Hypnosis can be a mystical subject. Many hypnotists shroud it in an almost metaphysical aura. This can add power to the process in many ways. However, there are many people who are not receiving the benefits of hypnosis merely because they do not understand it and are fearful of its use. In this article I have outlined some basic fundamentals of the subject so that after reading it you can make a more informed choice as to whether it is right for you or not.

Hypnosis is older than you can imagine. It has been used for thousands of years. Hypnosis, or more accurately trance, is a completely natural state of mind which you move in and out of everyday. It is, in effect, an altered state of consciousness. You are neither asleep nor are you completely conscious or wide awake. A common illustration of this can be seen in the simple act of watching a movie. If it's an enjoyable film then you will temporarily lose awareness of your surroundings as you become engrossed in the story that is unfolding on the screen. If you did not enter into a light state of trance while watching such programmes they would not give the pleasure they do. You must "lose yourself" in the characters believing them to be real people in order for the film and plot to be entertaining. We all know how bad a film is when we just can't make a connection with the characters, so we just don't find them convincing - the movie loses its hypnotic power and no longer becomes entertaining! Hypnotic trance is really just a state of deep relaxation which creates, what are called alpha and sometimes theta waves in the brain. Sometimes a subject can be in a fairly deep state of trance without even knowing it, they merely think they are very relaxed. In very rare cases the subject thinks they just fell asleep!

Everyone can be hypnotized. However, all forms of Hypnosis are really self hypnosis. For in order to be hypnotized you must first be willing to hand over control to the hypnotist. Without consensual participation from a subject a hypnotist is virtually powerless. Having said that, it is extremely difficult to hypnotise a person who is very drunk, or has taken drugs (these people are already in a self-induced state of trance and directing them into a different altered state becomes almost impossible). In addition it is impossible to hypnotize someone who is adamant they don't want to undergo hypnosis!

Hypnotherapy is a very specific form of hypnosis mostly used by health care professionals. As hypnosis is an extremely powerful tool for gaining access to the subconscious mind many emotionally created illnesses can be treated with hypnotherapy. In fact, as the medical profession becomes more aware of the role the mind plays in illness and healing, they have that some physical ailments, such as warts and skin disorders like eczema, can be successfully treated with hypnosis. Simply stated Hypnotherapy is an alternative therapy that uses hypnosis as a catalyst for creating inner change in a patient that may take months or even years of traditional therapy techniques.

Hypnosis is completely safe! It is just an efficient quick method for entering a deep relaxed, natural state of mind and body. There are no drugs involved, no unpleasant nor unwanted side-effects and it is in no way addictive. You just need a comfortable chair, couch or bed, a willingness to relax and let-go and a trained professional or professional recording to listen to.

You are always in control of yourself before, during and after a hypnosis session. If you are a particularly "good subject" you may forget the experience afterwards but during the hypnosis session you are always aware of what is happening! You cannot be made to do nor say anything that is against your moral or ethical codes not matter what Hollywood may tell you in "The Manchurian Candidate"! You will be able to hear everything that is being said to and everything that is happening around you. In fact many people find that some or all of their five physical senses become highly attuned to their environment while hypnotized. Of course you go back to normal upon "wakening".

The vast majority of people remember everything that was said to them by the therapist when the hypnosis session is over. In fact it's a pretty good bet to say that everyone who reads this article will be in that group.

It is the job of a hypnotherapist to make you feel comfortable before, during and after a session so if, at anytime, you feel uncomfortable with what the therapist is doing or saying tell them to stop! In order to get the most from any hypnosis session you must be able to relate to the hypnotist or hypnotherapist and trust them. For this reason all reputable hypnosis professionals give a free consultation before you ever enter a trance state. Look for a therapist or hypnotist that you like, one who puts you at ease and who you feel comfortable with. Make sure you are clear about the results you want and be sure the hypnotist is certain he can deliver them!

Hypnosis is merely a tool. It is a highly effective method for producing inner change that is permanent. I can understand that some religions forbid their followers to take part in anything that may cause them to lose control of their mental, emotional and conscious functions but believing that hypnosis or a hypnotist can do any of these things is just a misunderstanding of the process. Hypnosis in no way interferes with your free will. You will not do anything that is against your ethics. Under no circumstances will you ever do anything that is totally unacceptable to you or goes against your personal code of conduct. Nor will you do anything that feels morally wrong to you. If strutting around like a chicken would cause you serious embarrassment then you just won't do it!

There is no danger of becoming trapped in a trance state. Again this is just some Hollywood spin designed purely to etertain you and is extremely far removed from the truth. It has no factual basis whats so ever. The real fact is, you can terminate the hypnotic session at any time you wish just by opening your eyes and stretching! If a hypnotist, for any reason, were to leave you in a hypnotised state or a hypnotic recording stopped unexpectedly, you would either wake immediately or fall into a natural, light state of sleep and wake after a very short space of time - and this would only happen if you wanted to stay in the relaxed state!

The cost of hypnosis and hypnotherapy vary depending on your location, the popularity of the therapist, and the length and nature of the sessions you wish to purchase. Don't go for the cheap option! Take advantage of the free consultations by visiting several hypnotherapists before making your choice, that's why they have these consultations. A good start is to experience hypnosis through a carefully chosen tape, CD or MP3. By using a pre-made recording you can experience, in the comfort of your own home or office, the relaxing meditative state of trance and see whether it is for you or not!