Ordinary people can do terrible things to each other.
A motivated narcissist or social predator can creep into your life and cause you to question everything, including yourself.
They don’t need hypnosis to do it.
But that doesn’t mean they can’t use hypnosis to make things worse…
Take gaslighting, for example: the process of undermining someone until they no longer trust their own senses, memories, or sanity.
Any idiot can do that, and a lot of idiots do.
You would think that with hypnosis, someone could gaslight even more.
Let’s say… you could do something simple, like go out to lunch. Then they could use hypnotic amnesia to erase the subject’s memory. Then, when the subject can’t remember it, they are presented with undeniable proof of it.
I’m sure this is how most people think about combining ‘gaslighting’ and ‘hypnosis’: using hypnosis to strengthen the gaslighting.
And, of course, that is a real concern.
But if you think that’s the biggest concern, it’s not.
A social predator can do something much easier to achieve than hypnotic amnesia… and it’s also much more dangerous.
It is not using hypnosis to enlighten someone.
He’s using gaslighting to hypnotize them.
Every time you feel confused or unsure, there is a small window where your brain can easily go into a deep trance. And this is good! The goal of trance is to open your mind to new possibilities and allow you to think outside of your usual patterns.
Confusion and uncertainty are good. If you never experience them, then your life is unnaturally predictable and your brain isn’t getting the training it needs.
All the big games (video or otherwise) and entertainment use them. One of the reasons kids’ shows are so boring for adults is that there’s no uncertainty. “Of course the shady guy profiting from this is faking the ghosts!”
But someone could misuse these natural and healthy responses.
If someone you trust says “I never said that!” – when you’re sure they did – create a glimmer of doubt.
In that doubt, your mind looks for new explanations.
And in that search, he goes into a trance.
If someone knows what you’re doing, they can use it to twist the sword in your mind.
I feel comfortable posting this information. In fact, I’m looking forward to it. These tactics are obvious to even a moderately well-trained hypnotist… but completely invisible to laymen.
Especially anyone who insists that ‘you can’t be hypnotized!’
If that’s you, you’re incredibly vulnerable to this. After all, why would you doubt your own thoughts? They are obviously yours!
There are ways to defend against this, including learning hypnosis so you can spot the signs.
But also…
The answer is not ‘trust no one’. That might work, but it’s no way to live.
The best way is to trust your unconscious.
As a social animal, you have excellent instincts when it comes to social predators.
I’m not saying they are infallible… but there will always be a hint of doubt.
A social predator will make you doubt your doubts, dismissing them as ‘paranoid’ or ‘ungrateful’.
And look, you may be overreacting for something minor.
But I wouldn’t assume that. If you doubt everyone you meet, you may have a problem. If you generally trust people…except for that one person in your life who seems a little slippery…then take action.
Really think about what they do and how it makes you feel.
Ask people you trust about them.
Pay attention to what they do when you resist.
I could save you.