Have you ever been so much focused on a task, such as watching an interesting movie or reading a novel, that you could not hear noises around you? If your answer is yes, then you have experienced hypnosis to some degree !
What happens when you are hypnotized? Donald Kraig answers this question in a simple way. He explains our conscious mind to be the one that is logical and makes plans but our unconscious mind to be the one responsible for our emotions, habits and beliefs. The unconscious mind follows the commands that it receives. However, another part of the mind filters the information that goes from the conscious mind to the unconscious mind. Hypnotists call it the critical factor. For example, you decide to quit smoking by your conscious mind. Nevertheless, the critical factor tells your unconscious that “quitting smoking is harder than quitting heroin, so you cannot quit.” That is why we are not always successful in changing our habits despite our willingness to change. Hypnosis actually provides an alternative path to communicate directly with the unconscious mind without the interference of the critical factor.
In the video below, uploaded by “JFLdotCOM,” John Francis Leader who is a psychologist and hypnotherapist explains how hypnosis actually works.
( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYr1w9JgIr4&feature=related)
One of the important information that he provides is about the areas of the brain that are activated during the hypnosis. He says when a person is deeply focused on doing something, the same part of the brain is activated as when the person is taking the action in reality. Therefore, the person can practice doing something (such as quitting smoking) in his brain.
Clearly, hypnosis is a harmless practice that can help us change our habits. However, most of us have misconceptions about this technique. An article discusses several common misconceptions about hypnosis.
Most people think hypnosis is like sleep. (Picture uploaded by “Hypnosis,Hypnotherapist,hypnotherapy” available from http://www.hypnotherapist.org/coming-out-of-hypnosis.html)
Firstly, you are not asleep during the hypnosis. Although you might not move during the hypnosis and close your eyes to feel more relaxed, you are deeply focused and fully alert.You are awake and aware of what is going on around you all the time.
Secondly, You have full control over your actions while you are hypnotized. For example, a hypnotist cannot make you tell your secrets to him/her against your will.
Thirdly, after hypnosis, you can remember what happened during the hypnosis session. However, in some cases, people forget what happened to them for several reasons other than the hypnosis experience itself. For example, some people believe that they cannot remember anything from their hypnotized state.This belief makes them forget what happened. Furthermore, some people only pay attention to a particular concept,so they might not remember anything other than that.
Finally, anyone can be hypnotized, not only the stupid ones! To be hypnotized, you need to be able to concentrate and be imaginative. Therefore, in contrast to what people believe, intelligent people might be hypnotized easier.
In conclusion, despite the misconceptions about hypnosis, it helps you focus more deeply on different things.
Maryam Goharian
Sources from:
http://blog.californiapsychics.com/blog/2011/01/the-truth-about-hypnosis.html
http://www.neurohypnoticscience.com/5-common-misconceptions-about-hypnosis
http://psychology.about.com/od/statesofconsciousness/a/hypnosis.htm
