While reading this thread I began to wonder, can I hypnotize myself? If so, how?
Because hypnosis is a consensual, cooperative effort between a hypnotizer and hypnotizee, you cannot really hypnotize yourself. A hypnotist makes suggestions and leads the hypnotizee; the hypnotizee takes the suggestions and follows through with them. You need both for it to work.
Self-hypnosis is much closer to meditation than hypnosis. Hypnosis, after all, is simply a relaxation method-- it’s just one that works using suggestions from another person.
You can achieve the same relaxed effect by putting yourself in a quiet, comfortable place, such as a dark, quiet part of your home or school. Try to keep external distractions to a minimum-- turn off phones and TVs and get away from other people or things you know will interfere with your relaxing.
I had my students either pick a nonsensical syllable (“wen” was in the lesson plan, but I came up with others as “wen” sounds like “when” or “one”, which may have associations for people) or focus on their breathing. If you pick the syllable, you’re going to say it to yourself repeatedly. Don’t try to count the number of times you say the syllable, or the number of times you breathe. You want the syllable or breathing to act as a sort of white noise that keeps busy that part of your brain that’s constantly just dying to think about something. But you don’t want something too distracting. The point is to relax, so you want to keep your thoughts as calm and simple as possible.
Inevitably, things will pop into your head-- oh, gotta walk the dog later, gotta ask mom for money, etc. Despite the cliché meditation instruction to the contrary, there’s no way to truly clear your mind. If something pops into your mind, make note of it but deal with it later. Unless, like, the building you’re in is on fire.
Beyond that, it’s fairly simple. Sit in a comfortable position, and just focus on whatever you’ve decided upon. Don’t worry about your pace, or if you’re doing it the “right” way, because there is no right way. Let it flow in such a way that puts the least amount of stress on you. After all, that is the point of it-- to relax. (I know I keep repeating that… sorry… but people get nervous the first time they do this and have to be constantly reminded of that.)
How long you do this really depends on how much time you have and how much time you need, the latter moreso than the former. When I do this in class, I usually have only 10 minutes, which really isn’t enough. Preferably, your session should last about 20 minutes. The first few times you do this you might want to consider going only 5 or 10 minutes, so it doesn’t become boring to you. Gradually, you can increase your time.
Take it easy, take it slowly, and relax. That’s about all there is to it, really.
old trick -
imagine the Egyptian symbol for eternity (figure 8 on it’s side) on your forehead. visualize a dot tracing this form, co-ordinated with your breathing.
this is how I stop hiccups - give it a shot.