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Everyday Hypnosis and Ultradian Rhythms
Have you ever driven a familiar route to find that on arrival at
your destination you have little or no recollection of your journey?
That's hypnosis and hypnotic amnesia!
Do you ever ‘lose yourself' in the bath or ‘switch off' whilst listening
to music? That's hypnosis and hypnotic dissociation!
Some people go into trance whilst exercising at the gym, jogging
long distances or dancing the night away. That's hypnosis and hypnotic
pain control and time distortion!
Hypnosis is present in any activity when time seems to ‘fly'.
This may not sound like the sort of hypnosis you’re used to reading
about!
However, if hypnosis is to be recognised for the incredibly powerful
and useful tool that it is, we need to understand how normal it
is. For too long, misunderstanding has led to hypnosis being ‘side-lined'
It is time that we all understood just how normal hypnosis is, and
just how powerful it can be as a tool for change.
Ultradian rhythms and the natural ‘trance cycle'
You may have heard of the ‘Circadian rhythm' the daily bodily cycle
that regulates our ‘awakeness' during the day and night. The Circadian
rhythm is the reason that we feel like getting up in the morning
(hopefully !) and what causes us to feel sleepy at bed time.
Another type of bodily rhythm is the ‘Ultradian' rhythm. Whereas
the circadian rhythm occurs once a day, ultradian rhythms happen
more than once. One ultradian rhythm has been shown to moderate
the ‘hemispheric dominance' within the brain.
Although the exact function and interplay of the 2 hemispheres is
as yet unknown, we do know that the left hemisphere is more specialised
for linear, logical thought and communication, and the right is
more active when we are relaxed, dreaming and in hypnosis.
If not too stressed, you will have, after getting out of bed in
the morning, around 90 to 120 minutes more focused attention followed
by a 20 minute period of lesser focus. This is often experienced
as difficulty concentrating.
During this 20 minute period you are more likely to feel sleepy
or ‘day dreamy' This is often the time that people take a break,
grab a coffee or smoke a cigarette as a way to try and cheat this
natural break.
However, since it has been shown that taking advantage of this natural
rhythm has profound physical and mental health benefits, it is a
better idea to do what your brain is asking you to do - Relax!
Hence the creation of ‘power naps' and their adoption by progressive
companies. Unsurprisingly, in workplaces where regular breaks are
encouraged, productivity increases and rates of sickness drop.
Being able to use self hypnosis at these times is a highly efficient
way of relaxing quickly and deeply and maximizing the benefit to
your body and mind.
For more on relaxation techniques.
Next, How to Use Hypnosis
Back to Hypnosis and hypnotherapy Articles
