Self-hypnosis can help you overcome difficult problems in all areas of your life.

Most of us learned all we knew about hypnosis through TV shows, in which we told people who were under the spell that they were chickens and were starting to crack up. what the hypnotist tells them to "sleep".

It is therefore not surprising that skepticism is safe and sound. But hypnotherapy is recognized as a talking therapy by the British Psychological Society and is considered a useful treatment for problems such as anxiety, addiction and even IBS.

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Lily Allen and Geri Horner turned to hypnotherapists for weight loss, while Kate Middleton reportedly used hypnobirthing techniques to relieve the pain of labor (maybe Meghan asked for advice, her birth plan being supposed to including).

And we can all use self-hypnosis to move forward – whether it's making a scary job presentation, meeting our gym goals, or being less stressed.

"The unconscious mind is incredibly powerful and by leveraging it, you can really surpass your goals," says Glenn Harrold, clinical hypnotherapist and author of De-Stress Your Life.

"One of the most common misconceptions is that people are being manipulated to commit zany acts. But self-hypnosis has nothing to do with it.

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The idea of ​​hypnotherapy is to induce a light trance, which means a state of relaxation, a bit like allowing our minds to roam or go into autopilot, then to make suggestions about how we would like to feel or behave by listening or reflecting mantras.

We think that we are more open to suggestion in this deeply relaxed "hypnotic" state.

"About 90% of our behavior is governed by the unconscious," says Fiona Nicolson, cognitive hypnotherapist, co-author of The Hypnotherapy Handbook.

"We all have a belief system about ourselves and the world around us that rests in our unconscious mind and drives our behavior. Sometimes it comes with negative ideas about ourselves, such as "I'm not good enough" or "I always fail."

Think of the brain as a computer – it is not the computer itself that is the problem, but rather software that contains bugs. This is what hypnotherapy aims to repair. "

Boost your mood

"The key to self-hypnosis is to stay simple, short and frequent – every day, if possible, for 10 minutes," says Fiona, who recommends following the following simple exercise when you want to feel less anxious or improve your mood. .

"Sit on a chair with your hands on your lap and think about what you want to feel. Then choose a memory of when you felt that, "she says. "For example, you may want to feel less stressed, so imagine a peaceful vacation with the sun on your face.

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Then take four deep breaths through the nose. This encourages the body to relax. Then start counting slowly from 10, and after each count, say, "I'm going further." When you fall at one o'clock, take a deep breath and, imagining the soothing memory, repeat yourself: "I I am safe, I am calm, for a few minutes. "

She advises him to say the words aloud, but if you're afraid of being surprised, it's good to do it in your head.

"Before you start, give a rating out of 10 to your stress, fatigue, or anxiety, then after exercise," she adds. "You should notice a difference (a decrease)."

This exercise can also be used to improve relationships. For example, if you have a short fuse, imagine that you react as you wish.

"When couples get angry at each other, the unconscious takes over," says Fiona. However, she advises that for deeper relationship problems, it may be helpful to seek the advice of a professional hypnotherapist because "there may be complex issues and patterns of behavior involved."

Work smarter

If you have a nerve-wracking presentation, it's natural to worry about how it's going or trying to avoid it. Instead, Glenn recommends using self-hypnosis to focus on the subject.

"Imagine yourself at the front of the room feeling confident and calm," he says. "Try to make the image as detailed as possible, think about what you'll see, even what you'll feel, like the meeting room coffee."

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In this context, self-hypnosis works as a powerful shortcut to develop skills in an area where you are not confident, explains Glenn.

"The mind does not always distinguish between what is real and what is imagined. Therefore, when you visualize it well and again, you start to be in a state of optimal performance. "

Likewise, before a job interview, try using self hypnosis for a week or two in advance. "I do it if I'm interviewed on TV or radio," he says.

"Get away in a quiet place for 10 to 20 minutes and lie down. After taking a few deep, relaxed breaths, visualize the entire interview process, from your energetic and confident departure to the handshake of the interviewer – even what looks like the chair in which you sit . With clients, I often repeat the following words: "You have control, you are confident, you appreciate the process".

"Another tip is to use an 'anchor' to remind yourself of that feeling. In your state of relaxation, pinch the back of your hand. Then, when you pinch it right before the interview, these feelings should come back to you. "

Super load your health

Hypnotherapy with a qualified professional can help treat all kinds of physical problems, from back pain to headaches, to insomnia.

A recent study in the Netherlands found that six hypnotherapy sessions were more effective for IBS than conventional supportive care, with over 40% of hypnotherapeutic patients reporting symptom relief, often for months.

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It is thought that this could change the mentality of patients and allow them to increase the control of intestinal activity.

Research also suggests that hypnotherapy could be helpful in losing weight. A study published in the journal Obesity last year found that dieters taught self-hypnosis techniques to use before eating were fuller than dieters who were not and had better quality of life.

In addition, those who practiced self-hypnosis tended to lose weight during the study.

According to Fiona, using self-hypnosis to help you achieve your health and fitness goals amounts to setting definable and achievable goals.

"It's not good to say," I'm going to run a marathon next month, "if you've never run before,"

she says. "Instead, it's about making daily changes. So it could be: "I'm going to eat less chocolate, or I'm going to walk every day and in six months, I'll feel better."

She recommends using her daily self-hypnosis technique, but repeating the words, "I'm healthy, I'm happy," while visualizing how you look and how your life will be different.

Glenn recommends self-hypnosis at bedtime so you also have trouble turning off at night. "What often keeps us awake is a busy mind," he says.
"Hypnosis relaxes the mind and the physical body." Closing the eyes and focusing on breathing can help, or try a hypnosis recording for sleep, such as Glenn's Relax & Sleep Well hypnosis app ( free, iTunes).

Try this instant stress reliever

"It's a technique I always teach my clients," says Fiona. "Breathe through the nose for seven counts, hold it for four, then get out through your nose for 11. Try to breathe through the belly, not through the chest. If you breathe deeper, you almost force yourself into a state of relaxation. "

Davina McCall admits to having seen the hypnotist prevent her from fainting blood a week before she is confronted by a man who had cut off her toes at A & E Live

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