Hypnosis - What is It?

What Is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a state of consciousness in which a person intensely focuses their concentration to imagine things in a very special way. This reduces their peripheral awareness and fosters what can appear to be a trance state. During this trance-like state, deep relaxation can be experienced and a person’s brain activity changes, creating receptiveness to new ways of thinking and feeling. According to researchers, hypnotherapy is considered to be a type of mind-body medicine, helpful in mediating chronic pain, acute pain and emotional distress arising from medical procedures and conditions, cancer treatment-related side-effects and irritable bowel syndrome. Hypnotherapy has shown benefits for treating several types of mental health problems including anxiety and depression and may help with quitting smoking or losing weight.

Is Hypnosis Mind Control? Hypnosis is not mind control. During hypnosis, a person is generally more open to suggestions, but they still demonstrate agency and an ability to control their decisions.

Hypnosis should never be confused with mind control. Stage acts and TV programs do not represent how hypnosis actually works or is used in medicine.

Are You Asleep During Hypnosis? Hypnosis does not involve falling asleep. Instead, a person remains awake, but their focus is fixed in a way that may make them seem zoned out or in a trance.

What Is Sleep Hypnosis?

Sleep hypnosis is the use of hypnotherapy to address sleeping problems. The goal of sleep hypnosis is not to make a person fall asleep during the hypnosis itself. Instead, it works to change negative thoughts or habits related to sleep so that a person can sleep better once hypnotherapy is complete.

Hypnosis for sleep may be combined with other types of treatment. For example, it can be used in conjunction with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a form of counseling that reframes negative thinking about sleep. Sleep hypnosis may also enhance sleep hygiene for improved sleep outcomes.

References Polito, V., Barnier, A., Woody, E., & Conners, M. (2014). Measuring agency change across the domain of hypnosis. Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice, 1(1), 3–19. https://doi.org/10.1037/cns0000010

Suni, E. (2022). Sleep Hygiene: What it is, why it matters, and how to revamp your habits to get better nightly sleep. Retrieved from: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-hygiene

Yeh, V., Schnure, J., & Montgomery, G. (2014). Disseminating hypnosis to health care settings: Applying the RE-AIM framework. Psychol Conscious doi: 10.1037/cns0000012.