Clarifying common misunderstandings about hypnosis
1. Hypnosis cannot force you to do anything you don't want to do.
One of the most common concerns is to think that during hypnosis control is lost. However, this is not true. During a hypnosis session, the person remains fully aware and always has the total control of their actions and decisions . You can leave the hypnotic state at any time if you wish. Hypnosis is not a form of manipulation, but a tool that requires active and voluntary consent .
For hypnosis to be effective, it is essential that the person be willing to cooperate with the hypnotherapist. This involves allowing the practitioner to introduce specific suggestions—specified at the outset—into their subconscious, which must be aligned with their personal desires and goals. Without this willingness, hypnosis will not work, as no idea or behavior can be imposed against the person's will .
2. Hypnosis is not a magic or a dangerous practice.
Some people think that hypnosis is something mysterious or even dangerous. But in reality, it is a therapeutic technique supported by science , used for decades in psychology, medicine and mental health. It is based on the natural capacity of the brain to enter into states of deep relaxation and concentration, which facilitates positive changes in thoughts, emotions and behaviors.
3. Hypnosis does not lose consciousness or identity.
Another common myth is that hypnosis causes a state of unconsciousness or loss of identity. Actually, the person remains completely aware throughout the session. You can listen, understand and remember everything that happens. What changes is the level of attention: it becomes more receptive, attentive and open to ideas or suggestions that are normally not so available in the state of vigil.
In ancient Egypt , around 3000 BC, a primitive form of hypnotherapy was already practiced. The so -called "dream temples" were sacred spaces where priests, also considered healers, induced trance states through songs, prayers and rituals. In this state, patients - acosted in dark and silent cameras - received dream messages that were interpreted as indications to heal body and spirit.
In Greece , this tradition was continued and refined by the priests of the Asclepio temple, the God of Medicine. There the "Dream incubation" was practiced, a method in which the patient slept in the temple waiting for a healing revelation through induced visions. This process has clear similarities with the current techniques of regressive or suggestive hypnosis.
In India and in China , the modified states of consciousness were induced through deep meditation, the control of breathing and the use of mantras. These states were used not only for healing, but also for spiritual development, pain control and access to intuitive knowledge.
During a hypnosis session, the person does not lose consciousness or total control . Although it enters a state of deep relaxation and concentration, it remains fully aware of what happens around it and its own actions and decisions. What does change is the level of attention and the way in which the information is processed: it becomes more receptive, attentive and open to suggestions or ideas that would normally be so available in a state of vigil.
In most cases, people clearly remember everything they experienced during the hypnosis session . In fact, this technique is frequently used in therapeutic contexts to help access memories or information that is already stored in the mind, but that can be difficult to recover in normal conditions. This is because, in a state of hypnosis, the brain operates differently, allowing more direct access to certain levels of consciousness.
Hypnosis is a therapeutic tool supported by science , used in various fields such as psychology, medicine and education. It is based on the induction of a state of deep concentration and relaxation, which facilitates positive changes in the way of thinking, feeling or acting. It is important to highlight that it always applies to the consent and will of the person , always respecting their limits, their autonomy and well -being. Its use is always oriented towards beneficial objectives, such as stress management, sleep improvement, pain reduction, overcoming fears or acquisition of healthy habits.