Hypnosis on TV - Recalling Memories

Over the last couple weeks we have seen uses of hypnosis on network TV. I thought both shows put a positive and accurate light on hypnosis, which is often not the case. In an effort to keep a clear picture of what hypnosis really is and what it can do, let’s take a look at the accuracy of the shows depictions and uses.

In the next to last episode of this season’s “House,” the title character is hypnotized to recall details of a traumatic event. He has one of the doctors who is certified in hypnosis lead him into a very deep stage of hypnosis where House can see the event location in detail and search for clues within that context.

The show is only an hour long, so it doesn’t go into the process of relaxing and deepening House with an induction which makes it seem like he can instantly reach this stage. It’s good to know that this deep of a stage for someone new to hypnosis would take some time to reach (20 min or more) and not all the population can get to this deep of a stage of hypnosis - only 20-30% can ever get here.

So House was conveniently a deep subject and his hypnosis did help him in recalling details of his event. This is a real use of hypnosis and is often used by hypnotherapists to help clients recall events or reasons that have developed or triggered current behaviors. When using hypnosis to recall events, it is important for the the hypnotist to not lead the client or suggest anything that might or might not have happened. The mind has the ability to recall real memories, but it also has the ability to imagine new ones too. (If you really want more information on hypnosis and memory recall, you can read on here.)

Another TV Show that covered hypnosis as of late was “Oprah” (5/13/08), but hypnosis was not the focus - that honored belonged to a discussion on past lives. The show had on Dr. Brian Weiss, and expert on past-life regression, who hypnotized the whole audience and then individually, a funeral director and even Dr. Oz in order to bring back memories beyond birth and back into previous existences.

Yeah, so if you were not scared of hypnosis already, maybe you are now! My personal beliefs aside, it is widely publicized associations with controversial subjects such as past-life regression that scare some of the public away from a tool that is really so natural, healing and helpful.

I would like everyone to understand that hypnosis stands apart from past life regression and the former does not have to lead to the latter. Hypnosis is a process where you are always in control, but relaxed, and in a state of heightened awareness. You can use hypnosis for a variety of helpful reasons such as releasing stress, erasing bad habits, developing new behaviors and even recalling past events to help you heal in the present - just how far past you can go is something you can decide for yourself.

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