The Safety of Self-Hypnosis: Can I be harmed in anyway if I don’t know what I’m doing with self-hypnosis?

Alternative ways of helping and healing are becoming more popular every day. There are all-natural ways of treating symptoms and preventing illness using herbs, vitamins or alternative therapies. We all know that the use of prescription drugs can have serious side effects, especially if they are misused. We are also learning quickly that even a good thing such as an all-natural herb can be harmful if misused. So what about hypnotherapy and self-hypnosis? Can you cause yourself harm if you are inexperienced in using self-hypnosis? Many hypnotherapists have created programs to teach others how to use hypnosis to create very specific, personalized self-hypnosis therapies. Are these safe?

The answer in a nutshell is yes. While hypnotherapists are not regulated in their practice by government agencies they are licensed and monitored by their peers. This ensures that a well-established hypnotherapist belonging to associations comprised of other hypnotherapists and awarded and licensed by the same, know what they are doing and will not cause you any harm through their practices. In a like vein, you cannot be made to do anything during hypnosis that you are not willing to do while fully awake and conscious. You never are so far removed from a conscious state of mind that you cannot make decisions for yourself.

There have never been any cases reported where self-hypnosis caused harm to anyone. The same cannot be said of the misuse of supplements or even vitamins taken in toxic amounts. It certainly cannot be said of prescription drugs. There are however, cautions that need to be exercised when using self-hypnosis. For example, self-hypnosis practiced by listening to a recorded program should never be done while driving a car. You may think it would be great to multi-task and get your hypnotherapy on the ride to work, but hypnosis puts you into such a relaxed state, that your reflexes and overall alertness are diminished to the point it is not safe to drive. Self-hypnosis should only be practiced when you can safely relax. This not only makes it not dangerous, but much more effective since other distractions can be removed.

When using hypnosis or any other alternative therapy, it is important to advise your doctor of your intentions. While hypnosis is very powerful at employing the mind to activate physical healing, you should not go off of medications or stop engaging in the therapies recommended by your doctor without first discussing the matter. Many doctors are becoming more educated and accepting of alternative therapies such as hypnosis being used in conjunction with traditional medicine and will work with you to implement both.

Not only is self-hypnosis safe when practiced as advised here, but it can be very effective for willing participants at relieving pain and illness. It can help modify undesired behaviors and break bad habits. Hypnosis empowers the mind to create physical changes to relieve insomnia, boost the immune system, release the grip of tension headaches, and so much more. The health hazards of obesity and stress can be removed when hypnosis effectively helps you lose weight and learn to decompress regularly. There are no dangerous side effects or long-term dependencies, making hypnosis one of the safest and most effective therapies available to the general population.

Steve G. Jones, Clinical Hypnotherapist
http://www.betterlivingwithhypnosis.com/