In last week’s column I started to answer some common questions people ask me about hypnosis including “What is hypnosis, am I under your control and is it dangerous?”
I promised to share more with you this week to dispel some myths created by how hypnosis is portrayed in the media.
A prime example was last week’s show “The Mentalist” a crime series on Channel Five.
To say sensationalism and artistic licence were used would be a huge understatement.
One of the show’s main characters (a detective) was shown to be secretly hypnotised and stuck there until his colleagues discovered the secret trigger to un-hypnotise him, nonsense but made good TV.
So let’s explore the facts.
How does it feel to be hypnotised?
I’ve been hypnotised well over 100 times and I can tell you it feels great!
Wonderfully relaxing and refreshing.
The closest thing I can liken it to is when you first wake up in the morning in a really comfortable position.
So comfortable that you don’t want to move or open your eyes and you think to yourself “I’ll just have 5 more minutes!”
You know you’re awake because you have thoughts, you just can’t be bothered to move.
We are in natural hypnosis around 60% of the time.
So you already know what it feels like.
You are in natural hypnosis when you read a good book and get totally ‘lost’ in the story.
It is the same when watching a good film, watching TV, driving the car or just daydreaming.
Can hypnosis harm me?
In over two hundred years of recorded hypnosis history, there is no documented case of anyone being hurt with hypnosis.
Hypnosis can only be used in a positive way.
If anyone tries to give you suggestions against your morals, religious beliefs or anything you feel strongly about, you would instantly emerge from the state of relaxation on your own.
Will hypnosis work for me?
As long as there are no severe mental health disorders, virtually anyone can achieve successful results under hypnosis.
You will need a fully trained Hypnotherapist who will guide you into a state of total relaxation where your unconscious mind can then get to work and most importantly a willingness to overcome your problem.
Hypnotherapy has a very high success rate and you will feel the benefits immediately.