Thursday, January 14, 2010

Misconceptions And Realities About Hypnosis

By Sarah Cox

Hypnosis and its subset, hypnotherapy, have always been mired in misconceptions. Some consider them to be occult whereas others reject them as pseudo science. Given below are some general beliefs prevalent about hypnosis, and the real truth behind them.

Hypnosis has nothing to do with black magic of any kind. Psychology and the other sciences have a crucial role to play in the hypnotic procedure, and it is very easy to acquire and practice. The authenticity of hypnosis is doubted even by individuals who have seen it casting its spell on subjects. They say that hypnotised people allow practitioners to be successful in their art by not exhibiting enough mental strength to block the effect of their words. But nothing could be farther from the truth. Hypnosis can be done on anyone irrespective of his or her mental strength.

Another belief is that hypnosis is an alternate state of consciousness, which again is a big misconception. A person under hypnosis does not get shut off from the outside world, but stays completely aware of the happenings around him. That person is just in a calm state where the concentration levels are very high and the person can receive suggestions easily.

Some researchers have found that hypnosis works on just 5% of the human population, and this is another prevalent myth. Although, the research has some element of truth to it, what makes it hollow is the fact that the scientists used the same hypnosis procedure for everyone. Hypnosis can't be straight jacketed like that and clicks only if there are different methodologies for different characters.

Meditation and hypnosis are often thought to be the same by people. However, communication between the subject and the practitioner is paramount in hypnosis, while meditation is like an engagement with the self without any communication involved. Similarly, a state of trance is also sometimes equated with hypnosis, which is not true. The individual doesn't communicate to achieve a state of trance, whereas hypnosis is not possible without communication.

Another myth is that bodily and behavioural alterations in a person are not possible through hypnosis training or hypnotherapy. Hypnosis is clearly not magic that it can change the physical appearance of an individual just like that. However, it can guide the body to a healthy shape through behavioural changes like eating less, and quitting smoking and other addictive habits by ensuring a high level of inspiration in a person.

Hypnosis, and particularly hypnotherapy, can have a vital function to play in the well-being of a person, and not giving them a try just because of some misconceptions is a missed opportunity.

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