**7. Some general guidelines to apply active-alert hypnotic procedure**

There is no big difference between how the linguistic structure is applied in common, relaxed trances, as you may have seen in the approach we share with you, there are some "hypnotic language forms" [24] or "Milton Model" patterns [28, 29], such as analogical marks, interspersal, ambiguities (phonological and punctuation), or lack of a referential index, among others.

In addition, the use of posthypnotic suggestions is key to the construction of a good and effective hypnotic script, since you are looking for a "posthypnotic behavior" [30] integrated into the "normal" behavior of the person [5], and there are some suggestions for their usage [3]:

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dumbbells technique:

*Active-Alert Hypnosis to Achieve Personal, Professional, and Therapeutic Goals*

you [unavoidable fact], you will [suggestion]")

• Say them at different times and with depth in the trance session

• Express it in different language levels (such as metaphorical, explicit, or with

• Express them as a contingent suggestion (the standard form is "next time that

Unestahl [2] states that every time that a posthypnotic suggestion is triggered, a "posthypnotic trance" occurs, providing an opportunity for the person to elicit all the sensations and learning acquired in the hypnotic session and to bring them to a

There is a process in our brain called hippocampal offline replay that allows our memory to consolidate while in a sleep state. However, there is evidence suggesting that this process can occur in a special consciousness state (relaxed awake state) to bring back learned behaviors or sequences of thoughts in a shorter period of time [31, 32]. That process may be the one that will help us to consolidate and accomplish our most important goals through active-alert hypnosis, posthypnotic suggestions,

This did not happen with that half-baked goal of mine about "getting some new shoes" because that instruction was not specific enough to obtain the desired result. My hippocampus just replays "new shoes… new shoes" a lot, without any more details, and that is what I obtained in the end. A better hypnotic suggestion might

Active-alert hypnotic states could be an alternative in some cases where traditional, relaxed-state hypnosis may not be applied. This approach can be used as a tool to guide people to realize how hypnosis could be experienced on a daily basis and as an auto-hypnosis method, making use of posthypnotic trance states.

Reaching a goal requires people to think, to feel, and to act, both consciously and unconsciously. Both active-alert hypnosis and traditional relaxed-state hypnosis help to store goal-seeking information into the unconscious mind in order to encourage the person to reach his/her goals in a nonconscious manner. However, an advantage of active-alert hypnosis is that it seems to increase motivation and energy

According to our experience, this dumbbells technique is an excellent tool helping people to set and achieve their own goals, whatever they are: personal, professional, financial, and health-related ones. Also, in many cases it could produce a flow state characterized by a focused attention and full concentration, merging awareness and action, "freedom" from worries about failure, self-consciousness disappearing, distorted time sense, and auto-rewarding experiences [33]; this flow state leads the person to a higher motivation and energy, augmented self-efficiency

AAH could be very useful in high-performance athletes, as has been shown by Unestahl's research [30]. We have used the dumbbells technique, as a kind of AAH, in several cases of high-performance athletes and sport teams, from amateurs to professionals. The following is a report from a female cyclist who won gold medal in 2018 Pan-American games, who experienced this technique after a session of AAH

have been the following "buy a pair of new and *comfortable* shoes."

as well as increasing the probability of producing a state of flow.

perception, mind clarity, and self-control.

• Use distinctive nonverbal cues to indicate that suggestion's importance.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92197*

context where they will be useful.

and clearer goal setting.

**8. Conclusion**

ambiguity)

*Active-Alert Hypnosis to Achieve Personal, Professional, and Therapeutic Goals DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92197*


Unestahl [2] states that every time that a posthypnotic suggestion is triggered, a "posthypnotic trance" occurs, providing an opportunity for the person to elicit all the sensations and learning acquired in the hypnotic session and to bring them to a context where they will be useful.

There is a process in our brain called hippocampal offline replay that allows our memory to consolidate while in a sleep state. However, there is evidence suggesting that this process can occur in a special consciousness state (relaxed awake state) to bring back learned behaviors or sequences of thoughts in a shorter period of time [31, 32]. That process may be the one that will help us to consolidate and accomplish our most important goals through active-alert hypnosis, posthypnotic suggestions, and clearer goal setting.

This did not happen with that half-baked goal of mine about "getting some new shoes" because that instruction was not specific enough to obtain the desired result. My hippocampus just replays "new shoes… new shoes" a lot, without any more details, and that is what I obtained in the end. A better hypnotic suggestion might have been the following "buy a pair of new and *comfortable* shoes."
