Hypnosis

Hypnosis is a state of awareness and in many cases it could be argued that it is also be a state of unawareness. Let me explain further.

Hypnosis is generally considered to bring with it almost a singular focus and in doing so it can be argued that if you have such a concentration of the mind, that the mind must be letting an awareness go of what it is not concentrating on. After all you can't have a focus and a general awareness at the same time.

Yet, when someone is in the lighter levels of hypnosis a better awareness can be experienced of what is happening in the environment of the person in hypnosis. For example, a client in hypnosis may be aware of the smell of smoke (and therefore a fire) long before the hypnotherapist, who is not in hypnosis, is aware of the smoke.

To contradict all this an oft used dictionary definition is that "hypnosis is a trance-like state that brings an increased focus and more awareness". This is interesting as a focus implies a narrowing of the attention and a concentration of a smaller part of something.

Of course it could also be that in focussing on something specific, that the awareness of that narrowed field brings a larger awareness of all that makes it up. Similar to looking at a small object (narrowing the attention) through a microscope which has the effect of enlarging (increasing the awareness) and what makes up the item under scrutiny.

So hypnosis then can bring an increased awareness of a focussed idea, memory, feeling or sensation.

For example in the ordinary everyday waking state a person may recall an experience from childhood (a memory). This memory in the waking state is purely remembered without any adverse reaction.

In hypnosis with it's ability to bring a focus and increased awareness, that same childhood memory might bring an enhanced memory with feelings and emotions similar to those that were experienced at the time. The person's reaction because of the enhanced recollection of feelings and emotions may provoke and entirely different reaction and often bring with it a necessary cathartic experience. This can show how powerful and useful hypnosis is.