subject: Are Free Hypnosis Downloads Helpful? [print this page] What is a hypnosis download? These are recordings that have been made by hypnotists or therapists that have usually been stored in MP3 format and can be downloaded from their website ready to be played on pocket mp3 players or iPods etc.
Whilst listening to a hypnosis mp3 recording you will become quite relaxed (you don't need to fall asleep or become 'hypnotised' for it to be effective) as you drift along through a phase of internal focus the narrator (who is often a professional hypnotist or therapist) tells stories or gives you suggestions about the changes that you are looking for in your life.
The theory behind how hypnosis CD's work is reasonably simple; if we are consciously trying to change ourselves and we can't, it stands to reason that our are actions are being generated unconsciously and no matter how hard we think about changing it is out of our grasp.
Through hypnosis the hypnotist relaxes the individual's conscious mind which seems to cause it to 'let its guard down' which allows access to the unconscious mind.
Once the unconscious mind has been accessed useful new suggestions can be offered that can break the old out of date responses that were currently being experienced.
Our subconscious or (other than conscious) mind is really connected to the old caveman side of us and is very animalistic in nature. It just wants us to be safe, to move towards things that are good for us and away from danger - and seems to use the strategies of a nine year old to keep us safe.
During our adult years many of the strategies we learnt as a child become out-dated and often quite restrictive, they were created within us when our lives were very different to keep us safe and now they just continue running.
By accessing the unconscious and delivering new information and examples of more appropriate responses through storytelling and metaphor the unconscious seems to say 'that's a bit like me. Perhaps I could do that too....' And change often follows.
The process is similar to teaching a small child new concepts, new points of view and proving to her that what she once thought was scary, is in fact only a shadow.
Occasionally some hypnotherapists will make some free hypnosis downloads available or you can expect to pay around 10 for a hypnotic mp3 download. Quality does vary, so, where possible see if you can listen to section of the audio prior to purchase.
So, are these hypnosis downloads worthwhile? Some are, but it depends a great deal on the skills of therapist and we will need to accept that these solutions will be quite general, as opposed to face to face therapy where you specific issues are explored. On the whole I'd say they certainly get you moving in the right direction.
