Here's What Happens To Your Body When You Get Hypnotized
Hypnosis is a trance-like state of mind in which a person experiences heightened focus and suggestibility. Although it is often misunderstood, hypnosis is a valid therapeutic technique that can be used to help treat and cope with mental illness, addiction, and pain management (via Healthline).
Usually performed by a trained therapist or hypnotist, hypnosis is used to help people identify and address underlying issues by inducing a state of deep relaxation and inner concentration. Contrary to popular belief, hypnotists don't actually make you fall asleep. You may feel extremely calm and relaxed when you enter this trance-like state, but you're fully conscious and aware of what is happening the entire time.
"When you're in this focused state, you can quiet the chatter and close the internal narratives which are all running at once," hypnotist Morgan Yakus tells Shape. "The idea is to unfreeze the loops you create, and upgrade to a more positive reference for where you are in life now."
Does hypnosis actually work?
While there is still some skepticism among medical professionals about the effectiveness of hypnosis, research has shown that it can be an effective treatment for pain management, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), insomnia, and irritable bowel syndrome (via Healthline).
There is also some evidence to suggest that hypnosis can help treat depression, anxiety, smoking cessation, weight loss, and post-surgical wound healing. However, further research is needed to confirm the precise impact of this treatment. Regardless of the particular condition being treated, however, it will take more than one session to work. In fact, your hypnotist may not even hypnotize you for the first several sessions.
According to hypnotherapist and behavioral psychology expert Edie Raether, it is important to build a strong emotional foundation before hypnosis can be performed. "If people are just hanging in there and need to hold onto their defenses to cope and function, then it is not wise," Raether told Bustle. However, she says, "In the right hands, with a reputable, experienced therapist, it truly is the most economical and effective way to change any behavior, including academic and sports performance."