Hypnosis: Myths vs Facts
A lot of people are confused about what hypnosis and hypnotherapy really are. Some think it means being put into a trance and made to do things you wouldn't normally do — the kind of thing you might see on television or in hypnosis stage shows. So let's take a look at what hypnosis and hypnotherapy actually involve.
All hypnosis is self-hypnosis — no one can hypnotise another person. During hypnosis and hypnotherapy, you put yourself into a state of deep relaxation with the guidance of a hypnotherapist. Some call this a hypnotic trance, but at all times you remain aware of what's going on around you, and fully in control of yourself. You cannot be made to do anything you don't want to do. What actually happens is that, in this deeply relaxed state, you're able to access your subconscious mind — where your thoughts, dreams, and memories are stored. From there, hypnotic suggestion can be used to shift the negative thoughts held in your subconscious.
Some people believe they can't be hypnotised, or that you can only be hypnotised if you have a "weak mind." This isn't true. Hypnosis and hypnotherapy are simply deep states of relaxation, and the strength of your mind has nothing to do with how deeply you can relax. Almost everyone is capable of self-hypnosis: if you can daydream or lose yourself in an activity, you're already familiar with light relaxation states similar to hypnosis.
Dispelling the Myths
- You will not be unconscious, and you are not asleep.
- You will not lose control — nobody can take control over you.
- You can come out of hypnosis at any time you choose.
- You will not do anything you'd be unwilling to do under normal circumstances.
- You will remain fully aware of what's happening, and will remember it afterwards.
Throughout hypnosis, you remain in control, and you decide how deep your trance goes.
The Benefits of Hypnotherapy
Hypnotherapy is used to work through a specific problem. It seeks to identify the root cause of the issue and resolve it, bypassing the conscious mind to access information stored in the subconscious. Hypnotherapy can help you to:
- Resolve the issue or concern that brought you to therapy
- Gain a better understanding of yourself, your goals, and your values
- Let go of negative emotions that are holding you back
- Break destructive habits, behaviours, or thought patterns
- Replace old behaviour patterns with new ones, permanently
- Strengthen the motivation that drives you
- Build your confidence and self-esteem
- Improve how you relate to others, and build stronger relationship skills
- Find new ways to resolve issues within your family or marriage
- Improve your communication and listening skills
- Manage anger, grief, depression, and other emotional pressures
- Ease anxiety, stress, and depression, and learn new ways of coping with them
- Reduce jealousy, aggression, and insecurity
- Find freedom from fears and phobias
- Address addictive behaviours and break their hold over you
Many people swear by hypnotherapy as a way to improve themselves and enhance their quality of life. Of course, it doesn't work the same for everyone, and it's not a miracle cure — but it is an effective, proven aid for all kinds of life-affecting issues.
Interested in learning hypnotherapy yourself? Click below to view details on our recommended training provider, iNLP.
