Welcome to MindMatters UK -

Myths and Misconceptions

There are many myths and misconceptions surrounding hypnosis and some of the more prevalent ones are listed here.

Myths & Misconceptions

There are many myths and misconceptions surrounding hypnosis and some of the more prevalent ones are listed below:-

You're asleep when you're hypnotized.
You're unconscious when hypnotized.
Only weak willed people can be hypnotized.
Hypnosis is the dominance and manipulation of gullible people by the hypnotist.
Hypnosis is a magical power.
A hypnotist can make people do immoral or illegal things against their will.
People can be hypnotized over the telephone or TV.
People can remain in trance until the hypnotist commands them to awake.
People can remain in trance for a long time, even a lifetime.
Hypnosis can cure almost any ailment.
Hypnosis is dangerous with after-effects from headaches to schizophrenia and psychosis.
Hypnosis is unchristian and the work of the devil, Your soul can be possessed.
Self-hypnosis is the same thing as meditation.
Under hypnosis people can accurately recall things from the past and even past lives.
Under hypnosis people can gain paranormal powers.
Under hypnosis people can be made to tell the truth.

The above are only some of the misconceptions surrounding hypnosis. Perhaps one of the currently most controversial is past life regression. As to whether past lives are real or not I could not say and clearly very much more work needs to be done. Under certain well controlled conditions there may be some therapeutic benefits to some people.