7 Common Myths About Self-Hypnosis You Need to Stop Believing

Auto-hypnosis is getting more and more popular. No wonder, as it’s really effective, quick and not so hard to learn. However, as with many things, many self-hypnosis myths arose around hypnotic trance. Are they all just myths, or maybe some of them are true?

Myth #1: Self-Hypnosis Is Just a Form of Mind Control

This one needs to be tackled first, as it’s probably most popular from auto-hypnosis myths. It’s probably due to stage hypnosis or movies like Now You See Me.

Mind control, you might see in movies or anime, has nothing to do with real hypnosis.

The truth is: self-hypnosis is actually used to release your mind from the control that your traumas or bad habits have over you. Moreover, it might make you realize you are restrained by someone or something!

For example: let’s say that you have an unethical, unfair co-worker, who often makes use of you. But very often, due to the fact that he was ‘older and wiser’, you listened to him anyway. Or maybe you were afraid of him, even.

Auto-hypnosis will allow you to see the reasons behind why you let him/her do that. You were scared of losing the job? He/she reminded you of some terrible bully from school?

Once you realize why you let him/her boss you around, it will be way easier to decline next time.

And I hope you realize “mind control” is just one from many self-hypnosis myths. If you want to delve deeper, HERE you can read more about how hypnotic trance actually works.

Myth #2: Auto-Hypnosis Can Make You Do Things Against Your Will

Similar to the previous one, but a little bit different in details, it’s also a popular auto-hypnosis myth. Though it is often used in ‘regular’ hypnosis, it also stretches to self-hypnosis.

Many people unfamiliar with hypnotic trance fear that they are going to do something against their will. Or maybe they will do something extremely embarrassing.

The key thing to remember is that while in a trance state, you are not unconscious. Your mind works on different brain waves, but you are not asleep.

Thus, you can’t really do something against your will. Especially in auto-hypnosis, when you are the hypnotizer and hypnotized person at the same time.

I’ve heard some misgiving that you might self-hypnotize yourself into bad things. Like under alcohol, you do things that you later regret.

However, the difference is that under alcohol, your decision-making process is disturbed. While in hypnotic trance, it’s the contrary: you are more aware of what’s happening in both your conscious and subconscious mind.

Due to that, you won’t do anything that is against your will or your moral code. Even if you are not fully aware of your surroundings.

I heard 2 funny (at least for me) stories from hypnotherapists based on their work experience.

1. A woman was hypnotized on stage and asked to imagine that she is looking for her prince charming. She had great fun, flirting with different guys, teasing them. But then she suddenly snapped out of trance, when she approached another man. Why? Because he had a marriage ring, and she deeply despised cheating. Thus, it was absolutely against her moral code to flirt with him, even as a joke performance.
2. A hypnotized woman was asked to imagine that she is modelling for art students. And thus, a hypnotizer invited her to get in a prepared place, sit on a chair etc. Suddenly, she started removing her clothes and the “scared” hypnotizer stopped the hypnosis. He asked her why she did that, and if she wasn’t embarrassed. She said no, because it was normal for her to be nude around people. Also: she treated him as a doctor/therapist, so she felt no problem with stripping before him.

As you can see, both women stayed faithful to their moral codes and thus, abolishing one from auto-hypnosis myths.

Myth #3: You Need a Hypnotherapist to Practice Self-Hypnosis

This auto-hypnosis myth is easy to abolish by the name itself: it’s SELF-hypnosis. Therefore, you don’t need any assistance in that. You are both the person who gives suggestions (aka a hypnotizer) and the one who received them (aka a hypnotized).

You might ask, however, can you learn auto-hypnosis on your own. The answer is: yes, but it’s kinda hard if you don’t know how to start.

There are basically 3 ways to go around it:

1. Get hypnotized by someone – once you learn how to get into a hypnotic trance, it’s easier to do it the next time. After 1–2 sessions, you can start self-hypnosis on your own.
2. Use pre-recorded sessions – these are great and allow you to learn fast and wherever you are. However, some recordings are not good quality when it comes to the way you are being hypnotized.
3. Learn by yourself – if you are experienced with other mindfulness techniques, like meditation, you might actually already know how to achieve trance. Or read a step-by-step guide to learn how to get into that.

While I’m a huge fan of learning by yourself, I’d recommend for the first time to use a recording. It will speed up a whole process, all while easing you into a hypnotic trance.

Myth #4: It Only Works If You’re Easily Suggestible

This is one of the self-hypnosis myths I’ve heard and read a lot. Being completely honest, I also used to believe in it, until I was hypnotized for the first time. We all have to learn somehow!

First things first: indeed, some people are easily suggestible, some are not. As for now, science does not give straight answers how it works. There are some articles pointing, that the following are more susceptible to hypnosis:

• Fantasizers (FPP – Fantasy-prone personality) – people who tend to dream a lot, have a rich imagination;
• Dissociaters – people who experience disconnecting from their own thoughts and feelings;
• People with dissociative disorders.

If you are interested, you can read about the last one in this article.

However, keep in mind: we don’t know exactly why some people are more suggestible, some are less. You can be hard to influence by politicians, co-workers, bosses or celebrities, yet still easily hypnotizable.

Your friend, who listens to everything you tell him, might be almost “immune” to hypnosis.

In the end, though, almost everybody can get hypnotized. It just takes more time, if you are a skeptic. And of course: if you go into it with an attitude like, “No, no, it’s stupid, it’s impossible, I don’t want to”, then you probably won’t get into a hypnotic trance.

But if you are curious about self-hypnosis, then it will be a lot easier. As with everything, it just takes some time to learn.

Myth #5: You Can Get Stuck in a Hypnotic State

Confession time: it was one of those self-hypnosis myths that I long believed in. Even after my first experiences with hypnotic states.

The truth is: you can’t really get stuck in a trance.

You might spend some time there, that’s for sure. The reason behind it: it’s often deeply relaxing and comforting. For some of us, it’s like taking a powerful nap, without the downsides of naps (like being cranky or problems with falling asleep later on).

There is no possibility though, you get stuck forever in a hypnotic state. Remember: you are on a different level of awareness while hypnotized, but you remain conscious.

I once heard that the time of trance is limited by our need to pee. And speaking from experience: it’s definitely true.

If you are really scared that you might get stuck during auto-hypnosis, just set a timer. Many times, after you get some experience, you can even program yourself to ‘wake up’ after a certain amount of time.

Sometimes it’s astounding how well our minds perceive time if we don’t obsess over it.

Myth #6: Self-Hypnosis Is Based on Superstition, Not Science

Abolishing this auto-hypnosis myth was what got me to that practice. Because the reality is the exact opposite: self-hypnosis heavily relies on science.

Many psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health associations recognize hypnosis as an important tool and part of therapy. For example: Royal College of Psychiatrists, American Psychological Association, Polish Psychiatric Association.

They all recognize hypnotherapy as a valid form of treatment.

Royal College of Psychiatrists even states:

You can perform hypnosis on yourself. This is called self-hypnosis. It is a very useful life skill, which you might be taught during hypnotherapy sessions.

Once you have experienced hypnosis yourself and understand the process, you could rehearse sessions with yourself without using a recording.

However, I need to clarify here: not everything you hear about auto-hypnosis is true. There are some people who claim it to be #1 solution for everything.

Which brings us closer to the last of self-hypnosis myths.

Myth #7: Auto-Hypnosis Is a Quick Fix for All Problems

All previous self-hypnosis myths revolved around being skeptic or maybe even afraid about it. This one is different, as it is about the opposite problem: claiming that auto-hypnosis is a fix for all problems.

As you probably noticed, I’m a huge fan of mindfulness. Self-hypnosis is my favorite technique, which I perform a lot. Probably thanks to it, I had the courage to start this website.

But it’s absolutely not a quick fix for all your problems.

Remember: if you have some medical issues, seek the help of a professional. Sure, auto-hypnosis helps with depression, anxieties, and many other mental disorders.

However, it’s never going to replace help from a psychiatrist.

Of course, when you feel like you could expand with your therapy, ask questions. Delve deeper into different treatments. Hypnosis, after all, is one of them.

But do not believe some “gurus” claiming that with self-hypnosis you are going to change everything in 2 weeks. That’s not going to happen, and people like that are simply lying to you.

I don’t want to end in such a negative tone, though. So in that myth there is something true: auto-hypnosis is really quick and effective. Especially compared to other mindfulness techniques, which sometimes takes weeks to notice a change.

With self-hypnosis, you notice differences after just a few sessions! Just keep in mind, please, to never replace your therapy with it (if you have one) and don’t treat it as a quick fix for all life problems.

And if you don’t know where to start, check out my step-by-step guide for beginners HERE.