Thursday, January 21, 2010

Hypnosis - Unraveling The Mysteries Behind It

By Sarah Cox

Hypnosis and its arm, hypnotherapy, have been the focus of several myths created by popular imagination. People either believe them to be falling in the domain of the occult, or don't regard them to be serious scientific pursuits. Some of the common myths associated with hypnosis and the reality behind them are given below.

There is no mysticism or rituals involved in hypnosis. It hinges more on the science of psychology and is very simple to practice for anyone who is prepared to learn it. Even people who have observed hypnosis on others usually refuse to believe in it. They argue that those who can be hypnotized are mentally not strong enough. But that is simply not the truth. Hypnosis can in fact work on people who are mentally tough and are trying their best to block the spell.

That hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness is another misconception that has been circulating for quite some time now. An individual under hypnosis does not get shut off from the outside world, but stays completely conscious of the goings on around him. During the hypnotic state, the subject relaxes completely and is hence able to focus fully on the suggestions provided by the practitioner.

Another misconception, which has been circulated by some researchers, claims that hypnosis can work on merely 5% of humans. The researchers are to some extent true in their own way, because they tried hypnotising the group by the same hypnosis technique without considering individual differences in nature and disposition. People differ in their characters and personalities, and therefore there have to be different hypnosis techniques to fit the temperaments of different people.

People also tend to associate hypnosis with meditation. However, communication between the subject and the practitioner is indispensable in hypnosis, while meditation is like an engagement with the self without any communication involved. Trance too has no connection with hypnosis at all. Just like meditation, trance is a state of mind, and it is not linked with communication in any manner, while the very basis of the hypnosis method is communication.

Another myth is that physical and behavioural changes in a person are not attainable through hypnosis training or hypnotherapy. Hypnosis certainly cannot transform the body in unnatural ways. But by mentally conditioning a person to give up addictive behaviour like eating too much and chain smoking, and by raising one's inspiration levels, hypnosis can usher in vital physical alterations in an individual and ensure a healthier body.

Undergoing hypnotherapy is a fine way to lead a richer and satisfying life, and hence one should not pay attention to the misconceptions, and go for hypnotic sessions with an unbiased mind.

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