How to Hypnotize Yourself

Interested in learning how to hypnotize yourself? Perhaps your city doesn't have a professional hypnotherapist. Or maybe you'd like to experience the benefits of hypnosis without paying for office visits.

If this is the case, below are ways you can hypnotize yourself without breaking the bank. The first method is quick, easy, and costs just a little money. The second method is a little more difficult and a whole lot more time-consuming, but delightfully free. The time has never been better to learn how to hypnotize yourself in the privacy of your own home.

Method #1: Buy a Hypnosis CD.
Why? Because thanks to recent publicity about the benefits of hypnosis, many hypnotherapists now offer their hypnotisms in an audio format. Costs range anywhere from under ten dollars to as much as fifty dollars or higher. If you have a new-age type of store in your area, they should have at least a few options to choose from. Or, you could let your mouse do the shopping, via the Web.

Hypnosis and related CDs are easy to find on-line, or in person if you're lucky enough to live near a metaphysical-type store.

THE UPSIDE: It's relatively cheap and easy to purchase these CDs. Whether you want to use hypnosis to lose weight, stop smoking,, relax, or even explore the possibility of past lives, you'll find a wide variety of CDs available.

THE DOWNSIDE: You may have to try out several CDs before you find one that clicks for you personally. As with hypnotherapists, some hypnotherapy CDs are better than others, or perhaps simply more compatible with your own personal style.

A (MUSICAL) NOTE: Many times, these CDs tout the “benefit” of having music in the background. Sometimes, this is perfect, because soothing music can help encourage a hypnotic trance. Other times, this is less than perfect, because on occasion, music can actually disrupt the hypnotic trance. On that note, I seldom use music when I'm conducting a hypnotherapy session, thanks to this odd experience.

Method #2: Create and Read Your Own Hypnosis Script.
This method of learning how to hypnotize yourself is best for those who are serious about learning hypnosis. If you're up to the challenge, this can be a great way to not only hypnotize yourself, but trade hypnotherapy sessions with friends.

In contrast, if you're truly looking to hypnotize yourself (without involving a friend or partner), you would need to tape yourself reading the script, and play it back to yourself in a quiet, relaxed atmosphere.

THE UPSIDE: It's totally free, and you can customize your script to your own personal tastes. For example, if you find the thought of cool breezes to be especially relaxing, you can incorporate the suggestion of soothing, a cool breeze into the relaxation/induction portion of your hypnosos script. If, in contrast, you're a beach lover, you can encourage relaxation by suggesting that you feel warm sunlight washing across your body.

THE DOWNSIDE: Writing and performing your own script can be very time-consuming. Even for me, as a certified hypnotherapist and professional writer, it takes me hours to get a script just right. And this doesn't even include the time and energy needed to perform it, whether into a recording device or for a friend or client. You've got to perfect the proper speed, volume, and overall feel for optimum performance.


Bonus Method: Buy a Script, Then Read and Customize It Yourself
If you like the idea of conducting your own hynotherapy sessions, and you'd like to give them a personalized touch, you could always buy a book on hypnosis, making sure you purchase one with ready-made hypnosis scripts. That way, the writing portion is done, and you could focus on the actual aspect of perfecting how to hypnotize yourself.

You would then be ready to perfect the actual performance, or voice aspect -- whether by using a recording device to hypnotize yourself later, or by trading "performances" with a friend who's also interested in hypnosis.

A final note: If you have any concerns about how to hypnotize yourself, you might want to check out this page that discusses some common facts and misconceptions about hypnotherapy.