Hypnotherapy is one of the most effective techniques that can be used to help people overcome all sorts of problems. Studies have proven its benefits many times, but most people use it only as a last resort. We try everything else we can think of before contacting a hypnotherapist. There are so many doubts and fears around this modality that the only way most of us will even consider it is if a close friend, whom we trust, gives us a heartfelt recommendation.
As a hypnotherapist I must say that it breaks my heart when I know I can help so many people overcome their issues, but they prefer not taking the chance, so they keep struggling. Why is this happening? Why are we so afraid of trying out this sort of therapy, a therapy that could save many both time and money?
You see, hypnosis has a bad reputation, not because of shady professionals, but because of the way it has been portraited throughout the ages. From evil villains in movies to carnival entertainers causing people to cluck like chickens, that which is a very effective therapy has been ridiculed for the sake of some laughs.
I believe it’s time to clear these misconceptions and bring some light into the matter. Let’s bust all these myths so you can make an informed choice.
Myth 1 – “I might get stuck in a hypnotic state.”
Have you ever drove for a period of time on auto pilot? You got to your destination, but you couldn’t remember most of the way over there. This is quite common; it occasionally happens to every driver. This is a perfect example of naturally entering the state of hypnosis. When you reached your destination, you were back in the awaken state, naturally.
Hypnosis is a natural state that we enter several times a day on our own. We go in and out of it with no effort. About 30 minutes before you go to sleep every night, your mind becomes a lot calmer, and your brain changes its waves to prepare you for sleep. This is when you enter the state of hypnosis. You become very susceptible to suggestion, and although this is the ideal time to work on your affirmations, it is not recommended that you watch violent movies or even commercials as you are absorbing all sorts of information that might not be in your best interest.
Because it is a natural state, there is no danger of being stuck in it. Just get up and move around and you’ll come right out of it.
Myth 2 – “I don’t know what happens when I’m under.”
You will remain conscious all the way through your hypnosis session. Although some types of hypnosis, such as past life regression, require you to go into a deeper level of relaxation, you do not need to go to sleep. You remain conscious of everything that is being said, and your hypnotherapist will ask you questions about what you are experiencing. If you are still concerned, you can always ask your hypnotherapist to record the session for you so you can refer back to it.
Myth 3 – “What if they force me to do something I don’t want to?”
No one can force you to do something against your will. As we have seen previously, you are conscious throughout the session and can choose to say ‘no’ if you do not wish to take on a suggestion. On the other hand, our minds are nothing short of amazing, they have this protective mechanism that prevents you from blindly accepting a suggestion under hypnosis. If the hypnotherapist gives you a suggestion that you do not agree with, your subconscious mind won’t take it on board. The critical mind will start analyzing and questioning what has just been said and you will be immediately thrown out the state of hypnosis. Either way, if you do not trust your hypnotherapist or the process, the sessions will most probably not work for you, as the mind needs to be completely relaxed to accept any kind of suggestions. A good hypnotherapist will focus only on what is relevant for you and give you suggestions based on your personal situation. They will take the time to know you and will give you empowering and positive suggestions that can serve your best interests only.
Myth 4 – “What if they find out my deepest secrets?”
Let me put your mind at rest with this one. Hypnotherapy is not mind reading, so there is no way the hypnotherapist can have access to any information you may not wish to disclose. As we have seen before, you are conscious throughout the whole session, you can choose what to say and what to hold back. You cannot be forced to disclose any kind of information, you are always in control.
Myth 5 – “If I’m hypnotized, it must mean I’m mentally weak.”
As we have discussed before, hypnosis is a natural state that you enter several times a day. Everyone can enter this state and it has nothing to do with mental strength. Some people do go into this state a lot faster than others, but this relates to the trust in the hypnotherapist and the ability the person has to relax. If you are used to doing meditation and you trust the hypnotherapist, odds are you will be entering the state of hypnosis a lot quicker than someone who doesn’t seem to be able to relax or doesn’t really feel comfortable with the hypnotherapist.
Myth 6 – “It’s a miracle cure.”
Although hypnotherapy can work very effectively on many issues, it isn’t a miracle cure. Everyone is different, so effectiveness will depend on the individual. The client’s beliefs and motivations are also factors that can affect the results along with consistency. The mind learns through repetition. Clients often tend to think one session is all that is needed, and this is sometimes true, but on average 3-5 sessions may be needed and the audio recording your hypnotherapist makes for you to listen to should be listened to at least once a day for the next few weeks, preferably as you are falling asleep at night when your subsconscious mind is most open to suggestions. And do not worry if you fall asleep as the subconscious mind never sleeps – you will still be absorbing all the benefits!
Hypnotherapy is a safe and effective method to overcome many issues and problems. Why not give it a try? If you are still concerned, let’s have a conversation and I’ll walk you through the process.
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