When many of us think of hypnosis, we often think about the old B-movies where a hypnotist swings a pocket watch in front of a starry-eyed vixen while repeating the words “you are getting verrrry sleeeeepy”. The vixen is later under his complete control, and he can have her do whatever he wishes. While that scenario just isn’t true, the truth is that hypnosis can be a very powerful tool. In fact, hypnosis can induce hallucinations. Although there are numerous people in psychiatric hospitals suffering from hallucinations, these are involuntary and often problematic. Many medical professionals feel as if this type of involuntary hallucination is a coping mechanism. These are not the only people who can have hallucinations. Hallucinations can be induced in anyone via hypnosis.
Beneficial Hallucinations
The induction of hallucinations can be beneficial. Hallucinations induced during hypnotic therapy enables individuals to be removed from actual reality regardless of the circumstances. This allows them to have experiences that are beneficial and may have never happened otherwise. Many hypnotherapists suggest that individuals go back into previous time. They are encouraged to see someone from the past and have a conversation with them. This method is used to help the individual deal with experiences that have happened. It allows the person to let go of negative feelings and resolve issues they may have with the person they choose to hallucinate about. A scenario is being hallucinated by the individual and they do not actually go back into time.
About Hallucinations
So what is it like to hallucinate during hypnosis? When a person is experiencing a hallucination, they will be able to feel, hear, taste, see and smell things that are not really there. Most bad hallucinations are those that are involuntary. These are often scary and induce paranoia, sort of like the hallucinations that one might experience under the influence of mushrooms or some other drug. A good hallucination is one of a pleasant event or experience and one that can be enjoyed. Hypnotic hallucinations are not only used to induce certain scenarios in a person. Some people are hypnotized in order to produce a lessened sensory awareness about how a limb or area of the body may be feeling. This is done to a degree that there is an anesthetic effect. This can be a form of excellent therapy for those suffering with chronic pain issues.
Those who undergo hypnotic therapy and are induced into a hallucination induced by hypnosis can hear words or have feelings and sensations that they may have never heard before. They can see certain places and talk with people that they may not have been able to converse with otherwise.
Inducing a Hallucination
When inducing hallucinations during hypnosis, there are simple instructions given to the person being induced. Hallucinations can be achieved at times by simply giving a direct suggestion. Hypnotherapists must have a trusting relationship with the person being induced in order for this to work. A good level of rapport and responsiveness must have developed between the hypnotherapist and the client before inducing hallucinations is considered as part of therapy. Hypnotherapists often direct individuals to be aware of the smells, sights and sounds of the scenario in their hallucination. This makes for the most realistic experience.
Additional Information
Hypnosis is often described as imaginable absorption. Hypnosis requires a great deal of focus. The person being hypnotized can become extremely absorbed by the suggestions given, allowing them to experience hallucinations during hypnosis. Techniques used in inducing hallucinations must remain ethical and safe for the person being hypnotized. Hallucinations induced by hypnosis have the risk of causing false memory syndrome. Sessions of hypnotherapy must be well structured in order to promote positive experiences.
