Understanding Resistance to Hypnosis

Evidence continues to accumulate supporting the effectiveness of hypnosis for a variety of conditions. For example, hypnosis can be a highly effective tool for pain control, fibromyalgia symptoms may improve with hypnotherapy, and hypnosis appears to be of some benefit in weight loss. However, many people are hesitant to try to hypnosis because, for one reason or another, they assume they cannot be hypnotized.

The truth is that everyone is hypnotizable. This is because trance is a naturally occurring state in human beings. The trance state is simply an altered state of consciousness. Many people actually go in and out of trance through out the day without even realizing it. If you've ever been driving down the highway when you "come to" and find that you passed your exit miles ago, then you've experienced the trance state. If you've ever been watching a movie on the television, all cozy and comfortable, and then realize you must have "wandered off" because you can't recall the last few minutes of the movie, then you've been in a trance state.

When an individual is in a trance they are able to access psychological and physiological abilities with greater ease because the unconscious mind itself is more accessible. This is where hypnosis comes in to play. Hypnosis is not some esoteric means of mind control. Hypnosis is simply a tool used to assist an individual to enter a trance state with greater ease. The process of hypnosis, and suggestions given during a hypnosis session, allows one to make the best use of a trance state by controlling when it occurs and what messages are communicated to the unconscious mind at that time.

People who say, "I'm not hypnotizable" often have resistance to hypnosis, for one reason or another, which they may not even be aware of. Some common reasons for an individual to be resistant to hypnosis include:

-Belief in myths or misconceptions about hypnosis that result in fear of hypnosis

-An uncomfortable relationship with the hypnotherapist or lack of trust in him or her

-A dislike of authority and desire to defy what is misconstrued as the "authority" of the hypnotist

-Inadequate understanding of what hypnotic induction and trance are

-Difficulty concentrating, due to incessant inner dialogue, physical discomfort and/or a noisy, hot, cold, or otherwise distracting environment.

There may be other reasons someone is resistant to hypnosis. The individual could have had negative past experiences associated with the hypnotic trance state, such as undergoing general anesthesia for an operation or a near-death experience. Some people may be receiving secondary gain from the problem they would like to address via hypnosis. This secondary gain can be things such as attention and sympathy, avoiding work they dislike, or settlement money from a lawsuit. Additionally, some individuals may simply not be ready to explore their problem or move forward in the healing process.

All individuals truly are hypnotizable. However, some individuals may need to explore their resistance to hypnosis and resolve this resistance before they can fully utilize the fascinating experience of the trance state.

Source:
9^th Annual Clinical Hypnosis Workshop for Healthcare Professionals: Expanding Possibilities for Healing.