Think Hypnosis is Fake?

When I do lectures or demonstrations of hypnosis, I inevitably encounter audience members who want to know if hypnosis is fake. Particularly those people who have attended a stage hypnosis show believe there must be fakery involved. They believe the participants in the show who seemingly were “made” to exhibit incredible behavior must be in cahoots with the hypnotist. They are not!

Hypnosis is as real as any thoughts you have in your mind. In a 2005 article in the Scientific American entitled “The Truth and the Hype of Hypnosis,” the authors chronicle studies, research, experiments, and demonstrations of hypnosis and the efficacy of hypnosis and hypnotherapy on areas such as pain, obesity, insomnia, memory, and anxiety as well as others. Their findings conclude that hypnosis can, indeed, benefit and have real results on these areas. Read the entire article here.

Ask any well-trained, experienced practicing hypnotherapist whether hypnosis can benefit clients, and he or she can recite example after example of cases where their own sessions with clients have resulted in what most people would believe to be ‘too fantastic to be true.’

In a recent self-hypnosis lecture just this month to a group of over 20 attendees, I conducted a demonstration to show the group just how real hypnosis is. One of the attendees, a woman who admitted she thought hypnosis was fake, attended to see for herself.  I asked her to volunteer for a demonstration in front of the group, and she agreed. During the demonstration, I quickly guided her into hypnosis and relaxed her to the point she appeared to be unconscious. She was not unconscious, however, as nobody is while in hypnosis. While still in hypnosis, I had her open her eyes and asked her whether she was in hypnosis. She replied she was not. I snapped my fingers and again instantly had her relaxed to the point she again appeared to be unconscious. The entire group thought she was as well.

I then took her left hand and placed it on the side of her head, suggesting to her that hand was “glued” to the side of her head, and she could not remove it until I said so. I then had her open her eyes and asked her to raise her left hand. She tried, but could not. I told her to use her right hand to try to help her pry her left hand off her head, and she still could not. In astonishment she blurted out “I cannot get my hand off my head!” I then relaxed her and informed her she could now remove her hand from her head, and it fell to her side. I deepened her hypnotic state and guided her right arm straight out, suggesting to her it had become stiff and rigid, like a steel bar welded to her shoulder. The harder she tried to bend or lower it, the stiffer and more rigid it would become. I then prompted her to try to bend or lower that arm, and try as she might, she could not move it. I then relaxed her and the arm instantly became loose and limp.

Am I a magician? I am not. Her mind had accepted the suggestions I offered, and she enacted those ideas. Imagine putting those suggestions to work on changes such as losing weight, quitting smoking, lowering pain, improving confidence, etc. Dispelling the myths and falsehoods surrounding hypnosis is the biggest obstacle we, as hypnotherapists, face.  Through education and demonstrations, we make converts a little at a time!

Want to know more and see hypnosis for yourself? I am speaking at the Maricopa County Library District, White Tank Branch, on May 6th and on May 16, 2017. Registration is required. Visit their website at http://www.mcldaz.org/custom/branches/whitetank/ for more information. If you are someone you know could benefit from the power of hypnotherapy, contact me through my website www.skipnotherapy.com.