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| Photo courtesy of Microsoft A trip to the grocery store is just one example of when you may experience environmental hypnosis. |
I
have always enjoyed grocery shopping. Perhaps that is because some of my
fondest childhood memories revolve around going to the local store with my
mother every Saturday to pick up next week’s food and other necessities for the
family. I have a “known” association of a familiar routine that’s relaxing and
even part adventure for me, and the implied reassurance that I will fulfill a
basic need to gather food while enjoying familial comfort during that trip. But
more recently, my trips to the grocery store have provided invaluable insights
into power of food and other domestic products to induce hyper-suggestibility
in shoppers (including myself). This is what I have noticed and some tips to help you resist temptation.
·
Overload of sensory stimuli. When you walk
into the store, you will likely be bombarded by a cornucopia of visual,
auditory and olfactory stimuli. You will see rows of neatly stacked cans and
bottles. Rings from mobile phones will compete with the cacophony of crying
children and loud-speaker requests for a “clean-up on aisle six.” Most grocery
stores sell fresh-baked bread, cakes and cookies, and even roasted chicken or
turkey to save harried shoppers the trouble of having to cook meals at home. This
sensory overload, combined with any stress or tension you are already carrying
around after a long day at work or negotiating through heavy traffic, can
easily push you into the (natural) trance of environmental hypnosis.
·
Free samples. Warehouse stores such as
Costco® and Sam’s Club® often offer free food samples to their customers, but
many grocery stores do this, too, especially on weekends. Don’t be fooled: this
isn’t a gesture of generosity but a marketing ploy to temp you to purchase this
item. If you are already stressed out after a long day at work or running
errands, the proffered food can seem like a life-raft on a rough sea. Since the
item being sampled is often loaded with sugars and carbohydrates, it affects
your blood-sugar level, which can increase your suggestibility.
·
Low blood-sugar effect. There is truth to
the popular warning about going grocery-shopping on an empty stomach. When we
are hungry, the level of glucose (sugar) in our blood drops. A sudden drop in
blood sugar can trigger physical symptoms such as shaking, light-headedness and
feeling tired. People can also experience psychological symptoms such as
depression, paranoia, irritability and memory problems. It can also induce a
state of hyper-suggestibility to various factors in the environment, warned
Hypnosis Motivation Institute founder John Kappas, Ph.D. In other words, you may
become more vulnerable to the in-store advertisements to “buy two, get one free”
or to pick up a package of the mesquite-flavored potato chips that you just
sampled.
·
Special discounts. Coupons and club-member
discounts are other hypnotic stimuli you may encounter when you go shopping. Who
doesn’t appreciate a discount, right? But these special discounts don’t
necessarily save you a lot of money unless you purchase a lot of products.
Furthermore, you may end up buying more of what you don’t want or don’t even
need in order to “earn” that discount.
To combat the pitfalls of grocery-shopping-induced hypnosis, make a list
of all the items you need and intend to purchase; be sure to bring it with you and follow it to the
letter. Eat a meal that includes some protein before you go out, or at least
have a snack that includes cheese or nuts (almonds or peanuts). I recommend
protein-rich foods because they will lower your level of suggestibility and
reduce mood swings that hunger (low blood-sugar level) can induce. Finally, if
you start to
feel overwhelmed or tempted to buy more than you intended to purchase, you are
likely drifting into a light state of trance (environmental hypnosis). Simply
say the following to yourself: “One, two, three, four, five, [Say your name]; eyes
open, wide awake.” These words will count you back up to a fully alert and
aware state.
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®, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/.
© 2014
