Myths on Hypnosis for Children

Hypnosis for children is done to help children combat cases of pain, insomnia, depression brought about by divorce or death.  It can also be used to fight excessive weight, night mares and even lessen asthma attacks.  There are significant advantages or contributions that hypnosis can do for children. 

Unfortunately, amidst all these gains and benefits, there are still some people who believe in hypnotic myths.  The following are some of the myths on hypnosis and what we can say about them. 

Myth1.  The person under hypnosis has no control over his mind and actions.

Hypnosis is induced in a tie when the person is still conscious and able to take and understand suggestions.  Children who are undergoing hypnotherapy can comprehensively talk with the hypnotherapist.  Hypnotherapy is done when the person is in deep relaxation and not in deep slumber.  Things are said as a suggestion and not as an authoritative command.  People who have undergone hypnosis would definitely remember what transpired during the session.

Myth2. Hypnosis is an evil act.  It can be compared to voodoo in some levels.

Hypnosis is not at all connected to any evil or Satanic acts.  Hypnotism intends to help people of their emotional, mental and physical problems not injure them with any satanic and demonic ritual.  Actually, hypnosis is a natural state that people undergo in different times a day. 

Myth3.  Hypnosis only affects those who are weak in personality. 

Hypnosis is something which happens naturally to our lives.  Actually, children ages 7 to 8 are said to be more prone to lapse into hypnotic stages.  Their mind is more creative and more imaginative.  This enables them to enter into a daydream or deep relaxation even during class or any time of the day.  Anybody can induce into a moment of self-hypnotic state.

Myth4.  You can get stuck in a hypnotic state.

Hypnosis is not a limbo where souls get stuck and unable to go to the next realm. Hypnosis is a state of awareness and consciousness.  Getting into the hypnotic state enables the children and adults, as well, to get to know their deeper feelings and thoughts. 

Myth5.  Hypnosis can be used as a truth serum, extracting the truth from other people.

A person could not go into hypnotic state if that person would not allow the hypnotherapist to.  Before children undergo any hypnotism, therapist would talk to them and explain what it is that they would do and how it would help them.  Upon hypnotism, if a suggestion is in contrast with the principles of the client, they would not accept the suggestion.  So if the person being investigated would not give the answer to the question, then hypnosis could not do anything about it. 

Myth6.  Hypnosis is not accepted by the medical community. 

The British Medical Association accepted hypnotism as a treatment in 1955, while the American Medical Association endorsed it in 1958.  The National Institute of Health endorsed hypnotherapy as one of the methods to relieve pain to cancer patients in 1995. 

Myth7.  Hypnosis therapy results are not as good as the other traditional therapies.

According to American Health Magazine published in August 2006, 36  percent of patients who go to psychoanalysis would experience results after 600 sessions.  Behaviour therapy would show 72 percent recovery rate after 22 sessions.  Hypnotherapy showed 93 percent of recovery after just 6 sessions.

These numerous myths smear how people regard hypnotherapy and how safe it is to hypnosis to children.  But what is important to know is the truth behind all myths.