Can hypnosis really change your life? Well the answer is different for each patient. You have to understand first what hypnosis can and cannot do as well understand what happens during the different stages of hypnosis.

Hypnosis has been around for years. Before any patient can receive treatment, the hypnotist has to know first why the patient wants to try it. If during the assessment the doctor realizes that other treatments have not worked and he or she is willing to try it, only then will this technique be performed on the patient.

The first stage of hypnosis is known as induction. Here, the hypnosis will narrow the patient's attention to the point wherein the sensory impressions are blocked out. This means that the only thing that the patient will hear or see is whatever the hypnotist is showing or saying.

When the patient is ready, it is time to go to the next stage called deepening. Here, the patient will get into the three main stages of hypnosis namely hynoidal, cataleptic and in some cases somnambulistic. Hynoidal is considered a light stage, cataleptic is a deeper state while somnambulistic is the deepest state.

Hypnoidal and cataleptic are effective in helping people improve themselves and change bad habits. The third is used when the patient requires major surgery and prefers not to be injected with anesthesia. This is also used by some for entertainment purposes.

The next level is known as utilization and this is the most important because it is here that patient will be able to achieve their desired goal.

To make this happen, the hypnotist leaves in the mind of the patient a posthypnotic suggestion. When this is triggered, the patient's behavior is affected. A good example is if the hypnotist has made the client believe that when he or she is in a stressful situation, that person will not have the urge to smoke a cigarette. This can also happen if the person feels depressed and loses the desire to drink. The key here is that the goal has to be clear and specific.

Before the hypnotist can even go to the utilization stage, they have to make sure the patient is ready to accept posthypnotic suggestions. They have to make sure that the patient's eyes or body does not move and that they are in a relaxed state. If this is not achieved, the hypnotist will not be able to help the patient get what they want after treatment.

Assuming that utilization was completed, this is when both the hypnotist and the patient proceeds to the last stage of hypnosis known as termination. Here, the person is slowly brought back to reality. A few examples of this includes counting backwards, giving an authoritative command like "wake up", or with a clap of the hand.

If the patient is receptive to the idea when the suggestion is made, repeating the suggestion or rewording it may be necessary. It is only when the patient is able to accept the suggestion that he or she will be able to formulate the internal process so the desired outcome can be achieved.

There are a lot of things that happen during the different stages of hypnosis. Preparation, implementation and monitoring are all essential so the patient gets the most out of the treatment.