Tag: myths of hypnosis

As we know, the media, entertainment, literature, and cultural spread of hypnosis is not as accurate as it should be.

Now, let’s find out some myths about hypnosis, some mysteries about hypnosis, and the science of hypnosis.

Common Hypnosis Myths Dispelled

The entertainment shows in Vegas and on television that show “regular” people in a so-called hypnotic trance clucking like chickens are really just a show. These people are not hypnotized.

There is so much misinformation out there about hypnosis that it is time to set the record straight and dispel some of the many common myths about this valuable treatment.

Myth #1: You lose complete control of your mind and body.

Not true. You will not lose control over what you do and say, as the fictionalized people on TV do.

Hypnosis is simply a more focused and heightened state of consciousness. You are actually more attuned to your surroundings.

You WILL NOT lose control over your personality, and you WILL maintain your integrity.

Myth #2: Your therapist will control you like a puppet.

False. Hypnosis is completely voluntary. The hypnotherapist simply uses the power of positive suggestion as the vehicle for change.

To cause change, the hypnotherapist uses suggestion to influence the subconscious mind.

Myth #3: You will forget everything that happens under hypnosis.

A majority of people who go under hypnosis remember everything that is said and done during the session.

In rare cases, people who are susceptible to deep hypnotic states will experience some level of lack of memory. However, this is rare.

Myth #4: You can be sent into a hypnotic trance against your will.

This couldn’t be farther from the truth. For hypnosis to work at all, you need to be a willing participant in allowing it to work.

The Mystery Unveiled: What Does it Feel Like?

Are you reluctant to try hypnosis for fear that you will lose control of yourself and that the hypnotist will get you to say or do things that you normally wouldn’t do?

Not to worry—that is only done for entertainment purposes, not in real, professional hypnotherapist offices.

Being hypnotized is like daydreaming.  You will be very aware of what is being said and done around you; however, you will be very relaxed and focused.

Usually, when going through hypnosis, you will be lying down on a comfortable couch and start relaxing. You will probably feel light, weightless, and calm.

You may not realize that you are hypnotized in the early stages of it, called pre-induction.

That is why it is very important to work with a trained professional who understands this early part of hypnosis and can use it as part of the overall treatment.

Hypnosis is completely safe! It is just an efficient, quick method for entering a deep, relaxed, natural state of mind and body.

There are no drugs involved, no unpleasant or unwanted side effects, and it is in no way addictive.

You just need a comfortable chair, couch, or bed, a willingness to relax and let go and a trained professional or professional recording to listen to.

You are always in control of yourself before, during, and after a hypnosis session.

If you are a particularly “good subject,” you may forget the experience afterward, but during the hypnosis session, you are always aware of what is happening!

You cannot be made to do or say anything that is against your moral or ethical codes, no matter what Hollywood may tell you in “The Manchurian Candidate”!

You will be able to hear everything that is being said to you and everything that is happening around you.

There are many people who actually become very sensitive to their environment.

Their five senses become heightened, and they are even more aware of the smallest details while in a trance. Of course, you go back to normal upon “wakening.”

The vast majority of people remember everything that was said to them by the therapist when the hypnosis session is over.

In fact, it’s a pretty good bet to say that everyone who reads this article will be in that group.

It is the job of a hypnotherapist to make you feel comfortable before, during, and after a session, so if, at any time, you feel uncomfortable with what the therapist is doing or saying, tell them to stop!

In order to get the most from any hypnosis session, you must be able to relate to the hypnotist or hypnotherapist and trust them.

For this reason, all reputable hypnosis professionals give a free consultation before you ever enter a trance state.

Seek out a hypnotist you feel comfortable with and who makes you feel that they can get the results that you are looking for – after all you are in charge!

Hypnosis is merely a tool. It is a highly effective method for producing inner change that is permanent.

Some religions forbid their followers to take part in anything that may cause them to lose control of their mental, emotional and conscious functions but believing that hypnosis or a hypnotist can do any of these things is just a misunderstanding of the process.

Hypnosis in no way interferes with your free will. You will not do anything that is against your ethics.

Under no circumstances will you ever do anything that is totally unacceptable to you or goes against your personal code of conduct.

Neither will you do anything that is against your moral code or that feels wrong to do.

If strutting around like a chicken would cause you serious embarrassment, then you just won’t do it!

There is no danger of becoming trapped in a trance state. This is another Hollywood myth designed for entertainment purposes and has absolutely no basis in fact.

The real fact is – you can terminate the hypnotic session at any time you wish, just by opening your eyes and stretching!

If a hypnotist, for any reason, were to leave you in a hypnotized state or a hypnotic recording stopped unexpectedly, you would either wake immediately or fall into a natural, light state of sleep and wake after a very short space of time, and this would only happen if you wanted to stay in the relaxed state!

The Science Behind Hypnosis

There is more to hypnosis than just self-induced hypnotic tapes or the receiving of suggestions from a hypnotist.

While these are both valid parts of hypnosis, there is more science behind the practice.

Brain waves are influential in the effectiveness of hypnosis. The brain has several states.  They are:

Beta: Waking state

Alpha: Focused concentration*

Theta: Deep meditation*

Delta: Dream state

When the brain is in the alpha or theta state, hypnosis is effective.

The mind is influenced by the delta and theta states. In this situation, the voice is a powerful tool. Hence, the hypnotherapist is invaluable here.

The subconscious mind can be seen as the connection between the nervous system and the conscious mind. This is why hypnosis is often used to unblock a memory.

How It Works

How does hypnotherapy work? A hypnotherapist will offer suggestions that the subconscious mind will accept.

Once these suggestions are accepted and implemented, the mind begins making different choices.

For example, for a patient who is trying to shed pounds, the hypnotist might suggest that food is not as appealing or tasty.

As your mind accepts the suggestions given when hypnotized, you will find that next time you are presented with a food that is not good for you, your subconscious mind will tell you it is unappealing.

Recent research has explored more information about how hypnosisworks and how it becomes an effective therapeutic tool.

Psychodynamic Theory & Philosophy

The theory of psychodynamics focuses on people and their relationships with their surroundings and the rest of the environment.

It is believed that the majority of your world can be influenced by your mind.

The brain takes cues and suggestions as subliminal communication, and when using scientifically proven concepts, change can occur rather quickly.

The change is often quite effective and long-lasting.  Overall, the psychodynamic theory of hypnosis tells us that when offered suggestions, the subconscious mind can make positive changes.

Types of Hypnotic Induction

How do you get into a hypnotic state? Trained professional hypnotists use several different methods to induce hypnosis. They are:

1. Fixed gaze – eye fixation

2. Imagery – progressive relaxation

3. Mental confusion

4. Mental misdirection

5. Loss of equilibrium

6. Nervous system shock

The Difference Between Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy is the clinical term used to describe treatment with a trained professional hypnotist.

This is typically used to treat a specific problem, such as shyness, smoking cessation, or weight loss.

Hypnotherapy is usually done in a practice office with deliberate planning and treatment.

Often, hypnosis is done in conjunction with other treatments to solve a person’s problem.

Hypnosis is the looser term for the same thing. However, it usually involves non-scientific treatment.

This can include self-hypnosis at home and hypnosis for entertainment purposes.

How to Use Hypnosis to Your Advantage

If your life is not what you would like it to be, perhaps hypnosis can help.

It is especially helpful if you are doing things that you do not want to do (so the subconscious is ruling over the conscious mind).

For example, issues such as smoking and eating disorders.

Self-hypnosis can be used as a tool when attempting to improve yourself. Its main function is to help you be more patient while working on your self-improvement efforts.

In order for self-hypnosis to work, you must first identify the real source of the problem.

Once this is identified, you will need to truly believe that hypnosis can and will work for you.

To make lasting positive changes in your life, you need to identify the root of the problem. Once the source has been found, you can fix it.

For example, if your problem is overeating, it is highly likely that the root of the problem actually has little to do with the food itself; rather, it is something emotional.

Therefore, the goal of hypnosis should be to find the emotional issue that is causing you to eat.

Once found, you can address it head-on. Hypnosis will not work if you are trying to fix symptoms instead of the real reason for the problem.

Perhaps your issues involve “passive dysfunction.” Passive dysfunction is like a mental block and is when the subconscious gets in the way of change.

Using hypnosis to uncover the real reason for the problem will help you and your hypnotherapist create suggestions that will eradicate the issue.

In discovering your subconscious, ask yourself probing questions that involve the who, what, when, where, and why.

Here are a few sample questions:

1. Who is associated with the problem?

2. Is there a location trigger that could be associated with the source of the problem?

3. When did the problem first start in your life?

4. What, in particular, sparks the behavior?

5. Why this behavior?

The answers to these questions can provide valuable insight into your dysfunction and will be helpful when working on your problem using hypnosis.

What Are the Types of Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is broken down into three categories:

1. The most common type of hypnosis is unconscious hypnosis. Most professionals like to use the term “self-suggestion” instead because hypnosis is simply suggestions being made to the subconscious. Before unconscious hypnosis will work, the individual must believe that it will work. This positive thinking and the belief that something WILL happen can make it possible.

2. The second type of hypnosis is conscious hypnosis.  To change your life and the way you live it, you must be aware that change is required.

3. Lastly, there is self-hypnosis. You can use self-guided audio tapes or books to help you hypnotize yourself. Of course, as previously discussed, no one can be hypnotized unless they want to be, which is also true with self-hypnosis.

The image of hypnosis has been abused for entertainment purposes for a long time, which has damaged the reputation of a reliable and helpful tool.

Once the stigma of hypnosis has gone away, the true benefit will come into view.

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