There are tons of misinformation and myths about hypnosis and hypnotic trance states. You can find a lot of them on the internet.
Most of the skeptics in the field are there because of false information in the media. Who could forget some versions of hypnosis made famous by stage acts, TV, and movies? So, What are the myths and misconceptions surrounding hypnosis?
Some people think that the word “hypnosis” sounds bad, so they use words like “active meditation” and “creative visualization” instead. Because of this, it is important to know what hypnosis is not.
- Even though hypnosis has become more widely known and accepted over the years, there’s still a lot of fear surrounding the term hypnosis.
- No one can hypnotize without your will and desire. Yet as we know, some people are concerned that hypnotic suggestions would make them behave or feel like robots—that they will turn into the hypnotist’s helpless puppet. However, they are capable of resisting any hypnotic suggestion.
- There are numerous ways to reach this hypnotic state. And although they might not be aware of it, most individuals often experience it.
- However, reducing stress before hypnosis may have additional advantages, such as improved deep theta brain wave activity and an increase in the use of acceptance affirmations. It will be simpler for you to enter a hypnotic trance.
So many people have wrong ideas about what hypnosis is, what it does, and why it does. These ideas can cause fear or false hopes if they aren’t corrected.
To show this, one day after I had done a TV interview, the show’s producer and I started talking about hypnosis. She asked with a smirk, “If hypnosis can really help people stop alcohol addiction or lose weight, why aren’t all of you hypnotists millionaires?”
My first thought was that the question was rude. After all, she was questioning the validity of my chosen job. It’s an unfair question. Why I’m thinking like this?
One could also ask why all doctors don’t live in mansions or why all runners don’t win gold medals.
But instead of getting defensive, I changed the subject to give her this answer: The main reason is that many people are afraid of hypnosis and don’t want to see a hypnotist.
But their worries are based on false information.
Let’s talk about the most common myths about hypnosis and put the truth in its place.
Instant Self-Hypnosis And Trance Without Your Will
Myth 1: Hypnosis is a way to control your mind. The truth is that you are always in charge of yourself when you are under hypnosis.
You can accept or turn down any suggestion that is made to you. Hypnosis doesn’t make you act like a robot or a machine. It’s not true that you give up your will to the hypnotist. In fact, for hypnosis to work, you have to be willing to take part.
Your subconscious mind will be more receptive to suggestibility through hypnosis sessions. Your brain waves will be theta waves, and hypnosis sessions will be more effective during theta sessions. Yet, you are in an altered, relaxed state in which you are aware of what is happening.
Can people do silly things while under hypnosis?
No, a hypnotherapist can’t force someone into doing anything against their free will if its, its called manipulation or brain washing. However, Volunteers from the crowd are “voluntary participants” who understand the nature of such performances and are aware that they will be entertaining the audience by doing things that are humorous. Stage hypnotists will request volunteers from the audience to go up on stage with them.
Myth 2: Hypnosis is the same as sleeping. The truth is that you are fully awake during hypnosis. During traditional hypnosis, when the eyes are closed, and the body is still, it may look like the person is asleep.
- According to Hypnoterepist ERIC Kand, Your subconscious mind will be less receptive to suggestions for changes if you fall asleep throughout hypnotherapy. (source) Because you might miss out on some of the session’s advantages.
- Sleep is not trance, so hypnosis does not make the same as falling asleep. A person stays awake, but their attention is focused in a way that may make them seem hypnotized or in a trance.
- According to neuroimaging studies, sleep has been linked to certain patterns of brain activity, and they have not been established for hypnosis.
Some people fall asleep by accident during a session, but when that happens, they no longer take in the hypnotic suggestions and won’t get much out of the hypnosis. The idea that hypnosis is sleep is often spread by the hypnotist using the words sleep or sleepy during the process.
For example, “You are getting very sleepy.” When a hypnotist uses these kinds of words, he or she isn’t trying to put the subject to sleep. Instead, they are trying to make the subject think about deep relaxation, which comes before sleep.
Is it possible never “wake up.” while in this hypnotic trance condition?
No, but you might have been in a longer state while hypnosis. Why? because hypnosis is a condition in which one is relaxed and rested, the client may sometimes be hesitant to leave this pleasant state and return to full awareness. However, it won’t be permanent.
Myth 3: Hypnosis can make people forget things. People who don’t know much about hypnosis have been led to believe that they won’t remember what happened during the session when they come out of it. Even though this is possible, it doesn’t happen very often.
During hypnosis, most people remember everything that was said to them. This idea is kept alive by stage shows in which people say they don’t remember what they did while under hypnosis. Most of the time, people say these things to protect their pride.
Most people on stage don’t go deep enough into hypnosis for posthypnotic amnesia to happen.
The stage hypnotist is counting on people’s common misconceptions about hypnosis to make people feel amazed and amazed, all for entertainment’s sake. And the participants keep this lie going by acting like they don’t remember what they did on stage.
Myth 4: Hypnosis is a practice of the supernatural. Hypnosis isn’t magic or fantastic spiritual things. Hypnosis is not a part of the occult or the New Age movement.
As we’ve already said, the American Medical Association has known for decades that hypnosis is a therapeutic tool that can be used for a wide range of purposes. Hypnosis has been used for spiritual purposes, but there is nothing “spiritual” or “spooky” about it. Being hypnotized is a natural and relaxing process.
What is hypnosis, And How does Hypnosis Works?
If you ask 200 hypnotherapists to explain what hypnosis is, you are likely to get more than 200 answers. The truth is that everyone has a different idea of what hypnosis is.
For example, I belong to a forum of hypnotherapists from all over the world, and we always argue about what hypnosis is and isn’t. Many definitions of hypnosis focus on how it is done rather than what it is.
What is the science behind hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a state of narrowed attention where people are much more open to suggestions. Some populations have less valuable hypnosis and become hypnotized; some people have more. It depends on the people. Hypnosis and hypnotherapy can also have placebo-effect some individuals.
This state can be reached in many different ways, and it can be used to make suggestions to the inner mind (also called the subconscious) that can have short-term or long-term effects. It’s important to know that hypnosis doesn’t make people change. Instead, it puts them in a state that makes it easy for them to change.
Hypnotherapy is more than just hypnosis because it is used to help people. When people are more open to suggestions, positive ideas, values, and images can be put in their minds to make them change in a good way. The stage hypnotist’s suggestions are meant to only last for the length of the act, but the clinical hypnotherapist’s suggestions are meant to stay with the person even after the hypnosis is over.
Can hypnosis be permanent?
Hypnosis’ primary goal is to rewire one’s brain, but hypnosis cannot last forever if it’s not repetation. For a long-term and permanent change, we need reputation till becomes reprograms the brain. The human brain must change the patterns of its brain waves and the activities it performs; in some populations, hypnosis may have a lasting effect; in others, this may not be the case. Even some people can have more resistance to hypnosis.
When you go into a hypnotic trance, what happens in your brain?
Parasympathetic activation and repair happen, and your brain enters a trance-like condition in which peripheral awareness is decreased, and concentration is enhanced. According to recent research that looked at the brain’s functioning, your brain waves changes, and an area of the brain called the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex becomes less active.
Is hypnosis safe?
It is generally accepted that hypnosis sessions led by experienced therapists or other medical professionals are safe and effective forms of treatment. BUT It is possible that a person experiencing psychotic symptoms like hallucinations and delusions, as well as someone under the influence of alcohol or narcotics, should not undergo hypnosis.
The Use of Hypnotherapy and Meditation to Treat Anger and Stress
Hypnotherapy and Guided Meditation can be used on their own, but they can also be used together to get better, more clear results. Unlike guided meditation, hypnotherapy has specific goals, like getting rid of phobias or addictions.
When people are angry, they often talk to themselves in a negative way. Negative self-talk is destructive conversations we have with ourselves about our worth and abilities. But you can try negative self-talk and cognitive distortion with hypnosis. Hypnotic suggestions and affirmations can cause negative talks and stress-related anger.
Relaxation techniques with hypnosis and mindful meditation have been shown to help people better control their emotions and reduce the physical effects of anger, like a faster heart rate. People who meditate often tend to be less critical of themselves, others, and situations.
More information: Can Hypnosis Help With Anger Issues?
Does Hypnosis Help Lose weight?
Hypnosis doesn’t burn fat. However, hypnosis can help with stress-related binge eating and anxiety. Binge eating is eating a lot of food in a short amount of time, like two hours, more than most people would eat, and leads to gaining weight.
Mostly overactive adrenal and cortisol secretion causes binge eating, as well as stress, which leads to cravings for carbs and fats. Hypnosis helps to get more relaxed through hypnotic techniques and progressive relaxation, leading to improved binge-eating problems and cravings.
The Alpha State, Hypnosis, and the Meditative States
Self-hypnosis vs. meditation is a question I get a lot from folks. Is there a similarity? Because there are so many ways to define both concepts, a direct response might be deceptive.
Self-hypnosis and meditation may or may not be regarded interchangeable, depending on how you define them. When it comes to hypnosis, we’ll stick with my definition of the term (provided above).
Related: Is It Possible That Hypnosis Is The Same As Guided Meditation?
What happens in the brain when you enter a hypnotic trance?
You may reach the deepest layers of your brain’s functioning while you are in a state of hypnosis.
Habits and subconscious acts are the results of this. During a hypnotic trance, the subconscious mind is more open to suggestions and changes, making it simpler to make positive life changes.
Are you conscious when under hypnosis?
People are normally aware of and remember what happened during hypnosis. Although you may appear to be asleep, you are conscious throughout hypnosis. You’re simply in a deep state of relaxation. Some people confuse hypnosis with a sleep state or you falling asleep and becoming unconscious. People always asking “Is Hypnosis A Sleep-Like State?”, if you are asking, I would suggest our guide about that.
Related: Is Hypnosis A Sleep-Like State?
How can I learn self-hypnosis?
The shortest version of self-hypnosis:
- Get comfortable, and try good breathing exercises to make you calm.
- Find the right spot and a calm place to not disturb.
- Set your goal.
- Focus your gaze.
- Begin breathing slowly and deeply.
- Continue to relax; use hypnosis techniques for progressive muscle relaxation, such as scanning your whole body and muscles with your inner eyes and relaxing them.
- Visualize your walking on the beach or other places, see the places as 3D and high quality as much as possible, and your brain waves start to change.
- Spend some more time in your scene, count 1 to 5, and wake up.
Now, this is just starting point, but you can try it within 5 minutes to see how you feel relaxed and calm. Under hypnosis, you will give some of the affirmations, subliminal, and other hypnotic techniques from instruction.
Does watching hypnosis Videos on YouTube induce trance?
It makes little difference whether the guided hypnosis was obtained via YouTube or not. However, some approaches may help induce hypnosis. Most individuals should try out many hypnosis video formats and techniques before deciding which ones are most effective for them.
The hypnosis won’t work if you’re dubious about the hypnotist or confident they can’t hypnotize you. This is easier said than done, of course, since once you are aware of your tastes and the categories of hypnosis videos that are most suited, it is much simpler to choose the appropriate ones.
More information: How To Prepare For Hypnosis For Better Results