What it isn't

​Demystifying hypnosis with myth-busting

 

Hypnosis against one’s will

                Hypnosis requires conviction by the subject in order for the suggestions to work.  A simple determination not to be hypnotized will result in not being hypnotized.

 

I don’t want to reveal secrets about myself

                The mind has to be inclined toward an action in order to follow through with it.  There is a safety valve for thoughts and behaviors that prohibits a subject from doing anything against one’s will, including revealing information about oneself.  In fact, if an operator insists on something against an individual’s volition, the subject will emerge suddenly from hypnosis. 

 

Compelled to do something criminal or to do something I don't want to do

                Along with the concern that one will reveal one’s secrets is the worry that a person will be compelled to do something criminal, dangerous, or simply undesirable.  Despite stage hypnotists making volunteers quack like a duck, there is no danger here.  The subconscious mind accepts, for instance, that it is and can quack like a duck, but if anything goes against that mind’s convictions, then the conscious mind will reemerge. 

 

I won’t come out of it

                A news story out of Canada recently told of some high school girls who claimed they remained in hypnosis after a hypnotist visited their school.  This is not possible.  For one, the brain and body work in cycles and would not permit a condition to last very long without intervention.  Secondly, in order to maintain hypnosis the subconscious mind requires input.  If a hypnotist leaves the room and the subject receives no direction, the subject would come out of hypnosis (or fall asleep).  The conscious mind will try to reassert itself and without any new instructions, will take the opportunity to come back at full strength. 

                Allow yourself time after a session to feel “back to normal.”  If you figure that you are too relaxed to drive, then DON’T.  Wait a couple of minutes and you will be fine.

               

I did/did not hear/remember what you said

                The brain is not static and the subject will notice times when he or she falls into different states of consciousness.  The reason a subject will be fully aware of the hypnotist and the environment is because the conscious mind continues to be present during the induction.  The Left-brain mind is subdued but not absent during the process.  Similarly, the Right-brain mind is more prominent.  This part of the mind is cognizant all the time – we just are not so aware of it most of the time.  The Right-brain does not think in words.  Therefore, a point in time when there seems to be a lack of hearing/awareness is really the now more assertive Right-brain thinking in a different way.  Actually, in hypnosis, one is more focused than in ordinary consciousness.  Awareness is channeled into a narrow band and distractions that the Left-brain is fond of are pushed aside during hypnosis.  The subject will often drift in and out of awareness but both minds are present in any case.  If the subject should fall asleep, however, that is a different matter and hypnosis cannot be done. 

 

 

More Information

     There's more information out there about hypnosis.  As part of your personal research, you can read more here and on my blog and Facebook page