Hypnosis is widely misunderstood as a relaxation and self-help method, thanks in part to the prevalence of stage hypnosis and the obscurity of more practical forms of hypnosis. Stage hypnosis looks the way that it does because participants are pre-qualified so that ony the most uninhibited and suggestible subjects are made part of the act.

The second most common misconception is that many believe a hypnotist can bend their will to make them do odd things that would be out of character for them. The fact is that a hypnotist can’t make you do anything that you don’t want to do, or are incapable of doing. The subjects on stage performing outrageous acts are uninhibited and outgoing by nature, which is why they’re on stage in the first place.

Hypnosis is little more than guided relaxation, nothing more. That’s it. It’s not a paranormal therapy, but it can be very effective for certain participants when used for self help purposes. The objective with hypnotherapy is to alter your state of consciousness so that you’re brain is more open to suggestion. The hypnotherapist can then speak some pre-approved affirmations that will be more readily accepted by your brain.

Another way to look at hypnosis is that it’s positive affirmations or positive self-talk made when the mind is relaxed. So there’s nothing mysterious about hypnosis. If you understand meditation, you understand hypnosis, i.e. leading your body and mind into a relaxed state.

If you happen to be a good subject, you can implant many positive messages into your subconscious, or use hypnosis to relax yourself, or quickly put yourself to sleep. This type of self-hypnosis is becoming more popular, e.g. weight loss hypnotherapy, quit smoking hypnotherapy, anxiety hypnosis, etc.

Smoking in particular is a good candidate for hypnotherapy because much of the addiction is psychological, and that is an area the self-hypnosis can help you address. Considering the expense of cigarettes, and the expense of typical cessation programs like nicotine gum, the patch, shots, and the like, the modest investment in a simple hypnotherapy audio that you can listen to in the comfort of your home is appealing.

At the very least, hypnosis will help you relax, lower stress levels, and balance yourself. If you are a smoker, a hypnosis smoking cessation program might be just what the doctor ordered, and you can safely participate in one without worrying about clucking at odd hours of the day!