Hypnosis is not loss of control, experts say

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press

ISTANBUL, Turkey — Hypnosis is not sleep or loss of control, but a safe trance-like state created by focused attention, experts say.

Clinical Psychologist İhsan Öztekin of Üsküdar University NPİSTANBUL Hospital said that during hypnotherapy a person may become more open to suggestions, but does not lose personal will or self-control. According to Öztekin, a person under hypnotic influence will not do anything they do not want to do, will not say anything they do not want to say, and will reject any suggestion that conflicts with their beliefs, moral values or personal principles.

Hypnosis is a trance state, not sleep

Hypnosis is often misunderstood as sleep, unconsciousness or surrendering one’s will to another person. Experts say clinical hypnosis does not match any of these definitions.

Öztekin said hypnosis cannot be described as a sleep state. In hypnotherapy, when a person’s attention becomes highly focused, a trance state emerges and the person becomes more open to therapeutic suggestions.

During hypnosis, a person may relax, turn attention inward and respond more easily to suggestions that reach the subconscious mind. However, this does not mean the person can be directed against their own will.

Everyone responds differently to hypnosis

The effect of hypnosis may vary from person to person. Some people enter a hypnotic state more easily, while others may need more time. The method used, the person’s openness to therapy, the therapeutic relationship and expectations may all influence the process.

Öztekin said that in the lightest stage of hypnosis, relaxation occurs and the person may remember what was said. In deeper hypnotic states, the trance becomes more pronounced and the subconscious mind becomes more active.

In this deeper state, the person may not consciously hear conversations during the session or may not remember suggestions afterward. However, experts say that whether hypnosis is light or deep, the words and suggestions used by the hypnotherapist can still be effective in the therapeutic process.

The subconscious mind becomes more open

Hypnotherapy is based partly on the idea that the conscious mind’s analysis and resistance mechanisms temporarily move into the background. According to Öztekin, the conscious mind is more critical, questioning and analytical. While this is necessary for everyday problem-solving, it can also create resistance in some psychological processes.

During hypnosis, the subconscious mind becomes more open to therapeutic suggestions. Öztekin said that in this state the brain may operate in alpha wave patterns during light hypnosis and theta wave patterns during deeper hypnosis.

The person undergoing hypnotherapy feels the support and guidance of the hypnotherapist. The process moves forward through suggestions aligned with the person’s own request and therapeutic goal. For this reason, hypnotherapy is not a method that removes personal will; rather, it supports a person’s own desire for change.

People do not get stuck in hypnosis

One of the most common fears about hypnosis is the idea that a person may not be able to come out of it. Experts say this fear is unfounded.

Öztekin said that even if the hypnotherapist left without formally ending the session, the person would end the state on their own after a while, get up and continue daily life.

This point is important because it shows that hypnosis is not a loss of consciousness or control. The person is not a passive object in hypnosis. Instead, they participate in therapy by focusing attention in a specific way.

A person does not say or do unwanted things

One of the most common concerns is whether people under hypnosis might lose control and do things they do not want to do. Öztekin said many of these misconceptions are influenced by stage performances.

In clinical hypnotherapy, the power of the hypnotherapist is not unlimited. According to Öztekin, a person under hypnotic influence does not perform behavior they do not want and does not say anything they do not want to say.

Suggestions that conflict with a person’s beliefs, moral values or personal principles are rejected even in the deepest hypnotic state. Therefore, the idea that secrets can be forced out of someone or that a person can be made to act against their will is not accurate in medical hypnotherapy.

Öztekin emphasized that scenes often shown in the media under the name of hypnosis, where people appear to behave strangely or without control, are not related to medical hypnotherapy. Such situations are generally stage performances designed to attract attention and are often carried out by people without psychological training or clinical background.

Stage hypnosis and therapy should not be confused

One of the main reasons hypnosis is misunderstood is that entertainment-based stage hypnosis is confused with clinical hypnotherapy. The two are very different.

In stage performances, the aim is often to attract attention and surprise the audience. In clinical hypnotherapy, the goal is to support psychological well-being, work on specific difficulties and contribute to therapeutic goals.

For that reason, hypnosis should be practiced only by qualified professionals within ethical and clinical boundaries. Practices performed by people without expertise may strengthen false beliefs and overshadow the scientific and therapeutic side of hypnosis.

Hypnotherapy is considered safe

Whether hypnosis is dangerous is another common question. Öztekin said hypnotherapy does not pose physical or psychological danger during or after the session.

According to Öztekin, vital functions such as blood pressure, blood sugar, circulation and breathing are not negatively affected during or after hypnotherapy. On the contrary, these values may become more stable after the session.

Experts say hypnotherapy is considered a safe psychotherapy method when it is applied by a qualified professional, within an appropriate clinical framework and with the person’s consent. As with any psychological support method, choosing the right specialist and following ethical practice standards are essential.

www.wisenewspress.com