Is Hypnosis Dangerous?

Questions About Hypnosis

Through the years, I have had scores of questions about hypnosis, such as ‘is hypnosis dangerous’. ‘what is hypnosis’ , ‘what’s the difference between stage hypnosis and ‘therapeutic hypnosis’, and ‘will I stay in control during hypnosis’ and ‘will I be able to wake up’ etc etc

So I thought it might be useful to go through a few commonly asked questions to help you put people’s minds at ease. I may well expand upon these topics in later posts.

Is Hypnosis Dangerous?

No it isn’t, not even slightly, although this kind of question is understandable if the only exposure to hypnosis a person has had is watching a hypnosis stage show where it looks like the stage hypnotist has made people do wacky things.

Hypnosis Is the Safest Form Of Complementary Help

Just ask the insurance companies. These companies make money from assessing risk, and for a complementary health practitioner, hypnosis is in the lowest band for insurance cover. An aromatherapist is likely to have to pay three times as much for insurance cover than a hypnotherapist will!

What Is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is relaxation, pure and simple. The word ‘hypnosis’ is based upon the Greek word ‘hypnos’, which means sleep. So it’s the wrong name really, because hypnosis is not like sleep, it’s just a state of relaxation.

When a person relaxes the mind becomes more open to suggestion, and one of the skills of a good hypnotist is to deliver multiple suggestions in a whole manner of ways. Almost invariably, visualization techniques are employed to begin to assist the person to ‘see’ the solution to their problem. How they will be when the problem is fully a thing of the past. In addition, the human mind seems to respond very well to metaphor, so sometimes the hypnotherapist will use metaphor to ‘teach’ or ‘train’ the mind to begin to think differently.

A well made self hypnosis recording will often use multiple layered hypnotic approaches to help the person achieve the desired effects.

What’s The Difference Between Stage Hypnosis And Therapeutic Hypnosis

Many people will only have come across hypnosis in the context of stage hypnosis, either at a theatre or on campus or on TV. The stage hypnotist will tend to use ‘command’ style hypnosis, an approach that works with some people, although not all. And it will only work with people that are ‘up for it’. You may have seen someone do an Elvis impersonation, or dance with a broom, or behave like a chicken etc etc.

Stage hypnosis is a bit of a double-edged sword for those of us involved in hypnotherapy. Yes, it demonstrates the power of hypnosis to influence behaviour, but it can make hypnosis look weird, or goofy, or scary.

And self hypnosis, or hypnotherapy, is one of the most comfortable and ‘safest’ experiences a person can have.

Will I Stay In Control Under Hypnosis?

Well, to start with you won’t be ‘under’ anything, you will just be more relaxed. With hypnosis you actually gain control rather than lose it. You will not accept suggestions that aren’t good for you and appropriate for you. It’s that simple.