Myths About Hypnosis - The Lies and The Truths

Hypnosis is a complicated concept. For therapist it can be used to help cure a psychological problem such as phobias and anxieties. Hypnotists are also working in clinical aspect to help people stop smoking and to cure weight problems. Then we have stage show hypnotists that put on a funny performance as they make a person from the audience go into a trance then proceed to have them do all sorts of weird and humorous things. With all the different forms and different reasons for using hypnosis, it was inevitable that people's lack of knowledge would create myths about hypnosis.

Myth #1- I will be unable to control what happens.

This is completely untrue with hypnosis. While you are in a deep trance like state of mind, your subconscious will not allow you to do anything that is out of character for you. Also you can stop a hypnosis session anytime you want to with or without the help of the hypnotist. While hypnotized you are in a sense just extremely relaxed but you are still in full control of when you allow your alert state of mind to take back over and end the session.

Myth #2- I will not remember anything from a hypnosis session.

This is also false with hypnosis. You will remember everything from the session because you are awake during this. Hypnosis is not a deep sleep just a deep state of relaxation. When hypnotized you will relax enough to keep your conscious mind from interfering with what you are trying to do with the subconscious mind. But your conscious mind is still present enough to allow for you to remember.

Myth #3- I can be hypnotized against my will.

A person can not be hypnotized against their will. To be hypnotized a person has to allow the hypnosis to take place. There is nothing that will put you in a trance against your will short of using drugs on you.

Myth #4- A Hypnotized person will confess secrets and tell the truth.

This is also a false myth about hypnosis. While a person may recall events they had forgotten, they will not tell anything they do not wish to. During a hypnosis session the person hypnotized is still in full control over their mind. The hypnotist is not the one in control. So therefore a person will not do anything they don't want to and this goes for telling secrets or confessing.

Myth #5- I can not be hypnotized.

Well this is true if you do not want to be hypnotized. Now if you want to be hypnotized then there are ways to help you over come what is holding you back. Once those issues are overcome then you too can be hypnotized. Fear of hypnosis and losing control is one of the main reasons a person has trouble being hypnotized. Once a person understand how hypnosis works and what it is and what it is not, then that person usually has no trouble being hypnotized.