5 Hypnosis Myths Exploded

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OVER the years, hypnosis has picked up all sorts of weird associations from stage hypnotists, the media and superstition. This is a great shame, because in reality, hypnosis is your single most effective tool for change. Hypnosis is your birthright, and you should know how to use it so it doesn’t use you. Here we dispel the biggest hypnosis myths.

Hypnosis Myth 1) All hypnosis is the same

As with anything, hypnosis can be good, bad or indifferent. The most common is old-style authoritarian hypnosis of the type “You are getting sleepy, you are feeling confident”. Unsurprisingly, this sort of hypnosis doesn’t work well with many people. Good hypnosis uses subtle psychological principles and advanced communication patterns.

It’s like the difference between a football coach who thinks you’ll perform best if he yells at you, compared with the more elegant style of a great leader who knows that to get the best from his people, he needs to understand motivation, to cajole, encourage and reward.

Hypnosis Myth 2) Weak willed people who are easily hypnotized

Nothing could be further from the truth since a person needs to have strong powers of concentration in order to get hypnotized. Many people avoid getting hypnotized because they do not want to be termed as weak willed. It is also a fact that some people, especially those with good imaginations, are easier to hypnotize than others. So in short, the more intelligent, able to focus and creative you are, the better you will go into hypnosis.

Hypnosis Myth 3) Some people can’t be hypnotized

The only reason you can’t be hypnotized is if you are incapable of paying attention due to extremely low IQ or brain damage (or over consumption of alcohol or other substances). That’s not to say that every hypnotist can hypnotize you however. The more flexible the hypnotist, the more effective he/she will be with the largest number of people.

Hypnosis Myth 4) Hypnosis is something weird that other people do to you

If you couldn’t go into hypnosis, you wouldn’t be able to sleep, to learn, or get nervous through ‘negative self hypnosis’. (You know when you imagine things going wrong and it makes you feel anxious? Well that’s self hypnosis!)

Hypnosis is simply a deliberate utilization of the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) or dream state. We’re not giving people medication here – if it wasn’t a natural ability, hypnosis wouldn’t work!

There’s a saying in the hypnosis field that “all hypnosis is self hypnosis.”  And it’s completely true.  No hypnotist has power over you.  No hypnotist “puts” you into hypnosis.  A hypnotist, or hypnotherapist, is simply a guide, a facilitator, who has deeper knowledge and understanding of how the human mind goes into a trance or hypnotic state. Therefore they are able to help you go there intentionally.

Whether you’ve gone into hypnosis intentionally before or not, you’ve been in the brain wave state of hypnosis many times in your life. If you’ve ever driven a car and reached your destination with no memory of part of the drive, that is a hypnotic state.  We go through the brainwaves of hypnosis on our way to falling asleep and waking up, each and every day.

My favorite example is when you catch yourself just staring off into space.  Remember when you have done that in your life (or even try it now!).  You’ll notice that when you do that, your eyes are open, so you know you’re not asleep. And your body becomes very, very still. So much so that you just forget about it.  And you aren’t really thinking about anything at all.  Just staring. This is the closest spontaneously occurring similar state to hypnosis that I know, and I share that with all my clients in my private practice.  In fact, eye fixation as an induction to hypnosis is one of the oldest and still commonly practiced ways of helping someone reach a hypnotic state.

Hypnosis Myth 5) You lose control in hypnosis

Crazy news stories, stage hypnotists and gossip have created the illusion that you lose control in hypnosis. In fact, when hypnotized, you are relaxed and focused – and able to choose to get up and walk away at any time. You choose to give your attention to the hypnotist, and you can withdraw it at any time.

If you have been scared of hypnosis in the past, this article has hopefully convinced you to at least give it a try. But remember, ensure what you’re getting is the real thing. 

So if you are considering going to a hypnotist, don’t be nervous about the experience. Meet with the person who will be hypnotizing you before your session. Make sure that, even though this person is a stranger, you are comfortable with them, especially with their voice. I cannot stress how important it is that you find their voice soothing. You won’t get a lot out of your session if you find their voice annoying.

The ideal way to go is with a hypnosis mp3 download. It allows you to listen to a hypnosis session when it’s convenient for you in the comfort of your own home. Plus, you can listen to the session as many times as you want. For those on a tight budget, this is the best way to go.

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