Misconceptions

Many people have misconceptions concerning hypnosis. Since hypnosis is often portrayed inaccurately in the media, movies and television, it often leaves inaccurate impressions and fears about hypnosis. This section will discuss and address the three most common misconceptions and fears about hypnosis. In the world today, one of the biggest fears regarding hypnosis is the fear of losing control to the hypnotist. Some people believe that if they are hypnotized, a hypnotist can control their mind. This idea could not be farther from the truth.
In fact, all hypnosis is self-hypnosis. Only about twenty-percent of the process is the effort of the hypnotist and eighty-percent is the responsibility of the hypnotic subject. You might view a hypnotherapist as a skilled and talented tour guide that will assist you in change. Hypnotherapy is unique from all other forms of medicine and healing because it is the only therapy that puts you in complete and total control of creating the desired change. You begin the process of change by entering a hypnotic state. Then you create the change in your mind by receiving and accepting hypnotic suggestions for improvement, creating a new self-image, and by following techniques given by the hypnotherapist. The end result is that you create the change within your mind. You are in ultimate control over how much you will relax. This in turn impacts your receptivity to suggestions and the depth of your hypnotic trance. It is impossible for a hypnotherapist to control your mind. If an attempt is made by a hypnotherapist to give a suggestion that was outside the framework of your moral orientation or value system, your unconscious mind would immediately alert the conscious mind and you would wake up out of trance.
Here is an example of how your unconscious mind always protects you. Have you ever had a lot of things on your mind while driving home or to work and when you got there, you did not remember driving there. For many people, driving a car becomes second nature and not much thought is required to get you from place A to place B. The same is true about driving to familiar destinations. It does not take much thought when driving to a familiar place like home or work. Driving to these places becomes almost automatic. Your unconscious mind acts as an autopilot and will deliver you to your destination. If you encounter any obstacles along your way, your unconscious mind will immediately alert your conscious mind to keep you safe. For example, while driving your car, if a deer ran out into the road, your unconscious would instantly alert you conscious mind to step on the brakes. The same is true about hypnotherapy. If your mind encounters obstacles or suggestions that are not within your moral and value orientation, your unconscious will alert your conscious mind and will terminate the hypnotic state. You never give up control to a hypnotherapist. You are always in control.
Another popular misconception centers on the fear of being trapped in hypnosis. This is also far from the truth. When hypnotized your mind and body is in a natural altered state of consciousness. This state of mind is completely safe and natural. We actually slip in and out of this state all day long. When you daydream, you enter into a form of this peaceful consciousness. You allow yourself to drift away and wander around in your mind for a brief moment. Another example is when you get involved in a novel, you imagine yourself actually being there. Consequently, you become oblivious to what is going on around you. You also understand that there is no way for you to get trapped in these states of mind. The hypnotic state is very similar to these two examples. Since hypnotherapy is as natural as daydreaming or getting involved in a book, it is 100% safe and impossible to stay in a hypnotic state of mind. Sooner or later you will wake up. If the hypnotist stopped talking or left the room one of two things would happen. First, you as the hypnotized subject would open your eyes and emerge from this relaxed state just as easily as you would from a daydream. The second possible outcome, would find you as the hypnotized subject waking up in a few minutes just like you do in the morning from a good night sleep. You would feel like you had just taken a refreshing nap. Once again, hypnosis is natural, safe, and you are in total control of the process.
The third misconception centers on what happens to you when you are hypnotized. Due to various factors including Hollywood, some people feel that they will go off into a dream world or they enter into a comatose state. When you are hypnotized, you are still conscious and aware of things happening around you. You are just in a different state of consciousness. Most people are unaware that while hypnotized you can sometimes still hear other sounds in the room around you. When hypnotized, you have just altered your state of consciousness, like if you were daydreaming. Since we slip in and out of this state of mind everyday, it feels very natural and enjoyable to people. It feels so natural many do not think they were hypnotized when in fact they really were. While others go so deep into profound relaxation that there is no denying the hypnotic trance. Regardless of the depths you experience while hypnotized, you will always be in total control and completely safe.
After reading this section, you have learned about some of the common misconceptions and fears people have about hypnosis. Hypnosis is nothing to fear.You now understand that while you are hypnotized, you are safe, comfortable, and in total control.