Truth About Hypnosis Part II

The average person might think of hypnosis, based on what they've seen in entertaining stage shows, as a means to control other people. But that's a myth and hypnosis actually has many benefits most people aren't aware of.

Hypnosis is defined by The American Heritage Science Dictionary as “A trancelike state resembling sleep, usually induced by a therapist by focusing a subject's attention, that heightens the subject's receptivity to suggestion. The uses of hypnosis in medicine and psychology include recovering repressed memories, modifying or eliminating undesirable behavior (such as smoking), and treating certain chronic disorders, such as anxiety.”

You’ve likely experienced a state of hypnosis many times, such as while zoning out watching TV. You don’t need a therapist to use hypnosis; hypnosis MP3 audios, a form of self-hypnosis, are particularly effective to get to the root of hidden fears and defenses, childhood issues, and relationship problems.

Question:
“Isn’t hypnosis spiritually dangerous? My faith is at odds with your teachings. As a Christian, I believe hypnosis opens the door to the devil and is mind control. Better to just ask God to show you what you need to do. Hypnosis deprives a person of free will and reasonable thought.”

Answer:
Aside from avoiding hypnosis while in a moving vehicle or operating heavy machinery, it’s about as dangerous as zoning out and daydreaming while sitting on your couch (or in a pew half asleep during services).

Hypnosis addresses mainly subconscious conce
s, such as hidden memories, and fears and defenses. It can also be used to address past lives, or even future lives, and guidance from your higher-self or super-consciousness.

“If someone is able to show me that what I think or do is not right, I will happily change, for I seek the truth, by which no one was ever truly harmed. It is the person who continues in his self-deception and ignorance who is harmed.” — Marcus Aurelius

Contrary to how hypnosis is depicted in some mindless Hollywood movie plots, it's not mind control, and you don’t give up your free will or rational thought while hypnotized.

Your mind is of two main parts: your conscious mind, and your subconscious mind. Your unique fears and defenses, some rational, and many irrational, such as fear of success, reside in your unconscious. Hypnosis allows you to uncover the workings of your secret mind, beyond all the societal programming.

Conflict avoidance, and fear of dealing with the cold, hard facts of life, for example, may block a person from attempting to heal using regression therapy and hypnosis.

A case could be made that the real danger is keeping memories and false fears pushed way down within. Repression is like trying to hold an inflatable toy under water—the character traits and memories stuffed below will surface eventually. Whether consciously or unconsciously repressing personal issues, it depletes energy and causes problems in all areas of life.

It’s understandable that a person may not be ready to face his or her complex issues, and that is okay. He or she is not alone. But if he or she is ready, hypnosis is a powerful healing and self-discovery tool.

Though acknowledging hidden fears and defenses, and early life memories, may be unpleasant at first, the opportunity for personal growth and healing outweighs the initial pain.

Copyright © Scott Petullo, Stephen Petullo