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10 Myths of Hypnosis Dispelled
No other
subject inspires as much mythological fodder as hypnosis. It is
surprising that during the age of information that many of these myths
still remain and that people believe them to be true. Below you will
find the truth behind 10 of the most prevalent myths about hypnosis.
MYTH 1
The first
of ten myths about hypnosis and the one that seems to cause the greatest
fear among people is the assumption that under hypnosis you have no
control of your mind or your actions. This is not true at all. In a
hypnotic state you do become more conscious of what you are thinking and
feeling, but you do not become a puppet to a masterful hypnotist. A
hypnotist may use suggestive words to help you focus your attention in
different ways. However, you do not lose your ability to think on your
own or to control your behavior while experiencing hypnosis.
MYTH 2
Hypnosis
has ties to satanic practices. This is another untruth. Hypnosis has no
ties to Satanism or satanic ritual practices whatsoever. Satanic
practices are seen as dark and unseemly with demonic undertones. Helping
people to improve their lives is what hypnosis is really all about. That
is in sharp contrast to the harmful practices that most satanic rituals
are comprised of.
MYTH 3
The third
myth about hypnosis can make the hair on the back of your neck bristle
with apprehension. It is the myth that once you enter a hypnotic state
you run the risk of getting stuck in that state permanently. It is
almost unbelievable that people still believe this one, but there are
many who unfortunately still do. The term hypnotic state may even scare
some. But this is nothing more than a deeper awareness of what you are
thinking and feeling. It is not another realm of existence as some would
have you believe.
MYTH 4
You have to
be a specific personality type to be hypnotized comes in fourth among
the ten myths about hypnosis. Wrong! In actuality we all enter into a
hypnotic state most every night. When we go to sleep our conscious and
unconscious mind meets and goes over the days events or even over past
ones and also creates the dreams we experience. Even if after awakening
you have no recollection of having had dreams while asleep, research has
shown that all humans and animals experience states of dreaming while
sleeping.
MYTH 5
Myth number
five says that hypnosis can only work for weaker minded individuals and
not for those with a resistance to hypnosis. In fact resistance is
suggested by many hypnotists so that individuals can recognize the
experience as being their own and not a product of a cleverly skilled
hypnotist.
MYTH 6
Hypnosis is
just a clever illusion that has no real useful purpose is the sixth of
the most believed myths about hypnosis. Magicians put forth illusions
to confuse what the eye and mind are seeing. A hypnotist is attempting
to clear away any confusion that is acting as an obstruction to a
person.
MYTH 7
Going to a
hypnotist when you can learn how to hypnotize yourself is a waste of
money makes the list as myth number seven. Self hypnotizing has its
value. It can be a safe and effective method of self improvement. Self
hypnosis can exasperate mental conditions and traits such as a tendency
towards negative thinking however, and this should really be taken into
consideration before writing hypnotists off as a waste of money. Your
overall health should take precedence over financial considerations.
MYTH 8
The belief
that hypnosis wipes away all memory of the hypnosis experience is the
eighth myth about hypnosis that many people still think to be true
today. Your memory skills are not lessened by hypnosis. In fact,
hypnosis can be used to help you improve your retention skills. And as
mentioned earlier in this article, hypnosis is not another realm of
existence. You do not lose knowledge of whom or where you are or become
completely unconscious of the thoughts and feelings you are having.
MYTH 9
It can be
used to force people to confess to crimes they have committed. First
off, if a person is not open to disclosing a fact, hypnosis will not
make it happen. Hypnosis can help a person to feel comfortable enough to
make disclosures, but this is still a conscious choice. This is why
confessions made under hypnosis are can not be used in criminal
proceedings.
MYTH 10
Hypnosis as
a cure all is the tenth myth about hypnosis and a very dangerous one at
that. Hypnosis is useful in conjunction with medical treatments for a
number of diseases, but it cannot cure them.
Hopefully
now that you have been supplied with the truth about hypnosis you may
choose to look into how helpful hypnosis could be to you.
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