Those who are instructed in its use can relieve the symptoms or unwanted behaviour patterns which negative suggestion may have caused. Our subconscious mind often stubbornly prefers to cling on to known behaviours and symptoms even if they are negative and interfere with our peace of mind and quality of life. As far as it is concerned change is potentially scary. In order to make positive changes and become mentally fit you must be consciously aware of the need for change, be motivated to get better, and be prepared to devote the time and effort necessary for doing the mental relaxation exercises. We all know that getting your body into shape involves more than merely thinking about going to the gym.
Mental fitness calls for the same level of dedication.
It has been maintained that all hypnosis is essentially self-hypnosis. It is certainly impossible to be hypnotised by someone else unless you want or allow it to happen. Self-hypnosis is a way of safely bypassing the conscious mind and should only be practised on the advice of a professional therapist. But once you have learned how to hypnotise yourself, practice will enable you to put yourself in a 'trance' whenever you wish to, quickly and easily. Psychotic and severely mentally unstable people, however, should never attempt self-hypnosis.