Oregon Society of Clinical Hypnosis
Myths and Fears
- Myth of the weak mind - There exists a belief that only the weak minded or gullible can be hypnotized. Actually it appears that it is quite different and the opposite is in fact most likely true. People of above average intelligence who are capable of concentrating and those who have active, vivid imaginations make the best hypnotic subjects.
- Fear of revealing secrets - Genuine concerns that they will tell all and reveal some secret from the past. In fact in hypnosis the subject has greater awareness than when fully awake and retains the powers of selectivity.
- Fear of humiliation - Afraid they will be made to look like or act like a fool. Something like what they saw on some stage show or movie. When in reality the stage show subjects volunteered to participate, and were quite willing to act silly or clown around. They actually were there by choice and knew what they were doing. Volunteer subjects expect to participate in an entertaining show and are usually outgoing fun loving people who likewise expect to be entertained.
- Fear of loss of control - Who would want to lose control of themselves? A hypnotized subject is in full control of themselves, fully aware of the environment and completely capable of making decisions. If the subject were presented with an idea or suggestion they would find objectionable in regular consciousness, it would still be objectionable and would be rejected. Hypnosis does not make anyone do anything.
- Fear of not waking up - Hypnosis is not sleep! Sleep and hypnosis may seem similar since the subject is relaxed and has eyes closed, there are many differences. One main difference is that the subject is in a relaxed state, but with heightened awareness! If a person were to fall asleep during a session, they would return to normal consciousness when asked to, or simply awaken after a short nap. They would feel refreshed, relaxed and would have no ill effects at all.
- I wasn't hypnotized - I heard every word you said! This comes from an erroneous expectation that they would be unconscious or asleep. There is no mysterious feelings to being hypnotized and the subjects mind is not taken over nor controlled beyond their own awareness. This expectation and perhaps a demand to have some mysterious experience beyond conscious control or awareness seems to leave some people disappointed and even denying they had any experience at all. These same people may actually have received substantial results and unconscious change.