No other subject inspires as much mythological fodder as hypnosis. It is surprising that during the age of information that many of these myths still remain and that people believe them to be true. Below you will find the truth behind 10 of the most prevalent myths about hypnosis.
MYTH 1
The first of ten myths about hypnosis and the one that seems to cause the greatest fear among people is the assumption that under hypnosis you have no control of your mind or your actions. This is not true at all. In a hypnotic state you do become more conscious of what you are thinking and feeling, but you do not become a puppet to a masterful hypnotist. A hypnotist may use suggestive words to help you focus your attention in different ways. However, you do not lose your ability to think on your own or to control your behavior while experiencing hypnosis.
MYTH 2
Hypnosis has ties to satanic practices. This is another untruth. Hypnosis has no ties to Satanism or satanic ritual practices whatsoever. Satanic practices are seen as dark and unseemly with demonic undertones. Helping people to improve their lives is what hypnosis is really all about. That is in sharp contrast to the harmful practices that most satanic rituals are comprised of.
MYTH 3
The third myth about hypnosis can make the hair on the back of your neck bristle with apprehension. It is the myth that once you enter a hypnotic state you run the risk of getting stuck in that state permanently. It is almost unbelievable that people still believe this one, but there are many who unfortunately still do. The term hypnotic state may even scare some. But this is nothing more than a deeper awareness of what you are thinking and feeling. It is not another realm of existence as some would have you believe.
MYTH 4
You have to be a specific personality type to be hypnotized comes in fourth among the ten myths about hypnosis. Wrong! In actuality we all enter into a hypnotic state most every night. When we go to sleep our conscious and unconscious mind meets and goes over the days events or even over past ones and also creates the dreams we experience. Even if after awakening you have no recollection of having had dreams while asleep, research has shown that all humans and animals experience states of dreaming while sleeping.
MYTH 5
Myth number five says that hypnosis can only work for weaker minded individuals and not for those with a resistance to hypnosis. In fact resistance is suggested by many hypnotists so that individuals can recognize the experience as being their own and not a product of a cleverly skilled hypnotist.
MYTH 6
Hypnosis is just a clever illusion that has no real useful purpose is the sixth of the most believed myths about hypnosis. Magicians put forth illusions to confuse what the eye and mind are seeing. A hypnotist is attempting to clear away any confusion that is acting as an obstruction to a person.
MYTH 7
Going to a hypnotist when you can learn how to hypnotize yourself is a waste of money makes the list as myth number seven. Self hypnotizing has its value. It can be a safe and effective method of self improvement. Self hypnosis can exasperate mental conditions and traits such as a tendency towards negative thinking however, and this should really be taken into consideration before writing hypnotists off as a waste of money. Your overall health should take precedence over financial considerations.
MYTH 8
The belief that hypnosis wipes away all memory of the hypnosis experience is the eighth myth about hypnosis that many people still think to be true today. Your memory skills are not lessened by hypnosis. In fact, hypnosis can be used to help you improve your retention skills. And as mentioned earlier in this article, hypnosis is not another realm of existence. You do not lose knowledge of whom or where you are or become completely unconscious of the thoughts and feelings you are having.
MYTH 9
It can be used to force people to confess to crimes they have committed. First off, if a person is not open to disclosing a fact, hypnosis will not make it happen. Hypnosis can help a person to feel comfortable enough to make disclosures, but this is still a conscious choice. This is why confessions made under hypnosis are can not be used in criminal proceedings.
MYTH 10
Hypnosis as a cure all is the tenth myth about hypnosis and a very dangerous one at that. Hypnosis is useful in conjunction with medical treatments for a number of diseases, but it cannot cure them.
Hopefully now that you have been supplied with the truth about hypnosis you may choose to look into how helpful hypnosis could be to you.
