People don’t need to stare at a swinging pocket watch to enter hypnosis – they’re already in hypnosis – Accidental Hypnosis – but they don’t realize it. It’s time to break the spell. Here’s what you need to know to take control.
People tend to view hypnosis as an altered state that only occurs during stage hypnosis or during a hypnotherapy session - and while it can happen that way, Accidental Hypnosis is actually far more common, says licensed counselor and clinical hypnotherapist Laura Temin - Director of Professional Hypnosis Institute.
Unlike therapeutic hypnosis, where the hypnotherapist helps the client to enter hypnosis and uses therapeutic suggestions to help the client break habits, reach goals or solve problems, Accidental Hypnosis naturally occurs whenever the mind slips into an intermediate state between being fully awake and falling asleep. If that state is misused, problems can occur. Both positive and negative experiences can lead to the state of Accidental Hypnosis - from being relaxed or zoning out to facing anxiety or trauma. But the state is even more powerful when a person is stressed, highly emotional, experiencing a trauma or just overloaded by life.
Regardless of cause, Accidental Hypnosis brings with it the same type of receptiveness to suggestion that therapeutic hypnosis does - and that’s where both opportunities and issues may arise. And that's why it's essential to understand the state and take charge of the mind.
“Problems occur when we don’t realize that we’re that in that easily influenced state, and we’re not monitoring what we let into in our minds, what we tell ourselves, and what we immerse ourselves in,” said Laura, during her recent Tedx talk.
Since the natural state of hypnosis routinely occurs early in the morning or right before bedtime, it often coincides with our self-talk as we review the days events. It also coincides with exposure to stimuli via social media, television, emails, or the evening or morning news - and many of those stimuli tend to be negative. Advertisers understand this and they take advantage of the laws of hypnosis, which are also the laws of learning, and they use this knowledge to sell products.
Being aware of the mind’s vulnerability when a person is in this easily influenced state of Accidental Hypnosis, is the first step towards preventing others and even oneself from negatively influencing the mind.
Creating positive, uplifting morning and evening rituals to use while in the state of hypnosis is great for self-improvement and for building new habits - and it can be as simple as reading or listening to positive inspirational speakers, or being intentional about what a person says to themself.
The main idea is to avoid focusing on problems and upsets and to be aware that the mind may tend to misinterpret events during the suggestible times. Focusing on specific goals, creating goal-oriented suggestions, and then repeating those suggestions during that natural state of hypnosis is ideal - and serves to help individuals make progress while reducing the risk of unnecessary exposure to harmful suggestions.
For individuals who have tried to break free of problems, perhaps, weight, anxiety, depression or relationship problems, but haven't been successful, despite their best attempts, it's likely that the problems were created by Accidental Hypnosis, which is why the problem hasn't resovled. For those individuals interested in escaping the trap of Accidental Hypnosis and protecting and mastering their mind, Laura Temin currently offers solutions - including webinars, workshops and individual services, to help people break the spell of Accidental Hypnosis. The free 15 minute consultation allows people to discuss their problem and gain insight. Her Break-Free Transformational System includes her proven 7-step process of recognizing Accidental Hypnosis and breaking the spell. This system provides fast transformational solutions for individuals. Laura Temin also trains coaches, counselors, addiction specialists, and other clinicians to help their own stuck clients who aren't getting the results they desire because neither the client nor the practitioner understand the influence of Accidental Hypnosis or how to treat it once recognized. This transformational breakthough system teaches coaches and clinicians the fastest, most effective way to address their clients problems, and give them the results they so desperately need.
Therapists, coaches, clinicians and other practitioners interested in the Break- Free Transformational System and step by step certification training may also contact Laura.
A licensed marriage and family therapist, professional counselor, TEDx speaker, and best-selling author, Laura Temin has more than two decades of experience helping clients achieve their goals by unlocking the potential of their minds. Her work is supported by a wide range of medical and mental health professionals, including brain health medical expert and pioneer Dr. Daniel Amen, leading integrative health physician Dr. Taz Bhatia and physicians from the Sleep Disorders Center at Wellstar Hospital System.
Following her 2022 book “Accidental Hypnosis: Exposing the Hidden Influences that Control Your Mind and Your Life”, Laura Temin continues to raise awareness of the importance of recognizing Accidental Hypnosis to solve long standing problems. Now featured in an April 2024 TEDx talk, her fresh perspective empowers individuals to be aware of the power of “Accidental Hypnosis” - and take practical steps to improve their lives.
This content is provided in partnership with Achievement Strategies, Inc and Laura Temin, and is intended for informational purposes only. The views, opinions, and advice expressed in this article are solely those of Achievement Strategies, Inc and Laura Temin, and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of any other individual, organization, or entity.
