Self-Hypnosis For Dummies (For Dummies (Lifestyles Paperback)) [Paperback]

If you are new to self-hypnosis then this is a good start. As will all 'Dummies' books there is a very good foundation for this subject area. All bases are covered from preparing yourself for learning how to go into self-hypnotic trance and working through the rudiments of achieving your goals and removing problems such as lack of self confidence, anxiety, pain, smoking, weight issues etc. Mike Bryant and Peter Mabbutt are experienced Hypnotherapists in the UK and US and their combined knowledge works well in this book. The accompanying CD helps you go into a self-hypnotic trance, achieve deep relaxation and work on issues as confidence, weight control, smoking, anxiety, insomnia and unconscious self-hypnosis. It is stressed that health issues, both mental and physical, should be treated by a doctor before embarking on self-hypnosis. I think it is a pretty comprehensive book, in that it does cover all the issues and how to ready yourself for these life changes.

I would recommend it as a good opening to self-hypnosis. I am experienced in this subject area and have discovered the benefits of this life tool, so I am aware of requirements as regards literature to introduce anyone to this therapy. This book is a mine of information and full of advice and tips.

It is a well respected aphorism in hypnotherapy circles that 'all hypnosis is self-hypnosis'. This being the case any well founded study of hypnotherapy should begin with the practice of self-hypnotic skills. This book is an ideal manual to help the student hypnotist gain practice in this technique; while those seeking relief from a wide range of problems such as: anxiety, reactive depression, eating problems and weight control, changing habits and improving performance in many areas, will find the method explained in an expert and easy to understand manner. I really liked the informal style, which presents a good balance between the psychological knowledge required for a working understanding and the positive energy needed for encouraging self-improvement. The CD that accompanies the book covers a variety of beneficial self-change projects which would be worth the price for itself alone! A good companion to their first book, 'Hypnotherapy for Dummies'.

There is a clear risk that people might buy this book in the belief that it will somehow enable them to replicate stage hypnotism. It definitely will not do that. The H word has an indelible public association with people walking zombie-like across a stage with their arms outstretched. That association is tackled head-on by the book's authors, but I guess they could not resist the power of the word for their title.

Essentially, the book is a self-help guide for controlling your own mental state. Because many of the personal problems that can afflict people, smoking, booze, anxiety etc, only exist in the mind, it does follow that a little understanding of the way your mind is working can help address them.

The book begins with techniques for inducing a trance state, but again, not the trances of a stage hypnotist. When I was a little boy I often used to drift away whilst gazing into the fire, and my mother would say I was in a trance. It is precisely that totally relaxed condition that the authors mean by a trance, and the methods they describe do work. From there they move on to addressing specific issues such as pain control and many others, but I cannot honestly claim to have read through all of those, just as I have not used the included CD.

Reading through it, I realised that most of the advice was actually quite familiar. It is absolutely the language of every self-help guru, and most people will have come across it in magazine articles, on courses, or just as everyday common-sense. As one example, you will be familiar with the calming effect of simply stopping whatever you are doing, and taking a few deep breaths. The way that is described in the book makes it more effective, and of course there is much more. It is all pulled together in a structured and easily-understood way, so I do recommend the book.

Let me give a final caution, as they say in the commercials for anti-smoking products, willpower is required to succesfully tackle personal issues. The book will not give you any magic buttons to push, but I am certain that anyone who even reads the first few chapters will find much that will help them.

I intitially rated the book as four-star, but have revisited because that was unfair. The price makes it worthwhile if you only find one useful tip in it, and I think you'll find much more.