Originally I had another topic I was going to post, but after much consideration I decided that since my blog is still relatively new, I wanted to write about a question I am asked by almost everyone. “Is Hypnosis real? or Does Hypnosis really work?” I can tell you I have spent many hours contemplating these seemingly simple questions to answer them in the best way possible.
The most common misconception about hypnosis is that if you are hypnotized you will go into this zombie like state and follow any command you are give, nothing can be further from the truth. I admit that if you have seen a stage hypnotist at work it is hard to believe that. But the reality is that no one would do anything in trance that they wouldn’t do in their normal everyday life. Even hypnotized we have the choice to deny or follow any suggestion that is given at anytime. Often the people whom volunteer to participate in a stage hypnotism show, know that the hypnotists will probably be suggesting that they display some crazy and possibly outlandish behaviors, so by volunteering to participate in the stage show they give themselves permission to act in these ways. So therefore they are in essence doing what they would normally do.
A hypnotic trance is actually a state of acute internal focus. In trance you are not unconscious; it is more accurate to say that you are more focused than you would be at any other time. According to recent statistics the average person goes into deep trance at least 18 times everyday naturally. This can be in a large variety of forms that most people would not attribute to be hypnosis. One of the most common is watching a movie or TV, have you ever been so engrossed in a movie that someone spoke to you and you did not hear a single word they said? Congratulations you were in a natural deep trance. In fact to go to sleep at night we all go into a trance right before we fall asleep every night. So to say “I am unhypnotizeable” is grossly inaccurate. Chances are if you went to a hypnotist and were not hypnotized, the hypnotist either did not pay enough attention or was not talented enough to help you achieve the state of trance you needed. Also there are many levels we call depths of trance, only a few of these reach the state that is commonly thought of as trance. Most levels of trance leave the subject wondering “was I hypnotized?” Either way real change can be achieved in very light states of trance, but can make all the difference in the changes anyone wishes to make in their lives.
As for proof does hypnosis work I could let the numbers speak for them selves, according to American Health Magazine people receive success rates as follows:
Psychoanalysis: 38% recovery after 600 sessions
Behavior Therapy: 72% recovery after 22 sessions
Hypnotherapy 93% recovery after 6 sessions
The most common misconception about hypnosis is that if you are hypnotized you will go into this zombie like state and follow any command you are give, nothing can be further from the truth. I admit that if you have seen a stage hypnotist at work it is hard to believe that. But the reality is that no one would do anything in trance that they wouldn’t do in their normal everyday life. Even hypnotized we have the choice to deny or follow any suggestion that is given at anytime. Often the people whom volunteer to participate in a stage hypnotism show, know that the hypnotists will probably be suggesting that they display some crazy and possibly outlandish behaviors, so by volunteering to participate in the stage show they give themselves permission to act in these ways. So therefore they are in essence doing what they would normally do.
A hypnotic trance is actually a state of acute internal focus. In trance you are not unconscious; it is more accurate to say that you are more focused than you would be at any other time. According to recent statistics the average person goes into deep trance at least 18 times everyday naturally. This can be in a large variety of forms that most people would not attribute to be hypnosis. One of the most common is watching a movie or TV, have you ever been so engrossed in a movie that someone spoke to you and you did not hear a single word they said? Congratulations you were in a natural deep trance. In fact to go to sleep at night we all go into a trance right before we fall asleep every night. So to say “I am unhypnotizeable” is grossly inaccurate. Chances are if you went to a hypnotist and were not hypnotized, the hypnotist either did not pay enough attention or was not talented enough to help you achieve the state of trance you needed. Also there are many levels we call depths of trance, only a few of these reach the state that is commonly thought of as trance. Most levels of trance leave the subject wondering “was I hypnotized?” Either way real change can be achieved in very light states of trance, but can make all the difference in the changes anyone wishes to make in their lives.
As for proof does hypnosis work I could let the numbers speak for them selves, according to American Health Magazine people receive success rates as follows:
Psychoanalysis: 38% recovery after 600 sessions
Behavior Therapy: 72% recovery after 22 sessions
Hypnotherapy 93% recovery after 6 sessions
In addition to this when the skills of Neuro Lingustic Programming are applied the number changes. According to studies clients report a 99% success ratio in the cessation of smoking, nail biting, irrational fears, post traumatic stress, and many more disorders that plague many people today. I know many success stories and have witnessed miraculous changes that have changed people lives for the better. Not all of them are what you might deem as conventional therapy, or in description would ever believe really solve problems as complicated as post traumatic stress disorder or as simple as a common allergy. But in all these cases the improvement it made to the client that asked for help it was worth everything in the world, and gave them their lives back when they had no hope of ever recovering. So when you ask me “Does hypnosis really work?” the answer will always be “Yes” but behind my eyes if you look you will see many hours, days, and years of people whom have achieved success in many ways swirling past the filters of my memory. Waiting to be joined by the happy ending of another who had asked previously and only found the answers they were looking for.
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