The Truth About Hypnosis

By Debi Livingston, CI, CHT

Although hypnosis has been practiced for many, many centuries, it still remains misunderstood and misrepresented by much of society today.

Recently, a national morning show had a series on hypnosis. A hypnotist had several people in trance who were acting out various suggestions. On a given cue, they would all go back into trance, slumped over and leaning on one another. For all practical purposes it looked as though they were sleeping. I was enjoying the show, happy that hypnosis was getting such great attention.

When the demonstration was over, the reporter asked the participants what they had experienced during the segment, especially when they were so relaxed and leaning on each other. They all replied "I was a sleep. I wasn't aware of anything. I was totally sleeping."

This is where people are given misleading information about hypnosis. When you are in hypnosis, you are not sleeping like when you go to bed at night. You are in a trance-like-sleep, where your body and mind are relaxed together. For an observer, it may appear as if the person is indeed sleeping, but they are not. When in hypnosis you are totally alert, totally aware. You have simply by-passed the critical factor of the conscious mind and moved into your subconscious mind.

I have been told by many clients that they had been to a hypnotherapist before, but never went into hypnosis. I asked them why they believed they were not in trance. The responses were always the same. "Well, I never went to sleep. I heard everything the hypnotherapist was saying. I remember everything that took place. I didn't feel like I was hypnotized."

These are some facts about being in hypnosis.

1) You are not sleeping, like at night in bed.

2) You are very aware of things going on around you. In fact, hypnosis is a heightened state of awareness. You are more tuned in to your surroundings, but so relaxed that things in the environment such as noises outside, a phone ringing etc., don't bother you.

3) Unless given a post hypnotic suggestion for therapeutic reasons, you will remember everything you choose to remember about the session.

4) There is no weird feeling when in hypnosis. Hypnosis is a natural state of mind we go into all the time. If you've ever spaced out during a class or at work and started daydreaming, you were in a light state of hypnosis.

5) You can choose to come out of hypnosis any time you want to. However, it is such a pleasurable, relaxing feeling, most likely you'll decide to remain there for as long as you can!

6) You are the one in control. If the hypnotherapist gives you a suggestion you are not comfortable with, you won't accept it. This is why you see a stage hypnotist send people back to their seats in the audience - they were not in agreement to following instructions and accepting suggestions. Does this mean the hypnotist wasn't very good? No. It simply means that even the best hypnotist can't make you do something you just don't want to do! Remember, hypnosis is a consent state. You are making an agreement between you and the facilitator that you will follow their instructions in order to be guided into trance. No one can make you go into trance without your agreement.

Can everyone be hypnotized?

Most people can easily be guided into trance. These are the basic "guidelines".

1) You must have an IQ of 70 or higher.

2) You must be willing to follow instructions.

Of course there are other situations which would make it difficult to go into trance, but for most people, that's all you need.

How will I know if I'm hypnotized?

This is a very important aspect for the client to know. When someone is in trance, they will have certain physiological things happening so the hypnotherapist can tell that they are in hypnosis. Eyes becoming red and watery are two examples. However, even if the hypnotist told you, "Oh yes, you went very deep, I could tell", but you had no proof, what good would it do?

A good hypnotherapist will always have you do certain exercises when in trance, that can only be done from the subconscious mind. We call these "convincers". Let me explain why this is so important.

Your subconscious mind does not know the difference between what is real and what is not real. When a suggestion is accepted into the subconscious mind, it has got to happen - there's no way it can't happen. So if you are told your eyes are locked tight and you try to open them and can't - that becomes a convincer. Or maybe the suggestion is that your arm is so heavy it feels impossible to lift. You try to lift that arm and by God, it feels too heavy, you just can't lift it. That becomes a convincer. 'Deductive reasoning says there's no logical reason why I couldn't open my eyes or lift my arm - but I couldn't. Wow, I must be hypnotized!' Now you will more readily accept the ideas for healing and change you are seeking.

People also tell me, "oh I'm much too stressed out and uptight to be hypnotized, I'm not relaxed." You do not need to be relaxed before going into trance! Relaxation is a by-product of having been in hypnosis, not a pre-requisite!

I believe everyone should know how to be guided into their subconscious mind, if for no other reason, than to release stress. It is a powerful tool available to us all. You can amaze yourself if given the opportunity. The more we can get the correct information about hypnosis out to the people, the more people can have the direct experience for themselves. And that's what it's all about!