“Look into my eyes….you are getting sleepy…very sleepy.” (Spoken in a thick Romanian accent.) We have all seen movies (my favorite is “White Zombie.”) that depict hypnosis as a form of mind control. The villain places an unsuspecting person under their power by the use of hypnosis. The person is then required to do things that is completely out of character for them. Such as hurting someone they love, or serving the villain as some sort of zombie slave.
Most of us have seen a hypnotist show. The hypnotist gets people from the audience to come up and preform on stage. The hypnotized, hop around like rabbits, flap their arms like a chicken, or sing a songs. It’s entertaining because, what the participants are doing, seems out of character for them. But is it?
The truth about hypnosis is, it’s not mind control. Sorry folks…you will never rule, or control hundreds of unsuspecting minions with it. The hypnotized person must be willing to accept the suggestions given by the hypnotist. The important word here is “Accept”. It is only through accepting and agreeing with the suggestion that the person will act upon it.
The idea so many people have that hypnosis is a deep state of unconsciousness, is a false one. Hypnosis is actually a heightened state of awareness. A sort of hyper awareness if you will. Because clients have watched movies etc. They believe that they will not remember what has taken place. And that the hypnotist will take control of their mind. They believe that all the desired changes will occur without any effort on their part. This is not true. People doing change work with hypnosis need motivation. They must be willing to follow through with the changes suggested by the hypnotherapist.
Because of the false idea of unconsciousness. Many people during a hypnosis session question whether they are even hypnotized. Because they are aware of a car driving by, or voices of people talking in the hallway. And the fact that they hear and remember everything that the hypnotherapist says etc. The truth is that all this awareness is normal. Remember hypnosis is a heightened state of awareness.
Most good hypnotherapist include a convincer with their trance work. Such as telling the client that their leg is too heavy to lift, or suggesting that you can’t open your eyes. When the client tries to do these things and can’t, or feels like it would take too much effort. They become convinced that they are in a state of hypnosis.
Why Hypnosis is successful is the fact that it allows access to the subconscious mind. The subconscious is where emotions and imagination originate. Emotions drive behavior. The subconscious is difficult to access without hypnosis. Because of the difficulty of accessing the subconscious it is difficult to change. If is not impossible, but difficult. For Example in your conscious mind you know what must take place to lose weight. You know that you must eat less. Exercise more etc. You tell yourself consciously that you are going to diet and make these changes. You are good for a couple of days, but as time goes on you revert back to eating the wrong foods, and skipping exercise. Why, you ask? The reason is that you do not have the subconscious mind on board. And for whatever reason the subconscious feels that it is in your best interest to eat and not exercise. Weight loss is only one example. This holds true to any change in behavior a person wants to make. There are people who “white knuckle” change. Sticking with their intentions long enough to get the subconscious involved. This is applaud able but it doesn’t need to be that difficult. Hypnosis can help the person change instantaneous, and with ease.
In conclusion. Hypnosis is a trance state which allows access to the subconscious mind. The subconscious mind is the place where Emotions and thus behaviors originate. In Trance these emotions are changeable. Changed emotions equal changed behaviors. Hypnosis is not a state of unconsciousness, but a state of heightened consciousness. The client is always in control of what suggestions they accept. They are also in control of what suggestions they will reject. And last, but not least hypnosis allows for instant change.
