Hypnosis Myths and Misconceptions
Unfortunately, many misconceptions about hypnosis have led people to either be afraid to be hypnotized, believe hypnosis is fake, or think they cannot be hypnotized – even if they were!
Many people get their ideas about hypnosis from television, books, or Hollywood movies. While the plotlines make for fun stories, they are often inaccurate and have hurt a powerful therapeutic process that has helped millions.
Some people feel they are not in a trance if they don't fall asleep during hypnosis. Nothing could be further from the truth. Hypnosis is not sleep – it is a naturally occurring state and will often feel familiar to people. But because many times, people experiencing hypnosis are extremely relaxed, it may outwardly appear like sleep. One difference is – in a hypnotic state – you can think clearly.
While in hypnosis, your morals and ethics remain intact? In other words, you won't do or say anything against your will. You can reject or accept suggestions – it's your decision. You're the one in control. Scientific experiments have proven that, if someone gave you suggestions you disagreed with, you would simply reject them.
Some people fear they will be stuck in a trance. In fact, if someone hypnotized you and then decided to walk out of the room and not come back, or the Zoom meeting cut off while you were in the middle of a trance, you would simply continue to relax for a few moments and then choose to emerge when you felt like it. In hundreds of years of hypnosis, this has always been the case.
Hypnosis is not a "truth serum". People can lie while experiencing hypnosis. In hypnosis, the psychological "Law of Self-Preservation" is in effect. You can control what you choose to say. So, while in a hypnotic trance, you won't "spill the beans" or tell your secrets - if you don't want to.
Some people believe that in order to be hypnotized, you must have a weak mind. Nothing could be further from the truth because hypnosis is not a contest of willpower. A highly intelligent, strong-willed, imaginative person can make a great hypnotic subject. The bottom line is you need to "allow" yourself to be hypnotized, to get into a meditative theta brainwave state.
Many people think that in order to experience hypnosis, they must become unconscious. Like sleep, this is a common misconception about hypnosis.
In hypnosis, you are aware and can hear clearly, in fact, hypnosis is a state of increased awareness. In a trance state, theta brainwave state, your hearing may be sharper, you may feel subtler sensations, and your imagination and memory are enhanced.
Naturally occurring hypnosis:
Hypnosis is a natural state. We pass through hypnosis on our way to sleep and when we wake up each morning. Recent studies of ultradian rhythms, which are bio-rhythms that are less than one day long, conclude that every 90 to 120 minutes, we pass into a state physiologically identical to hypnosis. So when people ask; Can I be hypnotized? The answer is yes.
Here are some other times in which people experience hypnosis naturally. Being absorbed in a good book or movie is experiencing hypnosis. Driving on long trips on automatic pilot is known as highway hypnosis. Becoming bored or allowing your mind to drift away leads to hypnosis. Becoming extremely engaged in something and allowing your mind to focus means that you are experiencing hypnosis. Because of the rhythmic sounds and swaying, riding on the train or gently rocking boat is often a highly hypnotic experience.
Hypnosis is a state in which you can think clearly, and your imagination is active. It's a state where you could move if you wanted to or if there were an emergency but you would rather just remain delightfully relaxed. It's a state in which beneficial ideas can more quickly and easily gain access to the inner mind. And because we all experience trance each day, we can understand just how safe it is.
What Is Hypnosis?
We all have a conscious mind, which some people call either a subconscious or an unconscious mind. Hypnosis deals with your unconscious mind.
What Is Hypnosis?
We all have a conscious mind, which some people call either a subconscious or an unconscious mind. Hypnosis deals with your unconscious mind.
Your conscious mind is responsible for logical, analytical, and linear thinking.
Though our belief systems and behaviors reside in the subconscious mind, the conscious mind is responsible for guarding them. So, when someone tells you something you think is false, your conscious mind may reject the idea or suggestion.
Your subconscious mind is more symbolic and holistic in nature. Emotions are the domain of your subconscious mind, as are perceptions, habits, beliefs, and automatic bodily functions such as breathing and digestion.
Oftentimes we learn something consciously, then the subconscious mind takes over that learned behavior. So behaviors that we once learned step-by-step, like tying our shoes, are now second nature or automatic, unconscious behavior. These are things we've learned to do so well we don't have to think too much about them. Habits are another example of this automatic behavior.
And what about ideas that our conscious mind accepts? Once the conscious mind accepts an idea, it can be passed on to the subconscious mind. Once accepted by the subconscious mind, the mind behaves as if it is true. If the conscious mind is willing to play along, is not paying attention, is in shock, or is not yet fully formed (as in the case of a child) new ideas can establish themselves in the subconscious mind. This is why it is so important to be positive with children.
So, in order to get new ideas to be accepted by the subconscious mind, we must relax the conscious mind and communicate directly with the subconscious mind. If this idea is accepted by the subconscious mind, the whole mind is focused and tuned in to make that idea true.
Since the subconscious mind runs the body, our perceptions, and emotions, as well as habits, it can line up all those resources to make things happen. Deep in your mind, changes can take place that allows you to feel different emotions, have different habits, learn things quickly and respond with more thoroughly resourceful physiology.
In hypnosis, we temporarily relax the conscious mind and gain access to the powerful subconscious mind. In this beneficial, relaxed state, we can more easily get positive ideas across to the most powerful parts of our minds.
So one definition of hypnosis is this; Hypnosis is a temporary relaxing of the conscious mind allowing positive and beneficial ideas to become accepted by the inner mind. When these ideas are presented with sufficient skill and connected to an individual's motivations they become powerful permanent allies for healing, personal development, or habit control.
Some hypnosis scholars take the position that all hypnosis is self-hypnosis. In other words, the person hypnotizing you is merely your guide, showing you how to achieve hypnosis. Another way of putting this is – you must agree to be hypnotized. If you allow yourself to be hypnotized -do not question yourself if it is working or not working or think to yourself, I can't be hypnotized. You can be hypnotized. It's up to you. And it's easy – you just let go and relax.
What is Hypnosis like?
People describe the experience of hypnosis as highly pleasurable and often comment upon emerging that they feel like they've had a refreshing nap. You might feel any number of sensations while in a trance. Most people's muscles grow loose and relaxed. Many report pleasant feelings. Often the breathing grows deeper and slower as a result of increased relaxation. Feelings of warmth or tingling are common. Often people report an increased ability to visualize much like daydreaming. Some people's perception of time is altered – the trance state may seem much longer or shorter in duration than it actually is.
While some continue to listen to the words of the hypnotist, others report that the mind drifts away to some pleasant memory or imagined scene. Because the conscious mind may drift away, some report only a general sense of what was said in the trance- just like seeing a movie but not perfectly remembering every scene. Each individual's experience of trance is unique.
The Uses of Hypnosis
In the hands of a qualified and skilled person hypnosis can be a valuable ally for healing, self-improvement, pain management, habit control, and much, much more…
Both the American Medical Association and the British Medical Association approved hypnosis as a valid therapeutic modality in the late 1950s.
Though many people are familiar with the success of hypnosis in smoking cessation and weight loss, most are unaware of its powerful uses as an anesthetic and to speed healing.
Hypnosis has long been used to help people suffering from trauma and to overcome roadblocks originating from past experiences.
Hypnosis has been used by law enforcement to help witnesses increase recall. Hypnosis can be used to overcome anxieties, fear, and phobias.
Hypnosis is a powerful tool for performance enhancement and goal setting.
The hypnotic state is a great stress buster.
Every situation can benefit from having a powerful subconscious mind on your side.
If you have any questions about hypnosis, please contact me.
Mark