "hypnotized," and based on what experiences he decided whether he was or not.

Rapid self-hypnosis method (Capafons, 1998)

The rapid self-hypnosis method consists of three very structured steps. All of them, especially the first two, are designed to instigate sensations of
relaxation, heaviness and bodily immobility. All the movements performed are explained as ways to achieve these reactions, so that the client not
only does not "doubt" that they are due to "tricks", but, on the contrary, knows clearly and forcefully, that the exercises are intended as "tricks" to
encourage such reactions. With this approach, the client's collaboration is sought, so that, with his attitude, he encourages the evocation of
sensations, and frequent conflicts between hypnotist and hypnotized about the "truthfulness" of the reactions are avoided. Thus, the therapist must
indicate that all exercises seek natural reactions (Capafons, 2001), and that, therefore, they are our allies to make the therapeutic suggestions
work.

The way of training the client adopts the operant logic of Applied Functional Behavior Analysis regarding shaping (including modeling and verbal
instructions, as well as instigation) and chaining. That is, the steps are trained separately, and then they are chained together, assuming that the
reinforcers are both social (those given by the therapist), proprioceptive (the success in achieving the reactions and sensations as a result of
administering the therapeutic suggestions) and auto. -reinforcements (the patient's feeling of effectiveness).

Finally, the entire procedure resembles a process of fading and stimulus generalization. In this case, what disappears are the therapist's
instructions, the instigating exercises, and the heaviness reactions, although the last two elements can continue to be used as a measure to
maintain the habit and to encourage overlearning.
1. Steps of quick self-hypnosis

Before learning the steps, the logic of the method must be explained to the client. To do this, they are told more or less the following: "There are
several ways to induce hypnosis very quickly, in a matter of seconds. We will use two of them. I have chosen them because they are very powerful
and, in addition, they can be used in a way that goes unnoticed in your daily life. I mean the handshake and the fall backwards. (in the case where
the client's sensitivity to hypnosis has been assessed, through handshake back drop exercises; see Capafons 2001) When I assessed his
susceptibility to hypnosis, we performed an exercise in which I suggested that he would fall backwards, and another in which he had to clasp his
hands and feel a sensation of immobility (not being able to separate them). He remembers? Well, these two exercises can be converted into quick
methods of hypnotic induction. And that's what we'll do next, only in self-hypnosis format. Don't worry, because the exercises we are going to do
are designed so that you don't have to fall to the ground or hurt yourself. You also won't need anyone to hold you down nor will you notice your
hands stuck together. "The important thing is just to have the sensation of falling, even if it doesn't really fall anywhere, and of pressure on your
hands."

2. Handshake

Once the rationale for the steps has been broken down, the therapist brings the hands together, without interlacing the fingers, but holding them
together, and without applying any pressure. "This is useful, the patient is told, to avoid hurting myself if I wear rings or rings. It is also suitable for
people with arthritic problems or rheumatism, etc."

Next, the therapist takes a deep breath in and, while exhaling slowly, lightly squeezes his or her hands. At this point the patient is told: "Look. It is
very important to squeeze just a little while releasing the air very slowly. It is not appropriate to release the air abruptly or to press too hard. It's
not about straining too much. Just enough to later notice a feeling of heaviness in your arms. By tiring them now, in this exercise, it will be easier
for us later to feel heavy and do an arm immobility exercise. Slow breathing will help us notice general heaviness and a feeling of relaxation.
Remember that everything that can help us experience the suggestions, we must use. There is no trap or cardboard here. We have to help each
other as much as possible. Now I will repeat the exercise two more times, without loosening my hands with each new inhalation (the therapist
executes the steps). Now you must do this exercise yourself. Remember, it is not about squeezing too much, but rather noticing your hands
becoming more tense as you repeat the inhalation and exhalation (the client does it, correcting and helping you as many times as necessary)."

It is advisable to carefully clarify to the patient that with each exhalation he should squeeze his hands slightly more, reaching the third exhalation
with a slight but sufficient level of tension to notice heaviness in the hands and arms, when letting them fall abruptly on the legs. It is not,
therefore, about tensing the hands a lot each time the air is released, but rather about gently and increasingly increasing the force with which the
hands are joined together.

On the other hand, some people exhale too quickly or abruptly. If the client has difficulty exhaling slowly, he or she is asked to imagine a candle
placed 25 cm away. away from his mouth. When you release the air, the flame should move, but not fade. That would be the intensity of the
exhalation. If the client does not imagine it or does not let out the breath slowly, the therapist places a real flame, so that the patient learns not to
put it out, but only to move it. Once this has been achieved, continue with the next exercise, verbally reinforcing the patient's achievement: "Very
good, you are managing to learn very quickly. It is a good sign for success with this method. "Now we will move on to the next step, the backward
fall."

3. Backward Fall

The therapist models the exercise, as in the previous step, saying more or less the following: "Now I recline in the chair to adopt a comfortable
position. It is the posture that will result when I fall back. Next I lean forward, separating my back about 10 cm. of the backrest, and I let myself
fall abruptly, like when I change position from sitting forward and want to get more comfortable. (The therapist does the movement two or three
times, falling backwards). When I do this, I notice a certain sensation of muscle relaxation (being more comfortable) and momentary immobility.
This slight immobility is a natural reaction, present in many animals when they suddenly change to a position in which they are more defenseless.
This reaction is not "hypnotic", but a biological response, which will help us foster a subsequent reaction, very important to activate our mind and
enter self-hypnosis, something that only humans can achieve. Now repeat this exercise. You will see that it is not difficult or annoying, but you
must acquire practice to be in a comfortable position, and to be able to do it in a hidden way, without anyone noticing anything. (The client repeats
this several times, as in the backward fall exercise.) Very good, now, let's join both steps. Afterwards, I will give you some suggestions to notice
reactions of heaviness and body immobility. He knows that if he does not interfere he will be able to notice the reactions that I will propose. You
also know that if you don't like them, you can interrupt them at any time and without difficulty, so I ask you to cooperate as much as possible."

4. Chaining of the two steps

The therapist models this exercise, just as he did in the previous ones, separating himself from the backrest 10 cm, joining his hands, and inhaling
air. As you breathe out, squeeze your hands lightly and exhale slowly. Then repeat it two more times, without loosening your hands with each new
inhalation, as we have indicated. When he has finished squeezing on the last exhalation, he drops his hands on his legs and his trunk on the
backrest, performing both movements abruptly, and explaining, at the same time, what he is doing.

Next, he asks the client to do the same, helping and correcting him in a kind and "motivating" way, specifying the reactions that are provoked: "As
you can see, his hands are heavier, his whole body is actually heavier, and "You feel slightly relaxed" (some people really relax a lot in this step, to
which the therapist should show surprise, and indicate the good prognosis that this reaction implies). Well, this allows us to encourage the
reactions of the next step."

If the client indicates that he does not feel anything described, we must suspect that he is interfering, since the exercises are designed so that
everyone notices heaviness and relaxation: 90% of the people who performed rapid self-hypnosis noticed sensations of great heaviness. This
contrasts with the small percentage of people who needed images to achieve this (43.3%). Therefore, if the patient says he cannot notice
heaviness, the therapist should interrupt the session and find out what the problem is (it may be fear of hypnosis, disbelief at what he observes,
fear of harming himself, or disenchantment at believing that the method is not sufficiently powerful or "esoteric"). Until such doubts or fears are
eliminated, you should not move on to the next step. Once the client masters the described sequence (that is, he has chained the handshake and
the backward fall), the therapist continues with the next step: body immobility.

5. Body immobility

"Now, indicates the therapist, you will repeat this sequence that you have just learned, and when you have "fallen backwards", I will suggest
certain reactions in which you will notice your hands becoming more and more attached to your legs. When it is very difficult for you to separate
your hands from your legs or you are so relaxed and heavy that you feel too lazy trying to separate them, you will have already activated your
mind, your brain, you will be able to provoke extraordinary, enriching and useful reactions for your problem. Remember that you can stop such
reactions at any time. But what matters here is that you can use them to be able to self-administer therapeutic suggestions with great
effectiveness, and at any time and place you want, okay?"

Once the client has performed the handshake again and fallen backwards, the therapist begins the suggestions: "Now, close your eyes, if you
wish, and focus on your hands. One of them, or both, will be heavier and heavier, stuck to the legs,... (in a slow and deliberate tone) heavier and
heavier, stuck, heavy and stuck, as if they were solid to the legs. To do this, if you think it is appropriate, you can use images such as that a soft
rope ties your hands to your legs, or that a very powerful glue or cement joins your legs to your hands, or that a very heavy object prevents you
from being able to lift your legs. hands. If you notice these reactions, you will notice that in a moment it will be very difficult for you to raise your
hands, very, very difficult, so much so that you will try to do it and you will not be able to. You know that if you want, you can raise your hands at
any time. But if you allow your mind to act, your brain to activate enough, you will notice that you cannot take your hands off your legs.
Furthermore, the more and more you try, the harder it will be to lift them, even the more and more they will stick to your legs. Try it and you will
see how difficult it is to separate the hands from the legs (the client tries and can't). Very good, great, I see that you have managed to control your
mind, so that it follows your instructions. Now, focus on your hands. Each time they will be lighter and lighter, recovering their usual feel... that is,
now you could separate them. They are getting lighter and lighter... That is. Now I will count to three. When we reach three, he will already be
"out" of self-hypnosis, he will open his eyes (if the patient closed them) and he will find himself clear, activated, eager to work on his problem,
calm and relaxed. Very good, 1..., 2... and 3. How are you?".

On the other hand, some patients show heaviness and drowsiness despite having finished the "hypnotic" situation, especially if they are
hypotensive patients (low blood pressure). In this case, they are asked not to be scared, as it is a relatively common and normal reaction. Rather,
these reactions are reattributed to the person's good ability to successfully handle the method. Next, they are simply asked to close their eyes and
count to three again. If they still have difficulty, imagination exercises are performed in which the patient must run to catch a bus or train, or to
drink a drink of water when thirsty on a summer day, etc. Once this challenging motor exercise is finished, a brief interview is carried out to check
the reactions that have been provoked, how the client has experienced them (intensity and whether they were pleasant), what they imagined, if
they did it, etc. With this information, the exercises will be adapted to the patient's characteristics and preferences in subsequent sessions. Keep in
mind that it is essential that the challenge exercise has been achieved, at least partially, because by surprising the patient, it becomes conclusive
"proof" that they have been hypnotized. We have already indicated that a very high percentage of people notice this motor challenge reaction,
even without using imagination, so if it does not appear in our patient, we must suspect that it is interfering, or we must do corrective exercises
based on sensory memory to improve your response to suggestions.

On the other hand, the client will be instructed that the important thing is to practice the method three times in a row every day, three times a
day (in the morning, at noon and at night), for at least a week, until he achieves Do it quickly and with your eyes open. Additionally, you are
advised to practice it in several different locations, following the general guidelines on stimulus generalization. The AHR has been shown to be more
pleasant and preferred to the Hypnotic Induction Profile, in addition to being a versatile method, since it allows the use of awake and relaxation
hypnosis.

Subsequently, the client is instructed to provoke a reaction that serves as a "signal" to launch his suggestive skills, introducing him to the concept
of sensory memory more or less, in the following way: "When you have mastered the steps you have learned , you will be able to hypnotize
yourself in public even more secretly and quickly, since you will not have to clench your hands or fall backwards. You just have to focus on one of
your arms (the one with the hand that is most immobilized of the two), and begin to notice how it becomes increasingly heavier and closer to your
body. In those moments, you are activating your sensory memory: that is, you will activate your ability to reproduce emotions, sensations,
feelings, behaviors, etc., that you experienced at a time in your life, and that have been stored in your memory. brain (think that when you hear
certain songs that you associated with something, after not having heard them for a long time, memories that you thought you had forgotten come
to mind, as well as emotions and sensations that were associated with them).

However, memory is not a recorder. Our memories are selective and, at least, simplified interpretations of reality. But memory has an important
adaptive value. If we manage to discipline it, it will help us recognize sources of danger and/or safety. It helps us maintain the skills that have
helped us improve our situation, or that we need to communicate with our environment. Therefore, memory, although not a faithful and exact
recording of what happens to us, can maintain relevant and necessary aspects of our reactions or events in the environment, which allow us to
continue remembering, for example, what our name is. , the language with which we communicate, the telephone numbers most familiar to us,
etc. However, sometimes, our storage of information is done involuntarily, without us having special interest in preserving certain images,
emotions or feelings. This usually happens when we associate, for example, certain smells or songs, as I have explained, to certain reactions of
ours (emotions of tenderness, love, etc.). Despite the passage of time, when we hear or smell certain stimuli, we automatically evoke the reactions
that we associate with them. These reactions are not an exact copy of what we experience, but they are very similar, and above all, valuable. If the
activated or evoked reactions are unpleasant, we will tend to avoid such stimuli, while if they are satisfactory, we will not avoid such events, but
will probably try to maintain them.

To take advantage of our sensory memory, we must discipline and train our brain so that it can evoke, activate or reproduce (even if not exactly)
those reactions that interest us at a given moment (behaviors, images, sensations, emotions, etc.) and that we experienced long ago.

Therefore, it will not be necessary for you to repeat all the steps that I have taught you. You should only focus on your arm, and as the sensory
memory of the sensation of heaviness and immobility is activated, your arm will become heavy and immobile. You know that you can interrupt
these sensations at any time. What matters to us is that when it is too difficult for you to move it, you will have activated your mind enough to be
able to start giving yourself suggestions. You will be able to keep your eyes open, even have a conversation, while you relax, or become active,
anesthetize, etc. according to what you need. Do you understand what I want to tell you?"

Experimental data on the effectiveness of these instructions indicate that the short version of the AHR is more powerful, preferred, and enjoyable
than the full version.

When we have achieved immobility of the arm, several exercises can be performed in which the patient notices the reactions that we intend to
activate through hypnosis (relaxation, activation, anesthesia, changes in body temperature, etc.), so that he is convinced of that he is really "self-
hypnotized." Using this last link (arm dissociation), we are starting awake hypnosis. That is, we can use "hypnotic" suggestion, without traditional
formal "hypnotic" induction (eyes closed, relaxation, drowsiness, etc.), while the person feels activated, with eyes open, maintaining a "natural"
body position and a fluid conversation, with all the advantages that this entails for the generalization to daily life of the advances achieved in
therapy.

Uses of Hypnosis

In general, both hypnosis and other psychophysical techniques can be used in any field of human activity with greater or less intensity. But we
expose here the fields in which they have the most impact.

Medicine

- Produce insensitivity to pain (anesthesia)

- Eliminate or alleviate all types of pain or discomfort

- Improve the effectiveness of the immune system

- Improve any disease in general

- Special use in dermatology, where eczema, warts or skin rashes are easily removed

Psychology

- Treatment of all mental disorders.

- Shyness, enuresis, phobias (agoraphobia, claustrophobia, fear of animals, etc.), addictions (smoking, gambling,

alcoholism...)

- Indecision, lack of concentration, stress, depression, anguish, stuttering...

- Improve social relationships...

Education and teaching

- Improve school performance

- Improve memory and increase assimilation when studying

- Stimulate creative abilities

- Increase the ability to understand and assimilate

- Motivate to study, even those subjects that "resist"

Economy, business, sales

- Improve gifts of conviction

- Stimulate the ability to create strategies

- Acquire knowledge to convince clients more and better

- Work effectively as a team

Politics and social communication

- Mass communication

- Collective suggestion

- Social communication techniques

Sport

- Increase resistance
 - Develop reflexes and speed

- Increase concentration during competitions or exercises

- Develop the total physical capacity of the body

- Optimally coordinate the thought-movement relationship

- Increase physical strength

- Increase motivation

- Etc.

The 10 most frequently asked questions about hypnosis

1.-Can everyone be hypnotized?

If we understand hypnosis as a focused state of attention, where loss of consciousness or lack of memory about what happened in the session
does not necessarily have to occur, the resounding answer is YES. But if we understand this question as if everyone can achieve deep trance
(sleepwalking) – understood in terms of classical hypnosis – with practically total suggestibility and loss of consciousness, the answer would be a
relative NO. Achieving a light or medium trance is relatively easy. Reaching a deep trance is more complex; Approximately 80% of subjects can
reach a deep stage without much difficulty. The remaining 20% would find it difficult due to various variables that are difficult to know or control
(fear of losing one's consciousness, prejudices or beliefs, lack of trust in the inducer, etc.). Despite this fact, if we use hypnosis at a clinical or
doctor, in most cases a medium trance is enough to obtain results.

2.- Who can hypnotize?

Hypnosis is essentially a technique. Therefore, anyone who knows it well enough and learns to apply it can hypnotize. Another thing is that the
inducer then knows how to face and resolve the different situations that arise during the session. If the hypnotist does not have specific and
sufficient theoretical-practical knowledge (even if it is a doctor or psychologist), it could cause serious harm to the hypnotized person. Even more
so if the inducer pursues illicit goals and attempts to violate the physical, mental or moral integrity of the induced person, which has happened
numerous times, manipulating the hypnotized person. In some countries, clinical hypnosis is only allowed to previously authorized and trained
doctors and psychologists. In Spain there are non-academic training centers, although increasingly postgraduate or specialization courses are being
taught at the university level.

3.- Can someone stay asleep forever?

It is completely impossible for it to happen. Whether we practice self-hypnosis (on ourselves) or hetero-hypnosis, that is, on another person, we
will always end up leaving the hypnotic state. If for any reason the hypnotist disappeared, the induced subject would progressively go from the
hypnotic trance to natural sleep and would progressively wake up and clear up. Sometimes it happens that the person is in such a peaceful
situation that they refuse to wake up. In that case we can give him a counter-suggestion such as: “if you want to remain or return to this state in
the future, you must wake up now” – and normally he will abandon the hypnosis. Or we simply let him rest until he wakes up after a time that is
usually short.

4.- Does hypnosis have contraindications?

Hypnosis and all similar states and techniques produce a great benefit to the body, since it helps eliminate physical or emotional tensions, slightly
reduces blood pressure, regulates heart and respiratory rates, balances the cerebral hemispheres and if we speak in energetic terms, rebalances
the body's bioenergy. Therefore, if we are normally healthy people, we will not be in any danger.

However, there are two absolute contraindications: in general, hypnosis should not be performed on people with schizophrenia or serious mental
illnesses. Why? Because we could aggravate their symptoms and make them difficult to induce. The second case involves people with epilepsy or
who have had recent seizures of this type: during hypnosis one of these seizures could occur, so prudence advises not to subject them to them.

5.- Does the hypnotist have any special powers?

Absolutely NO. When hypnosis is used as a spectacle, the hypnotist usually presents himself with an aura of exceptional mental powers; This is
part of the suggestive environment that the inducer will use to achieve its spectacular effects. It all depends on how suggestible and
impressionable we are.

Actually, if a person does not want it, it is very difficult to be induced, unless there is such an extreme fear or conviction that the hypnotist has
such power (fictitious) that our own belief or conviction will make us fall into hypnosis even sometimes instantly at the slightest suggestion or
touch of the inducer. To hypnotize you do not need special skills, although you do need a minimum of skills. For example, a shy, doubtful and
insecure person would be a bad hypnologist or hypnotist.

6.- Can someone be induced to do what they do not want?

Although various authors deny this possibility, our practice with experimental purposes only shows us that YES. Everything depends on many
different variables, but if the induced subject has a sufficient degree of hypnotic depth, he can, in whole or in part, accept without the possibility of
denying himself the suggestions that the hypnotist imposes on him. There have been numerous cases of rape and mental manipulation under
states of hypnosis, this is nothing new. Therefore, we should not allow ourselves to be hypnotized by people who do not have our trust.

7.- Can we hypnotize ourselves?

Of course. Self-hypnosis is one of the most interesting aspects of this technique. To do this we can use - for example - a cassette, where we will
record an induction to relax progressively, including suggestions such as: "I am becoming calmer and calmer, my muscles are loosening, little by
little I am feeling a pleasant and deep dream... " At the end, we will add the suggestions that we want to implement for various purposes, such as
studying more and better, quitting tobacco, being calmer, etc., etc.

8.- Can they hypnotize us without us realizing it?

Hypnosis is more present in our lives than we imagine. In fact, if this is only a state of more or less acute and focused attention, every day we
suffer to a greater or lesser extent from one or several "hypnoses." Advertising, especially on TV, aims to hypnotize us (suggest us) so that we buy
16 a product... politicians use very elaborate communication and image techniques to capture our attention, even where the final impression is
more important than the speech itself. But returning to classic hypnosis, there are subliminal techniques to induce a subject into hypnotic states
and induce - without the need for loss of consciousness - to a certain behavior or attitude.

Apart from this, there are some exceptional cases such as that of the Polish Wolf Messing. Stalin, the outbreak of World War II stopped the work
of Soviet “psychotronics” (parapsychologists). The dictator himself proposed to him in 1940 that he perform a demonstration: he had to rob a bank
with the only weapons of his psychic power. In a central Moscow bank, Messing handed a blank sheet of paper to the clerk, who in a few seconds
promptly handed him 100,000 rubles.

9.- Does instant hypnosis exist?

Yeah. For example, in hypnotic shows, when the inducer realizes that someone among his audience is very suggestible and even shows some fear
when approaching him, the fear itself and the fact that the hypnotist is seen invested with a special power, will cause the At the slightest hint of
this, the spectator will immediately fall into hypnosis (normally it will be a light or medium trance and it will be necessary to go deeper). The other
case would be when, once an induction has been achieved, the subject is implanted with a post-hypnotic order such as: "when you wake up and on
the next occasions when I tell you, you will immediately fall into this same state." Said order If the state achieved is sufficiently deep - it is
implanted in the deep mind of the subject and can last even indefinitely.

10.- Can you be hypnotized from a distance?

This is one of the most exciting fields of research on the subject. It is disturbing to see that on many occasions under hypnosis mental activity, its
scope and scope of knowledge will surpass space and time. Our nervous system is a true network through which low-voltage electricity circulates;
Where there is electricity, electro-magnetism can occur, so the network of neurons extended throughout our anatomy becomes a virtual
transmitter-receiver of frequencies that can incorporate certain information.

HISPAMAP. "Hispanic American Society of Applied Psychology"

http://www.hispamap.net
Telephone and fax 91 797 55 11 and 677 09 60 08