by Stephanie Brail

Self hypnosis can be a potent, powerful tool for change, but what is it and how does it work?

I first learned about self hypnosis when I was studying hypnotherapy. Even though I was capable of hypnotizing others, I was still confused about self hypnosis. How on earth could someone put themselves into a trance state in the same way a professional hypnotist might?

Some of what I read about self hypnosis included complicated instructions on putting yourself into a trance and then making suggestions to yourself. Were you supposed to say the suggestions out loud? How could you make suggestions to yourself if you were hypnotized? It hardly seemed easy, much less relaxing, to me.