Hyper-Suggestibility and Common Examples of Natural Hypnosis, Part 1

I am continuing to suspend in-person hypnotherapy sessions with me in my office. However, phone, and Zoom consultations ARE and WILL REMAIN AVAILABLE! 

(This blog was originally posted on July 13, 2016)

Photo by Rick Hustead

 

Definition of Hypnosis: “Hypnosis is created by an overload of message units disorganizing our inhibitory process (critical mind), triggering our fight/flight mechanism and ultimately resulting in a hyper-suggestible state, providing access to the subconscious mind.” – John G. Kappas, Ph.D., founder of the Hypnosis Motivation Institute

 

Some time ago, I had the honor of describing a common aspect of my work as a certified hypnotherapist to my business-marketing group, the Network Referral Group of the Santa Clarita Valley. During the presentation, I described what environmental factors that can trigger a hyper-suggestible state of awareness and affects our behavior. Following is a list of various ways we can be (and have been) hypnotized by the environment.

 

Examples and Triggers of a Hyper-Suggestible State:

• Driving past your intersection, street, etc. because you are thinking about something else.
• Appointment with the doctor, investment broker, accountant, etc., law-enforcement officers, etc., any professional that is “out of your scope of expertise” and you tend to zone out listening to explanations, definitions, etc.
• Being glued to the television, etc. watching a police chase or incoming reports about a natural disaster, fire, overseas military activity, etc. not directly related to you, you just feel you “can’t turn away.” Also, continually watching on-line video of hostage executions, etc., for the same reason.
• Missing what someone said to you in a conversation because you were busy thinking about what you should say next or even something completely different.
• Popularity of Poke-Mon Go: more people walking, looking for the icons in the game. Authorities advising people to not play game while driving, do play on public transit
• The Internet: Surfing, commenting on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/etc. Do you sometimes say/post something you wish you hadn’t because you were caught up in the moment?
• Reactions of the passengers on airlines on 9/11: Initially, they listened to and believed what the terrorists told them to do and believed they were on the way back to the airport, there would be a ransom and release, etc.
• Making purchases on-line, shopping sprees, etc., per encouragement of TV advertisements and in-store representatives
• Get so caught up watching the action in a movie/television series and become sad, enraged, happy, etc., about the action going on in the story. Did you cry when Jack Dawson died in Titanic? Spend all last summer worried/wondering about Jon Snow’s fate at the end of the fifth and sixth season of Game of Thrones?
• Panic buying/selling of stocks and investment volatility after the 2016 United States Presidential election, Brexit, other world events or market corrections. Also, feeling pressured to buy into a “Once-in-a-Lifetime Deal!” that is obviously a marketing ploy to make a quick sale.
• Mob behavior/copy-cat crimes based on what was seen on-line, news, social media, etc. For example, "Flash Mobs" and copy-cat crimes that have been promoted or described on social media.

In tomorrow’s blog, I will provide some tips to help return/maintain a fully alert and aware state no matter what is going on around you.

 

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Let the power of your subconscious mind help you release extra weight and increase your motivation to make healthier eating/nutrition and exercise choices. Book the entire 10-week series and save $250!

 

 

Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. Sara has been voted the Best Hypnotherapist in Santa Clarita, California, four years in a row (2019-2022). For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit my website. 

© 2022

 

Hyper-suggestibilitty and Common Examples of Natural Hypnosis, Part 1

 To minimize risk of exposure to and spread of the COVID-19 virus, I am temporarily suspending in-person hypnotherapy sessions with me in my office. However, phone, Skype and Zoom consultations ARE and WILL REMAIN AVAILABLE! 

 

(This blog was originally posted on July 13, 2016)

 

Photo by Rick Hustead

 

Definition of Hypnosis: “Hypnosis is created by an overload of message units disorganizing our inhibitory process (critical mind), triggering our fight/flight mechanism and ultimately resulting in a hyper-suggestible state, providing access to the subconscious mind.” – John G. Kappas, Ph.D., founder of the Hypnosis Motivation Institute

 

 

 Many various environmental factors can trigger a hyper-suggestible state of awareness and affect our behavior. Following is a list of various ways we can be (and have been) hypnotized by the environment.

 

Examples and Triggers of a Hyper-Suggestible State:

• Driving past your intersection, street, etc. because you are thinking about something else.

• Appointment with the doctor, investment broker, accountant, etc., law-enforcement officers, etc., any professional that is “out of your scope of expertise” and you tend to zone out listening to explanations, definitions, etc.

• Being glued to the television, etc. watching a police chase or incoming reports about a natural disaster, fire, overseas military activity, etc. not directly related to you, you just feel you “can’t turn away.” Also, continually watching on-line video of hostage executions, etc., for the same reason.

• Missing what someone said to you in a conversation because you were busy thinking about what you should say next or even something completely different.

• Popularity of Poke-Mon Go: more people walking, looking for the icons in the game. Authorities advising people to not play game while driving, do play on public transit

• The Internet: Surfing, commenting on Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/etc. Do you sometimes say/post something you wish you hadn’t because you were caught up in the moment?

• Reactions of the passengers on airlines on 9/11: Initially, they listened to and believed what the terrorists told them to do and believed they were on the way back to the airport, there would be a ransom and release, etc.

• Making purchases on-line, shopping sprees, etc., per encouragement of TV advertisements and in-store representatives

• Get so caught up watching the action in a movie/television series and become sad, enraged, happy, etc., about the action going on in the story. Did you cry when Jack Dawson died in Titanic? Spend all last summer worried/wondering about Jon Snow’s fate at the end of the fifth and sixth season of Game of Thrones?

• Panic buying/selling of stocks and investment volatility after world events or market corrections. Also, feeling pressured to buy into a “Once-in-a-Lifetime Deal!” that is obviously a marketing ploy to make a quick sale.

• Mob behavior/copy-cat crimes based on what was seen on-line, news, social media, etc. For example, "Flash Mobs" and copy-cat crimes that have been promoted or described on social media.

In tomorrow’s blog, I will provide some tips to help return/maintain a fully alert and aware state no matter what is going on around you.

 

 

Special Discount for First Responders

 25 percent discount off the first hypnotherapy session for all active/retired military personnel and first responders (police, fire-fighters, EMT/paramedics, ambulance personnel, emergency dispatchers, ER doctors, ER nurses) plus $10 off a la carte sessions!*

 

*This promotion may not be combined with any other offer. It is non-transferable and may not be exchanged for cash. Promotion ends on November 30, 2020,

 

 

Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. In July 2019 and in September 2020 she was voted the Best Hypnotherapist in Santa Clarita, California. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.

© 2020

 

 

Crisis Intervention

Photo by Rick Hustead

In a previous blog, I described the Cycle of Violence and some of the behaviors that characterize this phenomenon. As a certified hypnotherapist, I focus my practice on individuals who are striving to achieve vocational and avocational self-improvement goals (i.e., weight loss, smoking cessation, increase self-confidence, improve sports performance, etc.). Every so often a client comes in who has just experienced a traumatic event in his or her life or has even become a victim of violence. Today, I will explain how I work with a client who is caught in this or another kind of crisis.

First, a disclaimer: I do not see a new, first-time client who is in a crisis state because the person’s therapeutic issue may be out of my scope of professional expertise. If someone contacts me for hypnotherapy to deal with a previous or is already in a trauma state, he or she probably needs to work with a licensed medical or mental-health professional from the get-go. However, when I already have a relationship with the client as the person’s trusted hypnotherapist, it is logical that I see the individual right away to assess the situation. I am prepared to and will refer the individual for additional support described above, if necessary. In the meantime, I am certified to use hypnosis to help a person work through a crisis and handle an emergency.

First, “crisis” is described as a life-event in which a person’s normal ability to cope with what has happened is diminished or completely absent. When an individual is in crisis, the person enters a state of overload (natural hypnosis). My first task is to de-hypnotize the client so the person can start using his or her good judgment and return to a state of emotional homeostasis to deal with the conflict. I do this by using:

• Reflective listening: This client needs to be heard, so I let the person tell the story about what happened/caused so much distress. In addition to showing that someone is listening, talking about the incident helps to calm the person down.

• Ask constructive questions: I want the client to activate the constructive-thinking areas of the mind, so I encourage the person to tell me, “What do you think you need to do next?” During a crisis, people tend to feel immobilized or stuck because every area of their life seems to be bunched together. When the person is encouraged to focus on each component of the problem by chunking it down this way, it becomes easier to tackle one issue at a time. This strategy for also helps to increase the person’s self-confidence and self-esteem by knowing that he or she does possess the good-judgment and skills to resolve a problem, alone.

• Imagery and Visualization: Another effective problem-solving technique is to have the client imagine/visualize strategies that someone else could use or do in that situation: “What would you tell me to do if I were you?” Once again, the goal is to restore the client’s good judgment and good-reasoning skills. To do so, I encourage the person to fantasize or do hypnodrama to engage a light-trance state and imagine a different outcome of this crisis. I (the hypnotherapist) do not offer any advice; it is up to the client to consider, discover and make independent decisions about how to change the situation.

• Subconscious Resources: If a client is in crisis, I have the person focus on a different, occasion in which the individual successfully used strategies/abilities/attitudes to successfully get through that difficulty. When the client is in hypnosis, I use this list of these skills/positive attributes to create repertoire of coping skills the individual can successfully use to deal with the current crisis.

• Options. The most important thing is for this client to realize, know and understand that he or she has options for how to get out of the crisis or traumatic situation. Perhaps that means seeking protection at a refuge/crisis center, becoming more assertive, leaving an abusive relationship, etc. Whatever decision the person chooses is the right one, and he or she has what it takes to change the negative situation to a positive one.

Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.

© 2017

Unwitting Victims of Hyper-Suggestibility

Victims of Hyper-Suggestibility?

Just when I was starting to worry that I still had no idea what to write about for today’s blog, inspiration struck when I heard a news report about a very unusual prank that happened yesterday in Minneapolis. Apparently, someone called a Burger King restaurant under the guise of warning the workers that there was a dangerous gas leak that could blow up the building. The caller reportedly advised the manager that this disaster could be prevented by smashing all of the windows to ventilate the building and clear out the gas. Ultimately, the workers broke all of the windows as the caller instructed them to do. At least one person reportedly went along with this action out of fear and, significantly, because everyone else was doing it.

The hosts of a popular radio show I was listening to immediately started to crack up and even make jokes about the employees who fell for this prank. I, on the other hand, felt sorry and a little sad about what happened to these workers. After all, they took this drastic action in the belief that it was the correct and even heroic thing to do to save their place of employment. Answering a phone call in which the person at the other end of the line warns that you are at risk of being caught in a gas explosion would make most people nervous and hyper-suggestible.

Based on what I know about suggestibility and behavior, this is how the scenario played out in an employee’s subconscious mind:

·         The work environment in a fast-food restaurant is usually very busy. Even if there weren’t throngs of customers present when the call came in, the employees were probably still in a state of natural hypnosis. In addition to dealing with the public, the repetitive action of flipping burgers, packaging the meals and counting change (stimuli overload) would make anyone extremely suggestible.

·         In addition, the smell of food cooking might or even the time of day when the person “typically” eats could have triggered a hunger response in one or more of these individuals. As I wrote in my previous blog titled Nutrition and the Development of Phobias, low blood-sugar levels, which are associated with hunger can exacerbate or even cause a person’s presenting problem (behavior or belief). Hypnosis Motivation Institute founder John Kappas, Ph.D., reported that it is also common for a person to experience psychological symptoms such as depression, paranoia, irritability and memory problems when blood-sugar levels drop.

·         The three principles of hypnotic modalities also played a role in influencing the employees' reaction. First: The purported identity of the person on the phone was a posing as a firefighter (authority). Second: The potential validity of the warning of an impending explosion, unless the employees followed the caller’s instructions (the message). Third: The official-sounding voice and the terrifying content of this warning ultimately influenced (overload) how the employees responded to this threat. Most people trust firefighters: they rush into burning buildings to save lives, they rescue kittens stuck in high trees. The fallout from the 2010 gas explosion that took out an entire neighborhood in San Bruno, California, is still being felt in that community. So when a fireman contacts your place of business to help you avert a similar tragedy, wouldn’t you give him the benefit of the doubt? At least, at first?

·         Finally, the collective worry and panic that this threat would come true became its own destructive force. Have you have ever found yourself standing up and joining other fans do “the wave” at a sports event, without knowing why you’re doing it? Have ever wondered at the influence that one fussy toddler has, to be able to inspire just about every other baby in a room to join in the cacophony of screaming? Anxiety breeds anxiety, and when threat to life, limb and financial security are involved natural skepticism that would have otherwise prevented such an extreme reaction often goes out the window. In this instance, this metaphor became a reality.

Yes, logic, reasoning and good judgement probably would have made at least one of these employees question the veracity of this warning. But when you are working at a busy fast-food restaurant for minimum-wage pay and suddenly learn that your source of income—and you—could blow up “unless,” it’s a little easier to understand the employees’ reaction. Unfortunately, the collective hyper-suggestibility of these individuals also made them the brunt of two cruel jokes: that of the original prank caller(s) and the radio hosts.

Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.

© 2016