5 Myths about Hypnosis busted, and the truth revealed

Fascinating, scary, mysterious, intriguing, magic, interesting.  These are a few terms people use to describe hypnosis.

If something is described and related to with these words, myths about it cannot be dodged. And there are numerous myths about hypnosis floating around.

Hypnotherapy is widely accepted now and is being used as a way to help patients with numerous disorders and problems. The formal study of the subject is being taken up by many students around the world. It is a beloved and famous subject in Australia.  This clearly reflects when we look at the vast numbers of hypnosis courses in Sydney.

Despite it all, awareness about hypnosis seems to be lacking. People believe in the myths without double checking them.

We are no ASIS, but we have taken up the mission of exposing 5 myths about hypnosis that have been floating around for quite some time now.

Let’s start and set things straight. Once and for all.

1) Hypnosis is mind control

The most common and widely believed myth is that a hypnotist can control your mind. If it were true, can you imagine how the number of “stupids” would have gone down? Do you see that happening?

The truth is that you don’t loose control over your mind. The hypnotist doesn’t control your mind, s/he just helps you to relax and concentrate better. As you become extra responsive to the suggestions, the hypnotist only suggests you what you want. Don’t worry, even while hypnotized, the moral compass is in the direction it has always been.

2) Hypnosis means sleep

We can understand how this one started. The Greek word, hypnoō, in which the word hypnosis finds its origins, means “put to sleep”. Though understandable, the confusion is totally a myth.

Hypnosis makes a person very peaceful and concentrated. A hypnotized person may look like s/he is asleep because her/his eyes are shut, and s/he is in a very calm trance. The brainwaves of a hypnotized person don’t show any similarity with those of a sleeping person.

3) Hypnosis can help you retrieve long lost memories

Hypnotists are no magicians or superheroes without a cape. If you believe that being hypnotized can assist you in retrieving your long forgotten memories, you need to cut down on your dose of TV and movies.

The truth of the matter is that even through hypnosis, you will only remember what you remember. With the amplified concentration, you can remember things more vividly, but that is about it.

4) Hypnotists can get you to do whatever they want

If that is the case, you might want to stay in the good books of every hypnotist; you never know what might be coming. Thankfully, that is totally a cooked up story with no truth in it whatsoever.

Your hypnotist cannot make you do anything you are not willing to do; you still have control over your mind. People just do silly things because they are willing to, and since they are in a state of much less inhibition, they allow themselves to do it. And rest assured, you won’t spill out your secrets.  You can lie during hypnosis.

5) Only “weak” people can be hypnotized

Do you believe in the earlier mentioned myth that the hypnotist can make the hypnotized do the silly thing, but you are not afraid because you think you are “strong” and can’t be hypnotized? Wrong, again.

The process of hypnotism depends on the efficiency of the hypnotist. It doesn’t matter if you have a high IQ or low, anyone can be hypnotized.

There you go. You are now much more equipped with the “correct” knowledge about hypnotism.

Happy to break the news to you.  Rule the world now.