GLOSSARY OF HYPNOTIC TERMINOLOGY:
Some terms that are commonly used in hypnosis and self-hypnosis
Laurie Eddie
(Investigator 208, 2023 January)
Action Phase:
The part of the hypnotic trance where you specifically deal with
particular problems in your life, such as a lack of confidence. It
often involves a session of self-talk, analyzing your problems and
working out ways of dealing with them.
Affirmations:
Positive statements about how you want to think, feel and behave. They
are generally used during self-hypnosis as a means of opposing negative
thoughts and beliefs. See: Coué; and Ego-Strengthening
Suggestions.
Anesthesia:
Generally refers to a physical condition where there is no feeling of
pain. In medical terms it commonly refers to the use of chemical agents
that render a person unconscious so that they do not experience the
pain of an operation. For many individuals, a state of anesthesia can
be produced using hypnosis. Nowadays it is often used on patients who
are unable to tolerate chemical anesthetics, or as an anesthetic of
choice for those, such as women giving birth, who wish to be fully
awake throughout the process, yet not experience the pain.
Anxiety:
A combined emotional and physical experience that produces feelings of
uneasiness and distress. It can be produced by a range of experiences
such as stress, worry, concern, trauma, or apprehension.
Autogenic therapy:
A form of relaxation and light self-hypnosis based on the repetition of
six suggestion commands, followed by appropriate positive affirmations
to promote change.
Autohypnosis:
A hypnotic technique initiated by the individual themselves to produce a form of deep relaxation or hypnosis. See also Self-Hypnosis.
Autonomic or Involuntary Nervous System:
The part of the human nervous system that maintains the operation of
vital functions of the body without the need for any conscious thought
or input.
Autosuggestion:
Suggestions that you give to yourself; they can be negative or
positive. When used with self-hypnosis to overcome problems, they
should always be of a positive nature, and should be repeated
several times to reinforce the suggestion. See: Coué.
Behaviour:
All that is done by an individual throughout his/her life. See Coué.
Breathing:
Correct breathing is essential for good health; it also reduces levels
of stress, as well as its signs and symptoms. Slow and deep breathing
influences the unconscious processes of the body and accompanies
relaxation into the hypnotic state. See — chapter 13.
Conscious:
The mind is usually perceived as having two parts, the conscious and
the subconscious. The conscious level is that area of the mind that has
an awareness of the external environment, via the input of the senses,
and is responsible for deliberate movements of the body. It provides
self-awareness, especially the perception we have of self. It is the
part of the mind that assimilates learning, and enables us to think, to
make decisions, to analyze problems and find answers based upon
reasoning, to access learned knowledge and experiential-awareness. It
is responsible for self-talk, the voice in your head that directs much
of your actions.
Coué:
In the 1920's, former Chemist Emil Coué studied the phenomena of
"suggestion" while operating a clinic at Nancy, in France. His
successes popularized the concept of using autosuggestion for personal
development. Initially he used complex personalized suggestions, but
later realized the same results could be obtained by using simple
general statements. His best known approach was to have individuals
repeat to themselves each day the following words, "Every day, in
every way, I am getting better and better."
He also developed several other insights into how suggestion affects individuals: -
• If a person wants to do something, but finds they
cannot, the harder they try, the less they are likely to be able to
achieve – this was summed up as always think positive.
• "When the imagination and the will are in conflict,
the imagination always wins" (an idea that explains for instance why
people who want to stop smoking are unable to do so).
• Ideas always tend to become reality;
• Stronger emotions always overwhelm weaker emotions.
Deepener:
Suggestions which deepen your hypnotic state.
Depth:
See Hypnotic Depth.
Ego-Strengthening Suggestions:
Positive statements, affirmations or autosuggestions, designed to
develop your personal potential, to make you more positive, and to
assist you to overcome problems in your life. They are generally of the
form, "When I emerge from hypnosis I will feel very good, very
positive, and very refreshed, ready to face the rest of the day."
Or, "I will be able to …" "I will feel less …" etc. See: Affirmations; Autosuggestions.
Emotional-Memories:
The Limbic System which has a role in motivation and emotions also has
an important role in processing and recording memories. It is able to
include the emotional suffering along with the memories of traumatic
events to form emotional-memories, the strength of which determine
whether the emotional-memory will produce a low, medium or high
intensity emotional-experience. Since Hypnosis is also connected
to the Limbic System, it has the potential to be used to remove the
emotional content of traumatic memories.
Endorphins:
These are biochemical opioids produced by the pituitary gland and the
hypothalamus. Like other opiates they inhibit the perception of pain
and give a feeling of euphoria. Stimulated by hypnosis, as well as
sweet fatty foods, exercise and sex. They are "feel good" chemicals!
False Memory:
Artificial memories created either by the individual or another person,
(often a therapist). These often become so realistic that the
individual is absolutely convinced that the events associated with
these false memories are real.
Fight or Flight Response:
The "fight or flight reaction” (Cannon 1932), sometimes called the
"stress-reaction" or the " fear-stress-reaction" is a
condition which occurs when the body experiences severe stress. The
term comes from the concept that, in the past, such situations could
only be resolved by one of two basic responses, by fighting or running
away. This is a natural process that prepares the body to cope with
stress. When stressed the body activates two areas of the
pituitary gland. Vasopressin is released from the posterior,
causing arteries to constrict, raising blood pressure, speeding up the
heart-beat and breathing, increasing blood flow to muscles, and
increasing levels of blood sugar, (glycogen) for use as a source of
energy.
From the anterior of the pituitary ACTH, (adrenocorticotrophic
hormone), is released, stimulating the adrenal cortex and the medulla.
The cortex releases corticoids which stimulate the pancreas to
release insulin, and from the liver, glycogen and
glucose, which flood the body with sugars. Blood is drawn from the
stomach and intestines and redirected to the skeletal-muscles.
The adrenal medulla releases adrenalin, increasing the amount of
oxygen in the blood cells, and the level of blood sugar.
Simultaneously, noradrenalin is released from the medulla constricting
the arteries, boosting heart beat and maintaining
high blood pressure. The anterior portion of the
pituitary gland also releases thyrotrophin which stimulates the thyroid
gland to release thyroxine, increasing the sensitivity of the tissue to
adrenaline and increasing the rate at which the cells burn oxygen.
All of the individual's physical responses are accentuated, hearing and
vision operating at optimum levels, brain activity increases
dramatically, analyzing and dealing with incoming information at a much
faster rate than normal. Overall the organism is stronger,
faster and more alert than normal, preparing the individual to face
danger, so that they are prepared to either defend themselves
("fight"), or to run away, ("flight").
Since the human body was never intended to maintain high levels
of these corticoids, hormones and sugars, the physical activity
produced by either the fighting, or fleeing, enabled the body to
burn up the excess hormones, sugars and
corticoids, ensuring a return of these
chemicals to a safe, normal base level. Unfortunately, while this
process helped our ancient ancestors to survive, it is a destructive
process for modern humans who no longer face dangerous,
life-threatening events in their daily life. Most modern stress is of
an emotional nature, personal upsets, etc. If someone at work upsets
you, it is not possible to physically attack them (fight) and you
cannot run away (flight); you have to accept the stress of the
situation. You are also a victim of your own intellect, able to
ruminate endlessly on past failures, or imagine a negative future
filled with disasters. Such reasoning ensures that you maintain
feelings of stress and retain the stress biochemicals in your body. You
also face a daily cocktail of environmental pollutants,
stimulants, and a wide range of natural and synthetic compounds unknown
to primitive humanity, all of which trigger various physical stress
reactions.
This ongoing series of stressors cause long term physical and mental
damage to the body. An effective means of counteracting such
experiences is via the use of various relaxation and self-hypnosis
techniques.
Fixation:
A technique of using a shiny object, or some other object such as a
Mandala, or a Zen Garden, that is designed to attract the attention of
the eyes, so that prolonged gazing upon the object produce a sensation
of heaviness in the eyes, encouraging them to want to close.
Heterohypnosis:
Sometimes called Hetero-suggestion, the form of hypnosis when one person hypnotizes another person.
Homeostasis:
The natural ability of the body to create and maintain a state of
physiological equilibrium. The organism constantly attempts to maintain
normal levels of temperature, respiration, heart-beat, and the various
chemicals and gases within the body. When the body is stressed the
physiological balance is disturbed and the body immediately seeks to
return to its normal levels.
Hypnogenic:
Any type of physical object, e.g. a watch, wand, etc., or a mental
technique, that is used to assist in inducing an hypnotic state. The
physical objects are usually not necessary for producing hypnosis,
except where individuals who believe they need to see some ‘hypnotic
device.’
Hypnagogic State:
A naturally occurring hypnotic-like condition that occurs when a person
is falling asleep. As you proceed from an awakened condition towards
sleep, your brain begins to "shut-down" and your sensory inputs are
slowly reduced until you become fully asleep. It is often a time of
brief feelings of uncertainty and vagueness, and you may experience
brief hallucinations which may be triggered by sounds heard during this
brief interlude. It is also an excellent time for inducing
self-hypnotic suggestions to 'sleep on'.
Hypnopompic State:
The naturally occurring hypnotic condition that often occurs when one
is in the intermediate condition between sleep and awakening; it is
distinguished by the persistence of dreamlike imagery, carried over
from the sleeping state. See: Hypnagogic State.
Hypnosis:
A natural cognitive process, that occurs from 50 – 100 times every day,
but without your being aware that the process is taking place. It is a
subconscious psychophysiologic process, originating within the
Ascending Reticular Activating System, (ARAS), and the Limbic System.
It is produced by a reduction in the amount of this external stimuli
being processed in the reticular activating system, (RA). The reduction
in activity tends to generate a general feeling of relaxation and
calmness; and further reductions in sensory input, combined with
concentration, produces pronounced feelings of restfulness, and a
sense of well being, often accompanied by a type of daydreaming, or
reverie; these feelings are aspects of a form of mental dissociation.
While often called a "trance" a more appropriate term for this
condition is an, "altered state of consciousness or "an altered state
of awareness"; both common alternative terms for hypnosis. In general
terms there are two types of hypnosis:-
1 Involuntary Hypnosis
this can be produced by Anaesthesia, Anger, Body rocking; Chanting or
singing; Concentration; Daydreaming, reverie; Drugs; Ecstatic
experiences; Hypnagogic or Hypnopompic; Intense concentration; Lack of
sleep; Listening to music, repetitive drumming; Meditation, Naval
gazing; Orgasm; Prayer, Reading; Shock; Sporting activities;
Suggestion; Surfing the net; TM; Visualization; Yoga; Watching
television or a movie, etc.
2 Voluntary Hypnosis Where you deliberately induce hypnosis yourself, or allow someone else to produce it. As such, it occurs in two forms: -
a. Self-Hypnosis or Autohypnosis; when you guide yourself into a hypnotic trance, and
b.Heterohypnosis, where you allow another person to guide you into a hypnotic trance.
Hypnoptherapist:
A person who uses hypnosis as a means of treating various physical or
psychological problems. They are usually professional people such as
doctors, psychiatrists or psychologists.
Hypnotherapy:
Various hypnotic techniques designed to be used in the treatment of a
wide range of physical or psychological problems. In this type of
therapy the hypnosis is primarily used as
[a] a tool to either uncover hidden causes of problems,
[b] as a means of treating the problem,
or as is most often the situation, a combination of [a] and [b].
Hypnotic Depth:
The level of trance reached by a subject during the hypnotic process.
The depth generally increases as the person goes into hypnosis, then
lessens as they near the end of the session, however, the depth can
rise and fall throughout the hypnotic session, sometimes subjects tend
to drift back upwards from a deep level, and, particularly with
self-hypnosis, they may have to use a deepening technique to go back to
the previous depth.
Hypnotic Suggestibility:
See Suggestibility.
Imagery:
The production of images in the mind. These can be visual pictures,
auditory sounds or voices, kinetic experiences, olfactory (smell) or
gustatory (taste), or a combination of several of these sensory modes.
See: Visualization.
Induction:
A general term for any process that enables you to go into hypnosis,
e.g. the Induction Phase, is the first step in the hypnotic process.
Introspection:
Essentially "looking inwards" a process of self-exploration to discover
hidden memories or circumstances in the past that were responsible for
certain patterns of personal behaviour.
Mandala:
Usually a picture or a mat, containing a complex pattern, that is
designed to draw your eyes to the centre of the image. A form of
fixational image.
Maxim:
A short saying expressing a general rule of conduct, e.g. Waste not, want not. These can often be used in a similar fashion to Metaphors.
Meditation:
A process that is similar to self-hypnosis. Sometimes used as a generic
term for different forms of relaxation techniques, and, in particular
to various Eastern techniques, designed to relax the mind and the body.
Memory:
The recall of events, conversations and general topics that have been
experienced in the past. Human memory is not fixed in the way that a
video records everything exactly as it happened; rather it is
subjective. Events are influenced by our emotional perception of
events, on how we "saw" those events, not on how they actually were.
Because memories involve a great deal of emotional content, when using
Introspection techniques to recall past memories, you need to be
prepared to deal with any negative emotional experiences that may
emerge.
Metaphor:
A figure of speech in which one thing is identified with another, e.g.
He was a tower of strength. Because the subconscious part of the mind
uses symbolic representations rather than verbal language, metaphors
are commonly used to convey our meanings to the subconscious. Thus, a
common part of hypnosis involves the technique of visualization where
an imaginary image is used to represent something else. For instance,
if we wanted to search for hidden memories we might use a metaphor in
which we imagine ourselves looking for hidden treasure; although we are
not specifically telling the subconscious what we are looking for,
nevertheless it "understands".
Parable:
A short story which illustrates a moral lesson, often using a metaphor.
Posthypnotic Suggestion:
A suggestion given while under hypnosis that is aimed to be carried out
at some time after the subject has emerged from their hypnosis. When
given during Heterohypnosis, they are often accompanied by a command
that the subject will not recall the source of the direction.
Rapid Eye Movement (REM):
A subject under hypnosis often displays these movements of the eyes
underneath the closed eyelids; they are also associated with deep
levels of sleep.
Self-Hypnosis:
A form of hypnosis where an individual performs their own hypnotic induction. Also known as Autohypnosis.
Sleep:
A term often used in connection with hypnosis, however, natural sleep
is quite different from hypnotic 'sleep'. During sleep the senses close
down, whereas in hypnosis they are heightened.
Stress:
From the old English word, "distress", stress is a natural process that
occurs whenever an individual is confronted by any stressor, (a
stressful event), whether physical or psychological. Stress can be
produced by both negative or positive experiences.
Unpleasant, or negative stress, can be caused by: -
Assault, excessive exertion or exercise are all forms of physical stress;
The loss of a loved one, noise pollution, confrontation, monotony,
deprivation, demotion, car accidents, traffic infringements, verbal
abuse, an argument, a disappointment, or unhappiness are all
forms of psychological stress.
Positive stress occurs when an individual is participating in some
pleasurable activity, which they enjoy, even
though that activity might not be strenuous, or even dangerous.
Although stress can range in intensity from low to
high, the most important, and destructive aspect of stress, is its
intensity, that is, the individual's psychological perception of the
stressor which determines the degree of their response, e.g. while few
people would be disturbed by a picture of a spider, arachnophobics
would experience a severe physical and mental reaction. Their response
is related to their emotional-memories, usually the result of being
scared by a spider in the past.
Stressor:
Any situation or belief which causes the individual to experience stress.
Subconscious:
The mind is usually perceived as having two parts, the conscious and
the subconscious, which is generally perceived as being the "deepest"
part of the mind, a hidden part of the brain. It is primarily
responsible for maintaining a whole range of autonomic processes,
(tasks that you are normally unaware of). These include such things as
ensuring your heart keeps beating, that you keep breathing, and that
your body maintains an essential balance of chemicals, gases,
temperature, blood sugars and other important processes. Hypnosis is
one of the processes that operate at a subconscious level.
Suggestibility: Sometimes
called "hypnotizability", it refers to the ability of an individual to
enter hypnosis and respond to commands. The level of susceptibility,
which can be measured by various tests, was once thought to be a
constant level, however recent research suggests this is incorrect, and
that it is possible to increase our level of hypnotizability with
practice.
Trance:
An altered state of consciousness induced by the individual in self-hypnosis, or by a therapist in heterohypnosis.
Unconscious:
That area of the brain that contains all your memories, especially your
emotional-memories, which produce certain patterns of behaviour based
upon these memories. The seat of your emotions, it directs
much of your behaviour without you being aware it is occurring.
It controls our automatic processes and thinking, and receives two
million messages of sensory awareness every second. See: Subconscious.
Visualization:
A technique where you create visual images, or imaginary scenes as part
of your hypnotic inductions. Normally the terms "visual" and
"visualization" refer to visual perception, things you see with our
eyes, or visual images in your mind, however, in hypnosis, the
term relates to all forms of sensory impressions that you might create.
Thus, for example, if you were to create a hypnotic scenario in which
you were walking along a beach, in addition to being able to "see" the
blue sky, and the water, you might also include such sensory
perceptions as feeling the warmth of the sun, and the hot sand
underfoot; hearing the birds, smelling the briny sea or trees and
flowers, these are all classified as visualizations.
Visualization Therapy:
Technique in which the body's own healing forces are stimulated by
conjuring up in the mind visual images of positive and pleasant
thoughts, objects or scenes, as in day-dreaming. One well known version
of this type of therapy is Simonton Visualization used to treat cancer
patients. This technique used techniques such as having patients
imagine their white blood cells were hungry sharks swimming through
their bloodstream looking for, and devouring any cancer cells they
encountered.
Yoga:
An ancient Eastern technique that combines physical and mental
exercises with the objective of achieving a state of mental calmness
and physical relaxation. The various techniques used had a beneficial
effect on the internal organs. Many of the exercises involved certain
bodily posture and breathing routines. In many ways some of the Yogic
practices were capable of inducing a condition similar to that of a
self-hypnotic trance. See: Fight or Flight.
Zen Garden:
A pleasant place or setting that provides a peaceful environment to
assist you to relax. It can be outside, a part of a garden, or a quiet
area indoors. Usually it has a few items to meditate upon and is useful
for preparing a person for self-hypnosis or meditation. Any area that
encourages and nurtures deep and contemplative thoughts. It does not
have to be complex or elaborate, e.g. a single candlestick with a lit
candle can be sufficient to provide such a setting. See: Fixation.