WHAT IS HYPNOSIS (NSDR)?
I like to use the term non-sleep deep rest (NSDR) interchangeably with hypnosis in a clinical setting. Dr Andrew Huberman, (tenured associate professor in the department of neurobiology and psychiatry and behavioural sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine) describes NSDR is a method of deep relaxation which can help people achieve a state of focus and calmness through mental stillness and emotional balance. It is a type of rest obtained when the body is in a relaxed state, but the mind is still awake. It consists of slowing down the functioning of brain waves, as is the case during sleep, except that here you remain awake.
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During hypnosis or NSDR you are safe, completely in control, fully relaxed, and aware of what is going on around you. No one can hypnotise you against your will.
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Achieving it involves two stages: a state of self-induced rest, followed by a period of directed, intense focus.
Have you ever driven home and not remembered part of the journey, or been engrossed in a TV programme that you didn't hear your name ? If so, You were in a state of focused attention, not unlike the feeling of hypnosis. You were conscious and had not fallen asleep but your mind was ‘elsewhere’.
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NSDR mimics the same brainwave pattern of a 90 minute sleep cycle at night. Slower brainwave patterns activate the parasympathetic nervous system, your rest and digest system, putting you in a state of calm. Scientific studies on NSDR have shown that it can improve concentration, facilitate learning and help people relax deeply. It can also relieve anxiety and worry, and significantly reduce stress symptoms. Huberman notes in a conference that 20-minute NSDR sessions can help the brain learn faster and increase the retention time of information.
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In this relaxed state, your mind is more responsive to suggestions. This is when we consolidate memory and make changes. In the context of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy what we are consolidating is the talking therapy we’ve had prior to trance. The suggestions you will be open to are your own.
