Mythbusting💥 5 Myths That Make Us Scared Of Hypnosis

Pop culture often paints hypnosis as scary woo-woo stuff.

But once I started training in clinical hypnosis, I realised that many of those ideas were myths.

These are 5 common ones:

1. The hypnotist takes you into a trance

All hypnosis is in essence self-hypnosis.

When you work with a hypnotherapist, she guides you along. But going into trance depends on your cooperation.

Working alone, you guide yourself within. That’s the only difference.

2. Once hypnotised, you are under the hypnotist’s control

Not at all. Your conscious mind is still around (though less actively) and no one can make you do something that goes against your innate values during hypnosis.

This is because our unconscious has the choice to accept or reject suggestions. And it rejects the ones that go against our grain.

3. The therapist commands your mind

Hypnotic suggestions can be given in many ways. I prefer gentle indirect suggestions (not authoritative commands).

Even when a suggestion is accepted by our unconscious, it’s not an all or none situation.

For example, suggestions to exercise more frequently can make choosing exercise easier, but we still need to make a conscious choice.

4. You forget all that happened during hypnosis

Amnesia (forgetting what happened during hypnosis) can occur, but not always.

And even when it does occur, it’s usually partial. You don’t recall every little detail, but it doesn’t feel like a void in your timeline either.

5. Hypnotic trance is bizarre experience

There can be sensory changes and a sense of relaxation.

But trance, especially at a light depth, may not feel very different from the normal waking state.

People routinely question whether they did go into trance because they expect something drastic and mind-bending.