'When the Doors to Perception are cleared Man will see things as they truly are, Infinite'
~ William Blake
Myths and Misconceptions
People are concerned that they will lose control in hypnosis. Regardless of how deeply people may go into hypnosis, however passive they may appear to be, they actually remain in full control and in fact are hyper aware. One is fully able to talk if they wish to and can choose to leave the room at any time. An individual will not do anything, under hypnosis, that goes against their moral judgement and ethical or religious beliefs. It is likely that the notion of a loss of control stems from most people's misconception of stage hypnosis, wherein participants are apparently made to perform all manner of (usually foolish) acts. However, the participation in a stage act is an entirely voluntary process, thus "permission" is already given to the hypnotist when the volunteer steps onto the stage.
Myth: Hypnosis is of the occult or supernatural
Fact: Hypnosis is a therapeutic tool. Whether on stage or in a therapeutic context, there is nothing 'supernatural' about hypnosis. A hypnotherapist is guiding one to enter a state they are very familiar with, as all hypnosis is self-hypnosis. A hypnotherapists purpose is to assist one to access more of their inner resources for healing, growth and self-development.
Myth: A person in hypnosis loses control over their action
Fact: All research has shown that while in a state of hypnosis a person cannot be made to do anything against their moral and ethical values. When in-trance, your subconscious mind always protects you from negative or harmful suggestions, and won’t allow any physical, mental or emotional harm. The mind will simply ignore suggestions that are not beneficial.
Myth: A person can be hypnotized against their will
Fact: Despite how it may appear in entertainment settings such as stage hypnosis, all hypnosis is really self-hypnosis. It takes a person’s own willingness to go into trance. In addition, they must consent to hypnosis before they can be induced to enter that state. An individual can simply choose not to follow the hypnotherapists guidance and remain in a waking conscious state. Even when in a deep hypnotic state the client can still resist or reject the hypnotherapists suggestions.
Myth: Hypnosis is a sleeping state
Fact: In the state of hypnosis you are allowing your mind to relax and let go of its control and critical faculty, allowing your subconscious to come to the forefront, yet you are not asleep or unconscious. In fact, hypnosis is a state of hyper-awareness, where one tunes deeply into the sounds and sensations of their surroundings, as well as re-call information they wouldn’t normally be able to re-call consciously. Regardless of how deeply you may go in hypnosis and however passive you may appear, you remain in full control over your faculties. Scientific instruments that measure brain waves and other bodily responses have shown that the hypnotic state is very different to being asleep.
Myth: Only some people can experience hypnosis
Fact: In truth, we all experience waking hypnosis every day. For example: have you ever been driving and the time seemed to go by really quickly, almost as if time had been distorted? The reason is driving is a subconscious process, especially when we’re on a familiar route, the tendency of our mind is to wander while we function on auto-pilot. The next thing you know, you’re at your destination. Thankfully, we snap out of this auto-pilot phenomenon very quickly in the face of danger.
Myth: There is a risk of not “waking up” from a deep hypnotic trance
Fact: Hypnosis is a state of focused attention, either inwardly or outwardly directed. In the entire history of hypnosis, there has never been a case of a person not re-emerging from the hypnotic state. An individual may enjoy the relaxation state so much that they want to remain in it. If that occurs, after a time one simply drifts off into a natural sleep and awakens later.
Myth: A person in hypnosis remembers nothing afterwards
Fact: In a deep state of hypnosis you are hyper-aware and can notice and remember things that you would not be able to on a conscious level. That said, the hypnotic experience is different for everyone. It is possible to experience spontaneous amnesia, so that when the subject is brought out of trance they may not consciously remember the entirety of the session; though subconsciously it’s all still there.
Myth: Mainstream health providers condemn hypnotherapy
Fact: Hypnosis has been plagued by misunderstanding and misinformation historically throughout western society. However, the benefits of hypnotherapy as a powerful therapeutic healing modality is becoming more recognized and accepted by the mainstream health and medical communities. As this method of healing is gaining more respect several extended medical plans are now covering this modality.
Myth: Hypnosis is of the occult or supernatural
Fact: Hypnosis is a therapeutic tool. Whether on stage or in a therapeutic context, there is nothing 'supernatural' about hypnosis. A hypnotherapist is guiding one to enter a state they are very familiar with, as all hypnosis is self-hypnosis. A hypnotherapists purpose is to assist one to access more of their inner resources for healing, growth and self-development.
Myth: A person in hypnosis loses control over their action
Fact: All research has shown that while in a state of hypnosis a person cannot be made to do anything against their moral and ethical values. When in-trance, your subconscious mind always protects you from negative or harmful suggestions, and won’t allow any physical, mental or emotional harm. The mind will simply ignore suggestions that are not beneficial.
Myth: A person can be hypnotized against their will
Fact: Despite how it may appear in entertainment settings such as stage hypnosis, all hypnosis is really self-hypnosis. It takes a person’s own willingness to go into trance. In addition, they must consent to hypnosis before they can be induced to enter that state. An individual can simply choose not to follow the hypnotherapists guidance and remain in a waking conscious state. Even when in a deep hypnotic state the client can still resist or reject the hypnotherapists suggestions.
Myth: Hypnosis is a sleeping state
Fact: In the state of hypnosis you are allowing your mind to relax and let go of its control and critical faculty, allowing your subconscious to come to the forefront, yet you are not asleep or unconscious. In fact, hypnosis is a state of hyper-awareness, where one tunes deeply into the sounds and sensations of their surroundings, as well as re-call information they wouldn’t normally be able to re-call consciously. Regardless of how deeply you may go in hypnosis and however passive you may appear, you remain in full control over your faculties. Scientific instruments that measure brain waves and other bodily responses have shown that the hypnotic state is very different to being asleep.
Myth: Only some people can experience hypnosis
Fact: In truth, we all experience waking hypnosis every day. For example: have you ever been driving and the time seemed to go by really quickly, almost as if time had been distorted? The reason is driving is a subconscious process, especially when we’re on a familiar route, the tendency of our mind is to wander while we function on auto-pilot. The next thing you know, you’re at your destination. Thankfully, we snap out of this auto-pilot phenomenon very quickly in the face of danger.
Myth: There is a risk of not “waking up” from a deep hypnotic trance
Fact: Hypnosis is a state of focused attention, either inwardly or outwardly directed. In the entire history of hypnosis, there has never been a case of a person not re-emerging from the hypnotic state. An individual may enjoy the relaxation state so much that they want to remain in it. If that occurs, after a time one simply drifts off into a natural sleep and awakens later.
Myth: A person in hypnosis remembers nothing afterwards
Fact: In a deep state of hypnosis you are hyper-aware and can notice and remember things that you would not be able to on a conscious level. That said, the hypnotic experience is different for everyone. It is possible to experience spontaneous amnesia, so that when the subject is brought out of trance they may not consciously remember the entirety of the session; though subconsciously it’s all still there.
Myth: Mainstream health providers condemn hypnotherapy
Fact: Hypnosis has been plagued by misunderstanding and misinformation historically throughout western society. However, the benefits of hypnotherapy as a powerful therapeutic healing modality is becoming more recognized and accepted by the mainstream health and medical communities. As this method of healing is gaining more respect several extended medical plans are now covering this modality.
If this resonates with you, I welcome your call (808) 635-0345
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