Is hypnosis mind-control?

So you figured hypnosis is being asleep, being gullible, being weak-minded and/or being controlled by someone else?

If that’s what you have been told or you have come to believe, allow me to invite you to reconsider.

Many think that hypnosis is synonymous to being asleep. So if you thought that, you will not be alone.  In fact, because of that very misconception many would deny having experience hypnosis because they did not fall asleep. This was true for me as well. I recall the first time I experienced hypnosis (“formally” that is) was when I attended the training to become a hypnotherapist. Our instructor/trainer, Dr. Krasner, induced hypnosis and then brought us out of it. Following that he asked how many of us believed we had not been hypnotized and why.  There were quite a number of us who did not think we had been hypnotized and one of the common reason was because: “well, I was not asleep,” or “I distinctly heard what was being said or the sound around the room,” or “I was aware of you walkin around or when you touched my shoulder.”  These all suggest that the expectations we had at that time was that under hypnosis we would somehow be unconscious, unaware, or in some deep sleep.

This, however, is far from being the truth. While an individual in the state of hypnosis may appear to be asleep, he/she may remain conscious and aware. The individual hears what is being said (suggested) although he/she may not remember everything that had been said.

So what exactly is hypnosis? Hypnosis is actually a state of increased awareness, focus, concentration, and suggestibility. It’s usually a state of relaxation that makes you more open to suggestions and allows you to focus on these suggestions. It is important to note that relaxation is not always a necessary component for one to be in a hypnotic state. However, when using hypnosis for the purpose of therapy (i.e., hypnotherapy) – relaxation is almost always, if not all together always, a component or step in the process of being hypnotized. Hence one of the side benefits of hypnotherapy would be that even if nothing else was achieved, one would have spent the session experiencing some sense of relaxation.

Another important point to note here is that the hypnotic state allows us to be more open to suggestions. The idea of being opened or susceptible to ideas/suggestions does not mean indiscriminately accepting any and all suggestions.

Some people may have the analogy of the mind being like a box/can/bottle, and hypnosis is opening up the can/box/bottle and putting things in. That is what leads to the notion of “mind control” or being controlled by another.

In reality, the fact of the matter is the “recipient” (the one being hypnotized) retains a certain measure of accepting or rejecting. Especially in the course of therapy (hypnotherapy) - suggestions given are suggestions obtained/gathered from the recipient (on in the case of therapy, the client). These are, therefore, suggestions the client would “allow” himself/herself to accept. In fact, not only will they be suggestions allowed – they would be suggestions that resonates with the client’s desire or intent. That means suggestions from others aren’t automatically accepted unless you want to (or the suggestions are acceptable to you).

Here’s a thought for you. Believe it or not, we all experience hypnosis every day. For example, have you ever watched a movie that got you so engrossed that you never noticed someone walk out of the room or walk in? Or have you had tears roll down your face while watching a sad movie? Oh feel your heart pounding during a tense/suspenseful moment in the movie? How about shouting at or somehow cursing the actor/actress in the show? Well, these are all examples of hypnosis at work. We may become so intensely focused on the movie that our body reacts to the images and feels as if we are experiencing what the actors/actresses are experiencing – even though it is just a movie and the characters are merely acting.

Hypnosis is not sleep. It is not being gullible, weak-minded or being controlled by another person. It is merely a state of mind – a different state of consciousness and awareness

In a hypnosis session, you – the subject – are in control. How is that, you ask? Well the fact is that when a suggestion given to you is contrary to your principles and values, you will simply “snap out of it” (‘it” being the hypnotic state). For example, if you were told to get-up and go stand on your head in the corner of the room, you will probably not be willing to do that. Because the suggestion is “unacceptable,” you will almost certainly reject the suggestion by either coming out of the state of hypnosis or simply by ignoring the suggestion.

Stage hypnosis vs hypnotherapy

There is a huge difference between stage hypnosis and hypnotherapy.  The former is for the purpose of entertainment while the latter is where hypnosis is used to help another with issues/challenges.

A stage hypnotist is a person who uses hypnosis to entertain people – whether it is in a show or on stage. You may have seen (on tv or life) or even participated in these events before where you see participants bark like dogs or quack like a duck etcetera.

On the other hand, a hypnotherapist is one who has been trained to use hypnosis to help others deal with challenges in their lives. Hypnosis can be a very valuable tool in helping deal with issues such as sleep disturbances, improving concentration and memory, overcoming fears and phobias, strengthening one’s self confidence and many other issues. Many have also employed this to help them manage their weight and to give up smoking and other addictive habits.

This is just a simple description of what hypnosis really is. Do keep in mind the hypnotherapist does not have control over you. He or she only brings you to a state of heightened relaxation where you are open to suggestions – suggestions that are acceptable to the subject/participant/client.