I get asked all sorts of questions about hypnosis and hypnotherapy. People are curious and they’re right to be so. Although Hypnosis has been around for centuries, used as a form of therapy for over 100 years, has hard science behind it and is widely accepted by the medical profession, it can still have a bit of a stigma attached to it.

What does it feel like? Can anyone be hypnotised? Will I be made to do silly things? Will it change who I am? If you’re curious about hypnosis and hypnotherapy and have similar questions, here are 13 myths debunked.

But first of all the truth:

Hypnosis is a perfectly natural state. It cannot do or change anything that you resist or disagree with and it can not change who you are, only you can do that.

And so, here I will happily debunk the top 13 myths about hypnosis:

1. You cannot get stuck in hypnosis. This is quite impossible.
2. You do not become in any way unconscious or semi-conscious.
3. You cannot, at any time, be made to do things you do not want to do.
4. You are totally aware of yourself and your surroundings at all times.
5. You do not go to sleep.
6. You are not in anyone’s power, and nobody can take control of you.
7. You can leave the hypnotic state whenever you want.
8. You cannot lose your mind.
9. Hypnosis cannot permanently remove memories or thoughts from your mind.
10. You will not suddenly blurt out your deepest darkest secrets.
11. Hypnosis cannot bestow psychic abilities or supernatural powers.
12. Hypnosis cannot make you act against or abandon your moral code.
13. You do not say or do ‘funny things’ (unless, of course, you choose to).

Hypnosis is a truly natural state, and it is therefore perfectly safe. Many of the clucking chicken images are the result of hypnosis’s forefather, Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815), hence the word ‘mesmerised.’

Mesmer believed that there was an invisible force, a cosmic energy that could be harnessed by one person to influence another’s behaviour. While his theory was incorrect, the techniques he used were effective, and consequently they were picked up on and developed over the years for therapeutic and medical purposes, with even Sigmund Freud employing hypnosis techniques. However, it wasn’t until during the mid-1900s that hypnotherapy as we know it today began to take shape. *Passage taken from the book “Health Wealth & Hypnosis – The way to a beautiful life by Gail Marra

Hypnotherapy is a form of therapy used to readjust the subconscious mind. When in hypnosis, you put your mind and body into a heightened state of learning, making your mind more open to positive suggestion for self-improvement or behaviour modification. The goal is to rebalance the subconscious and conscious mind allowing them to work together in harmony, which in turn helps give you greater control over your behaviour, emotions and physical wellbeing.

Contrary to popular belief, hypnosis is not a state of deep sleep. It involves the induction of an induced state of deep relaxation. In hypnosis you are acutely aware, concentrated and focused and it is in this state that the conscious mind can relax and stay calm and become more responsive to positive suggestions, ideas, concepts and lifestyle changes.

If you want to be hypnotised to make changes in the way you think, feel or behave then you are a good candidate for it. Hypnosis is a willing state. If someone is trying to hypnotise you against your will, it simply won’t work. For that reason, if you are extremely sceptical of its efficacy, or if you are frightened of it, it may not work for you.

Find out more about the application of Clinical Hypnosis by visiting: www.gailmarrahypnotherapy.com

The Book, “Health Wealth & Hypnosis” is out now on Amazon and all good book stores. Get your copy today.