Debunking Hypnotherapy/Hypnosis Myths

Unless you have a special interest in the topic, chances are that your understanding of hypnotherapy is limited to what you see in the media and that knowledge might have made you distrustful of this method of treatment. However, hypnotherapy is an effective approach that can help with a range of health issues.

How Does Hypnotherapy Work?

Hypnotherapy is an effective method of treatment that involves guiding a patient into a relaxing state which quietens their conscious mind and allows a therapist to access their subconscious mind. The suggestions used during the hypnosis will depend on what you’re hoping to achieve. Most commonly, hypnotherapy is used to help break a habit and develop healthier coping skills. It was also found to be an effective pain management tool as it decreases pain and might even affect spinal-cord functioning when a patient experiences reduced sensitivity to pain due to hypnotic suggestion. [1]

Other problems hypnosis can help with include:

– Impulsive behaviour such as emotional eating and spending
– Low self-esteem
– Phobias
– Irritable bowel syndrome
– Sleep difficulties
– Difficulty relaxing
– Anxiety

Frequently Asked Questions About Hypnosis

Will hypnosis make me lose self-control?

Hypnosis isn’t a trance that can make you do something you wouldn’t normally do. Instead, you should see it more as a deep relaxation state which allows your mind to welcome suggestions coming from your therapist.

Is it a quick fix?

Hypnotherapy isn’t a quick fix because the degree to which someone is suggestible to hypnosis might vary from person to person. You might be receptive to some suggestions and struggle with others.

Is it possible to resist hypnosis?

People who are sceptical about hypnosis can resist hypnosis. As long as you believe this kind of treatment is likely to be helpful to you, you can become hypnotised and benefit from it.

Will I be fully aware during the hypnosis?

Although falling asleep is possible if you’re tired during hypnosis, it isn’t supposed to make you lose awareness. On the contrary, it’s supposed to increase your attention and concentration which makes you more receptive to your therapist’s suggestions.

Can hypnosis help recover repressed memories?

There’s no evidence that hypnosis can be more helpful in recovering memories than any other method. In fact, some studies suggest that it might often lead to creating false memories and using it for this purpose isn’t recommended. [2]


If you think that you could benefit from hypnotherapy, contact My Family Psychologist to see how we can help


References:
[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24547802/
[2] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/cpp.2567