What Exactly is Hypnosis?
Why should Hypnosis for Birth work for me?
Is Hypnosis Natural? What exactly is Hypnosis? Well the mind basically has 2 parts to it, the conscious arena
which is to do with all the things that we are aware of, and the
subconscious, which looks after all the things that we never have
to think about. Things like digesting our food, keeping our temperature
balanced and all the instinctive programmes that we were born with.
These subconscious processes ensure that our body functions without
us having to consciously think about it. So when you sleep or rest
deeply you can trust your body to carry on breathing and looking
after you in a way that your conscious mind could never do.
This part of the mind also builds up unconscious habits throughout
our lives, so that when you learn how to do something you do not
have to keep relearning it. Like riding a bike, once learnt, you
never forget how to do it. The Unconscious Mind and Hypnosis Although both parts of the mind, are working together all of the
time the thinking part is more generally dominant, then about every
one and a half hours the brain’s unconscious part plays a
greater role. This is the point we might find ourselves day dreaming
or forgetting what we were going to say.
This is a naturally occurring phenomenon, all humans experience
trance like states throughout the day and night without realising
it. Have you ever forgotten the last few paragraphs of a story you
have been reading? Or been on a familiar journey and realised you
can not remember crossing a particular road? This is not memory
loss, it is your conscious mind having a rest, and you have been
in a natural trance. So Hypnosis can be seen simply as a single focus of attention,
an internal rather than an external awareness. With practise you
can learn to develop this natural ability and shut out the chatter
of the conscious mind and enter in to a profoundly restful state.
In this trance state the mind can access powerful resources which
can greatly influence the mind body experience. In childbirth this
means that you will have the ability to maintain a relaxed focus
and your body will respond by allowing the birth process to progress
in a natural, calm and efficient way. You can look forward to discovering just how to tap into that natural
state, encourage your conscious mind to take a rest and to relax,
so that your subconscious mind, the part that conceived and nourished
your baby can get on with bringing him or her into this world. Misconceptions about hypnosis There are many misconceptions about hypnosis so let’s look
at some of the questions that are often asked. Many people ask ‘Will I be able to do it?’ or ‘can
anyone experience a hypnotic state?’ Yes, every healthy person can and indeed does go into trance states
regularly. You experience natural trance states every day. Is it like sleep? No, hypnosis is not at all like sleep, although lots of our mums
practice the relaxing breathing techniques to help them get to sleep.
Will I be able to move during the birth with HypnoBirthing?
Yes, of course you will, however when you are profoundly relaxed
you may just not want to. HypnoBirthing teaches you that when you are very relaxed your body can be simply allowed to get on with what it knows instinctively how to do.
What will it feel like and will I be able to hear others around
me? Everyone’s experience of hypnosis is different, some become
so absorbed that the sounds around them fade way into the background,
you will remember a time sunbathing or resting peacefully, not asleep
but in a very relaxed state, well it is very much like that.
How long will it take for me to learn the HypnoBirthing Techniques?
Again everyone is different. Some Mum’s get there quicker
than others, the important thing is that you take time out to practise
regularly trusting that just as you have learnt so many other things
in your life you will soon become familiar with your bodies ability
to relax deeply. Will I still be in control during the labour? Yes you will, and when deeply relaxed you will be more in tune
with your body and the baby. You will be able to move around and
chat as you wish, but as labour progresses we find that our Mum’s
become more and more focused and although they can talk to and respond
to their partners and the midwife they naturally concentrate on
the calming hypnotic state and breathing.
For more information on hypnosis please visit
www.hovehypnotherapy.co.uk/
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