Hypnosis--who's interested?

[Abra]

I've been working on a script for a lucid dreaming hypnosis file for a few months now. Unlike most existing LD hypnosis files, I don't just tell you "you will become lucid more and more." That's not effective hypnosis! Effective hypnosis gives you a means to achieve your goal (for instance, anti-smoking hypnosis doesn't tell you directly "don't smoke," but instead makes smoking seem less appealing, by saying things like "cigarettes taste like stale cotton to you," or by replacing the habit, "mint gum, on the other hand, satisfies your craving in a more calm, refreshing manner."). That said, you have to speak concretely. You can't always rely on abstract suggestions, like "realize you are dreaming," because your subconscious may not know what that means, or how to achieve it. So I have a different plan. My goal is to make reality checks a serious part of your schedule. You'll learn how to perform a good reality check, what you should be thinking when doing a reality check, and when to perform a reality check. I'll also be including a 'mind temple' induction method, which I plan to use in future files (lucidity of thought and dream control). Anyway, there are absolutely no submissive messages (a fatal flaw in many hypnosis files). So what's the catch? I have no microphone. As of now, the induction is text-based. I'm currently searching for a good (free/trial) text-to-voice translator. Who's interested?

[Thor]

Who's interested? Great initiative, Abra! I've been toying with similar ideas, so I'm definitely interested. (By the way, that approach to quitting smoking you mentioned isn't very optimal. It's far better to remove the motivation to smoke.)

[JET73L]

I'm interested. Since it's a text file, is there too much to post on here, so we know what sort of hypnosis messages they are?

[Denny22]

I'd be interested

[Licity]

Sounds interesting. I don't know of any effective free TTS programs, though.

[Pastulio_]

Count me in.

[Lucid Explorer]

I messed up my lucid dreaming abilities by experimenting with self-hypnosis...

[Thor]

I messed up my lucid dreaming abilities by experimenting with self-hypnosis... Interesting. How did it happen? What suggestions did you use?

[LobbyDonut]

Absolutely I'm interested. I have attempted to make my own hypnosis audio files before, but they haven't been particularly effective.

[iadr]

Great idea Abra, I've been using self-hynosis for a while, but just recently decided to try using it for lucid dreaming. Although I've only been able to enter a lucid dream one time by giving myself a count down with a suggestion that once I reached a certain number I would enter a lucid dream, I have been able to induce image streams several times using this method. While in a deep state of relaxation I give myself the suggestion that when I count down from 5 to 1 and then concentrate on the word Lucid, that I will begin seeing dream images from which I will be able to enter a lucid dream. Sometimes it works after I concentrate on the word Lucid a few times, while other times nothing at all happens. Probably just depends on how deep of state a person is in when they give themselves the suggestions.

[ChaybaChayba]

Sounds interesting. I don't know of any effective free TTS programs, though. How about HUMANS? LOL. Just ask someone with a mic to read to text. Anyway, great idea I'm interested!

[Lucid Explorer]

Interesting. How did it happen? What suggestions did you use? I blogged about it recently: Something completely puzzling has been happening to me over the last month and a half. Just as I was beginning to have lucid dreams on command, I noticed that my lucid dreaming abilities started to evaporate a few weeks ago. Within a week or so not only was I having very few (and very brief) lucid dreams, but I was also unable to induce them even with techniques that had never failed before! I was confused, but then I assumed that it was temporary, so I decided to relax, sit back, and see what happens. I fully expected to regain my lucid dreaming abilities within days. But three weeks later, I was still waiting! It had taken me approximately seven months to get to the point of having lucid dreams on command. It was hard to accept that I had undone something that I had worked so hard for, for months, in less than a week. I decided to review my dream journal to see if I could find some logical explanation, but I couldn't find anything. Then, it occurred to me that maybe, just maybe, it had something to do with the fact that I had started experimenting with self-hypnosis... Sure enough, when I compared the day I started my self-hypnosis sessions with the day I stopped having lucid dreams, it was a perfect match! So that was it, I stopped having lucid dreams the day after I began my self-hypnosis sessions. Needless to say, I was NOT using self-hypnosis to lose my lucid dreaming abilities, I was using it for a completely unrelated issue. Having said that, I need to clarify that in no way am I suggesting that self-hypnosis (or regular hypnosis) is a bad thing. What I am saying is that it's not a wise thing to do to jump into something unknown with both feet (duh!). This is exactly what I did with my short-lived self-hypnosis practice. I still believe that--done the right way--hypnosis can be a great tool for self-improvement. Anyway, I only used self-hypnosis for three weeks. The next time I want to experiment with it again, I will make sure I get some professional assistance. After weeks of whining (LOL), I have finally come to terms with the fact that I will have to start all over again. As a matter of fact, I have already done so. I am working my way up again. Through sheer perseverance, I'm also getting better at inducing WILDs.

[Thor]

Needless to say, I was NOT using self-hypnosis to lose my lucid dreaming abilities, I was using it for a completely unrelated issue. Ah. From your first post above I thought you were trying to get lucid using self-hypnosis and it backfired. But you used self-hypnosis for something completely different and stopped having lucid dreams. Well, I'm just speculating here, but when you are using self-hypnosis to accomplish some goal, your unconscious mind needs to put in a certain effort to effect the change. For this reason it's not a good idea to work on more than one goal at a time, because then that effort becomes diluted. So maybe what happened here was that your working on that goal with self-hypnosis sort of "used up" the mental resources that you needed for lucid dreaming? I'm not an expert, so please take this theory with a pinch of salt.

[Abra]

I've been reading up more and more on what techniques to use. I've been editing and re-editing, and there's a bit to go. I'm switching to an audio induction (will be TTS), and not text, since I've included a bit of visualization. The induction part is pretty solid now, and I'm fiddling with a lot of different ideas for suggestions. I'll probably use all of the ideas, because saying the same thing with different methods should be highly effective. @ChaybaChayba: A human voice is preferred, yes (though I listened to a monotone induction that was pretty good). If someone is willing to record, I'd give them the script as soon as I finish it.

[Lucid Explorer]

Ah. From your first post above I thought you were trying to get lucid using self-hypnosis and it backfired. But you used self-hypnosis for something completely different and stopped having lucid dreams. Well, I'm just speculating here, but when you are using self-hypnosis to accomplish some goal, your unconscious mind needs to put in a certain effort to effect the change. For this reason it's not a good idea to work on more than one goal at a time, because then that effort becomes diluted. So maybe what happened here was that your working on that goal with self-hypnosis sort of "used up" the mental resources that you needed for lucid dreaming? I'm not an expert, so please take this theory with a pinch of salt. Thank you for your input, Thor. Actually, the subconscious mind has an enormous (if not unlimited) capacity to handle as many issues as we can throw at it, it is the conscious mind that is very limited. I seem to have figured out what was interfering with my lucidity, but the quality of my lucid dreams is not the same as before. Oh well, I'll just have to work my way up again.

[Thor]

Actually, the subconscious mind has an enormous (if not unlimited) capacity to handle as many issues as we can throw at it, it is the conscious mind that is very limited. Do you have a credible source for this rather fantastic claim? I've read about a dozen books on hypnotism and self-hypnotism, and I've never heard it before. Quite to the contrary, most authors explicitly recommend that the suggestion load be kept to a minimum since the unconscious mind has a limited capacity for change. Some examples include Leslie M. LeCron: Self-Hypnotism Brian M. Alman and Peter Lambrou: Self Hypnosis

[Licity]

Any updates on this project? Got someone to read the script yet?

[Lucid Explorer]

Do you have a credible source for this rather fantastic claim? I've read about a dozen books on hypnotism and self-hypnotism, and I've never heard it before. Quite to the contrary, most authors explicitly recommend that the suggestion load be kept to a minimum since the unconscious mind has a limited capacity for change. Some examples include Leslie M. LeCron: Self-Hypnotism Brian M. Alman and Peter Lambrou: Self Hypnosis I wasn't suggesting that bombarding the subconscious mind with an unlimited amount of affirmations and/or suggestions was a good idea; I was simply repeating what I've been learning over the last few years; that the power of the subconscious mind is virtually unlimited. I understand that it is a supercomputer of mind-boggling power and capacity. The conscious mind on the other hand, can only handle a limited amount of information at a time. I am certainly no expert on the subject of hypnosis. The only time I experimented with it, I got in trouble! As for your request for "credible sources", here are some examples: "The Power of your Subconscious Mind" By Joseph Murphy "Think & Grow Rich" By Napoleon Hill "The Answer" By John Assaraf and Murray Smith Credible enough for ya? Sorry for the late reply.

[Thor]

I wasn't suggesting that bombarding the subconscious mind with an unlimited amount of affirmations and/or suggestions was a good idea; I was simply repeating what I've been learning over the last few years; that the power of the subconscious mind is virtually unlimited. I understand that it is a supercomputer of mind-boggling power and capacity. The conscious mind on the other hand, can only handle a limited amount of information at a time. Seriously, this is just hyperbole. What does "virtually unlimited power" mean in practical terms? If it were true, you could use as many suggestions as you wanted at any one time, but you can't. As for your request for "credible sources", here are some examples: "The Power of your Subconscious Mind" By Joseph Murphy "Think & Grow Rich" By Napoleon Hill "The Answer" By John Assaraf and Murray Smith These are some typical books from the prolific self-help industry. I've only read the first one. The fact that it is peppered with bible quotes should cause anyone's alarm bells to go off. Credible enough for ya? No. The books I cited were written by clinical psychologists with university degrees and decades worth of experience in hypnotherapy. As far as I can see that's not true for the authors of the books you cited. With regard to Joseph Murphy specifically, he was the "Minister-Director of the Church of Divine Science in Los Angeles" (more alarm bells going off).

[TalkingHead]

I've tried self-hypnosis before without too much success but your script sounds better. I even went to a real hypnotist once for a free consultation but I could tell she was not going to help. The stage hypnotists and the people that I've seen on youtube hypnotist people with a quick hand to the neck looks very powerful. I'd really like to have someone like that try LDing hypnosis on me.

[Lucid Explorer]

Seriously, this is just hyperbole. What does "virtually unlimited power" mean in practical terms? If it were true, you could use as many suggestions as you wanted at any one time, but you can't. These are some typical books from the prolific self-help industry. I've only read the first one. The fact that it is peppered with bible quotes should cause anyone's alarm bells to go off. No. The books I cited were written by clinical psychologists with university degrees and decades worth of experience in hypnotherapy. As far as I can see that's not true for the authors of the books you cited. With regard to Joseph Murphy specifically, he was the "Minister-Director of the Church of Divine Science in Los Angeles" (more alarm bells going off). I refuse to judge people based on their religious beliefs. Tolerance is a virtue that I treasure greatly. I didn't intend to make this topic into a debate. I couldn't care less about being right. I'm trying to dissolve my ego, not strengthen it. I will NOT read any future replies to this thread. All the best to you.

[The Enterer]

That seriously brings up an interesting question: does the subconscious mind multitask?

[Thor]

I refuse to judge people based on their religious beliefs. Tolerance is a virtue that I treasure greatly. I'm totally okay with people having religious beliefs. It's people presenting their religious beliefs and pseudoscientific misconceptions as facts I'm objecting to.

[IceMan]

Actually using self-hypnosis is an area I have done much research in. Sure I'm in.

[Sir Mark]

As a member of the Florida Society Of Clinical Hypnosis, let me tell you that the "quick hand to the neck" method of induction is pure hooey. Stage hypnotists and those wanting to make a name for themselves use a variety of "gimmicks", such as using plants who then model desired behavior, causing other participants to want to conform. They are good at picking out people who want to believe it works, but let me tell you from a professional point of view that effective hypnosis requires time and relaxation, something that is hard to achieve on stage. Plus, one can never be made to do things one doesn't wish to do in hypnosis. Those people up on stage want to perform. By the way, Abra, I'm interested in seeing your script as well.